Where Are Our Priorities?

On March 17, 1883 Friedrich Engels spoke these words at the funeral of Karl Marx:

... "Just as Darwin discovered the law of evolution in organic nature, so Marx discovered the law of evolution in human history; he discovered the simple fact, hitherto concealed by an overgrowth of ideology, that mankind must first of all eat and drink, have shelter and clothing, before it can pursue politics, science, religion, art, etc..."

(By the way, I don't consider Darwin's notion of evolution to be a scientific law, but that's a topic for another time.)

Psychologist Abraham Maslow said essentially the same thing in his 1943 paper, A Theory of Human Motivation. He said we need to meet the needs of physiology, safety, love and belonging, and esteem, before we can meet the "higher" needs he deemed as self-actualization which includes morality and religion.

Much of the modern Church is doing the same thing. Often I hear that we must meet people's physical needs before we can even begin to discuss spiritual matters with them. What they're saying, whether they know it or not, is that a full belly is more important than eternal life and salvation.

Before I go any further, let me make it perfectly clear that I'm not opposed to meeting people's material needs. The Bible is full of this kind of example. I simply take issue with Christians who would say (and I've heard this myself) that Jesus wouldn't preach to people without meeting their "felt needs" first. This simply isn't true. Look at these examples:

Matthew 15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

The problem is that unregenerate man has no idea of his need for salvation, so he won't ever come to God on his own no matter how well his fleshly needs are met.

Psalm 53:1-3 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good. (2) God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God. (3) Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

They need to hear the Word of God and be drawn by His Spirit.

Romans 10:13-17 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Word of God (part 4)

Go to Part 1.....Go to Part 2.....Go to Part 3

The Problem with Paraphrases

There are several paraphrase versions of the Bible on the market. The two most popular seem to be The Living Bible and The Message. I'll get right to the point. I personally don't use paraphrases; I think we should be careful to know what God says as accurately as possible. I realize there are no perfect translations since there are always difficulties between any two languages when it comes to translating certain idioms and figures of speech. Even the most literal English translation makes use of some dynamic equivalence; it simply has to be done to make the English readable. Even with very good translations in which the translators have been very careful, there are certain concepts that may not come across as clearly in English as they do in Hebrew or Greek without using a whole sentence or more to explain that one word. That is why I believe it is important to have Greek and Hebrew scholars to aid in our understanding of the original texts.*

Certain Bible versions (such as the NIV) can be said to make a liberal use of dynamic equivalence in which the text is translated "thought for thought." This is in contrast to formal equivalence in which the text is translated "word for word." Paraphrases go a step further in that the writers put the thought in their own words. Many people would say, "Isn't that what a preacher does? He explains the text in his own words." This is true, and it seems to have a biblical basis.

Nehemiah 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

The problem arises when a person is bringing a paraphrase to church. If they were using a strict translation, they could diligently search the Scriptures to verify the pastor's words (Acts 17:11). But if they are trying to follow the pastor with a paraphrase, they are only comparing the words of one man to another. In Nehemiah 8:8 above, the leaders read from the Law distinctly; that is they read the Word literally. Then they gave the sense or understanding. The people therefor had the actual Word of God to compare with what the leadership was saying.

We should also keep in mind what the Bible says about itself.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Psalms 138:2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

Revelation 22:18-19 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (19) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Considering these issues, we can then see how a paraphrase may not be such a good thing. People often use them in order to better understand what the Bible is saying. But we must understand that a paraphrase results in man rewording what God has said. Should we not trust that God has communicated to us in a way that we can all comprehend? Not that the Bible is always easy to read or understand. There are many difficult passages. Even Peter said that some of Paul's writings were hard to understand (2 Peter 3:15-16). I have no problem with books and commentaries that explain the Bible. But the reader should have a good translation of the Bible next to the commentary in order to see if what the writer is saying is scriptural.

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*For example, the English word love is used several times in John 21:15-17. What we don't see is that Jesus is using one word in Greek, while Peter is responding with a different word. In verse 15, Jesus asks, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [Greek: agapao] thou me more than these?" Peter responds, "Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love [Different Greek word: phileo] thee."

The difference which does not show itself in English is that Jesus is asking if Peter loves Him with an all-consuming love; Peter is afraid to commit after his former denial of Christ and responds that he loves Him as one loves a brother. This same sequence happens in verse 16, but when we get to verse 17, something changes (again, not noticeable in English). Jesus stoops to Peter's level and asks, "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest [phileo] thou me?" And this explains the next part of the verse: "Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?"

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Another example is the word another. Reading in English, we see that word only, but in Greek there are two words, and it helps to know which one is used. Allos means "another of the same kind"; heteros means "another of a different kind." This helps us understand Galatians 1:6-7.

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another [heteros] gospel: Which is not another [allos]; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

What Paul is saying is that they had turned to another gospel of a different kind and not one of the same kind. In other words, there is only one Gospel: Jesus Christ and Him Crucified (Galatians 3:1; 1 Cor. 1:23; 1 Cor 2:2)

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Go to Part 1.....Go to Part 2.....Go to Part 3

Are You Washed in the Blood?

Here is another great hymn that points us to the Cross and Christ's atoning death thereon. This one was written by Elisha Albright Hoffman.

Are You Washed in the Blood?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior's side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There's a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

Refrain