TWO GREAT ARTICLES

 Check these two prescient articles out on CATHOLIC INSIGHT.

Here are the links

ISSUES WITH TATOOS - so many Christians have or are getting them...

https://catholicinsight.com/tattoos-as-a-spiritual-and-bodily-harm/

GENDER THEORY HAS SPIRITUAL ROOTS - and not good ones...

https://catholicinsight.com/the-gnostic-roots-of-gender-theory/

EISEGESIS

 This introduction comes from "GOT QUESTIONS.org.

Exegesis and eisegesis are two conflicting approaches to Bible study. Exegesis is the exposition or explanation of a text based on careful, objective analysis. The word exegesis literally means “to lead out of.” That means that the interpreter is led to his conclusions by following the text.

The opposite approach to Scripture is eisegesis, which is the interpretation of a passage based on a subjective, non-analytical reading. The word eisegesis literally means “to lead into,” which means the interpreter injects his own ideas into the text, making it mean whatever he wants.

Obviously, only exegesis does justice to the text. Eisegesis is a mishandling of the text and often leads to a misinterpretation. Exegesis is concerned with discovering the true meaning of the text and respecting its grammar, syntax, and setting. Eisegesis is concerned only with making a point, even at the expense of the meaning of words. 

Second Timothy 2:15 commands us to use exegetical methods: “Present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” An honest student of the Bible will be an exegete, allowing the text to speak for itself. Eisegesis easily lends itself to error, as the would-be interpreter attempts to align the text with his own preconceived notions. Exegesis allows us to agree with the Bible; eisegesis seeks to force the Bible to agree with us.

The process of exegesis involves 1) observation: what does the passage say? 2) interpretation: what does the passage mean? 3) correlation: how does the passage relate to the rest of the Bible? and 4) application: how should this passage affect my life?

Eisegesis, on the other hand, involves 1) imagination: what idea do I want to present? 2) exploration: what Scripture passage seems to fit with my idea? and 3) application: what does my idea mean? Notice that, in eisegesis, there is no examination of the words of the text or their relationship to each other, no cross-referencing with related passages, and no real desire to understand the actual meaning. Scripture serves only as a prop to the interpreter’s idea.

I have been finding with increasing frequency that even Evangelical Pastors who claim to follow the Bible are going hook, line, and sinker into EISEGESIS.  They are layering their own ideas over scripture and their own ideas ALWAYS take precedence.  Let's go a widespread one - after all, in one evangelical denomination, they are ordaining a woman every fifteen minutes on average. They trot out Romans 16:7 on Junia and ignore the Greek. They say if a woman was an apostle, she can occupy any position of authority in the church. They cancel out I Corinthians and I Timothy and all other scriptures giving qualifications for leadership. They love Deborah who was reluctant to be a judge - not a woman seeking the position and she never led a church so it is irrelevant! Deborah was successful in the job, but Israel went right back into idolatry so her legacy was truncated.  Even then, note the scripture, "Their oppressors are children, and women rule over them" (Isaiah 3:12) Deborah was reluctant and totally unlike the women today to are ACTIVELY SEEKING positions of rulership over men. Do Evangelicals get baptized for the dead or get baptized for them because of I Corinthians 15:29 which few understand?  Paul was saying people who did this, and if you study it, you will find those doing it then did not believe in the resurrection.  Mormons have practiced this for years.

In Genesis, God made man and then the woman to be his help-mate. Paul told the Corinthians that man was made in the image of God and woman was the glory of man. Paul told Timothy the reason women could not be in authority in the church was that man was created first.  What do they do with the scripture that says an elder must rule his own house well?  Women are not permitted to rule their own house in scripture if they are married. The scriptures are so simple and clear on the matter. All this is considered as nothing because of half of one verse (Romans 16:7) which they butcher. The English Standard Version is so clear - she was known TO the apostles and was not one of them.  If you want to know the Greek, when the preposition "en" is followed by a dative pronoun, it is "exclusive" which the ESV acknowledges.  If it were a genetive pronoun, it would be "inclusive" and she would have been noted as one of the apostles.  Does anyone else remember back to Latin class which has some similarities here?   Some translations simply say "known among the apostles" which the feminists use to bolster their claim. However, they ignore 2 Timothy 3:16 where we learn that ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God. They are not permitted to pick and choose, but that is what those false teachers who practice eisegesis do.  Of course, they dismiss the clear and unequivocal scriptures as being culturally bound and irrelevant today. I have yet to meet even one of those who say that who have really studied the culture of the times when Paul wrote.  Remember when Paul wrote more than once that an elder had to be the husband of one wife? I have heard it said that the scripture meant he could not be polygamous, obviously ignorant of the readily found FACT that the Roman empire stood for monogamy. The Romans allowed some cultural exceptions such as the one that the Jews actually practiced in Levirate marriage. A little research would also show that women were often in spiritual authority in the pagan religions in Corinth and Ephesus, likely even a majority in Ephesus, the hometown of Diana whom they worshipped.  Some say Jesus did not have female apostles among the twelve because of his being culturally bound! Jesus was not bound to anything - he was and is God Almighty. It is blasphemous to make modern feminists more sensitive than the son of God.  I have yet to meet even ONE who is not in spiritual deception - leadership is simply the gateway to all kinds of evil.

How about concepts from gnostic mysticism derived from Zohar from which Kabbalah and promoted by people such as Jonathan Cahn?  Gnostic heresies happened early in the church and we are to have no part in them.  Here is some basic information from Chabad.org which anyone familiar with Christ should be able to discern is 180° opposite from scripture.  His claims on Shemitah and America as a new Israel fly in the face of the fact that GOD initiates covenants with us - we do not initiate them with Him!  In fact that is the single biggest distinctive between Christianity and other religions.

It is important to realize that the Kabbalah is more about losing ourselves than about finding, becoming more other-centered and less ego-centered. The literal translation of the word Kabbalah is 'that which is received.' To receive we must be receptive. We must open ourselves, creating a vessel in which to absorb that which we wish to understand or grasp, and in turn become part of Kabbalah. To open the self to a higher reality, to view the spirit within the matter, to raise our consciousness to the point where our perception of reality is completely changed, and the divine within all creation is revealed.

Generally speaking, Kabbalah is divided into three categories: the theoretical, which concerns itself primarily with the inner dimensions of reality; the spiritual worlds, souls, angels, and the like, and the meditative, where the goal is to train the person who is studying to reach higher elevated meditative states of consciousness and, perhaps, even a state of prophecy through employing the Divine names, letter permutations, and so forth. The third type of Kabbalah is magical, which concerns itself with altering and influencing the course of nature. It also uses Divine names, incantations, amulets, magical seals, and various other mystical exercises.

Cahn also joins a legion of others with prophesies which turned out to be false. The true test of a prophet is that what he says comes to pass. We must reject all who prophesy falsely in the name of the Lord.  Also my friends, we must never follow ANY deviation from God's word. Do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, Satan goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Do not offer yourself up to be his dinner!

WE MUST FINISH STRONG

The Children of Israel loved to complain. No matter what God did for them over DECADES. It was not only the miracle of crossing the Red Sea on dry land. 

Their shoes and their clothes did not wear out. 

God rained down bread from heaven. 

He had many quail descend on them inviting themselves to be killed for dinner. 

He covered them with a cloud to protect them from the heat. 

He gave them a pillar of fire by night. 

Still they complained.

Aaron sinned of course with the golden calf.

He was well aware of his shortcomings but was faithful for DECADES.

Moses was faithful to the word of the Lord for DECADES.

The people tried them constantly.

They complained about water.

They complained that Moses was an autocrat.

They complained about having to move around.

Yet Moses and Aaron were remarkably resilient even though their authority was constantly questioned.

With Canaan close by, with the prior faithless generation dead and gone, there were still complaints.

Moses and Aaron were at their wits end.

Water was sorely needed,

God heard their cries and told Moses to SPEAK to the rock and water would come out.

In the past, Moses was to strike the rock and he did so.

This time is was supposed to SPEAK to the rock.

Instead he with Aaron's full approval, struck the rock TWICE, and water came out.

He told the people that he and Aaron had to get the water out of the rock for them.

They had nothing to do with it - God brought forth the water.

Men are not able to do that.

Yet they took credit.

BOTH Moses and Aaron, despite steadfast and LONG ministries were BARRED from entering the Promised Land. BOTH died in the Wilderness. God was in fact saying, "What have you done for me lately?"  In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul said, "But I keep my body and bring it under subjection: lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a CASTAWAY.  The Greek word translated CASTAWAY is used EIGHT TIMES in the New Testament, and synonyms include REPROBATE  and REJECTED.  Check out Titus 1:16, 1 Timothy 3:8, Ephesians 5:1-21 and Galations 5:16-25.

Many are proud of how they have stood against rebellion and evil all their lives. Yet pride comes before destruction!  Moses and Aaron, for all the good they did, died in the wilderness and could not enter Canaan. Many pastors and other Christians today are compromising right and left. They are conforming to this world rather than being TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of their minds,  This is a life-long process, not a one-time deal.  Like the Eagle, we need to be constantly renewed.  Brothers and Sisters, we have to abide in Christ, and we can NEVER out our stamp of approval that which contradicts the Bible, that which contradicts the character of God, and that which proceeds from our own wills rather than the will of God.

It is great to start strong, but do not be proud -be humble and submit to God so you can FINISH STRONG.  Learn what God has for you to learn, and know that he expects you to remain faithful to him and to walk circumspectly in the free salvation once delivered to the saints.  As James says, we demonstrate our faith by our works.  What we do must be consistent with our profession. The Holy Spirit will be your guide!  Do not grieve him, ignore him, or explain away his very clear written instruction to us in the Holy Scriptures!

FEARING GOD

SO MANY CHRISTIANS do not think the fear of God is a fashionable thing to talk about. They ignore it if not outright despising it.  WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS?

Wholesale deception is one by preaching in opposition to the clear, unadulterated Word of God. They layer their own agenda on the scriptures - feminism, social justice, gender fluidity, partisan politics, personal ambitions - you name it.  In the process they totally ignore CRYSTAL CLEAR scripture and twist others beyond recognition.  It is an abomination before God and is getting so common it is truly scary.

I have been reading Francine Rivers on the life of Aaron.  God wanted to wipe out the Israelites numerous times.  Sometimes it was 250, as the ground opened up to swallow Korah, his family, and his followers. Shortly after it was 14,700 who died of the plague. Why God is allowing all these rebels to live in 2022 is beyond me, but it must simply be his amazing mercy.

We need to be Bereans.  We need to check out even Pastors and teachers we love and admire.  Paul praised them for checking HIM out.  I tell my radio listeners to check ME out!  This is very serious business and we cannot show partiality by letting people we may like and admire slide when they butcher the Bible. We cannot support with our presence or our finances ANY who lead people astray with false teaching.  If God allows, we can try to reason with them, but generally that will not work - they have gotten to that point through ignoring God multiple times that they are set in their errors.  However, if someone simply slips, those who are spiritual should go to them in meekness, considering themselves, lest they also be tempted.

Submit to God, fear him, honor him, and by all means remember that those who teach are worthy of double honor but are also judged more strictly.  If you teach, make sure you have the Lord censor out anything and everything that is not in strict accordance with his Holy Word. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Fear him and you will be wise indeed!