The Bible, History Chan. Series

There were a few discrepancies in the History Channel’s Bible series. Though there may be some who probably would not notice there are others who would. Clearly not everyone is interested in the reading of the scriptures and I must say that a few years ago I would not have been interested either. However, there are some who are interested in truth and if truth matters, it should be demanded in full! My advice would be to read the Bible for the true and full story. Other than the issues I found, I enjoyed the scenes that did correspond with how the Bible narrates the stories.

Though I’m sure they cannot get every story or detail and will eventually add to certain stories to capture the viewers attention, if they do focus on a certain story they should get the story right or complete as the Bible states. f.e. and I know this may be the least of things to worry about them not adding to their script but what did Lot truly say to the mob? “Behold, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please. Only do nothing to these men, for they have come under the shelter of my roof.” Gen 19:8. They only had him say “these men are my guests…”

Though there may be what we think are controversies, they are written and deserve to be known. I encourage you to watch the series with a Bible in hand.

Now let’s see what the next shows have in store for us.

Some things we should look for is how they portray God. Will they portray Him as Soveriegn? as a “Force”? or what? Will they portray man as sinful or good? What of the diety of Christ? Clearly the O.T. points us to Christ, so how will this series do that?

To Judge or not to Judge

This passage, though it may appear too many that it is actually commanding us to refrain from judging, it is not! It is actually commanding us to not judge unjustly.

Allow me if I may to direct you to the picture above ^^^ Imagine this Highway was church because Christ is speaking to His “followers” here. So what if I was driving next to this man (it was a man I drove right pass him) and I had a bigger piece of wood sticking out of my car flapping back and forth untied and I seen this guy on the road and judged as follows, would I be a hypocrite?; { Man, why are you so careless? You need to be careful about what you are doing, are you not thinking? } See? That is being unjust because I have one sticking out of my car as well flapping back and forth. Now if I had mine fixed and I said { hey man just a thought cause I don’t think the way you have that wood sticking out like that is a good idea, you should tie the wood somewhere cause you never know if that would keep it from flying out the window and hurting someone trust me I am speaking from experience! } You would probably think I wasn’t judging but rather helping the guy out. Right? Well, yeah I would be helping and that is exactly what proper judgment has the capability of doing. It helps people out of their situation, so why shouldn’t we? Now doing it hypocritically is the wrong way to Judge and is exactly what this passage is commanding us not to do. I have to make sure I take care of the piece of wood in my own car before I would unjustly judge the next guy.

I know for years you may have been taught that this verse meant to keep away from judging period as I was, well it doesn’t! But before you cast judgment do make sure that your issue on the subject you are judging others on is cleared up.

Maybe you’re still like no that is not what it means, well let us take a look at Romans 2:1 “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” – See, it means just that! Don’t be a Hypocrite!

We can go on and on but truth is The only One who can reveal The Word to you is God. I pray God does this for you. I pray you desire Him to do so! God’s Word should not be treated as any Ol’ thing! Treasure the Word! Feed yourself the true unadulterated word of GOD!

Know the Truth

What knowledge frees us from! Not that the godless will not attempt to destroy but rather that through the knowledge we have obtained we would be freed from any attack which may ultimately affect our soul. It is clear that this applies to the just, meaning the one who is justified by the grace of God and the knowledge and acceptance of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and not by works righteousness.

“With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.” Proverbs 11:9

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” Mt 24:35

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

Lies

Lies are like sheets. We pile them on to keep us cozy, away from shame, fear of failure, rejection etc. but there soon arises a need for oxygen and we find out that our nakedness becomes exposed. Now all the lies we piled up are a vapor.

If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

That is a promise! HOWEVER He says this first;

¹³ Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

²¹ My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,

The Lord gives!

Proverbs 2 ⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; ⁷ he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

There are so many promises we may attain through keeping His word in our heart and mind. When we allow them to transform our mind and conform it to the mind of Christ. By allow, I by no means mean to say that God is subject to our choice to do so or not. For it is by grace that we have the opportunity to wholeheartedly seek His wisdom and understanding through His word and in prayer through the desire which He himself places in us through the Holy Spirit! Ultimately, if we are chosen He gets us to where we need to be!

 In this case I chose to speak of lies and how they enable the opposite of what God’s word does. They enable fear, failure, laziness, ungodliness, pride etc. which can be classified as sin, all of which keep us far away from God. He does not delight in any of the above mentioned.

 I pray that you choose God’s word which may require dying to your flesh but there is a greater reward if you chose to do so. As Paul writes to the church at Corinth:

Treasure in jars of clay-

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you. Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

(2 Corinthians 4:7-18 ESV)

 

The word of God speaks clearly and for itself. We simply need to be in it! 

Preach the Word

False teachers come to be God’s judgment to those who follow them. In this epistle Paul charged Timothy not let go of preaching the truth. This warning may even be considered as a prophetic word to Timothy  as Paul “there will come a time” (future tense) in which the people will have itching ears and will gather unto themselves teachers that will teach according to their fleshly desires.  

 

2 Timothy 4

English Standard Version (ESV)

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 

{The day of the Lord will come and He will Judge and a grater measure will be used for teachers. James 3:1 The false teachers recognize they have erred and are against God and care less about people being lost. They as well gather unto them like minded people in the hopes that they will not be alone on judgment day! In his manifestation and establishment of His kingdom which is not the kingdom being preached by the prosperity preachers which say that we are to take the kingdom (dominion of such) now! This territory presently belongs to Satan….careful!}

² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 

{The exhortation is for Timothy as well as us to preach the word of truth which is inspired by God! At all times, and not as the false teachers practice by not daring to speak of which is to reprove (preach repentance Acts 3:19 reconciliation), to rebuke (in context this does not stand for casting out demons but to correct and exhort). 1 Tes 5:11 Today, the majority of teachers opt to accept the sins in churches in order that no one would leave the congregation. However the Day of Judgment will come and the blood of them that did not receive the word of God as God intended them to will be over their lives.}

³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 

{The parishioners become bored in hearing sound doctrine (I do not mean to say man made laws which they attempt to impose on people while they themselves aren’t able to uphold for example women wearing pants, make-up, men having facial hair etc.) I speak of the true word of God, that of the precious Grace which we obtain through the sacrifice of Christ through faith in HIM and allows us the opportunity to be partakers on the reconciliation with God 2 Cor 5:18-21. Grace, which we cannot obtain by works but simply by believing in Christ! He chose the low and despised so that no man can boast! 1 Cor 1:28-31 and the Holy Spirit is the one who provokes us to obey and do what Christ would have us do. Again, not salvation through works but us working out our salvation which in turn is for the pleasure of God Fil 2:12-13}   

⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 

{People will give their backs to the truth and will follow lies, false doctrines, myths and will believe to be in the truth when in fact all they do is feed their lust. They quickly forget that the salvation was obtained by faith and not by works or sight. John 5:24 and will go after miracles and mysticism due to their own pleasures. 1 Tim 1:4, James 1:13}

⁵ As for you always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

{Be sober or of sound mind 2 Tim 1:7, endure, Rom 8:18:27 fulfill that which God has called you for.}

⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

{In v 6,7,8 Paul confirms that for him doing the will of God, God receives glory and his life has been pleasing to God. The reward awaits ALL who finish the race in the truth!} 

Compromise

Can be defined as a settlement between two or more things and/or people. Although, at the time it may seem to be the correct thing to do the end result is usually discomforting. If you look up the definition of Compromise it states that it is a “reciprocal modification” now I don’t know about you but when I read that it seems to me to mean bending what I believe to accommodate something I don’t agree with. That means I’m giving up what I believe!? That is exactly what it means! It allows you the idea that you continue to have control of the situation and/or outcome but in reality you do not for you have come to an agreement of sorts in which you are no longer the shot caller of certain circumstances mainly the ones which include the party you compromised yourself with. You gave up that right! So you’ll have to come to another compromise to suit each party in order to be if I may “At Ease” with whatever decision comes forth. Which most likely goes against what you presumed to believe.

I believe that we are destined to our outcome so no matter what we choose to do, say or not do or not say God will lead us to our destined end or beginning whichever way you have been determined.

However, we have been given which I believe is a God given right which is to be FREE to choose! To make our own decisions based on what we believe to be true, at least to our limited understanding of what truth may be. So why not, not settle? Why must we compromise? Why must we dilute ourselves with such things that pollute who we are? Unless, of course we are persuaded and or convicted to have a change of heart as to where we make a stand due to validation, facts, evidence etc! Then and only then will there be no compromise but a complete change in what we believe. And then is when I believe we are in accordance with the perfect will of God and there is no need for Him to step in as His word say “the steps of a righteous man are ordered by God” Psalms 37:23

The last definition provided at Dictionary.com was this: an *endangering, especially of reputation; exposure to danger, suspicion, etc.: a compromise of one’s integrity.

In reading this, part of the definition I see it more as a consequence of such an act! Loss of Integrity! Which is what becomes of our principles when we compromise! So I urge you not to compromise but in the stead of compromising seek to be proven wrong with factual evidence that what you believe in isn’t correct and/or vice versa.

Here is a great truth I believe: 2 Timothy 2:15 – King James Version (KJV) Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

I believe even if you do not agree with me on who GOD is that this truth applies to our everyday life which ultimately point to Gods sovereignty. If we study we will not only show ourselves approved but there will be no standing outside of the truth!

Simply thinking to believe certain information provided by a one sided group should not be what determines where we stand! It should be determined by what we have searched and found to be true to us according to our own research and studies. Why should others get to decide where you stand? Why allow ourselves to be swayed to an extreme we don’t fully understand?

To you I say DO NOT COMPROMISE that which you have researched and found to be true! And if you haven’t researched then do so! Ignorance is no excuse when you and your loved ones are faced with the Creator! Now is the when you must do what you must!