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September - 2003 - October
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| News and Notes |
| John 5:30-38 - A sermon |
| The New Age Movement (conclusion) ---m.e.l. |
NEWS and NOTES
St. James Lutheran Church of Laporte, MN
Pastor Frank Loeffler, servant of the most high God --- God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, passed from mortality into immortality. He longed for the day when he would look upon the face of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God who had redeemed him and all men from sin and death with His holy precious blood, His innocent suffering and death. The great Day that God had appointed for our brother in Christ was, in the year of our Lord 2003, the 26th in October. (excerpted from the funeral service bulletin)
Pastor Loeffler was a truly zealous servant of Christ. Though he was given several physical ills, in his home each week he preached right from his wheelchair, even sometimes from his bed when he wasn't feeling well.
During his many years in the ministry, he baptized many children into Christ just as He has commanded it to be done, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. (Matthew 28:19)
He also regularly wrote a newsletter and witnessed to everyone he met.
He will be missed much by all of us, yet we praise God joyfully for at last exchanging our dear brother Loeffler's earthly pain for the blissful heavenly reward, through his Saviour, Jesus, that Frank believed in and preached and taught about throughout his earthly life. d.r.y.
"...be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)
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Grace Ev. Lutheran Church of New Lenox, IL
Sept. 7, 2003 --- Confirmation Class also resumed with 3 students, 1 of whom is scheduled to graduate.
Oct. 18, 2003 --- 1st Annual Youth Hike was held at a local state park
---The congregation is happy to announce that they will be building their future church building on the lot which they recently purchased.
We pray that the Lord will bless their efforts as they go about planning toward the construction of this house of worship.
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Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Morris, IL
Sept. 7, 2003 --- Confirmation Class resumed with 4 students, 3 of which are in their final year & scheduled to graduate.
Sept. 28, 2003 --- Mr. & Mrs. Charley Farmer were accepted into communicant membership, Val, Mrs. Farmer, being Pastor Shekner's oldest daughter.
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Eternal Savior Ev. Lutheran Church of Arbor Vitae, WI
As Of November 16, 2003 --- Eternal Savior Ev. Lutheran Church will be holding Worship Services at the Bolger Funeral Chapel in Woodruff, WI. Still on Hwy 47, this new location is four blocks East of the previous location.
We wish to extend a formal thank-you to the Woodruff VFW post for their hospitality in the use of their building over the last few years, and we pray that The Lord will bless our congregation in its new meeting place as we continue to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Baptism --- Pastor Mark Latsch was privileged to baptize Ethan Kenyon DeBoer, infant son of Paul and Marianne DeBoer, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. The sacrement took place on September 28, 2003 in a DeBoer family member's northwoods home and was attended by many of their relatives.
We pray that Ethan and his family grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
(Young Matthew Douglas DeBoer had been baptized by Pastor Latsch on July 24, 2000)
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Cross of Christ Lutheran Church of Midland, MI
Pastor Charles Clubb announces that the Cross of Christ congregation has sold their church building.
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A Sermon on John 5:30-38
(reprinted from April 1996 LRH Newsletter)
Text:
Dear Friends in Christ:
Up until shortly before our text Jesus had never made it publicly known to everyone that He was the Son of God. He performed many miracles and did many wonderful things and still He always cautioned His disciples and followers to keep still about these things before the general public. A few verses before our text takes place Jesus had just told the Jews, all of them including the Scribes and Pharisees, that He was the Messiah, the Son of God. Immediately many of them sought to kill Him for they thought He blasphemed against God. They wanted to know by what authority He could claim such a great honor. They wanted proof that He was the Son of God.
As He is talking with these scoffers:
JESUS GRACIOUSLY OFFERS THREE PROOFS THAT HE IS TRULY THE SON OF GOD.
These three witnesses of Him are:
I John the Baptist.
II Jesus' great works.
And:
III God the Father Himself.
Of course if we put ourselves into that crowd of unbelievers surrounding Jesus in our text we will begin to see why they did not receive Jesus as the Son of God. If we imagine ourselves at the scene in Jerusalem near the pool of Bethesda and we overhear the remarks made by the leaders of the Jews we would perhaps hear things like this: Does this common man from Galilee expect us to believe He is the Son of God? We know when the Messiah does come He will be a mighty king and restore Israel as the leading world power; etc. These people wanted an earthly political leader and they were so wrapped up in that thought that all the things Jesus did and said seemed to be utterly ridiculous.
These scoffers were looking upon the Savior as a mere human being. And now the Lord speaks out to them.
[verse 30] "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."
If I am a mere man like everyone else I can do nothing, He says. Everything He does is governed by the will of His Father and if He does the will of His Father then whatever He does is correct and just, because His Father is God Almighty. He wants these people to realize that everything He says and does is the will of God. And therefore He adds,
[verse 31] "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true."
He grants His listeners the point that is well known to all that if someone says he did some great thing and then has no proof to back it up why then most likely he is a liar. He tells the Jews He does not expect them to believe Him if He alone testifies of Himself with no one to back Him up. "If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true."
And now if you want proof I will give you all the proof you need, Jesus implies. And the first proof He offers is that testimony of another human being they all knew. And furthermore He asserts that the things this other person talks about are 100% true.
[verse 32 ] "There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true."
But who is this person they and we all know so well? It is none other than John the Baptist. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus. As such his task was to prepare the world for the coming Messiah. John the Baptist taught the truth -- that God had sent a Savior into this world of sin. John the Baptist never preached of self but always pointed to Christ Jesus. John the Baptist says in the first chapter, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me." [John 1:29-30]
This is the first proof Jesus offers and He says to the scoffers, [verse 33] "Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth."
You people were so interested to know what John the Baptist's preaching meant that you even sent a delegation out into the wilderness to question him concerning the things about which he was preaching. Jesus is reminding them of the time not so long ago of the incident recorded in this chapter:
John then bore witness that Jesus was the promised Messiah.
After telling these people that John bore witness to the truth Jesus seems to say a strange thing.
[verse 34] "But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved."
Jesus knows that John preached the saving truth of the Gospel. And He also knew that these Jews went out into the wilderness and heard that message for themselves. If they would only believe John the Baptist's preaching they would also be saved. And Jesus reminds the Jews of the preceding incident of John the Baptist to help them believe that He, Jesus, was truly the Son of God. But He also adds that He does not receive testimony from man. In other words He did not strive to obtain the testimony neither of John the Baptist nor of any other human being. He did not have to rely on their witnessing that He was the Son of God. The fact that God sent John the Baptist as a forerunner, and the fact that Jesus recognizes the testimony of John as true work towards the same goal and that is the salvation of men's souls. The effect of John's preaching even brought many of these self-satisfied Jews at least out to the wilderness to behold the man. Jesus pays the highest tribute to John the Baptist and at the same time points out to the Jews how they rejected John's testimony.
[verse 35] "He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light."
John was the first great preacher and prophet the Jews had had for some 300 years. John the Baptist preached in the wilderness and brought the shining light of the Gospel message into the open again. Many of the Jews went out to hear him preach and take a look at this oddity of a man who lived on locusts and wild honey. They liked to see and hear this man talk and yet their listening did not go very deep. Soon that brilliant light was extinguished and beheaded and nobody worried much about it. They went to see this odd creature for a season, for a while, and rejoiced in his message but that was all -- no one fought to save his life and preserve that message. We are often like these people too. Our ears itch to hear something new about religion or our salvation. Sometimes we go a long way to hear some new way of explaining how man can be saved. But if these preachers do not offer Christ Jesus the Lamb of God then our long trip was wasted. We have to beware lest we become as these Jews. They did not fight to save the messenger from God -- they were indifferent. Let us beware lest we take God's Word for granted and become sluggish in defending it.
Now Jesus introduces His second witness.
The first proof Jesus offers as testimony that He is truly God's Son was that of a human being, John the Baptist. This next witness is greater than John.
[verse 36] "But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me."
The great works Jesus does are the basis for the second proof. And why are these works greater than John? Simply because God could do or has the power to do these works. When Jesus was born He had certain things to do upon this earth. Before He was to return to His heavenly Father He was to finish these works completely. "For the works which the Father hath given Me to finish," Jesus says. What works are these that Jesus must do? First of all He is to lead a life free from sin -- for us, and after He has done that He must die for sin -- not His sin, but the remarkable thing is that He is to die for our sin. Truly Jesus is our only Savior, truly He is the Son of God. We are all born with and in sin as a result of Adam's transgression and the more we try to get out of our sins by trying to lead an outwardly perfect life or by telling ourselves we are not so bad after all the more we bog down in the mire of self-righteousness. We sinful human beings indeed needed someone greater than another human being -- like John the Baptist -- and yet this Savior would have to be of the human race because God demands payment of man's sin by man himself. And the fact that He, Jesus, was this person was the thing He wanted to drive home to those Jews with these words, "...The same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me."
The works Jesus is pointing out are the things He was doing among the people right at the time He is talking with them. These works are so powerful and great that they should have opened the eyes of all as to who He really was. Who could feed five thousand people with a handful of bread and a few fishes? Certainly all these superhuman acts or miracles bore eloquent testimony that Jesus was greater than any living mortal. The tremendous power to do these things must come from God, yes, God Himself must be doing them. "...The same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me," Look, everyone who doubts that Jesus is the Christ, look at His works they fairly shout to us: "Jesus, He is the Son of the living, the Almighty God."
Immediately upon this proof Jesus places the third and the clinching proof He is truly God's Son. We will note that as Jesus proceeds with these witnesses each one becomes greater and greater. First the human witness of John the Baptist, then the works Jesus has from the Father to finish -- works that prove Him to be sent by the Father, and now the greatest witness possible, the Father Himself.
"And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me." [verse 37]
Ever since the dawn of creation God had borne witness that He would send a Savior from sin. The entire Old Testament talks of nothing but the promised Messiah. All the prophets wrote about Jesus and preached that He, Jesus, was the Messiah. For four thousand years the World of men waited for the star of Bethlehem and finally when the fulness of time was come God sent forth His Son into this world ...to redeem men from sin. Even the angels, the messengers of God, rejoiced in song and praise on the day the Savior was born.
But not only by the Word of the prophets did God make His Son known but He Himself spoke from heaven on two occasions and told the earth "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." [Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5]
And yet in spite of the fact that the "Father Himself, which hath sent Me, hath borne witness of Me" Jesus says --
[verse 37-38] "Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not."
What a terrible condemnation this is on those unbelievers. We might ask: did they not hear God's voice -- the Word read in the synagogues -- did they not see God's heart revealed in the person of Jesus Christ? Yes. They saw Him and heard Him but upon seeing and hearing they remained blind and deaf. Although they saw and heard the gracious will of God with their eyes and ears, they remained totally blind and stone deaf in their hearts as to the meaning of the things they learned. It is as if they sewed their eyes shut and stopped up their ears and were consequently groping for the truth and never finding it. Since their spiritual senses of sight and hearing were so drugged the Word of the Lord fell away from them because it had no way of entering into the heart. "And ye have not His Word abiding in you." It can never abide in them because of unbelief -- "For whom He hath sent, Him ye believe not."
Applying these words to our lives today we can see how important it is to keep our faith centered on Christ. Eternal salvation is based on the fact that Christ Jesus did come from God upon this earth to die for our sins. God has talked to us by the voice of His Word and shown us what He looks like in the form of Jesus. However Satan always tempts us to look somewhere else for our salvation. He tells us to be upright people and God will reward us, or join this organization or that and be one with your fellow man, after all that is what is important. Whether this group or that group drags in false religion -- so what, a little bit will not hurt us. It is when the devil causes us to think along such lines that we are beginning to close the eyes and ears of our hearts and soon we, too, will be groping for the truth and become enmeshed in the swamp of doubt. Thank our Lord Jesus that we still have that Word of grace, preserved for us through that grace. And may the Holy Ghost preserve our faith strong and radiant in the knowledge that Christ Jesus is truly the Son of the living God.
Amen.
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v V v
God's Word is our great heritage - And shall be ours forever;
To spread its light from age to age - Shall be our chief endeavor.
Through life it guides our way,
In death it is our stay.
Lord, grant, while worlds endure, - We keep its teachings pure
Throughout all generations.
Amen.
(The Lutheran Hymnal #283)
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The New Age Movement
(continued from July-August ILC Journal)
III. The New Age Movement's effects on some groups that call themselves Christian Churches
Many NAM teachings have been embraced by churches which call themselves Christian and we will examine a number of these. (Please refer back to section one of this paper for details on the NAM teachings, and Scripture proof refuting the NAM's false doctrines.)
The first false NAM teaching that we will examine as propounded by some churches which call themselves Christian is the DENIAL of the TRUE GOD– the denial of the orthodox Biblical doctrine of the Holy Trinity. So-called "Christian Science" denies the true God and holds to pantheism, the notion that all is God. Mary Baker Eddy can be called the founder of Christian Science, and she wrote a book called "Science and Health" which is regarded by her followers as the "Key to the Scriptures". "Science and Health" has this to say about God: "God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principal... Life, Truth, and love are the triune Principal called God."29
The doctrine of the Holy Trinity is also denied in the official teachings of the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). The primary theological textbook used in ELCA seminaries is "Christian Dogamatics, by Braaten/Jenson" and it says (vol.1 pg.155): "Truly, the Trinity is simply the Father and the man Jesus and their Spirit as the Spirit of the believing community."30 Dr. Paul Jersild, an ELCA professor wrote in his book "Invitation to Faith": "The formulation of the Trinity as a doctrine is not found in the New Testament. It was hammered out during the fourth century in what is called the Trinitarian Controversy... nor is the language of the fourth century dogma to be regarded as sacred and absolute."31 The same type of anti-trinitarian stand can be viewed in many churches and denominations today because liberalism has permeated the vast majority of seminaries and Bible schools.
The second false NAM teaching which we will examine, that is held by some churches calling themselves Christian, is the DENIAL of Holy Writ's teaching concerning the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Seventh-day Adventism has a decidedly different view of the Person and work of Jesus Christ than does orthodox Christianity, "...the Adventists teach that Christ took a polluted human nature: 'In His humanity Christ partook of our sinful, fallen nature. If not, then He was not made like unto His brethren, was not in all points tempted like as we are, did not overcome as we have to overcome, and is not therefore, the complete and perfect Saviour man needs and must have to be saved' (Bible Readings for the Home Circle, 1915 ed., p.115). 'Our Saviour took humanity, with all its liabilities. He took the nature of man, with the possibility of yielding to temptation' (Ellen G. White, The Desire of The Ages, p.117). ...'we dissent from the view that atonement was made upon the cross' (Fundamental Principals, p.2). ... 'Before He takes His throne as King, He will make the great atonement... and their sins will be blotted out' (Fundamental Principals)."32
The Scriptural doctrines concerning the Person and work of Jesus Christ are also denied by the ELCA. Christian Dogmatics by Braaten/Jenson (vol.1, pp.71, 528, 529), the primary theological textbook used in the ELCA's seminaries, states: "...ecclesiastical dogmas are not to be found in the Bible, but are products of a later time. In the age of Christendom, the dogmas of the Trinity and Christ, as formulated in the Nicene and Athanasian creeds, were necessary to believe for salvation. Now the biblical critics could apply the Scripture-principle of Protestantism to show that these dogmas lack solid biblical support... The story of Christ in the Gospels is a mixture of historical events and mythological symbols. The purpose of the myth is to interpret the significance of the events... Myth and its symbols are indispensable to express the reality of God in the person of Jesus."33 God's Word has something to say to all such blasphemous unbelievers: "Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God." (John 8:42-47)
What is the official teaching of the ELCA regarding Jesus' vicarious atonement, Jesus paying for the sins of the world with His holy, precious blood? The ELCA's primary theological textbook, Christian Dogmatics by Braaten/Jenson informs us: "...Scripture never speaks of God as one who has to be satisfied or propitiated before being merciful or forgiving. Jesus himself, though he might have and quite possibly did reckon with a violent death at the hands of his adversaries, seems not to have understood or interpreted his own death as a sacrifice for others or ransom for sin. Such interpretation apparently came as the result of later reflection... A new understanding of the nature of that sacrifice is demanded..."34 It should not now be a surprise to the reader to learn that the ELCA officially denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus too. A primary ELCA adult Bible study program called "Search", reports in its unit six Leader's Guide (pp.75-76), by Dr. Donald H. Juel: "The Gospels include only a small portion of what we know was a large collection of Easter stories... They were telling the good news for their particular audience. These accounts were not meant to be journalistic reports of facts."35 The Scriptures in many places teach the very doctrines that the unbelievers deny! For example, 1 John 4:9-10 relates: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." And, Hebrews 9:22-28 declares: "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Therefore, we see that in essence the official position of the ELCA is to deny that the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds state the truth of the Holy Scriptures and to deny the Words of the Bible itself! The official position of the ELCA and others which share their beliefs is thus shown to be NEW AGE and UNCHRISTIAN.
The third false NAM teaching and practice held by some churches which call themselves Christian is syncretism, also known as religious unionism or the ecumenical movement. Religious unionism is joint worship and church-work between churches and church-bodies that are not in doctrinal agreement. Unionistic practices are very common today as can be seen if you look at the church page in just about any local newspaper. Joint worship services during the holidays are very popular. United "mission work" such as food and clothing drives, quilting clubs and so forth are frequently advertised. Open Communion and pulpit swapping between various denominations has become common. Look around and you will see liberal Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Community Churches, and many others worshiping and working together, despite the fact that Holy Scripture commands, "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them." (Romans 16:17) Already in November of 1980 a newspaper reported a joint worship service between ALC Lutherans, LCA Lutherans, and Roman Catholics.36 A 1974 Christian News article described and photographed a unique joint worship service in Deltona Florida, where Jewish and Christian congregations worshiped together using the cross and the Torah, temple prayer books and Christian hymnals.37 Even so-called 'conservative' Lutheran bodies are practicing unionism; for example, according to a 1995 Christian News letter to the editor, the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod), the LCMS (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod), and the ultra liberal ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) were working closely on evangelism and worship, and then the same article went on to state that "WELS and the LCMS are also working together with ELCA on the Joy religious radio show and the Church Membership Initiative."38 Yes, New Age principals have made rapid headway into many churches which call themselves Christian.
What is the common denominator or main reason for the promulgation and acceptance of NAM beliefs within many churches which claim the name "Christian"? The rejection of the authority of God's Word and the acceptance of substitutes such as a pope or a claimed direct revelation of the Spirit. The throwing aside of the Holy Bible in favor of other "authorities" is in itself another NAM teaching! "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20) "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you." (Deuteronomy 4:2) "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Romans 15:4) Again and again God directs us to His infallible Holy Word and commands us not to tamper with it by adding or taking away from it!
God instructs and warns: "The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour. Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 23:28-32)
With the foregoing words of Scripture in mind, the next point to be considered in this paper is how NAM terminology and doctrines are reflected in modern Bible translations. That statement may shock a few readers at first, but its truth will be demonstrated shortly. Be aware that I am not saying that all the people who worked on the new Bible translations purposely used New Age wording – only God knows who did – but quite frankly, in my opinion, most modern Bible translators didn't know what they were doing in most facets of their work. Be that as it may, examples of NAM terms and teachings in modern Bible translations will follow after a few introductory remarks.
Earlier in this paper the reader was informed that spiritualism is a practice which New Agers dabble in. Interestingly, "The Greek text used to translate the NIV [New International Version], NASB [New American Standard Bible] and others was an edition drastically altered by a Spiritualist (one who seeks contact with the dead through seances), who believed he was in the "new age" [Arthur Westcott, The Life and Letters of Brook Foss Westcott, Vol II (London: Macmillan and Co., Limited, 1903), p.252]"39 If the Westcott & Hort Greek text is compared with the Nestle/Aland 27th edition (which is the most modern Greek text currently in print) very little difference between the two actually exists– the word count of both is considerably less than that of any edition of the Greek Textus Receptus. Furthermore, the shortened Greek texts are united in deleting and changing a great number of passages concerning the deity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember, the NAM does not think much of Jesus because they believe that there are many ways to heaven, despite the fact that Jesus says: "...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6)
NAM spokespersons want their unionist "one world religion" and they aim to have it by changing the Bible. "New Age leader, Vera Alder, forecasts: 'From all archaeological archives... and the illuminations of modern science and discovery... the Research Panel would develop a new 'Bible' of a World Religion which will be the basis of future education.' [When Humanity Comes of Age, p.39] To equalize the pagan and 'Christian' elements in this synthesized religion, two groups of documents arise. Toward a World Religion for a New Age reveals: 'In this century religious data previously unavailable has been found. Among these are [1] the Dead Sea Scrolls, [2] Christian writings deleted from the bible during the 4th century. Probably much of this knowledge could be advantageously used in synthesizing the major religions with a World Religion for the New Age.' [cited in Dark Secrets of the New Age, p.182]"40 Hence it is evident that a "Bible" that would be acceptable to ALL religions and persons is a New Age goal, and in order to accomplish such a goal any wording considered offensive must be deleted.
In the past, the Lord has dealt with the NAM type of attitude that people had towards Him and His Word, for He instructed Isaiah to write: "Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant." (Isaiah 30:8-13) Rest assured that when the time is right the Lord God will deal appropriately with the New Agers who despise Him and pervert His Word, just as He dealt with rebellious Israel.
NAM founders, leaders, and sympathizers hate the King James Version of the Bible. Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, cofounder of the Theosophy movement, which was forerunner to the New Age Movement, wrote of the KJV: "The English translation of the bible can never be relied upon. [The Secret Doctrine, Vol. II, p.798, The Theosophical Publishing House, London, 1893]"41 Professor Armin J. Panning of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) denounced the KJV with the following words: "The number of modern translations available today is eloquent testimony that we have passed the day when one version will be accepted by all English-speaking people as the authorized version... Among the reasons given for producing modern translations, there is invariably included some reference to the difficulty of the KJV English... Another claim made for modern versions is that they reflect an updated text. Particularly for the New Testament a great number of Greek manuscripts have been discovered since 1611. Generally where the manuscripts differ, the more recently discovered texts tend to be shorter than the Received Text (Textus Receptus) which underlies the KJV. Hence some passages included in the KJV do not appear in the modern translations... Also, there has been progress in understanding the original languages... strides have been made in understanding the Greek way of thinking... fortunately the weaknesses in translation which the KJV displays do not affect its doctrinal content...".42 Thus we see a conservative (?) WELS professor praising the modern Greek texts and new translations while declaring the KJV's English "difficult" and the translation as having "weaknesses". (The claims of "difficulty" in the KJV English will be addressed shortly)
The conservative (?) WELS suggests that the NIV is a better Bible translation and suitable replacement for the KJV. Professor John C. Jeske of the WELS did not have one negative comment to make about the NIV in his review of it; he says: "The NIV is a fresh translation of the Bible from Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek... The beginnings of the NIV go back to 1965, when a group of biblical scholars met in Chicago... They were convinced that the archaic language of the King James Version was making it unacceptable for communicating the gospel in the 20th Century... The NIV will be as useful for liturgical purposes as it will be for private devotion and study."43 The fact is that the NIV is one of the poorest translations to ever see the light of day! The NIV is based on the Westcott/Hort type of Greek text in the New Testament and its Old Testament is based on a variety of sources, so the NIV has a faulty foundation as well as being chock-full of paraphrase. For those readers who are not familiar with the NIV's manifold shortcomings, I urge you to acquire a copy of the book "Comparisons", which has been reprinted by the ILC.
It is often said that the KJV is difficult to read because of so-called "archaic" language, and such comments are meant to infer that modern Bible translations are easier to read, yet the reverse is actually the case– and that is not just my opinion. It has been scientifically proven that the KJV is actually easier to read than most modern versions of the Bible! Educators and departments of the U.S. government use certain computer programs to determine the readability of written material. Computers do not have the biased opinions that human beings have, so the results are indeed scientific. Readability programs that indicate the Flesch-Kincaid level, the Flesch Reading Ease level, and the Gunning's Fog index were used in several studies to examine the KJV, the NIV, and other modern Bible translations. The KJV scored at or near the top in every test for reading ease!
Donald A. Waite, Jr., B.A., M.A., M.L.A., is one gentleman who conducted such research as mentioned above, and in the conclusion of his well documented and supported book he says: "The average KJV word is short. The entire KJV averages 1.31 syllables and 3.968 letters per word. This word length puts the KJV in the same readability category as children's books... 88.30% of the KJV's words (first) contain six letters or less. For the NT 97% of its words (first tie) contain eight letters or less. The KJV's average sentence, although moderate in length, is within Pro-scribes guidelines for 'clear and effective writing.'... The KJV did extremely well in the average, four program, Entire Bible scores... No other version did as well over-all in the entire Bible readability scores– none! ...In the 66-book averages, the KJV again did extremely well. The F-K average was 6.20 (first tie). 63.3% of its book scores were first or second places (NIV=37.9%). The GFI average was 8.63 (first)– 71% first or second (NIV=40.9%). And its FRE average was 78.73 (first)– 62.1% first or second (22.7% NIV). Again not a single version equaled or surpassed this excellent record."44 So, do not buy into the unsubstantiated rhetoric of liberals, modernists, and New Agers!
We will now look at some examples of New Age phraseology in the NIV and the NASB and contrast their wording with the wording found in the KJV.
NIV Luke 11:2-4 He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'[?] Father, [?] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. [?] Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.[?] '"
KJV Luke 11:2-4 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Comment: Notice how the Lord's prayer is butchered in the NIV. In the NIV the reader no longer knows what "Father" is meant. New Agers believe in a "Father", as Helena Petrovna Blavatsky wrote: "Satan the serpent of Genesis... the real creator and benefactor, the Father of Spiritual Mankind."45 Deliverance from evil is not something the NAM and its adherents want, for they do not see things as black and white (good and evil) but rather as one big grey area.
NAS Luke 10:16 "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."
KJV Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
Comment: The NAS does not want God referred to as "him", despite the fact that the Greek here is masculine and not neuter. New Bible translations unite in replacing male pronouns with neuter terminology in many places when referring to human beings or to God, and the term "the One" is one of their favorites (not to be confused with "the Holy One", which is a correct translation in some Bible passages). "New Age author Naomi Goldenberg asserts: 'God is going to change... we women are going to bring... the end of Him.' ...The One must move from the avante garde fringe to the very heart and mind of society. The whole society must be brought into harmony with the One as the New Consciousness produces the New Age. [Unmasking the New Age, p.51] ...If 'The One' does not come from the original Greek or Hebrew, what is its source? The Encyclopedia of Mysticism and Mystery Religions... unravels the 'mystery': ONE: Term for the ultimate... in many mystical religions and philosophies."46 Thus we see a New Age term, "the One", used throughout the new "Bibles".
NIV Revelation 1:18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
NAS Revelation 1:18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
KJV Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
See previous comment!
NIV Matthew 11:3 to ask him, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?"
NKJV Matthew 11:3 and said to Him, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"
NAS Matthew 11:3 and said to Him, "Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?"
KJV Matthew 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
See previous comments!
NAS 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.
NIV 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.
KJV 1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
See comments following the next set of passages.
NAS Ephesians 5:5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
NIV Ephesians 5:5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-- such a man is an idolater-- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
KJV Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Comments: The words "fornication" and "whoremonger", which definitively label sex outside of marriage as SIN, are removed from most of the new "Bibles" and replaced with the vague and subjective term "immoral". "One New Age group calling itself New Christianity, writes in its newsletter... 'Our ministry isn't into sin, guilt, disease, or pain. This group is formulating their own new code of ethics.' Robert Muller, New Age spokesman, concurs, calling for a: 'new code of behavior which will encompass all races, nations, religions and ideologies.'"47 "...The words moral and immoral (according to custom and not according to custom) are an affront to God. They imply that man himself can determine what is good and what is evil. ...The Hindu Bhagavad Gita 'teaches supremacy of freedom over morality.' Its dialog between Arjuna and Krishna concludes: 'there can be no absolute moral values because all things are changing, evolving. A particular moral value represents only a particular perspective offered by a particular time at a particular level of evolution.'"48 Hence, the New Age terms used in the new "Bibles" remove the absolute moral standards which the Almighty Triune God demands! "Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes." (Deuteronomy 12:8) "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise." (Proverbs 12:15)
NIV Proverbs 21:21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
KJV Proverbs 21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Comments: New Agers promise health and wealth, a better "Age" on this earth– the NIV promises the same thing. Religious leader Pat Robertson has said: "Poverty is a curse that comes on those who either have not served God properly, or who are not following certain laws of God or are temporarily in transit to one of God's destinations [Pat Robertson, Answers, Christian Broadcasting Network, Partner's edition, p.155]."49 The Lord Jesus Himself was not rich in money and goods– "And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." (Luke 9:58) So, apparently Pat Robertson, the NAM, and the NIV don't think much of Jesus Christ!
NAS Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
NIV Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.
KJV Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comments: The new "Bibles" and the NAM have many "saviors" to give you! To them Jesus Christ is just "a" savior, one of many. "Talks with Christ and His Teachers by Elwood Babbitt reports an entity calling itself Jesus Christ, appeared and said, 'I am not the Savior; for each man is a Savior within himself.'"50 Conversely, true Christians know that Jesus is "the" Savior, the only true Savior from sin, death, the devil, and hell. The Bible declares: "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God." (1 John 4:14-15) And, speaking of Jesus Christ of Nazareth Acts 4:12 relates: "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Bible believing Christians know that their Savior is true God and true man, the only begotten Son of the heavenly Father: "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1 John 5:20)
The NAM's effects on some groups that call themselves "Christian" has been briefly demonstrated. It has been shown that much of the NAM's agenda is encouraged and promulgated in the new Bible translations on the market, and that through such false "Bibles" New Age beliefs have entered many professed Christian churches. This brings us to the concluding section of this paper:
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IV. The response that true Christians are to have to the New Age Movement
Christians must be aware of the New Age Movement as it is just one more sign of the times, and Scripture warns us: "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also." (1 John 2:18-23) But, Christians are not to be uncontrollably alarmed, that is, we are not to be in a state of panic. Our Lord is much stronger than any attempts of the devil and sinful men to overthrow our faith. We must remember the words of Elisha the prophet, for they apply even today amongst Christians: "...Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them." (2 Kings 6:16) God's army of heavenly hosts is at His disposal as always, so we should continually pray for protection from all evil.
We must remain on our guard and be spiritually healthy. And how do we stay spiritually healthy? By continuing in God's Word and Luther's doctrine pure. English speaking Christians must adhere to the faithful translation of God's Word as found in the King James Version of the Bible, because we need to feed upon God's pure Word without the poison admixture of man's philosophy and sinful reason. We are to, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (1 Peter 2:2-3) The sour-word-milk of modern Bible translations will ultimately harm the Christian who drinks it. The apostle Paul advises, 2 Timothy 1:13, "Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Stay with the form of sound words, stay with the KJV!
Having the true Bible's sound words, we need them rightly divided, that is, we also need to remain sound in doctrine and to proclaim it to others. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." (2 Thessalonians 2:15) "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16) The Bible advises, 1 Timothy 4:16, "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee." And in Ephesians 4:14-15, "...be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love...". By testifying to the full truth of God's Word – witnessing for Christ – we can touch those who have been engulfed by New Age principals and thought, and hopefully help rescue them from eternal ruin.
Just having the true Bible and the true doctrines drawn from it is not enough– we must make diligent use of them! Personal study of God's Word, faithful attendance at divine worship services, Sunday School, and Bible classes, are all things that should be done if one wishes to remain spiritually healthy and avoid being easy prey for the New Age Movement or any other cults and heresies. Scripture urges: "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of." (2 Timothy 3:14) The Lord Jesus says: "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (John 5:39) "...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) "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) Furthermore, Holy Writ instructs: "O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth." (Psalm 96:9) "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (1 Chronicles 16:29) "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:23)
The Christian must take his spiritual health seriously, as 2 Peter 1:10 relates: "...brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall." We need to pray for strength to remain steadfast in the truth: "Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Luke 21:36) "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2) We need to pray for the victims of the NAM and all of the other lost, that they would come to a knowledge of their sins and repent of them, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, as we learn from 1 Timothy 2:1-6, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." God truly wants all men to be saved. We must do all that we can to spread the message of sin and grace, such as: support true Law and Gospel preaching and teaching with prayers and gifts; spread the Word with Scripturally sound tracts and personal witnessing; and invite others to attend worship services at one of our orthodox, confessional Lutheran, Bible teaching Churches.
The response that the true Christian is to have to the NAM finally boils down to this: personally cling to Jesus Christ in true faith as your Savior and Lord, and share Him in truth with others. "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." (Hebrews 4:14) The Lord Jesus sums up our mission in Matthew 28:19-20, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 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. Amen."
Knowing what the New Age Movement is, knowing what the NAM's effects are on society and in groups professing to be Christian Churches, and knowing the response we are to have to the NAM; let us be about the true God's business.
m.e.l.
(bibliography)
29) The Teachings of Christian Science, by John H. Gerstner, pp.20-21, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI
30) What's Going on Among the Lutherans?, by Patsy A. Leppien and J. Kincaid Smith, pg.102, Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee WI
31) ibid., pp.102-103
32) The Teachings of Seventh-day Adventism, by John H. Gerstner, pp.17-18, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids MI
33) What's Going on Among the Lutherans?, pp.97-98
34) ibid., pp.107-108
35) ibid., pg.115
36) Wisconsin State Journal, Monday November 24, 1980
37) Christian News encyclopedia, vol.2, pg.1684, Missourian Publishing Co., Washington MO
38) Christian News, May 1995, (letter written by a WELS Pastor)
39) New Age Bible Versions, by G.A. Riplinger, pg.2, A.V. Publications Corporation, P.O. Box 280, Ararat VA
40) ibid., pg.30
41) ibid., pg.50
42) Bible Translations, pp.9-12, Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee WI
43) ibid., pp.29-31
44) The Comparative Readability of the Authorized Version, by D.A. Waite, Jr., pg.80, The Bible For Today Press, Collingswood NJ
45) New Age Bible Versions, pg.63
46) ibid., pp.76-77
47) ibid., pp.152-153
48) ibid.
49) ibid., pg.166
50) ibid., pg.266
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LORD, OPEN THOU MY HEART TO HEAR
Lord, open Thou my heart to hear
And through Thy Word to me draw near;
Let me Thy Word e'er pure retain,
Let me Thy child and heir remain.
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Thy Word doth deeply move the heart,
Thy Word doth perfect health impart,
Thy Word my soul with joy doth bless,
Thy Word brings peace and happiness.
(TLH #5)
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Almighty God, Thy Word is cast - Like seed into the ground;
Now let the dew of heav'n descend - And righteous fruits abound.
Let not the foe of Christ and man - This holy seed remove,
But give it root in ev'ry heart - To bring forth fruits of love.
Let not the world's deceitful cares - The rising plant destroy,
But let it yield a hundredfold - The fruits of peace and joy.
Oft as the precious seed is sown, - Thy quickening grace bestow
That all whose souls the truth receive - Its saving power may know. Amen
TLH #49
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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)
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