[George]

Re: brother Tim's Posts #200 & 206 (Chit Chat - Dr. Ruckman - underlines by George)

George, I'm sorry, but I can't chop the Scripture into as many tiny pieces as you may. "Rightly dividing" says more than just "dividing", it also must be "right". I don't have a problem with the OT/NT split. God made that pretty clear. I just haven't bought into splitting the NT into all the parts that some believe. Just so you can think me to be really wacky, I'm not pre-trib either. I don't know that there is a label for me prophecy-wise.

Originally Posted by Brother Tim

Jerry, I guess we need a new printing of the KJB with the parts that count for us marked differently. ( I'm soo confoosed! ) I am reminded of a statement I heard Bill O'Reilly once say. It went something like this. The Old Testament is just allegory; the parts of the New Testament where Jesus is speaking is the only factual truth, the other parts are just the commentary by men.
For me, I'll start at Genesis and read through to the Revelation, I'll believe every word, and accept that every word is there for me to know, every truth is there for me to understand, and that every teaching is there for me to obey.

Aloha brother Tim,

Let me be real clear from the outset - the purpose of this post is NOT to "make" you believe, or follow what I believe. Neither is it meant to demean you in any way. If you will - this is meant to either "persuade" you or, at the least, inform you as to where I am coming from.

I also heard Bill O'Reilly say pretty much the same thing - more than once. And in regards to your position on pre-trib etc., I am not critical of those who do not share my personal convictions on these matters since it's foretelling the future, but I do hope that you are pre-Millennial. However, your comment about needing a new King James Bible "with the parts that count for us marked differently" is a "cheap shot" for those of us who believe in "rightly dividing the word of truth" - which God (through Paul) has instructed (commanded) us to do [2Timothy 2:15].

It seems that Christians have at least as many ways to read & study the Bible as there are Sects & Denominations. That is why it is so important for those of us who sincerely want to know the "Truth" of God (from "the scripture of truth" - Daniel 10:21) to study the Bible according to God's dictates and not according to our own personal preferences.

There are only three (3) verses in the entire Bible with the word "study" in them and there is only one verse [2Timothy 2:15] that actually tells us how. As you probably know this verse is changed in such a way as to remove all reference to "study" in almost all the other bibles - "interesting" isn't it?. [2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.]

My question for you is simple: Why would you, or anyone else, question or "poke fun" at the "method" of Bible study that God requires (not recommends), simply because you have chosen not to use it? God never told us to "Harmonize" the Holy Scriptures - He instructed (commands) us to "rightly divide the word of truth".

The interesting thing is that practically everyone "divides" the word of truth (even a Catholic like Bill O'Reilly!), but are they dividing it correctly? - that's the question. Please notice - God did not say: "rightly dividing the Old & New Testaments"; neither did He say: "rightly dividing the Books of the Bible"; and He didn't say: "rightly dividing the verses" either. He said "rightly dividing the word of God".

And so how do we go about "rightly dividing the word of God"? - I'm glad you asked!

Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

Isaiah 28:13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

There it is: The above verses in Isaiah tell us HOW to "rightly divide" - NOT by the Old or New Testaments; NOT by the Books of the Bible; and NOT by verses alone; we are to "rightly divide the word of truth"; and you will notice that God has set the whole thing up so that if a person is "inclined" (heart motive), they will fall backward; be broken; and be snared if they don't do it right! Remember: Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

This reveals the main "problem" with almost all of the so-called "Christian" or "Bible" schools, colleges, and seminaries. The word of God is aimed at the "heart" - while the curriculum and course of study in those schools is aimed at the "mind". David did NOT say: "Thy word have I hid in mine mind that I might not sin against thee"! He said "Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee".

Bible or "Christian" Schools, colleges, and seminaries can teach "knowledge" and some "discernment", but they can't teach "understanding" or "wisdom" that's the Holy Spirit's job, and He can only do it when we study the Holy Scriptures (on our own), without much "outside influence".

I am against Hyper or Ultra-Dispensationalism (E. W. Bullinger or Cornelius Stam) where the Bible is "chopped up into little pieces". All of the Hyper-Dispensationalist's that I have met emphasized The "intellect" and had very little concern about matters of the heart. God is not "impressed" with our "intellect" or our "education".

Lastly, there have been some hyper-Calvinist who have come on this Forum, who have insisted that if we (Christians) are not Calvinists then we must be Armenians! Most of us on this Forum reject that analysis, and refuse to be labeled either or. The same holds true about Hyper-Dispensationalism - I refuse to be "labeled" or put into the same category as Stam or Bullinger. They were a whole lot smarter than me and better educated, but on the other hand their brand of Dispensationalism is divisive; uncharitable; and destructive; and I disavow any connection to them just because I divide the word of truth and believe in the Dispensations of God.

If this hasn't clarified my position I have much more that I could say on this subject, but this post, as with most of my posts is already too long.