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My life (put) alongside God's word. Protecting peace section. Like an injury can fester and become a lot worse than it originally began, so can problems or unpleasant feelings between members of society. If they are not properly dealt with quickly and well, they will multiply inside us. Outside everything may appear fine, but inside life is ebbing away through bleeding or infection. Open the truth for cleansing Archbishop Desmond Tutu, chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa, said: “I hope that the work of the Commission, by opening wounds to cleanse them, will thereby stop them festering . . . True reconciliation is never cheap, for it is based on forgiveness, which is costly. Forgiveness in turn depends on repentance, which has to be based on acknowledgement of what was done wrong, and therefore on disclosure of the truth. You cannot forgive what you do not know”. Every one of us must play our part in making sure that the wrongs of the past in Sudan and South Sudan do not become an unbearable burden on our future or our children’s future. For Christians this is especially true because God’s word says: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you”, Colossians 3:13. When we say, “we cannot forgive someone”, we limit what God can do! He never tells us to do something without giving us the power to do it. Your Christian discipleship depends upon this Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”, Matthew 6:14-15. If Tutu was right then we need to admit, to own up, to our own sins before God and before other people. Our sin may be refusing to forgive those who have wronged us. Yes, I know it is hard. It is tough to be a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. But as we: Bring our own sin into the open, with God’s help Repent – being very sorry for that wrong doing, or wrong thinking Pay the huge internal cost of forgiveness, with God’s help Resolve to leave the past behind, with God’s help Make restitution where needed and possible, with God’s help We can trust God to bring about His will This does not mean any crimes against you do not matter. It does not mean that the offender is excused. It means we Christians choose to let God deal with those who have done these awful things to us. At least we have done what we can to put things right. Beware all infection. A little soon grows into a lot. Treat it now!

My life (put) alongside God's word. Protecting peace section. “See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many”. Hebrews 12:15. “Bitterness” is being very angry when things upset you. The Bible warns bitterness is a root that grows into big trouble if it is not dealt with. The fighting of December 2013 to March/April 2014 has left many South Sudanese with hugely bitter feelings. I have seen many pictures from the Kenana sugar company’s website and read articles about the company in magazines. I have never been to that area of Sudan. I understand that the production area is nearly 280km south from Khartoum, amid the clay plains between the rivers Blue Nile and White Nile. I have seen many Sudanese and South Sudanese putting spoons full of sugar into their tea! Sugar is very sweet! I suggest both South Sudan and Sudan need what I will call: “Kenana Christians” – that is, believing women and men who will choose to reject all forms of bitterness and cultivate loving, kind, gentle, attractively fragrant and pleasant lives. How would others describe you and your life? Would they say you come across as bitter or as sweet? I know it it difficult to live this way, but true Christian living is a life in which I choose against my natural, human reactions, and deliberately choose to live God’s planned way for my life. Our Lord Jesus Christ did say: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself take up his cross daily and follow Me”. Luke 9:23. Meditate also on these other Bible passages: “All are under sin …. their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness”, Romans 3:9 and Romans 3:14. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice”, Ephesians 4:31. “But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it and deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is “earthly” unspiritual and of the devil”, James 3:14-15. Keep thinking about the roots of bitterness every time you stir some sugar into your tea! Ask God to put the sweetness of the Holy Spirit of Jesus into every part of your life. He can. And He will. It is as easy for Him to do so as it is for you to pick up your spoon and stir.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Protecting peace section. “Walwal-tung”. I learned this Nuer greeting so I could use it at the start of one sermon I preached in Khartoum Evangelical Church back in 2002. I wrote it into the front of the Bible I still use today. People loved it when I tried to speak in their language. I also remember the tasty “porridge” they shared with me for breakfast. The great pastor Gabriel I knew from there is now in glory! We will meet again one day. All people are created in the image of God. This is clearly taught in Scripture, Genesis 1:26-27. We are all in the shape, form or pattern of God. “…(man) is the image and glory of God”, 1 Corinthians 11:7. Every person matters to God Since every individual is an “image” of God, each person matters. If you looked into the clean shiny porridge spoon you would see an upside-down reflection of yourself. However, it would not be crystal clear, like in a good mirror. It would be blurred, scratched, deformed in small or big ways. Similarly, the people around us have become poor reflections of the God whose model they were made from. We are no different. Sin stains us all. Humanity’s fall into sin has meant that none of us is perfectly what God made us to be. We must remember this when we are tempted to hate other tribal groups or despise different ethnicities of people. See people the way God does As Christians we must “put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator”, Colossians 3:10. Even when our human brothers, sisters, cousins, or even our children are screaming for vengeance following the awful events of war, as Christians we must choose God’s view of “our enemies”. If God took an attitude of revenge out on us, we would all be on the road to an everlasting hell. Love your enemies “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven”, our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 5:44-45. When we die and arrive in eternity, our heaven or hell destination will not depend on our earthly tribe. Dinka, Moro, Nuba, Arab, English, will not matter at all. The only thing that will matter is have we become more and more like our Father who is in heaven? Are we like Jesus who was God in human form? Forgive whoever sins against you “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”, Matthew 6:14-15. These four choices are yours. Choose to be Christian in how you deal with all other people.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Protecting peace section. In every war there are at least two battles going on. One is being fought with rifles, tanks, bullets and bombs. The other is inside each individual human being – a battle of the mind and will. Christians especially will know the force of the second, while unbelievers may only know the first. We’ll look at Romans 12:21 and our own inner battle. Romans 12 – the sacrifice of the saved In Romans 12:1 Paul teaches that every Christian must make a sacrifice. This is not to make atonement for sin, because our Lord Jesus has done that already. This sacrifice we make is because we are saved people and therefore we are different from all other people around us. This sacrifice is not made in church or temple but in everyday life at home, at work and at play. When we put our own lives, alive, on to the altar of Jesus Christ, we are willing to be different people, God’s people, in Sudan or South Sudan today. Complete change Verse 2 says we are “transformed”. This means to be completely different. As a transformer changes the voltage in a flow of electricity when an electricity generator is used, so God changes us when we live by Christian standards ahead of community standards. We must prioritise our thinking. We must think like God thinks and act like God acts towards life, death, war, peace, revenge, forgiveness, reconciliation and so on. Verse 3 urges a sensible view of ourselves. We are so used to looking at other people, we seldom see ourselves as we really are! Look into God’s mirror. Rightly dislike the wrong Verse 9 commands we must “hate evil”, have a right feeling of strong dislike for any bad things. We must know God’s views on good and evil, and we must make them ours. We must like what He likes and hate what He hates. Verse 10 wants us to see all others in a good and godly way, giving honour to all humans made in the image of our Creator God, not just the easy people! Verse 12 urges the ability to remain calm and not to respond angrily when life’s events are causing you suffering, pain and anguish. Verse 14 ties this especially to persecution. The community may curse, but the Christian must bless. Verse15 asks Christians to enter into the feelings of other people and not to think about themselves. This is developed in verse 16 which uses music to suggest living in tune with everyone else. John Stott writes: “Think the same thing towards one another”. (See his 'BST Romans' commentary). Verse17 rules out responding with like for like, with tit for tat violence etc. R.C.Sproul writes: “I never have the right to do wrong”. (See his 'Romans the Gospel of God' commentary). Let God be God and do not step into His place Verse 18, as far as it is within your responsibility be people of peace, not people of war. Avoid fighting if at all possible. Verse 19, Always remember, only God has the right to take revenge. His vengeance in the course of eternity will be just, right and holy. Only God never makes a mistake. Trust Him. Your bitter feelings will fester like an untreated wound. Surrender your feelings to God your Saviour. He has always responded with good to your evil. Imitate Him. Visualise your Saviour Jesus dying on the cross for your sins. In the present day God sometimes uses the State and the Courts, institutions that He has established, to give justice, see Romans chapter 13. Let them do their work. Verse 20 promotes taking concrete actions to show ‘God-love’ for people who would think themselves your enemies. “Burning coals” may be a sign of them coming to repentance. There was an Egyptian ritual that involved someone literally carrying a burning coal on the head, showing himself to be a repentant sinner. Live the Christian (different) way Verse 21 reads (and perhaps summarises the chapter), “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”. We have seen that the daily conduct of believers is to be very different from those around us. They are spiritually dead. This type of living is not easy, but God never asks us to do something without also giving us the ability to do it. Twice, in verses 3 and 6, Paul writes of God-given grace, the power and equipment for ministry in this way. David Kasali, a Congolese contributor to the African Bible Commentary, writes well. I summarise his points and quote in full his conclusion: Love everyone unconditionally Be willing to forgive, whatever • Focus your mind on the good of the other person Decide to act for the other’s good (And I would add, ask for and by faith receive God’s grace to do this). “If these principles are followed, Africa will be transformed into a community where peace and justice prevails”. Shall we say the same for Sudan and South Sudan?

My life (put) alongside God's word. Protecting peace section. A huge mob of angels crowded into dark space. They shone with God’s glory. They spoke praise to God, Luke 2:13-14. They were responding to the news their spokesperson had just announced: God Himself, the provided Saviour for mankind, was incarnate, Luke 2:11-12. “Peace on earth” was part-promised, part-predicted and part-prayed for, by the heavenly choir. But, being brutally honest, there have been terribly bloody wars before, during and after that momentous first Christmas day. Bombs and bullets from machine guns to mines have shredded God’s glorious banner of “Peace”! Was God wrong? Is the world out of His control? How should we respond to wars around us? This is a big subject. I will only offer some keys opening our minds to God’s ways, so we can try to follow God’s thoughts about this. I started writing this in England, a few days before “Remembrance day”. In several countries of the world, at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month (November) every year, activities stop for two minutes as people remember when guns fell silent, ending the “Great War”, the 1914- 1918 First World War. It is sometimes called, “Armistice day”. Millions of people from all sides died in the fighting. I recall attending very moving services at the British wargrave in Khartoum, the three Novembers I was there. German, Austrian, Italian, friends and officials joined with us as well as “the Allies”. Everyone loses in war. In 1987 a friend of mine had half his face and head blown off while he attended a similar Remembrance service at Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. 11 people died and 63 were injured by the explosion. Later, my friend’s wife said to me, “Jim is no longer the man I married”. He is disfigured and, although a strong Christian, is very, very bitter toward “the other side”. The fight between Republicans and Loyalists – those who want to be citizens of Ireland and those who wish to remain citizens of the United Kingdom – was very violent. I ministered many times in that country during “the troubles”. I heard and saw fighting. Our meeting hall, the old Cinema, Markethill, was once the target of an Irish Republican Army bomb. It blew up. Thank God the place was empty at the time. Today we may think of Syria, Somalia, Israel, Gaza, Afganistan, Ukraine, and sadly among many others, Sudan with South Sudan. A Christian response? What does Scripture say to help us make informed decisions about how to respond Christianly in these situations we may find ourselves in? Let there be no doubt God commanded, and used, wars in Old Testament history. From many examples we could choose, see Exodus 14:23- 31; Numbers 33:50-56; Deuteronomy 1:29-31; 2:31-37; Joshua 1:1-9; 6:20-21; 1 Samuel 15:2-3; 17 & 18:7; 2 Chronicles 6:34-35. However, there is nothing in the Old Testament that tells us we can go to war. How can we kill people made in God’s image? Exodus 20:13; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 9:5-6. Incidentally notice it was under the blessing of peace that Israel and Judah often forgot to worship the true God. See all through Samuel, Kings and Chronicles. Sadly, this has also been true in my country (England) since World War Two ended in 1945. Nowhere has God promised a world without war, this side of our Lord Jesus’ return to earth. In fact, wars are promised by our Lord Jesus! Matthew 24:4-8, note especially verse 6, “see to it that you are not alarmed”. Two other truths must be clearly understood, because they form a foundation for other choices we may have to make. 1. The State is given “the sword”, not the church, nor any individual In Romans 13:1-7 Paul teaches “the authorities that exist have been established by God”. Verse 2 uses the word “instituted”. This means God started human Government. Our Lord Jesus said the same when He told those who questioned Him, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”, Mark 12:17. Government in Jesus’ day, at the time the New Testament Church began, was mainly hostile to Christianity. The secular Roman power and the religious authority of the Jews, both strongly persecuted godly Christians. Yet Paul urged submission to their authority up to the point where, to disobey them would clearly breach God’s code for Christian living. I think the key verse in understanding his writing on this subject is, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good”, Romans 12:21, see vs17-21. See also Romans 13:3-5. In everything obey authorities, but because also God tells us certain things we must or must not do, we have to hold a balance in our lives. Examples are, meeting together, Hebrews 10:25; evangelising outsiders, Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 4:17-20; providing for the social needs of all classes, Luke10:30-37; etc. I also believe that when we disobey the State in order to (as we believe) obey God, we must accept the consequences of our actions. My father was a conscientious objector to fighting in the Second World War. As a result he was enrolled by the British government, without any choice, into the Fire Brigade. His job was to go to bombed areas and put out the fires. Dad saw more “front line” fighting than many soldiers in the British army! He was often sent into danger under the bombing blitzes of several big cities. He took all this as a consequence of the stand he had made. Others suffered much more he did. 2. Defensive war may be justified on occasion, but not offensive war If someone attacked my wife, my children or grandchildren, I think I would fight to protect those I love. I am not usually a fighting man. Put into a situation where I had a responsibility to act, it would be wrong not to do so. This is surely part of husbands giving themselves up for their wives? Ephesians 5:25-29. Jesus said I can “buy a sword” for this, Luke 22:36-38. Our Lord Jesus also said we are to “love our enemies”, Matthew 5:44, and “do good to those who hate us”, Luke 6:27. Both verses are followed by strong commands to pray for those who are against us, however nasty they may be. As Christians we should always want their spiritual good. In Matthew 5:38-39 our Lord tells us our reactions to aggression are to be constructive, towards peaceful relations, not simply seeking revenge. Accept the pain upon yourself. Jesus exemplified this. He could have called the army of heaven to deliver Him, but He submitted to the cross of His Jewish accusers and the Roman authorities. He never called His followers into armed rebellion on His, or on their own, behalf. New Testament writers such as Luke, Paul, James, Peter and John follow this example, even though all they suffered persecution. Paul spent time chained to Roman soldiers, and he witnessed to them! 2 Timothy 2:8-9. This is a clear challenge for us to follow. A Muslim cleric from Somalia defended the attack by Al Shabaab on the Westgate shopping mall, Nairobi, Kenya, September 21-24th 2013. Some think he may have been the recruiter, or at least the inspirer, of those who did it. The BBC broadcast: “It is revenge for the Kenyan government attack on Kismayo, Somalia,” he said. “Western targets are legitimate for us as Western governments torture people in Somalia.” “For the attacker it is allowed in Islam. We cannot be slaughtered everywhere in the world and just sit and cry. We have to react. Islam is not moderate”. This Abubaker followed a Sheikh Aboud Rago, killed (martyred) in 2012. Both believed in, “the religion of weapons”. It is strange to remember our own young people’s ministry at Khartoum International Church was known colloquially as “Al Shabaab”. Names, words, titles, must always be carefully defined and distinguished! How can Christians be positively different to others in our response to armed conflict? Christianity believes in peace through sacrifice. This is how our Leader led us. My twelve suggestions are: Where possible work hard for peace, entering into discussions and negotiations with the other side. Negotiations involve compromise, with each side giving up, sacrificing, something – Matthew 6:19-21. Sacrifice property in order to save people – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. Pray for your government, as you pray for peace – 1 Timothy 2:1-2. Obey your government wherever possible – 1 Peter 2:13-15. Do everything you possibly can to stop war from starting – Hebrews 12:14-15. Test your own desires, lusts and prayers – James 4:1-2. War is not sin as such, but it is an overflow of humankind’s sin against our Holy God. Accept the consequences of standing out for Jesus Christ – Luke 9:23-25. Try to bless your enemy and help him to see God’s love – 1 Peter 2:11-12. God is concerned about all peoples’ souls. Use violence as little as possible, when protecting your own – James 1:19-20; Galatians 5:22-23, especially note “self-control”. Suffer physical defeat, to keep your Christian moral integrity intact – Matthew 5:38-41, this is called “creative resistance” by Samuel Kunhiyop in his African Christian Ethics. See also Philippians 1:29-30. Suffer yourself, rather than be the cause of others’ suffering – 1 Peter 4:12-16. Use alliances with friends on the powerful world media etc. Pressure can be put to bear from one country to another. I had a reply from my Member of Parliament just this morning. I regularly bring to him the situation in the Nuba Mountains, where Anotnov planes bomb almost daily. When I can share facts (and they must be verified facts) from on the ground in Nuba, he has to keep up the British Government pressure on Khartoum because he is my democratic representative – Acts 25:11-12. Two final thoughts: What is a ‘Just war’? John Stott argues for three conditions in his 'Issues Facing Christians Today': “Its cause must be righteous, defensive not aggressive, with a just objective in protecting the innocent”. There must be no personal hatred or uncontrolled revenge. “The means must be controlled, proportionate and discriminate”. There should be less suffering involved compared to if there was no resistance. Lethal force must be controlled, only military can be targets. “The outcome must be predictable”. There must be a reasonable chance of success, within a time frame, so the war will end quickly. What if going to war is the lesser of two evils? For examples: religious tension, confronting a Muslim military take over of South Sudan? Or ethnic tension, stopping the Dinka dominating the Nuer? I am drawing from Stott again, although in 1984 he was dealing with a Communist takeover of the West, whose imaginary resistance released nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union! Before Christians take up arms to fight against this threat, they must consider how much suffering will it bring to civilians on all sides? Is it a price worth paying, and worth our children paying? We must also consider alternatives: how can Christians and Christianity survive and grow under a Muslim-controlled State? Can tribes peacefully coexist? Be creative (as God is) in your thinking. We should ask: “Is it better that we change and “go underground”, and are still able to stand secretly before God, with a clear conscience?” Stott writes: “For in His sight, integrity is yet more valuable than liberty”. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rests”, Luke 2:14. Discussion questions 1. God used wars in the Old Testament, and He even commanded His people to wipe out others. Why can’t we take this as a command for us to do the same today? See introduction point 1. 2. When can you fight? When can’t you fight? Say ‘why’ in each case. Use Scripture where you can. 3. Comment on John Stott’s three arguments for a “Just War”. Do you agree or disagree? Why? 4. Comment on his “Lesser of two evils” approach. Do you agree or disagree? Why? Use Scripture where you can. For further reading see: Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 'Why does God allow war?' Martyn Lloyd-Jones, 'Romans: Life in the Two kingdoms', chs. 4-5. Wilbur O'Donovan, 'Biblical Christianity in African Perspective', p.259-263.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Important Issues for Christians to understand section. by Moses Angupale The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is in danger of evil in these last days. Deception has taken root in the churches. Unfortunately shepherds who take care of the churches sometimes lack the gift of discernment needed to recognise these spirits and flush them out. So cultism and occultism are being practiced in the church of Christ, concurrently devaluing the sound doctrine of the Bible. The two words, cult and occult," sound similar. But while different, they both pose a similar spiritual threat to people, by appearing to be something they are not. Both can cause victims to miss God's loving and free provision for salvation through Christ, and cause folk to face a tragic hell in eternity. Our enemy is Satan, together with his deceiving spirits. The Church must have knowledge of these two vices and of the harm they do. Church denominations have always had their differences, with variations in practice and statements of faith. Some of these differences may not be on core scriptural doctrines, but they still make the adherents point fingers accusing others with different beliefs and traditions of being cults. Confusion among the denominations will be overcome if we have sound doctrine, especially the core doctrines required of Christianity. But cults and the occult are not simply “other Christian denominations”. Dangerously not! Perils of cults being in and near the Church The word “cult” has at least six meanings: (a) A religion or religious sect generally considered being extremist or false, with its followers often living in an unconventional manner, under the guidance of an authoritarian, charismatic leader. (b) The followers of such a religion or sect. A system or community of religious worship and ritual. The formal means of expressing religious reverence; religious ceremony and ritual. A usually nonscientific method or regimen claimed by its originator to have exclusive or exceptional power in curing a particular disease. (a) Obsessive, especially faddish, devotion to or veneration for a person, principle, or thing. (b) The object of such devotion. An exclusive group of persons sharing an esoteric, usually artistic or intellectual interest. (www.thefreedictionary.com/cult). The term is confusing because it is ambiguous, infused with a variety of meanings depending on who uses it and for which purpose it is used. For example, the term “cult” can be used in a theological and/or a sociological sense. The word takes on different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. The theological sense is used when discussing religious differences. A group or movement is theologically a cult if it identifies itself as belonging to a mainstream, recognised religion, and yet rejects or otherwise violates one or more of the essential central teachings of that religion. Essential teachings are those doctrines that define a given religion’s basic essence. Here we talk about what the Bible teaches rather than what the traditions of different churches teach. The sociological sense is used when discussing behaviour or other society aspects. A group or movement may be a cult if it acts in ways that are illegal or otherwise unacceptable in a civilised society. It may not observe acceptable society norms. The writer of this article thinks “cult”, in theological sense we will discuss here, means “churches which destroy basic Christian faith doctrines from Scripture, for the purpose of creating worship for the founder of their sect”. Any system of belief that desires to call itself by the name of a religion, yet by its own beliefs, taught and promoted, either explicitly or implicitly, goes against the core beliefs of that religion whose name they desire to associate with, is rightly termed a "cult" of that religion. For instance, a cult of Christianity would be: “A group of people which, claiming to be Christian, embraces a particular doctrine system taught by an individual leader, group of leaders or organisation, which system denies either explicitly or implicitly one or more of the central doctrines of the Christian faith as taught in the sixty-six books of the Bible (See Alan Gomes, 'Unmasking the Cults'). The Scripture foretold these people and termed them false prophets. Notice they would arise from among God’s genuine people. “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord (Jesus Christ) who bought them – bringing swift destruction on themselves”, 2 Peter 2:1. There have arisen many false messiahs and false prophets in these last days we are living in. Our Lord Jesus warned, “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and show great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect – if that were possible”, Matthew 24:24. The local and national church shepherds must take care to discern those secret and destructive teachings in order to save the elect from the jaws of wolves. Some cults are offshoots of ancient pagan religions that have no similarity to Christianity and therefore are easy to identify. Others falsely try to imitate Christianity, often quoting the Bible and using other Christian terminology. They are much more difficult to distinguish. These latter cults typically exhibit one or more of the traits explained below. Common characteristics of cults For abusive cults the key word is control, control and control! There must be submission to their leadership. Leaders tend to be the absolute end, looked to as prophets of God, as specially anointed apostles. Alternatively, they can be strong, controlling and manipulative personalities, who demand submission, even when they change their views, or if conflicts occur over their own doctrine or behaviour. Sometimes the leader can be looked on as God Himself. Often to obey a leader and follow their teaching is equal to obeying God. Seven characteristics of a cult A church which is “a group that deviates from the doctrines and practices of historic Christianity and has an inordinate loyalty to one leader, whose beliefs are not found in Scripture (as affirmed by historic Christianity)” and which has “leaders or false teachers who often believe that they alone possess the truth”, is “a cult or has cultish tendencies”, even if it only has one of the seven characteristics of a cult quoted by an article in Charisma magazine. (www.charismamag.com/blogs/the-plumb-line/15953) Looking for these signs will help you discern. Cults will often: 1. Oppose critical thinking, versus demanding that people think for themselves. Cult members must accept what the cult leader believes, without ever challenging the doctrines. They do not want their members to think critically for themselves. 2. Dishonour the family unit, versus insisting on the biblical priority of the family unit. Children are taught to be more loyal to the cult leaders than to their parents. Women are taught to be more loyal to the leaders than to their husbands, and husbands are taught to accept this as normal behaviour. 3. Isolate members and penalise them for leaving, versus helping them to do God’s will. Cults isolate their people from their families, the church and society. They reject any who leave and warn them, saying that they will be judged by God or will lose God’s best if they do. People are taught to make lifelong commitments to the group. Some groups teach that their members must get permission before joining another ministry. 4. Seek inappropriate loyalty to their leaders, versus loyalty to and connecting people with Jesus Christ. Cults seek to connect their members to the cult leader. Loyalty is defined as not questioning the leader. It is very dangerous, when the leader cannot be questioned. 5. Cross biblical boundaries of behaviour, versus walking in moral purity and financial integrity. Cults stray across the Bible’s boundaries for Christian living, especially in the areas of sexual immorality and finance. False teachers can be detected by their covetousness and immorality, 2 Peter 2:3-22. 6. Separate from the wider church, versus a culture of honour towards all true believers. Cults operate with an elite spirit, believing that they alone have a special status with God. They have a polarised mentality of “us versus them.” They criticise the larger body of Christ and often claim to be the only ones truly saved. They view all other ministry and Christian denominations as being in error. 7. Emphasise special revelations that contradict Scripture, versus loyalty to Scripture. Cults emphasise the revelations, visions, dreams, prophecies and writings of their leaders, even when they clearly contradict Scripture. Saints, please hear me. I’ve been very close to two cults and escaped both before falling into a deception headlong. It’s not always easy to recognise the fruit of cults at the surface.You have to dig down to the roots. Sometimes their cultish behaviours don’t manifest until you become integrated into their community. At that point, it’s harder to escape—but Jesus can set you free if you set your heart to go out through the door into true Christianity. Amen. Five characteristics of cults’ doctrinal beliefs as far as the Bible is concerned 1. Cults may consider Jesus Christ as not equal to God the Father, rather as someone inferior or less. But Jesus said, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father", John 14:9. Paul said that Christ is the "image of the invisible God", Colossians 1:15. The Bible is repeatedly clear that Jesus is deity, and when on the earth He was God in human form. We can be redeemed from our sins only because God's own perfect blood (in Christ) was shed for our perfect cleansing, Matthew 26:28, 1 John 1:7. 2. Cults may typically reject the clear biblical revelation of a triune God, sometimes called the (Holy) Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – one God not three gods, but one God manifest in three Persons. The Bible refers to all three as Persons, yet as one God. A mystery, but vital Gospel truth. 3. Cults may have their own "sacred" book in addition to the Bible. Although they usually deny it, these books conflict with and are often given precedence over the Bible. 4. Cults typically reject the wonderful biblical truth that salvation is a "free gift" from God, by grace through faith alone (this truth glorifies God and not man). Instead, cults and all other "religions", falsely say that people must "earn" their own salvation by doing certain works and deeds, often works that will perpetuate the cult (which glorifies man rather than God). 5. Cults are often exclusive, centring on a strong leader (or late founder) who has or had the only "true" interpretation of Scripture. Whereas Christ came to give us freedom, Galatians 5:1, cult members are in bondage to that cult or leader, with the threat that leaving the cult will cause a loss of salvation. Thousands of these cults exist in the world. Those especially on African soil have nothing written about them. Only the world’s major ones are listed in cult reference books: including Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, The Unity School of Christianity, The Way International, The Children of God, Scientology, The Unification Church, Unitarianism and the New Age Movement. A test kit for recognising cults Within any particular system of belief there are core doctrines and secondary doctrines. Secondary are those upon which people in the belief system may disagree but still be considered part of the real faith in Jesus Christ and not a cult of that religion. For instance, in Christianity, I may be a Pentecostal who believes in speaking in other tongues. As a result of this, I may consider those not speaking in tongues as cults! In this view I would be in the wrong because tongues speaking is a secondary doctrine. I am actually a Pentecostal and that is my personal view. May be not all Pentecostals believe like that. Dear brother and sister, my conviction from the Bible is that a believer may not speak in other tongues yet still go to heaven and be called a born again Christian. These secondary doctrines are evident throughout all church denominations, not only in the Pentecostal churches. In each of the denominations of Christianity, there are secondary doctrines, many making up traditions in mainline churches. Should they take the traditions as core doctrines of the Bible and then use them to judge others as “cults” or “occults”? That is absolutely wrong. Jesus warned the Pharisees and teachers of the law, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?” Matthew 15:3. Please dear friend, you will do better if you avoid emphasising these secondary doctrines that you may have been using as a yardstick with which to judge other denominations. The following are the four core doctrines I use as a measure to find out the cults: The Trinity, "Father, Son and Holy Spirit”, with each possessing all the attributes of Deity and personality. The person of Jesus Christ, where Jesus is 100% God and 100% man, for all eternity. The second coming, when Jesus Christ is coming bodily to earth, to rule and to judge. (Notice, not the particular timetable, just the fact of His coming). Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone inChrist alone. Any church or Christian contradicting these core doctrines of the Bible is a cult or a member of one. Those who disagree with the core doctrines of Christianity, in their teaching and/or by their actions are, by definition, a cult of historic biblical Christianity. The use of the word "cult" is not a way to slander other people, but to strongly point out the deceiver, Satan, who is behind all the confusion. The perils of the occult in the Church The word "occult" refers to what is hidden, concealed, or secret. The term, "occult" comes from the Latin occultus or "hidden." The occult involves the spirit world, but the spirit world of darkness. The occult is particularly deceptive because the spirit world is very real. Practitioners are dealing with reality – but a dark, forbidden and evil reality. Generally the word is used of secret or mysterious supernatural powers or magical, religious rituals. The word "occult" in this publication is used to describe any attempt to gain supernatural power or knowledge apart from the God of the Bible. Generally it refers to witchcraft, satanism, neo-paganism, or various forms of psychic discernment (astrology, seances, palm reading, etc.). (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/occult) . Dear believer friend, occultism is very effective in church rather than in other systems of the world. This is Satan’s plan to destroy believers in the church. Is it absurd that many pastors leading mega churches, with their churches packed by adherents who follow the supernatural power of miracles, could posses these occult spirits? Since it is a secret practice, many genuine believers have no knowledge of what their pastors are doing and so think they are anointed of God. These people follow their pastors blindly because they do not have the gift of discernment that would have made them wise as to who they follow. The Scripture warns us about following blindly. “Leave them; they are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit”, Matthew 15:14. These leaders are blind guides and we should take note of them seriously. Although these pastors perform miracles and you hear them praying in the name of Jesus Christ, do not be confused. Not all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. Christ talked about true and false disciples who are both in today’s church. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven”, Matthew 7:21. Dear friend, be warned that not all the miracles you see are from God. Some are, but others entice you away from the truth so that your faith for following the will of God fails. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one … to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues”, 1Corinthians 12:7-11. Be wise and pray for the gift of discernment. Defining the occult We have seen that a cult is a group of people polarised around an individual with a magnetic personality, who deviates from orthodox Christianity by distorting the central message of the Bible with additional revelation or by introducing their own personal understanding of primary biblical doctrines such as the person of Jesus Christ, heaven, hell, salvation, atonement, the virgin birth, etc. The occult is more particularly secret or hidden knowledge not discerned by the five senses but supernaturally received through the practice of divination. Manifestations include: Witchcraft, the use of scripturally forbidden supernatural powers to manipulate people and events. Commonly known as the “craft of the wise” or “wicca”, the worship of nature and feminine energies mother nature. Witchcraft shows in two opposing views: white magic and black magic, see Deuteronomy 18:10-13. White magic, the use of supernatural power to manipulate a person or an event to bring about good. The practice of divination is used to bring about "positive" results such as knowledge, healing, etc. Black magic, the use of supernatural power to manipulate a person or an event to bring about evil or destruction. Manipulation is achieved by the use of rituals and the casting of spells. Satanism, unlike witchcraft, satanism is the worship of Satan, formerly known as Lucifer, and the practice of black magic. Satanism is a reaction against the Christian Church and the Word of God in particular. Satanism promotes a do-what-you-want attitude and is ultimately the worship of oneself. (See Russ Wise at www.probe.org/) The growing problem The occult is on the rise with some pastors and ministers in Roman Catholic churches and various Protestant church denominations. These people seek their spiritual identity through Satanism in Africa and the rest of the world, in order to curb the prevalent looming poverty situation. The quest for riches is at an alarming rate, especially in African churches. There is great competition among some pastors in Africa for riches, which they wrongly term as an anointing of God. To these pastors anointing of God is measured by how much luxury is in your life. They compare among themselves the types of houses lived in and cars driven. They sinfully measure God’s blessing by material wealth. The more expensive the house and car are, the more powerful that man or woman of God is. He (or she) is either called an Apostle or Prophet, Bishop or Doctor (PhD). These people have fallen into the trap of the temptation that once came to Jesus. Satan wanted to give Him all worldly pleasures with one condition. Worship him. “The devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give You all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. So if You worship me, it will all be Yours”, Luke 4:5-7. Christ Jesus overcame by correctly quoting and applying the Scripture in context. Many genuine believers overcome along with Christ today. Sadly others have fallen prey to the devil, worshipping him in exchange for the kingdom of God. They do anything directed by Satan, breaking scripture regardless. These people today practice homosexuality, lesbianism, human sacrifice and frequently visit the under world and principality of the kingdom of darkness. They even do this in church in order to perform the counterfeit satanic miracles. Dear friend, the Bible is clear about God’s impending judgement that will start in the house of the Lord. “For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:17. Satanism has become an issue of great concern in our society. It is a phenomenon that crosses the city limits into the rural areas of our nations in Africa. Satanism is not just a big city problem. The newswires carry story after story about young children being kidnapped, only to be found later as victims of some bizarre ritualistic crime. To help us gain a balanced perspective of the subject, see what C. S. Lewis says about Satan in his 'Screwtape Letters', “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe and to feel an unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.” As satanic involvement among the pastors increases, we begin to see many introduce their colleagues into their affair. Care must be taken not to follow man and his mischievous works while wrongly thinking these are God’s doings. The Bible says in situations like this do not easily believe everybody, do not touch what they touch or taste what they taste. True disciples dare to be different. “Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence”, Colossians 2:20-23. There is a great difference between cults and the occult. The term “cult” refers to a group of people polarised around one individual who is often a magnetic personality. This individual has his or her own understanding of truth. In most cases they incorporate some degree of biblical truth into their teachings in order to gain a certain amount of credibility and deceive people who are careless about their faith. Dear friend, guard your faith zealously. Leave no opened window in your life for the devil to enter and outwit you. Satanism and the occult challenge biblical teaching regarding man's relationship to other people. We are to esteem others better than ourselves and be team players. Whereas Satanism esteems the "self" over others, genuine Christians are urged to see ourselves as part of the whole body of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Satanists believe that the strong will rule with Satan. Once they are sufficiently involved, followers often make a pact with Satan. They commit themselves to a future date when they will take their own lives by suicide. They believe that if they submit themselves to Satan in death, they will come back in another life as a stronger being and rule with him forever. It is imperative for the Church as a corporate body, and each Christian individually, to share the message that a proper living relationship with Jesus Christ is the only possible solution to all of our emotional and spiritual needs. Seeking for power entices believers into the occult Power has become an obsession with believers today. They seek power on the physical, mental and spiritual levels. According to one former occultist, the greatest lures into the occult are "power" and "knowledge." Not just corporate power but personal power. Gaining knowledge that others do not possess is another aspect of the occult. When an individual has more knowledge it affords them a degree of power over those who do not have access to it. Likewise, Satanism offers its lure to the pastors and all who seek him for power, knowledge and money. Drugs and sex have become the bait that so often ensnares the unsuspecting. With the increase of satanic activity, the profile of those involved in Satanism has increased greatly among pastors and those seeking to be rich in Africa. Each one of these people seeks prestige and self-glorification. They often have problems at home and in relating to people around them. They use drugs and are sexually promiscuous. It is a rare occasion when these last two elements are not present in a Satanist’s lifestyle. Abuse both physical and emotional is another aspect of the lifestyle. People involved in the occult have often been abused themselves and have not known any other way to relate to people. They are normally involved in worshiping Satan as ‘saviour’. Dear friend, you must be aware of satanic ways. Occultists actually worship Satan and have taken him as their personal saviour. The work of Satan is taking care of mundane, fleshly and carnal things. Satan has attempted to usurp the place of Christ in redeeming mankind. He has endeavoured to establish himself as a god who is equal to, or greater than, Jehovah and in a sense tried to render the one true God ineffective. Dear friend, Satanism leads a person into bondage through mind-control and fear, whereas Christianity allows the individual freedom of choice. Everyone has the opportunity to either accept God's free gift of life, or reject Him and simply exist separate from God's love. The destruction of the occult The Old Testament tells the tragic story of Saul. “Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the Lord and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the Lord. So the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse”, 1 Chronicles 10:13-14. The Bible condemns any involvement in the occult. “Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God”, Leviticus 19:31. “I will set my face against the person who turns to mediums and spiritists to prostitute himself by following them, and I will cut him off from his people”, Leviticus 20:6. See also Deuteronomy 18:9-13. 1 Samuel 28 relates the tragic experience of Saul involving a medium when his sin blocked him going to God for the guidance he needed. Today messages received are often false, misleading, sometimes obscene and frequently contrary to biblical teaching. The following passages in Scripture give us who would seek God's perspective, where to go for truth. “When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn”, Isaiah 8:19-20. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him”, James 1:5. Dear friend, I see no reason why people think to become Satanists in order to get things they need, while the Most High God gives us everything we need when we ask Him sincerely. Unbelief is the major problem of believers who turn to such practices. Unbelief is a sin that we must repent of before destruction overtakes us. Jesus is our great deliverer God is able to deliver those who seek Him. Victory is ours, but first we must receive God's power. We have been discussing the problems of satanic involvement. Whether we become deceived by the use of the spirits, witchcraft and demons, or we have been in occult bondage, seek God Himself and He will free you. Basic to all victories for the believer over Satan, as he attempts to infiltrate our lives, is the absolute truth of biblical doctrine. There is nosubstitute. The greatest key in warfare against Satan is recognising that God's truth is our best offence and only defence. Prayer is also an effective tool to use in spiritual warfare. “Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms”, Ephesians 6:11-12. Dear friend, we cannot effectively engage Satan in warfare on the natural level. We must enter the spiritual dimension to adequately challenge Satan and defeat him and his host. Effective prayer presupposes that we have a deep understanding of the Scriptures. Bible memorisation is a must for this type of prayer, because God’s word must be quoted against the devil just as Jesus demonstrated. “The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread’. Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone’”, Luke 4:3-4, quoting part of Deuteronomy 8:3. Another aspect of spiritual warfare is that of resistance. We are called to resist the devil, James 4:7, 1 Peter 5:8-9. “Resist” means to stand firm, to stand invincibly or successfully. We can stand and remain too strong to be defeated because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. There Jesus was victorious over Satan. As God's people, we are victorious over Satan because of Jesus. We can successfully resist Satan as we stand in right relationship with Christ. Since we are in Christ, and He has all authority in heaven and earth, we are in the only unbeatable place. Dear friend, we have the victory over Satan in Christ Jesus. Satan has been defeated at the cross, see Colossians 2:13-15, and made powerless, see Hebrews 2:14-15. The believer needs to stand in his rightful position in Christ as victor. Jesus has already won the war. The Holy Spirit of God shows us the way to righteousness and restoration. Satan attempts to convince us that we are so bad that God wouldn't want anything to do with us. He seeks to convince us that there is no forgiveness for whatever we have done. He tells us we have committed the unpardonable sin. Satanism is a growing concern in our culture. With this growth comes a great deal of confusion and a lack of understanding. Dear friend, you must understand the problems occult worship can bring to the society that you are mandated to transform by God’s word. Please know clearly the concise information on occultism so that you can use it to reverse this creeping vice affecting our society. Of larger concern is not the number of people and pastors involved in satanic activity, but what they become capable of doing when absorbed in the worship of Satan. They can be involved in animal sacrifice, blood rituals, sexual immorality, homosexuality, the use of drugs and even murder. Most Satanism revolves around a drug and alcohol dependent lifestyle that glorifies violence, hate, lying, stealing, deceit and life-vandalism. Drug abuse is the common denominator in all levels of Satanism. Drugs have become the primary source of mind-altering experiences for the Satanist, thereby, giving him a false sense of power and spiritual potency. According to Scripture “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”, 2 Corinthians 4:4. This god is Satan. “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him”, Revelation 12:9. Satan's goal is always to deceive man by blinding him to the truth of the gospel and to receive worship for himself. “How you have fallen from heaven morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High’”, Isaiah 14:12-14. On a very practical level Satan desires to change an individual's values and turn people against themselves, their beliefs, family, God and society. Anton Szandor LaVey formed the Church of Satan in 1966. He was the author of ‘The Satanic Bible’, perhaps the most common source of satanic ritual and understanding available to people today. One of his cardinal messages is, The devil is alive and highly popular with a great many people’. Dear brother and sister, the availability of Satanists in our society and churches is a reality we must try to be discerningly aware of, or else face the holy wrath of God. Personal initiation to occultism Initiation to occultism is usually by the senior leader who is required to bring up followers. By participation in initiation an individual is given a chance to declare total allegiance to Satan. Other acts include taking part in rituals where the mutilation of an animal or human being happens. Homosexuality and lesbianism can be parts of the activity. In today’s world videos are made of these ceremonies to be used as evidence for the power of miracles. In some cases a criminal act is perpetrated where the initiate has a key role. A sort of unholy communion is taken during initiatory rituals where the works of Satan are glorified. Other initiations include body markings. An inverted cross may be burned into the forearm or chest, etc. Dear friend be warned against befriending people whose background you do not know. Even when you hear of miraculous manifestations in the church be suspicious about their ways of life. The Scripture warns do not associate with them. “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night”, Psalm 1:1-2. Conclusion Dear friend, as I conclude you must know that such a study of cults and the occult paves the way for you to be wise in keeping your salvation holy. Therefore, note that there are two kinds of spiritual reality. The first reality is God's spiritual kingdom of truth and light, where Christ is King and the nature of the kingdom is "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit", Romans 14:17, and where God's holy angels dwell, worship and serve Him. The second reality is the world of Satan, a fallen angel, a world of darkness and hopelessness, void of God, where other fallen angels, called demons who hate God, work to advance this evil kingdom under their leader, Satan. Satan’s world of spiritual darkness is the one experienced through the sinister practices of cults and the occult. The Bible does not reveal a "dualism," or co-equal forces of good (represented by God) and evil (represented by Satan). Satan is totally subject to the sovereign, omnipotent Creator. But God has given Satan certain authority to operate on the earth as a result of man's fall into sin. He operates through the minds and wills of fallen humanity. He has constructed a complex web of many evil schemes, including occult practices, even counterfeit religions, to deceive and snare people. The appearances of such deception will increase in "the last days" before Christ returns. “The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons”, 1Timothy 4:1. But the Bible also says, “He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work”, 1 John 3:8. Those who trust and obey Jesus Christ have a protection and victory through the God-provided Saviour. Dear believers in Christ, you must know and understand that any degree of cult and occult involvement can produce problems of oppression, depression, despair, hopelessness and many physical problems. Sometimes it can bring death, even self-destruction and finally death in spirit. Demonic influence can produce obsessions, phobias, bizarre behaviour, violence, homicide and sexual perversion in its victims. Worse, it can deceive a person into eternal darkness. Sisters and brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ, if you are now, or have ever been in your life, involved with any cult or occult practice, you can be set free of it and any symptoms it may have brought by doing the following: Confess sincere faith in and commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ; Confess the specific cult and occult sins to God, naming and forsaking every one; Renounce Satan, in Jesus' name, and command him and his demons to depart into the place prepared for them by the Lord Jesus; and Receive and claim your liberation by faith, without doubting, trusting in the authority and total faithfulness of God and His Word. Endeavour to read scriptures faithfully and prayerfully. Understand the distinctions of rhema (the spoken word) and logos (the written word) in a sound manner and come to a secure doctrine of the Scriptures. If you do this, Satan must obey God. He will and release you by the authority of both Jesus' Name and God's Word. Any symptoms that Satan has put on you must disappear in God’s proper time. May God bless you. Discussion questions 1. The term “Cult” “is confusing because it is ambiguous, infused with a variety of meanings depending on who uses it and for which purpose”. Of the seven or eight definitions given, which best fits your understanding? Why? 2. Which cult characteristics have you most noticed in those locally active? 3. Are there any applicable lessons to learn from chapters 31 and 32 in this book, discerning false prophets and teachers from true? What? 4. The devil likes to be the centre of attention, or he likes to make people think he doesn’t exist. Which is worse? Why? 5. How can a Christian successfully “resist the devil”? 1 Peter 5:8-9.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Important issues for Christians to understand section. Just before the rainy season roads can look in a very good condition. However, after heavy rains have fallen, they can become so churned up that even the strongest and heaviest vehicles cannot pass. In the ‘Christian’ world some preachers promise an easy and clear life for everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ alone. People who are attracted to this message may quickly become discouraged when they meet difficulty after difficulty. I have even heard some say: “God has let me down”. I want to explain where the wrong is in this example. Notice, it is with the preachers and not with the ‘common’ people. Ezekiel 13 warns us against “false prophets”. Every generation and every place has its fair share of these destructive people, both men and women. It is essential for every Christian to learn to discern the “true” from the “false”. This means seeing prophets discerningly, not going merely by outward appearance, and certainly not accepting everyone who comes just because they have a Bible in their hand. Basically the false prophet will offer you what you want. Knowing what suits you he or she will bring something from his own thoughts and speak it out. He may put, “Thus says the Lord” in front of it or behind it, in order to give it some appearance of Christianity and Bible authority, verse 6. Biblically, in the Old Testament, the “greatest challenge from false prophets came to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, possibly because they spoke at particularly crucial times in the history of God’s people”. (Habtu Tewoldemedhin, in the Africa Bible Commentary ). Is this a warning for us today? These two men of God were misunderstood by many of their contemporaries. Crowds wanted to believe that what the false prophets were saying were genuine messages from God. However, God commended Jeremiah and Ezekiel for their vigilance in standing against counterfeit prophecies. He is always on the side of truth, even if it is unpalatable (leaves a bad taste in the mouth) for His people. Ezekiel 13:1-10 reveal prophets who use their own imaginations. They foolishly follow their own wants and wishes, not God’s revealed word and will. They do not work hard as Christians on needful practical issues. Their so-called visions are untrue, but made to look real. They all too easily lead God’s people astray. They appeal to our “self” life, our personal and societal desires. Verses 17-19 show prophetesses who also use their own imaginations and join this with amulets, magic, types of dress and witchcraft. God describes them as “lying to my people”, verse 19. It may be a mixture of bad and good. He warns He is totally against all such people and their socalled “ministries”, Ezekiel 13:8-9, 15-16, 21-23. Four times in Ezekiel 13 God says He will do things that the discerning heart will recognise as coming directly from His hand. “Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord”, verses 9, 14, 21, 23. The discerning Christian heart learns to understand and to choose what he or she can accept, and what should be rejected. God helps us through our lives with clear, unmistakable guidance to follow. Yes, it is hard to take a stand against false prophets. But nobody said taking up your cross and following Jesus would be easy.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Important issues for Christian to understand section. Early in January 2014 the BBC interviewed a 14 year old boy chased from his home in Bor by the fierce and foolish December 2013 fighting. He was now living under a tree by the Nile, with his family. When asked what it was like, the first two things he said were: “We have only dirty drinking water”, and “we have no mosquito nets for sleeping under”. He was worried about protection from debilitating diseases and enemy bugs! As Christians we need to be as wise as that youngster. We must watch out for so-called “Christian” teachers who feed us “dirty” Christian teaching, and who will try to “bite” us, making us sick with what I will call “Christian malarias”. Seven of the Bible’s many warnings about false prophets/teachers That is, a pseudo-speaker/explainer of a divine message: Matthew 7:15-16, they are not as harmless as they appear to be. Matthew 7:22-23; Matthew 24:24, their miracles are “lawless/evil” workings. See also 1 John 3:4. Acts 20:28-31, they are both outsiders and insiders, with “out-of-focus” truths. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11, they are deceivers who seduce others into errors. 2 Peter 2:1-3, they will have many followers, but not so many true followers of our Lord Jesus Christ, who are willing to pay the price of genuine discipleship. 2 John 7-11, they will swerve from the truth, accepting “shiny new things”. Jude 4; Jude 12-13, they will change Christian meanings, and become uncontrollable. Prayer will sharpen our watchfulness, Colossians 4:2. Resistance is called for, 1 Peter 5:8-9. Pastoral responsibilities Those with responsibility for being “shepherds of God’s flock” must watch out, guarding ourselves against personally falling into temptation, Acts 20:28, and guarding against allowing any influence by counterfeit Christian workers, Acts 20:29-30. We are like Christian sentries, posted by the gates to our flocks. We must be spiritually alert for all enemy attacks, 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. A counterfeit must be an almost perfect copy for it to succeed in fooling people. Fake South Sudanese  £25, or Sudanese 50 dinar, notes must look the same and feel the same, be the same size and shape as the genuine notes. If they are not, people won’t accept them. Close copies are the most dangerous False teaching which is very, very close to being the genuine teaching, is the most dangerous of all. Teaching that is obviously wrong is little problem to the sincere and well-taught Christian. In the year 2000 the German charismatic evangelist Reinhard Bonnke visited Khartoum to preach in Green Square. I had been at a meeting in the city’s Coptic Club where his representative, Kenyan Stephen Mutua (a friend of mine from our days with Ambassadors For Christ), asked for a show of hands from the pastors present: “Who wants to invite Bonnke to Khartoum?” I was the only one who voted “No”, although the Christ for all Nations (CfaN) website later reported a “unanimous invitation” from the city’s ministers and pastors. I don’t think it was either “unanimous” or an “invitation”! I had uncomfortable warning signals troubling my heart over what was to happen and the way this ministry operated. Over 43 years of Christian ministry I have profitably learned to listen to God the Holy Spirit’s inward impressions on my spirit. Brenda and I declined a kind and generous offer to sit on the Green Square platform. We did not want to publicly show our support for a Christian preacher whose ministry focus seems to be on the things of this world – health and prosperity here and now – rather than on (or perhaps, it is fairer to say) in addition to forgiveness of sins and heaven in eternity. Bonnke would not accept my personal request to come with me around Sudanese hospitals and pray for the sick. I was told by his team this was only done “in the major event”. The advertising posters guaranteed there would be healings at this event. Sadly, much of his follow up literature to “converts” was in a language they could not understand. I discerned that the Christian gospel was just about preached, but it was in amongst other much less helpful, untrue things. I suspect the biggest beneficiary of the “healing mission” was CfaN, as people around the Western world gave money to them, supporting their specific ministry in needy Sudan. Examine who you are dealing with 1 John 4:1-8 urges the “testing of spirits”. Some will be from God, and others will not. There are two main distinguishing marks in this passage. Firstly, the true Christian preacher worships Jesus Christ as God the Son on our earth in human flesh, verse 2. Secondly, the true Christian preacher is “other-worldly” rather than “this-worldly” in his focus, verse 5. Love must be overwhelming in dealing with false prophets and teachers. They need to be restored from their errors. Yet sometimes a strong love has to be ready to discipline, even a very good man (or woman!) who has gone astray (as Paul did to Peter, Galatians 2:11-21). Driving by a farm recently I saw sheep running from all corners of a grassy field. At the gate the farmer was pouring food granules into troughs for them. They were so keen for the food they rushed for it, ignoring the “boring old everyday grass” that was always in the field for them. I thought, “If they only knew the farmer is fattening them up for the kill, so that he can take their meat to market”. If they understood that, they would be running away from him, not to him! God’s flock is under our care! 1 Peter 5:2. We must not be careless. Are we full or empty of Christian discernment for, and in, our ministries? Don’t take my word for it! As you test what I have written here I pray, “that you may be able to discern what is best”, Philippians 1:10. Not every missionary coming from outside, carrying a Bible, teaching and bringing support money, is sent from God. Believe me! Worldwide testing becomes very necessary. “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. … They deceive the minds of naive people”. Romans 16:17-18.

My life alongside God's word. Important issues for Christians to understand section. by Moses Angupale Are teaching and preaching from the Old Testament (OT) relevant today? Do they benefit us as evidence for our faith, history, and understanding of the nature of God and of man? Are there principles that are unchanging under both Old and New Testaments (NT)? Can the OT help us understand and know the gospel leading to eternal life? Is OT law binding on us today? How should Christians apply the OT Law? Obviously commands in the Mosaic Law are important, for they make up a substantial portion of God’s written revelation to us, the Bible. Yet the OT contains many laws that may seem strange to modern readers, for example, “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk”, Exodus 34:26; “Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material”, Leviticus 19:19; “Make tassels on the four corners of the cloak you wear”, Deuteronomy 22:12. Many Christians violate a number of OT laws with some regularity. “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this”, Deuteronomy 22:5; “Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord”, Leviticus 19:32; “The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses”, Deuteronomy 14:8. Furthermore, while believers tend to ignore many OT laws, they embrace others as the moral underpinnings of Christian behaviour, especially the Ten Commandments, “Love your neighbour as yourself”, Leviticus 19:18; “You shall not murder”, Exodus 20:13; “You shall not commit adultery”, Deuteronomy 5:18. Why do Christians adhere to some laws and ignore others? Which ones are valid and which are not? Many Christians today make this decision based merely on whether a law seems to be relevant. Surely this haphazard and existential approach to interpreting the OT Law is inadequate. How then should Christians interpret the Law? Scripture shows that some OT theology is not binding on us today. But we must remember that the NT is the OT fulfilled. “For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said: “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to My covenant, and I turned away from them, declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” By calling this covenant “new,” He has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and ageing will soon disappear”, Hebrews 8:7-13. The writer of Hebrews quotes the prophetic words from Jeremiah 31:31-34. They say that the OT was a covenant, which Debbie Dodds defines as, “God’s solemn promise to enter into relationship with his people and bless them”. According to Dodds "testament meant originally, a covenant or promise. Now it is the name given to the two major parts of the Bible". "Bible means God’s revelation of Himself to humans in both Old and New Testaments, also called Scripture, which means “writings". The writer of Hebrews quotes the prophetic words from Jeremiah 31:31-34. They say the OT was a covenant or agreement made at Mt. Sinai between God and Israel. But God predicted the coming of a new covenant unlike that old one. The New Testament brings the Old Testament to completion. What is hidden in the OT is in the open in the NT. The Law shows our sin. Grace shows us our Saviour, “The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law”, Galatians 3:24-25. Jesus came to take away the first covenant and to establish the second. “Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for Me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am – it is written about Me in the scroll – I have come to do Your will, O God.’ First He said, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them’ (although the law required them to be made). Then He said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all”, Hebrew 10:5-10. Using the phrase, (God) “cancelled the written code, with its regulations”, Paul states that the Old Testament ordinances were taken away when Christ was nailed to the cross, Colossians 2:13-14. OT Theology cannot properly be a binding authority for theological practices today. We are now subject to the gospel of Christ, which is a different kind of law: one that provides forgiveness for our sins through the blood of Jesus. However, the OT must be used to make clear matters pertaining to the NT because Jesus Christ said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law (meaning the OT) or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them, Matthew 5:17. From what the NT writers say, we know the OT is useful for some NT interpretation and vice versa. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”, Romans 15:4. “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfilment of the ages has come”, 1Corinthians 10:11. Since the things written in the past were written for our learning we can gain knowledge and understanding from all of the OT. So, what is the real benefit or value of the Old Testament to you and me? What good purposes does it serve? How should we use it? Why should we study it? To answer these questions we will examine how inspired men in the NT used the OT. Surely God approved of their use of the OT, so we should use it the same way they did. We will see that the OT gives several things that we need: The Old Testament gives the background of the beginning of earth and human race The writer of Hebrews says, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible”, Hebrews 11:3. What would this mean without the Genesis account of creation? The Old Testament answers the basic question so many people wonder about: "Where did we come from?" - the origin of the universe and of man. The Old Testament records God's relationship with humankind in history. Hebrews 11, the “chapter of faith”, lists many examples of people of faith - Noah, Abel, Abraham, Moses, etc. What would these references mean to us without the OT records of their lives? In Acts 7 Stephen reviews the history of the Hebrew people, showing how God had blessed them and sent them prophets as His messengers, but they continually rejected these prophets. In the same way, the Jews of His day had rejected and killed Jesus. These and many other NT passages refer to OT history. What meaning would these passages have to us without knowledge of the OT narratives? The only way we can understand many fundamental facts about the history of God and of the human race is to study the OT. Much of the NT will be confusing and meaningless to us if we do not understand the OT history that the NT refers to. Many of the major proofs that the Bible offers as the basis of our faith require an understanding of the OT. As believers the proof we give that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God comes from the OT prophets. Jesus said, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about Me”, John 5:39. The OT prophets foretold the coming of a Messiah and gave many details of His life. Jesus fulfils all these prophecies, therefore the OT scriptures bore witness that He was the Messiah sent by God to be Prophet, Priest, King, and Saviour for His people. New Testament teachers often cited these prophecies as proof of Jesus' claims. Note especially in Matthew’s gospel, and in Hebrews, the repeated, “this happened to fulfil what was spoken by ..” Knowledge of the OT is fundamental to the very foundation of our faith. If we want to see convincing evidences for our faith, or if we want to be able to present evidences to others, we must be familiar with the Old Testament. We also see the usefulness of the OT in teaching general principles of truth that preachers may use today. God's laws and covenants with man have definitely changed, but many things have never changed and have been the same since the beginning. Certain facts about the universe and about God have never changed. Anything the OT reveals on these subjects will be as true today as it ever was. Laws may change, but facts never change. For example, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”, Hebrews 13:8. God's laws have changed, but His basic character never changes. God has always been good, merciful, holy, just, condemning evil and rewarding good, all-knowing, all-powerful, worthy of praise and worship, faithful to His promises, etc. “I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed”, Malachi 3:6. Some of the best descriptions ever written about God's goodness, mercy, power and wisdom are found in the OT (such as the book of Psalms). Shall we remain ignorant of these simply because they are in the OT? Or shall we study and appreciate their beauty, knowing that God is still the same today as then? Even the basic nature and needs of man have never changed. Men have never been able to direct their own lives without divine guidance either in the OT or NT. Yet we have always wanted to follow our own wisdom and desires, so throughout history people have sinned, rebelled against God and needed forgiveness. We can learn this from OT examples. In the book of Romans the apostle Paul repeatedly quotes OT Scripture to show men are sinners. He then concludes that all have sinned, see Romans 3:10-18, 23. It is proper to quote the OT, because people today are the same as they were in OT days. So the OT is not obsolete but useful. It makes up 39 of the 66 books in our Bible. Paul also wrote examples in which God's people had departed from God’s ways. These are lessons for us today. Why are these good for us? Because it is still part of human nature to want to do things our own way and we then end up rebelling against God. “ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died”, 1 Corinthians 10:6-8, Exodus 32:6. These and other truths never change. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall”, verse 12. OT passages on these subjects are as valid today as they ever were, and we can use these passages like inspired NT writers did, to substantiate the truth. God wants you and me to benefit from these beautiful and powerful descriptions of fundamental truth. In order to do so, we must be willing to study the OT. We also see that OT prophecies explain many NT principles in the life of Jesus. Prophecies of Jesus help us understand His life, death, and resurrection. Isaiah 53:7, “He was led like a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth”. In Acts 8:32-35 Philip used this Scripture to preach Christ to the eunuch. Here is one of the most beautiful and powerful passages ever written to describe Christ's life and death. This passage helped Philip and the eunuch understand and appreciate Jesus' sacrifice. And this is just one of many such passages. Should you and I ignore such passages just because they are in the OT? Prophecies about the NT help us understand the nature of the church and the gospel. Acts 15:15-18 show the apostles and elders considering whether or not Gentiles could be accepted as Christians by obeying the NT without obeying the Law of Moses. The climax of the discussion came when James quoted Amos 9:11-12 confirming that the Gentiles would be saved. Hebrews 7:11-19 quotes OT prophecies about Christ as a priest, and from these prophecies reaches a doctrinal conclusion that the OT law itself would be “set aside because it is weak and useless”, verse 18. Note that these were matters of NT doctrine. But these NT teachers proved them by considering OT prophecies about them. Why can't we do the same? “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Do we really believe that OT Scripture is profitable? What about Genesis? Numbers? Ezra? Malachi? If we really believe it is profitable, then surely we'll see the need to study it all. The lesson you and I need to learn is that we must handle the OT Scripture rightly. We should realise that OT laws are not binding, but there is still much that we can learn from them. We must use the OT properly. No Christian is fully equipped in their service to God if they neglect to study the Old Testament. How diligent a Bible student are you? Do you apply all of the Scriptures to all of your life? Definition of terms There are terms necessary for preachers and other Christians to understand the correct interpretation of Scripture and how to transfer Scriptures from the Old Testament to our current situation, without causing a breakdown of the original message intended by the author. Hermeneutics is the science of the interpretation of Scripture. Hermeneutics is the branch of theology that deals with the principles and methodology of how to preach the Bible correctly. The central idea is the task of finding the relevance of what was there in ancient texts, deriving the original meaning of the author, then applying it to what is today. Exegesis is the critical explanation or interpretation of Scripture. It is the application of the principles for interpreting Scripture, bringing out the meaning clearly. Eisegesis is an interpretation, especially of Scripture, that expresses the interpreter's own ideas, bias, or the like, rather than the meaning of the text. This is clearly wrong! Exegesis is “reading from” Scripture, whereas eisegesis is “reading into” Scripture. The former is right, the latter is wrong. Exposition is a process of explaining the Scripture to people. A good preacher uses the principles of hermeneutics to exegete Scripture in order to proclaim an expository sermon. A pericope is a Scripture passage forming one complete thought or idea. This may be a chapter in the Bible, a portion of a chapter or more than one chapter. In order to properly expound the Scripture, we need to determine where a pericope begins and ends. The term homiletics comes from the word homily, which basically means “a sermon”. Homiletics is the art of preparing sermons and preaching. Those who study homiletics seek to improve their skill at communicating the gospel and other biblical topics. However, a study of homiletics can be beneficial to anyone who teaches the Word of God. While it is a worthy study, we must not forget that God can work through anyone, with or without their formal training. The key is to communicate Christ effectively in everyday situations. A Scripture allegory is where the apparent meaning of the characters and events is used to symbolise a deeper, spiritual or moral meaning. An analogy is a comparison made between features in Scripture, noting similarities and differences. Christian Scripture does not contradict itself in interpretation or application. Context is the surrounding part of a passage or verse of Scripture that helps to give a complete message. It shows the whole situation in which the text is found and supplies relevant environment towards understanding. Interpretation, taking all the above together, is to arrive at the original meaning the writer had intended when he wrote down what is now in the Bible, and application applies it to life today. Interpreting and applying the Old Testament message relevantly today To interpret and apply the Old Testament messages to life today, use what I call the “modified universal principle”(MUP). We can find evidences of this in the New Testament. Jesus cited 1 Samuel 21:1-6, “Haven’t you read what David did … ?”, to rebut the Pharisees, Luke 6:1-5. Paul quoted Deuteronomy 25:4, "Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain", in defending his right to receive material support from the Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 9:9-12. In the traditional approach, this Deuteronomic law would probably not be classified as a "moral" command, yet Paul made it applicable. Since Paul clearly emphasised elsewhere that Christians are not under OT law, see Romans 6:14–15; 7:1–6; 1 Corinthians 9:20; Galatians 2:15–16; 5:18; Ephesians 2:15, he was not here citing Deuteronomy 25:4 as a law that was to be binding on the Corinthian church. Instead he used this law analogically. The apostle cited a command whose principle can be applied to situations other than that of the initial, historical incident. Leviticus 5:2 provides an example of how the MUP can be used by believers today to apply legal passages without being under the Law. This verse reads, “Or if a person touches anything ceremonially unclean—whether the carcasses of unclean wild animals or of unclean livestock or of unclean creatures that move along the ground—even though he is unaware of it, he has become unclean and is guilty.” The action required to correct one’s ceremonially unclean status is described a few verses later. So verses 5–should also be read: “When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.” The traditional approach simply classifies these verses as a ceremonial law that no longer applies to believers today. However, using the MUP approach, we can interpret and apply this text in the same manner as we would a narrative. What did the text mean to the initial audience? The context of Leviticus discusses how the Israelites were to live with the holy, awesome God Who was dwelling in their midst. How were they to approach God? How should they deal with sin and unclean things in light of God’s presence among them? These verses are part of the literary context of 4:1–5:13 that deals with offerings necessary after unintentional sin. Leviticus 4 deals primarily with the leaders; Leviticus 5 focuses on other people. Leviticus 5:2 informed the Israelites that if they touched any animals, unclean or made so by death, they were ceremonially defiled. This was true even if it was accidental. Being unclean, they were unable to approach God and worship Him. To be purified (made clean), they were to confess their sin and bring the priest a lamb or a goat for a sacrifice, 5:5–6. The priest would sacrifice the animal on their behalf and they would be clean again, able to approach and worship God. What are the differences between the initial audience and believers today? Christians are not under the Old Covenant, and our sins are covered by the death of Christ. Also, because we have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, we no longer need human priests as mediators. What is the MUP in this text? It relates to the concept that God is holy. When He dwells among His people, His holiness demands that they keep separate from sin and things lacking in spiritual cleanliness. If God’s people become unclean, they must be purified by a blood sacrifice. This principle of blood sacrifice takes into account the overall theology of Leviticus and the rest of Scripture. It is universally applicable to God’s people in both the OT and NT eras. How does the NT teaching modify or qualify this principle? According to the NT God no longer dwells among believers by residing in a tabernacle or a temple. He now lives within believers by the indwelling Holy Spirit. His presence, however, still calls for holiness on our part. He demands that we should not sin and must stay separate from things that defile. However, in the NT Jesus redefines the terms “clean” and “unclean”. “Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’ … What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean’”, Mark 7:15, 20–23. Under the New Covenant believers are not made unclean by touching dead animals. Our uncleanness is expressed through impure thoughts or by sinful actions. The New Covenant also changed the way God’s people are to deal with sin and uncleanness. Rather than bringing a lamb or goat to atone for sin, a believer’s sins are covered, at the moment of salvation, by the sacrifice of Christ. The death of Christ washes away sin and changes the believer’s status from unclean to clean. Confession of sin, however, is still vitally important under the New Covenant as it was under the Old Covenant, see 1 John 1:9. So I suggest an expression of the MUP for today’s NT audience would be, “Stay away from sinful actions and impure thoughts because the holy God lives within you and in your heart. If you do commit unclean acts or think unclean thoughts, then confess those specific sins to experience forgiveness through the death of Christ.” How should Christians today apply this Modified Universal Principle in their lives? There are many possibilities, but one specific application relates to Internet pornography. A growing number of Christians have easy access to pornographic material in the privacy of their homes or dormitory rooms. Our text teaches that the holiness of God,Who dwells within believers, demands that they lead clean lives. Viewing pornography clearly falls into the category that the NT says is unclean. Such action is a violation of God’s holiness. Therefore believers are to stay away from Internet pornography, realising that it makes them spiritually unclean, offends the holiness of God, and disrupts their fellowship with, and worship of, God. However, if one does fall into this sin, it must be specifically confessed, and through the death of Christ it will be forgiven and fellowship with God restored. Principles to be used in exegesis 1. God speaks to and through individuals today The principle of inspiration is that God breathed into the original Bible writers and carried them along by the Holy Spirit, so that they wrote what He intended, free from error, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Peter went to Cornelius following the same Holy Spirit’s leading, Acts 10:9-20. Paul went up to Jerusalem by revelation through the same Holy Spirit, Galatians 2:2. Likewise, the Holy Spirit can lead us. The principle of inspiration is God working through you. Therefore, be careful with those who may quote Scripture in order to misguide you and lead you astray. In 1 Kings 13:1-32 a lion ate up a young prophet who was misled by an older one. Today others make some false claims on promises that worked for someone else, at a different time, under different circumstances. Be careful. God does speak to us today, but we must learn to hear and discern His voice. 2. Scripture must be considered in context In studying a verse or passage in the Bible, you have to consider the theme of the whole book. Ask questions such as, ‘Why the writer wrote the book?’, ‘Who wrote the book?’ 'To whom was the book written?’ Examine the historical, cultural, geographical and language context. 3. Determine the genre or type of literature Is the passage a hymn, poetry, prophecy, history, a letter, a Gospel, or even law? Language often has different meanings in different genres. 4. Assume the literal meaning of words unless there is a good reason not to Generally the Bible means what it says—literally. The genre and context may indicate that some words are figurative. The Bible contains metaphors, similes, parables, allegories and hyperboles. For example, the apocalyptic literature of the book of Revelation contains much figurative language. For example, God is not a cold, hard, unfeeling rock, but He is solid, reliable and trustworthy to stand on, Psalm 18:2. 5. Determine the exact meaning of words Often, exegesis includes a word study to determine what a word meant when it was written. Word meanings may change over time. 6. Follow the rules of grammar Bible students should understand the use of verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, direct objects and other parts of speech. 7. Let Scripture interpret Scripture Clear Scripture passages elsewhere often explain obscure Scripture passages. Consider parallel accounts, such as those found in the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Use references, such as those found in chain reference Bibles, to locate other Scriptures related to a topic. Also, concordances and topical Bibles are useful in finding related Scripture. 8. The first mention of something may explain it’s meaning wherever else it occurs When an event or word first occurs, the meaning may be given. So consult a concordance to find the first occurrence of that event or word. 9. The Bible is a progressive revelation Early Biblical writers did not have as much information as did later Biblical writers. For example, various mysteries were revealed with the first advent of Christ. OT prophets were not given information concerning the Church. OT prophets did not understand that there were to be two advents of the Messiah. Even though revelation is progressive, the information given in the OT is still valuable and can be foundational. 10. Carefully use resources outside of the Bible The Bible itself is our major primary text in knowing the will of God. Various other aids are useful in understanding the Bible and the cultures of Bible times, like dictionaries, commentaries, concordances, etc. Conclusion Dear friend, as we conclude our discussion in this article, I want to emphasise once more our methods for interpreting Holy Scripture so that the believers we teach may genuinely understand the sound doctrines of God. 1. Interpret Scripture literally and grammatically During the medieval period, the church strayed from interpreting Scripture literally to interpreting it spiritually or allegorically. As a result many heresies arose. We need to interpret Scripture in the literary sense it was intended to be in. There is a natural, grammatical, intended meaning in Scripture that holds the intended meaning. True scriptural exposition is through examination of the structure of the passage and the intended meaning of it, for example see John 6:51, “I am the living bread”. To protect the purity of the church from pluralism, liberalism and other pitfalls, we must constantly be applying these Bible interpretation principles. 2. Interpret Scripture consistently and harmonistically Since Scripture is God's word it is the expression of a single divine mind. All it says must be true, and there can be no real contradiction in either its parts or its whole. To harp on about apparent contradictions shows irreverence and can put the scholarly mind above God in importance. If all I have written above is true, then the infallible rule for interpreting Scripture is Scripture itself. Two principles follow off this rule: (a) What is obscure must be interpreted in light of what is plain. (b) Peripheral ambiguities must be interpreted in harmony with fundamental certainties. For example see John 1:29, “the Lamb of God”. 3. Interpret Scripture doctrinally and theocentrically Scripture is a doctrinal book that teaches us about God and created things in their relation to Him. For example see James 1:22-25. Scripture is described as being a mirror. When you look in a mirror you see three things: the mirror, yourself, and all other items and persons in view in the room. In the Scripture mirror, you see truths concerning Christ and God foremost, but you also see yourself. You see your dirty face, and those of other empty creatures with you. Scripture also teaches a theocentric standpoint. Where fallen man sees himself as the centre of the universe, the Bible shows God as the centre. It puts man and the rest of creation in proper perspective. This means we exist through God and for God. One of the most important aspects of faith that we need to recover is the centred standpoint of Scripture. The modern church has fallen more and more into a “self-help, fast-food” mentality, where Christianity is about us as individuals, focusing on what we can get here and now for ourselves. There is no eternal perspective like that Paul wrote about over and over again in Scripture, see Colossians 3:1-4. Mankind takes over the Church he should serve, making Church a servant for his selfish interests. It is no longer the Church of Christ. It has become the Church of mankind. God help us with our motives! 4. Interpret Scripture Christologically and evangelically Dear friend, lastly always interpret Scripture by putting Christ at the centre. Christ is the true subject matter of all Scripture. All was written to bear witness to Him. He is author of the whole Bible, prophesied, typified, prefigured, exhibited, demonstrated, to be found on almost every page, almost every line, the Scripture being, as it were, the swaddling bands clothing (the baby) Jesus. Christ is the substance of all types and shadows we find in the Bible. Christ is the substance and matter of the covenant of grace, and all its administrations. Under the Old Testament Christ is veiled. Under the New Testament Christ is revealed. Christ is the central meeting place of all the promises of God. Christ is the person signified, sealed and exhibited in the Sacraments of both Old and New Testaments. Scripture uses genealogies to lead us on to the true line of Christ. Scriptural chronologies show us the times and seasons of Christ. Scripture's laws are our schoolmasters to bring us to Christ, the moral law by correcting, the ceremonial law by directing, Galatians 3:24. The Gospel is Christ's own light whereby we hear and follow Him. Christ's chords of love bind us, whereby we are drawn into sweet union and communion with Him. Scripture is the very power of God unto salvation for all people who believe in Christ Jesus, Romans 1:16-17. Therefore think of Christ as the very substance, marrow, soul and scope of the whole of Scripture. God bless you, dear friend. It is my prayer that God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will bring out to you His rich resources of Scripture, especially of the Old Testament. As you grasp His revelation (rhema) may you interpret and apply it for the Christian believers’ growth. Discussion questions 1. “Many Christians violate a number of OT laws with some regularity”. Is this true? How can it be right to do so? Give biblical reasons for your answer. 2. Explain, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”, Luke 6:5, in view of the Pharisees’ accusation against Jesus and His disciples. How does this help us apply the OT to ourselves? See Luke 6:1-5; 1 Samuel 21:1-6. 3. Does God speak through anyone today in the same infallible way He spoke to the writers of our Old Testament? Can any preacher claim similar, faultless understanding and application for his sermons? Why? Why not? 4. Put 2 Peter 1:20-21 in your own words, giving the meaning, as you understand it.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Letting the future affect today section. In the past we may have used drums to beat the rhythm, so communicating what we wanted to say. Today we are more likely to use mobile phones! The medium is not half as important as the message. So what does God say? Miraculously, the virgin Mary was “with child”. An angel of the Lord urged Joseph, “take Mary home as your wife …. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus (Joshua/the Lord saves), because He will save His people from their sins”, Matthew 1:20-21. From these words please notice with me: 1. The purpose of the Lord Jesus – to safely deliver His people from the catastrophic results of rebellion against God. Surely this is what every person wants? We need Someone else to help. We cannot do this ourselves, however good we try to be. There is no way we can balance the books with God. This is the “why?” of the Christian message. 2. The promise of God through the angel – salvation is definite, it will happen, there is no doubting it. The pre-existent God the Son became a human being, so He had a flesh and blood body with which to ransom believing humanity from God’s wrath. Jesus’ birth led to His death. This is the “how?” of the Christian message. 3. The people mentioned in the message – only the people of the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. The Christian message is an exclusive message. Yet, at the same time, it is also inclusive. You can be included, as soon as you do three things: Own up to being a sinner before the holy, Creator God Ask for mercy from God Who planned all of this for you Trust yourself completely to the Saviour, Who loves you with an everlasting, deep and true love. This is the “who?” of the Christmas message. The Advent or Christmas season is a great time for anyone to take this decisive step (although you may do it any day of the year). May I ask you to do it now? It may lead you into hard times. It did for Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus, Matthew 2:13-23. But remember, eternal salvation in the life beyond this one, is far too good to throw away. When God offers you something, (and He does) you should take it. Receive from God now the believing faith that only He can give. And you will be saved.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Letting the future affect today section. When a baby is born, parents, and other family members, may have a lot of hope for his or her future: Will she get a good education? Will he be happily married with a good family? Will there be peace in the area he lives? Must she go and live overseas in order to be safe? Every Christian should have “Hope” In Romans Paul writes that every Christian has a hope for the future. The presence (or absence) of this hope is a sign pointing to whether a person is truly Christian (or not). I am breaking these two verses into four sections: “For in this hope we are saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently”, Romans 8:24-25. Hope because you are alive to God 1. The verses immediately before these open a window into the meaning of “this hope”. Christians have been born again by God the Holy Spirit. They have responded to His inner calling. They live their normal human lives, but are now alive to God, His words of direction, advice, warning and encouragement. Living like this, prompted always by God’s Word and Spirit, they know they are saved. Hope does not focus on this world 2. Yet even Christians do not get everything they want straightaway! Our world demands that we get things quickly. Some Christians have believed this lie for themselves, over things like physical healings, monetary riches, even sinless living. The Christian’s true hope is for the future world, not this one. Hope focuses on heaven 3. This phrase says the same as the second one, but in reverse. There is no need to hope for a fourth baby when you already have four! Why hope for a good-paying job when you have one that gives you enough to live on now? Hope is able to wait for a long time, dealing with difficult situations 4. So, what is in our future? Verse 23 says we wait eagerly (keenly) to be adopted by God into His wonderful presence in heaven. We are now prepared to be there thanks to our Saviour and Lord, Jesus Christ, but for now we wait on and in this world – because He wants us to. Our circumstances may be bad: People treat one another badly, bombing from the air, invaders setting fire to homes, showing how badly human beings can behave to one another. We must look into our own hearts as well as condemn others. We may sometimes trick another person to gain unfair advantage. God doesn’t like that either! True Christians live Christianly (patiently) while awaiting the Lord Jesus Christ to command a loud trumpet blast. Then He will call us to be with Him, marking the end of this life and the start of the next. Our hope, the promised coming of God’s heaven, will never disappoint us.

My life (put) alongside God's word. Letting the future affect us today. Suppose you knew that my wife was critically ill in the hospital and you asked me, “Do you think she will get better?” When I reply, “I hope so”, my word “hope” carries with it the thoughts of desire, doubts and concern for her condition. I want my wife to get better but my hope is at best half-a-hope! More than wishful thinking “Hope” in our English language is a very weak word compared to the ideas behind the New Testament Greek word for “hope”. There are at least eight different meanings for “hope” in English ranging from “a feeling of desire for something and confidence in the possibility of fulfilment” to merely “a thing, situation or event that is desired” and the rather vague “something that is wished for”. But the Greek word “hope”, elpis, means “favourable and confident expectation” in regard to “the unseen and the future”. If you were to ask me if Jesus is coming again to set this world and its people to rights, I would reply with a hope that is absolutely certain. I know He is definitely coming one day even though I don’t know precisely when that day will be. There is no doubt, no danger of it not happening. My desire for that day to come clearly influences what I believe now and how I live today and every day. Christian hope comes from reading and applying Scripture. “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”, Romans 15:4. Believing against the odds Writing about Abraham’s unbelievable trust in God for a promised future inheritance of people from many nations, Paul wrote: “against all hope, Abraham believed”, Romans 4:18. It looked like Abraham was in a hopeless situation. But what Abraham trusted God for is happening now, just as God promised. Christians are the multi-racial, multilingual, multi-national family of God in today’s world building toward a great host in heaven worshipping Almighty God saying, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever”, Revelation 5:13. God’s glory restored After writing about our justification from sin before a holy God and marvelling at God’s grace toward us, Paul writes: “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God”, Romans 5:2. Forgiven of all sin and able to stand before the Holy, Almighty God, our Christian hope is considerably better than any worldly offer. In Romans 3:23 we read that because of sin everyone who has ever lived fell short of the glory of God. But in Romans 5:2 the hope of the glory of God is given back to every person who has peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our oneness with God and our being the very image of God were both destroyed by our sin. But our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, died for our sin to bring us back to God, reconciling wayward children with the heavenly Father. At times in ministry I have asked, “Why am I doing what I am doing?” Christian service can be exhausting and even demoralising. I looked at others and continued with the question: “Why, Lord, have You led me in a way that makes earning a living and planning retirement so difficult for my wife and for me? The gentle but firm answer from the Lord is: “You have trusted Me for over 42 years of ministry. Now continue to trust Me into your later years. I have never let you down and I never will.” There is a deep, overwhelming joy in people who know their glorious God has secured a great future for them. God’s promises are enough. A fruit of Christian character building When passing through challenging times as Christians, when things are against us rather than for us, when we wish the outcome were different, remember this: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us”, Romans 5:3-5. I have always learned more in my Christian life during the tough times than in easy days. A life without challenges is not a life God can use. Since being told that the cancer I had would kill me in two months, I have focused more on matters of life and death than ever before. Being present at the funerals of some of my laryngectomy (surgical removal of the voice box) friends, I have seen the sharp distinction between dying in your sin and dying with the Saviour. Those who die in their sin die with absolutely no hope for the future. They face hell. Those who die with the Saviour die with every hope in the right person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore the right place, heaven. Life’s challenges turn some people away from God while similar challenges help others to let God mould, strengthen and use their lives for His glory. Beyond this present life Five times the word “hope” appears in Romans 8:18-25 and every time it means believing with absolute certainty. One day creation will be free from the decaying tendency it has now. The planet will be “brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God”, verses 20-21. This hope, given us at our conversion to Christ, keeps us going through all our present troubles. Although we cannot see evidence such as a court may demand, we still have this hope and assurance that our Lord Jesus will be true to His word, verses 24-25. We believe with absolute certainty that the One who made the promise will do exactly what He has said. “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also will be with me where I am”, John 14:3. Affecting more than just people Christians wait “eagerly” and “patiently”, Romans 8:23 and 25, for God’s promise to be fulfilled. While our full salvation will be when Jesus returns and takes us home to heaven, our present salvation gives us this concrete hope. We may lose everything on this earth but we can lose nothing that is ours in the heavenly home to come. I must examine my life to see if I am expectantly and avidly desiring my Lord’s return. We may ask ourselves, “Do I look expectantly heavenward or are my eyes glued to things of this world?” Around eight years ago I lost my voice box to cancer. God took back the voice He had lent to me for 57 years. I get very frustrated some days when I cannot talk. I get deeply depressed when I think of what I could have been doing in Africa now if I still had my voice. However the answer to my frustration and depression is clear. I hope with quiet, confident assurance to be in that heavenly crowd crying out in a loud voice (yes, even a laryngectomy like me will have a new voice then): “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb”, Revelation 7:10. If I could write those words loudly I would! I will be able to shout loudly then! My friends and family sometimes say that I am gloomy looking forward to my life beyond death, but I disagree with them. For me, like Paul, that will be far, far better than anything have now, Philippians 1:20-23. Perhaps I should thank God for my disability more than I do, as it has lifted my focus towards heaven? Surprising joy in adversity Paul urges Christ’s followers to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer”, Romans 12:12. We can continually commit our circumstances to God, trusting Him to make our patience strong. He chooses to send us stiff examinations so that our patience can be refined and strengthened more and more. The Greek “patience” is hupomone, meaning “living under”. Christian patience often only grows by persevering through trials. James wrote these words of encouragement: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” and “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him”, James 1:2-4,12. Hope is in God Himself It is noteworthy that Paul ends his Roman letter “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”, Romans 15:13. “The God of hope” – what a magnificent phrase! It is the exact opposite of those tragic and devastating words that we sometimes hear: “There is no hope”. The first phrase is delivering! I thank God for the definite hope He has given me. Spills over to others Having told us, “Through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope”, Romans 15:4, Paul says believers may “overflow with hope” as we trust in Him. The more we place our confidence in God the more He cements our hope for the future – especially our eternal future. The God of hope fills us with joy and peace in whatever experiences we are going through, verse 13. We are so full of hope that drops of joy and peace splash over from us on to others we meet in our daily lives. We may even be able to introduce them to our God of hope as this happens. A guarantee Christian hope is the expectation and absolute confidence that what the Lord has done guarantees our participation in God’s future plans. The power of this braces our lives against the temptations to despair or surrender to overwhelming events. God will never disappoint us. Everything we need to experience this hope is found in knowing our Lord Jesus better. May each one of us be committed to the God of hope. As we trust Him He will help us to spill over our Christian joy, peace and hope into daily life affecting all those around. Then together we can look forward to a really great future! Suggested study I have limited this study to Paul’s letter to the Romans. With the help of a Bible concordance it is beneficial to look up “hope” in the rest of the Bible. In the Old Testament, Job, Psalms and Proverbs have multiple occurrences. There are 31 in Psalms alone such as this fine prayer: “May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you”, Psalm 33:22. If a concordance is not available start your study by looking at Psalms 25, 33, 42 and 119. Interestingly, the only reference containing the word “hope” in the four Gospels, depending on your translation, is a quotation from Isaiah 42 found in Matthew 12:21. Later in the New Testament, Acts contains several references to “hope” as Paul is giving his own testimony, Acts 23:6, 24:15, 26:6-7, 28:20. The “hope” we have seen written in Romans was also prominent in Paul’s speeches. Colossians 1 has three references while Timothy together with Titus have nine in my New International Version, including the lovely, collective phrase “Christ Jesus our hope”, 1 Timothy 1:1. The writer of Hebrews gives us seven more references and Peter gives five. We will give the last word to John. He writes about God’s love in making us His children and in promising that we will ultimately become like Jesus when He comes a second time. 1st John 3:3 says, “Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” Surely there can be no clearer statement of the value of this hope to every true Christian disciple? Hope always looks forward; it never looks back. For the Christian, “hope-full” lives are holy lives. I want my life to be so. How about you? The more we purify ourselves, the more “holy hope” we will have in our lives.