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Saturday, March 22, 2008

The New Anti-Christ Advocates

1 John 2:19 ~ "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."
Normally I reserved this space to take a slightly different approach in discussing the condition of the church. My more Bible study oriented material can be found at The Dunamis Word 2. With that said however, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do a little teaching on the Resurrection of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, because it and the complete Biblical record are under more scrutiny and flat out attacks today than seemingly ever before.
The resurrection of Jesus is arguably the most debated and discussed topic in history. In fact, the resurrection is the centerpiece of Christianity. Without it, Jesus becomes nothing more than a man and in fact the most deceitful man that ever lived on the face of the Earth. Paul too understood this and said to the Corinthian church in about AD55:
I Cor. 15:17-19 ~ "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
For those who don’t already know, there is a new round of form and textual criticism has been levied against the church through books and publications from individuals and educators such as Microbiologist Richard Dawkins who in his book 'The God Delusion' claims supremacy of manking and materialism over God because, in his world, God does not exist. Therefore, according to Dawkins, the Bible is little more than a collection of pious fictions and is irrelevent to the plight of mankind. Dawkins is at odds with all religion but especially the Christian religion and dogma.

Richard Carrier who in his book ‘The Empty Tomb’ argues that "the earliest Christians probably believed Jesus had received a new body in the resurrection, and that stories of his old body disappearing from its tomb were developed later." He also argues it is less likely but still possible the original body of Jesus was misplaced or stolen.
There are others such as reported atheist Robert Price who is the Chair Of Theological Studies at Johnnie Coleman Theological Seminary, and Fellow of the Jesus Seminar. Has also, in books, such as ‘The Incredible Shrinking Son of Man’, ‘Deconstructing Jesus’ and ‘Beyond Born Again: On Putting Away Childish Things,’ has consistently challenged Biblical literalism and has argued for a more skeptical and humanistic approach to Christianity. He has also helped popularize the Gnostic tradition and has questioned the idea of a historical Jesus. Among atheists and agnostics his books and publications are very popular.

There continues to be a growing list of other atheists, agnostics, skeptics, and so called free-thinkers, promoting a continued rise in ant-Christ and anti-Biblical sentiments.
Even some "supposedly" Christian scholars such as fundamentalist Bart D. Ehrman who is currently a confirmed and "happy agnostic" and the author of 'Misquoting Jesus' (Click Here For A Summary Critique) and 'Orthodox Corruption Of Scripture' , have gone off the deep end into fantasy and sensationalism. Ehrman is also the Religious Studies Professor at UNC Chapel Hill. Professor Ehrman has concentrated on various aspects of Walter Bauer's thesis that Christianity was always diversified or at odds with itself. Ehrman is often considered a pioneer in connecting the history of the early church to textual variants within biblical manuscripts and in coining such terms as "Proto-orthodox Christianity." Professor Ehrman recently received much press and accolades from atheists with claims that the bible is unreliable and full of as many as 200,000 material errors called variants. What he fails to admit is that his number represents less than 5% of the Biblical text and most of the variants that he claims are a result of spelling and translation errors. Beyond that the rest of the supposed variants primarily deal with changes that had to be made to clarify meaning of the text, such as changing pronouns like "he and they" to proper nouns like "Jesus and The Disciples". In short when all things are considered there is no change in any essential doctrine that the Bible sets forth and certainly no change in any mainline Christian beliefs.

Then finally there are the near religiously insane such as Fr. John Dominic Crossan Co- founder of the Jesus Seminar who maintains the Gospels were never intended to be taken literally by their authors and the Body of Jesus was probably eaten by dogs ('Search For Jesus' ABC June 26th 2000) and possibly even drug through the streets.
These men and others have rejected the faith, claiming that Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, and that the scriptures are erroneous and contradictory, and because of their weakness, continue to postulate ridiculous fantasies with no basis in actual events, facts, or history.
The aim of the enemy through them is to create doubt against the clear and overwhelming evidence for the historicity of the Jesus of the Bible and the resurrection account which confirms that only Jesus has power over life, death and sin.
II Timothy 4:4 ~ "And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables"
It is interesting to note that these men have done this because of the foolishness of their hearts. It is crucial that the Christian is able to know not only what he or she believes, but also why he or she believes it.

Romans 1:21~ "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened"
Because of the danger of abundant error, ignorance can not be an excuse for the serious follower of Jesus. I have written The Historical Fact Of The Resurrected Jesus In this article I will set forth some of the primary reasons why we as Christians can rest assured that our savior lives and that he rose on the third day as he said he would some 2000 years ago. The anti-Christ advocate looses EVERY battle and looses the war. I read the end of the book.

Heb. 10:35 ~ "Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward."
Blessed!

6 comments:

  1. People need to believe in the only begotten of the Father. The the way to get to god is through the son. If they don't believe in the son there facing eternal damnation.

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  2. The only way to get to God is through his precious son Jesus. That's why Jesus said I am the way, The Truth, And The Life, and no man comes to the Father but by me.

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  3. Johnson_Johnson ~ I'm in total agreement with you, but let me share this...What do you do when Jesus is taught to be a mythic figure and not a person of actual history...What do you do when the Bible is taught to be a complete story or fantasy? What do you do when the leading (supposed) scholars tell you that we really don't have the words of Jesus therefore we have nothing?

    That's how and what these people think. Ehrman believes Jesus was a real person but believes the written record we have is not only corrupt but late.

    Carrier, Doherty and others are so far out in left field, they say almost ANYTHING, just to make their point, and sell $$$ in books. They're NUTS!

    Unless true Christians know how to handle these advaocates with FACTS and evidences, we can quote scriptures all day to no effect.

    There are facts and evidences that have been successfully used for centuries to turn down what I call "fantasies" similar to what these guys have. Unfortunately, most Christians have no idea where to begin.

    Secondly, things are so bad that you can think,"Let me go to UNC or UNC Charlotte to get a degree in ministry or Bible understanding, so I can grow in the Lord." You get there, and these teachers turn you into an atheist or agnostic because they're confused and have NO IDEA how to present the TRUTH of history or the real power of God.

    That's what we face. Apostasy at the academic level. That has a devestating effect not only in the classroom, but also in the church and community.

    I'd like to hear from any of the students who have been in these guys classrooms. I'd like to know what they actually spout off in the classroom. Is their classroom dogmatism as bad as their books? Let me know.

    Blessed!

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  4. The followers of Jesus, from those in the Jerusalem Council lead by Jesus' brother, James, down to today's Ebionites, believe that Paul was the so called "anti-Christ", or beast of Revelation.

    Jesus and John the Baptizer taught that salvation was only achieved through repentance. Paul, on the other hand, said you don't even have to try to be good, just have faith in Jesus as savior--have faith in Jesus, the human sacrifice. It was/is idolatry.

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  5. Well, well, well...Dr. James Tabor took the time, last year, (and without regard to even hinting that he was writing a response) to respond to this article. that can be found HERE. His response was due to me naming him among the original "New Anti-Christ Advocates" outlined in this article.

    As you can see, I have since, downgraded him to the fringe, eliminating his name from the list partially due to his reporting on early church belief on the resurrection of Jesus...be clear that neither Tabor nor his friends believe in a bodily or physical resurrection of Jesus as he admits to argue in his book. Tabor, however believes in an alternate heretical teaching such as that of false prophets like Charles Taze Russell (founder of the JW's) who also held and believed that the early church both taught and believed in a "spiritual" only resurrection from the dead and of Jesus. (This is against most any sound and rational rendering of scripture on the resurrection including a total rejection of what was taught by Paul in 1 Cor. 15, which most "historian"(s) hold to be one of the first written teachings on the subject explicitly and implicitly teaching a bodily and physical resurrection of Jesus...)[Ooh, but any literary evidence is simply "myth" that must be separated from the Kerygma, right????]

    Now, this is interesting on a couple of levels. First, we have a "professional" who has taken the time to berate little ole me for examining his work and the work of other his colleagues and putting it to a biblical worldview test....In other words, I suppose I, and others because we know "nothing", should simply fall down and believe what he postulates, because they are , after all, "looking at the evidence"....what shall poor little ole us do????

    How about this...how about we stick with a full view of history which includes literary evidence and all available forms historical records? Why is it that Tabor and other like him feel that the bible is true because archaeology says so? The reason is because he, like other his peers, display ample evidence that they have no relationship with a truly risen Christ. In other words, Tabor, are you even saved? Do YOU have a relationship with the Lord of Life, Jesus Christ? Have you repented of your sins and asked the Lord to forgive you of iniquity? Have you made HIM Lord or is he and the story regarding him just another story or historical narrative? Should you be downgraded again to an "Anti-Christ Advocate" because you advocate against a true Christ? Maybe that is the case?

    Those are the REAL reasons that you don't believe in a physical and bodily resurrection as the scriptures have taught and the early church believed. The debate and human darkness over the issue is because you, like many in their sins, "love darkness" rather than the light. (John 3:19) That is the real issue.

    See part 2:

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  6. Part 2:

    We are not impressed because you dug in the ground to tell us what we ALREADY KNOW. We simply believe what HE has already said and revealed and what we have experienced at his hands and according to HIS word. We find your work interesting and confirming of the general thoughts that the early church held regarding the resurrection. Only you "qualify" it, lower it, and seek to make it a philosophical belief where there is no evidence or justification for your position or efforts no matter how many books you write on the subject...

    Since it "interested" you to be named among one of the "Anti-Christ Advocates", then come out of your sins and embrace Christ as Lord and allow him to change your heart. Head faith only goes so far, it takes a surrendered heart to seek, serve and follow Jesus.

    You said this of me as well: Indeed, Burnett closes with a veiled reference to the final “defeat” of all heretics since he has read the “end of the book,” clearly referring to the time when the whole lot of us get thrown into the Lake of Fire as described in Revelation 20:14-15.

    The "whole lot" of those that oppose Christ will go to a place that they desire to go to...to a place where they will NOT have to worry of HIM or HIS presence. There is no "veiling" of the biblical message. Neither I nor any Christian will have any part in sending you or anyone there...you will send yourself there because you want to go. That is not to berate you, but it is just another part of the truth that we, as Christians, hold to and believe.

    So thanks for even taking the time to look and listen, which is miles above that of others "scholars" and associates who have passed the point of no return, or so it seems, but I give compliments where they are due and I also speak the truth and point out heresy where I find it and where it is. Unfortunately, although you add a dimension to biblical studies, I'll still believe what has been proven over time over the modern speculation of men. let god be true and ever man a liar (Rom. 3:4)

    Supt. Harvey Burnett
    (I am a Church Of God In Christ Pastor and I approved this message)

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