Does the Bible Say???:
When words to the effect of, “as taught in the bible” are used it changes the scenario from dealing with a subjective personal opinion to dealing with an objective searchable theory or teaching which may be scrutinized and proved or disproved. In this case the author wrote, “This is not some philosophy that I have fabricated.” Now we can see if this is so or not.
Did you know that the Bible says, “There is no God”? Yes, the Bible actually teaches that there is no God. Actually it says, “The fool has said in his heart ‘There is no God.’ They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good” (Psalms 14:1).
The fool may say in his heart and out loud whatever she wants. Yet, the wise have the responsibility to check out what the fool says. Mind you, the fool is not always wearing a jester’s hat. Some of the most intelligent people in the world are fools, they wear suits and ties, they write books and teach at universities.
“Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded (or noble) than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:10-11).
When Paul would preach to Jews he would reason with them out of the scriptures (Acts 17:2). The Old Testament was the only scripture at the time. This great intellect, presenting what was surely a very impressive sermon on the Gospel, using the Old Testament and the fact that he himself was a Jew was not enough for the Jewish Bereans. If Paul’s great teaching was found to contradict what scripture already stated the Bereans would not have received his message with all readiness. In fact they probably would have stoned him with all readiness.
The same responsibility is place upon us today (the checking out part, not the stoning part). When we are told, “The Bible says…” we are to see if those things are so. This is not just to say that we look up the verse and say, “Yep, That’s what it says alright.” A passage can be taken out of context as a pretext to a prooftext and made to mean anything, for instance, “There is no God.”
One noticeable thing about the article being commented on was the lack of citations. The author claims to quote the Bible however, this is done without letting us know which book, chapter and verse is being quoted. The citation would make it easier to find the verse right away and check the context. However, the author also makes statements and tells us not only that the Bible says, but that the Bible demands.
If we were face to face with the author we could say “You said the Bible says ‘so and so,’ now show me where it says that.” What we must now do is search the scripture to see if these things are so.
In this case we find that those things are not so. Not only are things in the article pulled out of their context but we find that certain things the author says are in the Bible actually are not there whatsoever.
If we did not see what the Bible actually stated, we would come to the following conclusions from the author’s writings:1) That Jesus, God the Father and Krsna are one in the same.2) That we are to chant Hindu mantras.3) That we are not to kill animals.4) As well as many other false teachings.
5) Moreover, we might teach others that the Bible said so.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty inGod for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments andevery high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”
—2nd Corinthians 10:4-5