So I was looking at this article one day, and I decided that I would click on the video. Wow! I had no clue what I was in for. Now, I know we are getting into political season, or “silly season,” as some call it, but that is not what this video is about at all. We will get bombarded with enough politics in the next ten months. But I want you to hear the spiritual things that are being said. And I want you to pick out some things that just strike you as wrong. Go ahead and make a list. Your list will be different than mine, and that is okay. I want you to use your discernment and write down what you notice. So click on the video and start listening. It’s really short. Just over six minutes long. I am going to put some blank space here in the newsletter, and then I will pick up again with some of the things I noticed.
Here is a list of some of the things that he said:
“I have not read the Holy Book from front to finish, like some of you probably have.” My first question would be, “Why not?” It is the most influential book in the history of the world, bar none, and I literally mean bar none. There is no other book in all of history that comes even remotely close to the impact of the Bible on people and societies, and yet, this man has never read it from front to back? But what is interesting, as you watch, is that you can see where he is headed. He is going to comment on the Bible, even though he has never read it from front to back! This kind of thing happens all the time. So remember, when someone gives their opinion about the Scriptures, ask them, “Have you ever read the Bible, front to back, before?” That plants in their system that they should have done, and should be doing, that.
“Would Jesus have been a Democrat or a Republican?” Think about that for a second. Where is he going with this? Remember, he hasn’t read the Bible before, front to back. How many party affiliations does the Bible give for any people group? This guy, of course, is missing the point of the Bible. He wants to manipulate people into a particular political way of thinking when the Book is about his soul. The Book is about who God is.
“I believe the Bible is a book of parables.” Really? Again, he has never read it from front to back. You will hear this one a lot. If the Bible is a book of parables, then Genesis 1–11 can be dismissed as fables rather than taken as literal truth. The other thing he implies by saying the Bible is made up of parables is that he can interpret it one way, and you and I can interpret it another way, etc. And if truth is relative, then it further implies that there is no real, absolute truth in that Book. That is a very, very dangerous way to look at the Bible.
“We are children.” This can be very deceptive. Some people take this to mean that we are all children of God. The Bible does not say that.
John 1:12
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
When you receive Christ, then you become a child of God.
“The lessons of our party are the lessons of our Bible.” Wait, I thought he said earlier that the Bible doesn’t say Jesus was a Republican or Democrat. So how can he know that the lessons of the Bible are the lessons of his party since he has not read his Bible from front to back?
“He was a carpenter and a teacher, and I bet every carpenter and teacher I know are pretty good Democrats.” His implication is that Jesus was a Democrat. That is where he was heading with this speech after his colleague lost the election. I used to be a high school teacher. Never forget one thing about teachers: teachers teach! That is our job.
John 3:36
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Jesus’ message was about salvation, not about the talking points of a party. The message of salvation is serious business. This is not a game. You don’t play around with the wrath of God.
“You go to your church, and tell people I am a Democrat.” Wait a minute. Is that what the church is for? Isn’t church for the corporate worship of God? Isn’t church for getting to know our Bibles better? Isn’t church where we partake of the Lord’s Supper? Isn’t church where we pray for those who are hurting? I am a firm believer that Christians should be involved in politics, but please don’t ever forget that there is no political solution to a spiritual problem. America does not have a political problem; it has a massive spiritual problem.
“I will work 26 hours a day.” You really want to put that much effort into rebuilding a political party? It sounds like, to me, he needs to take some of his time to read and study the Bible.
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
He is not rightly dividing the word of truth, which is why he is embarrassing himself in this speech. He needs to step back and study. It’s probably a good thing for all of us to do.
“You can say ‘amen’ if you want to.” Mocking God is never a good thing. Ever.
“And God bless every one of you.” What does that mean? That phrase is thrown around at every political event on both sides of the aisle. Or what about the cursory, “God bless America?” Why would He do that when America doesn’t spend much time blessing God?
By the way, what does God’s Word say about God’s Word?
Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Nehemiah 8:3
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.
Ezra knew the importance of God’s law; do you?
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Do you know that other people, besides this gentleman, have gone public with their opinions about the Bible? Let’s see what they had to say:
“I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good of the Savior of the world is communicated to us through the Book. But for it, we could not know right from wrong.” — Abraham Lincoln
“It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” — George Washington, First President of the United States
“That Book (the Bible) is the rock on which our Republic rests.” — Andrew Jackson
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.” — Theodore Roosevelt
“A man has deprived himself of the best there is in the world who has deprived himself of the Bible.” — Woodrow Wilson
“Of the many influences that have shaped the United States into a distinctive nation and people, none may be said to be more fundamental and enduring than the Bible.” — Ronald Reagan
“My advice to Sunday schools, no matter what their denomination, is: Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your heart, and practice them in your lives. To the influence of this Book, we are indebted for the progress made in true civilization; and to this, we must look as our guide in the future. Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people’ (Proverbs 14:34).” — Ulysses S. Grant
“The Bible is worth all other books which have ever been printed.” — Patrick Henry
“The Bible is not merely a book; it is a Living Being, with an action, a power, which invades everything that opposes its extension, behold! It is upon this table: This Book, surpassing all others; I never omit to read it, and every day with some pleasure.” — Napoleon
“This little Book [The Bible] it has said everything there is to be said. Everything is implied and anticipated in it. Whatever one should like to put into words, has already been said in it.” — Mordecai Obadiah
“The New Testament is the very best book that ever was or ever will be known in the world.” — Charles Dickens
“There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history. I have a fundamental belief in the Bible as the Word of God, written by men who were inspired. I study the Bible daily.” — Sir Isaac Newton
“I have known ninety-five of the world’s great men in my time, and of these, eighty-seven were followers of the Bible. The Bible is stamped with a Specialty of Origin, and an immeasurable distance separates it from all competitors.” — W.E. Gladstone
“The Word of God, well understood and religiously obeyed, is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” — A.W. Tozer
“If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” — Daniel Webster
“So great is my veneration for the Bible that the earlier my children begin to read it, the more confident will be my hope that they will prove useful citizens of their country and respectable members of society. I have for many years made it a practice to read through the Bible once every year.” — John Quincy Adams
Let’s take the John Quincy Adams challenge, so we will represent our God and His Word properly. Each one of us needs to read our Bible from front to back this year. No excuses. And what I mean by that is that there are no excuses. If you read three and a half chapters a day of your Bible this year, you will finish the whole Bible by December. It is that simple. Fifteen to twenty minutes a day. Take it to work with you, and read it during your breaks. Take it to school with you, and read it between classes. No excuses. I am also including myself in The John Quincy Adams Challenge, and I will read it from front to back this year.
“In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength.” — Robert E. Lee
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The year 2016 is going to be one of the most amazing years ever on planet Earth. Darkness will prevail in many areas. We need light. Let the true light of God’s Word guide you along His path for you all the days of your life!
Until the nets are full,
P.S. I have been learning some new tricks lately. I was wondering why no one has been rejecting my tracts as of late!
When I am working on my skills, the only safe place around me is the target! I hit everything else besides it!
And please, please remember that if you do not read your Bible front to back this year, there will be some major, major consequences!
