Ian Boyne: ARMSTRONGISM SUPERIOR TO ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY?

I previously offered the chance for Ian to present his reason why Armstrongism is still superior to other churches.  Let the conversation...or fireworks begin.

ARMSTRONGISM SUPERIOR TO ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY?

BY IAN BOYNE

Ian Boyne is a Church of God, International Pastor in Jamaica

As someone who has spent over four decades studying philosophy (particularly epistemology and philosophy of religion) theology and comparative religions, as well being as a specialist religion writer and broadcaster, I have long thought of  issuing  this challenge: That Armstrongism—minus its obscurantism and fanaticism—is actually far superior to all other brands  of  conservative Christianity, and that the most intellectually defensible alternative to  Reformed Armstrongism is agnosticism or theistic  existentialism.

As I have read the serious scholarly journals in theology and philosophy and kept up with the latest books in the fields, I have become more convinced that far more credit should be given to the high school dropout Herbert Armstrong than he actually gets.

Because there has been so much focus on the corruption, authoritarianism, abuse and exploitation in the movement—and that is both overwhelming and irrefutable---little time has been spent showing how much better a religious  system Armstrongism is—absent its errors—than its alternatives.

As someone who has experienced many “long, dark nights of the soul” and who has had to wrestle intellectually and emotionally with major philosophical and theological issues, I could never see myself rejecting certain cardinal tenets of Armstrongism and going on to embrace orthodox Christianity, either of the Protestant or Catholic version. (Though, ironically to some, I would find Catholicism more attractive than Evangelicalism.)  As I read certain ex-Armstrongites attacking the movement (and I have every book ever published on the movement  and  have read every Ambassador Report),  it  has struck me again that many persons who  are celebrating their release from “the bondage of Armstrongism” have really bought into inferior versions of revealed religion without  realizing it.

For example, I could never,  like some who  have gone back to orthodox Christianity,  go back to the barbaric and repulsive belief that a loving God would create a hell to burn people for all eternity—most of whom never even had an opportunity to learn about him. Notice how abominable this doctrine---strongly rejected by Armstrong—really is. The billions of persons in communist China, Hindu India  and those under  the former Iron Curtain  who, through no fault of their own were born in the “wrong country”, have to spend an eternity in hell for the Bible says “there is in other name under heaven whereby men must be saved except the name of Jesus”.

Yet this God is too impotent to get His Gospel across to people. Not to mention  the obnoxious Calvinist belief that God actually decreed, for His own  glory and in His sovereignty,  that some would be lost and burn forever in hell. The atheists have developed a brilliant Argument From Non-Belief to counter this horrendous “Christian” doctrine of people’s being lost through own ignorance and non-belief. (See especially Theodore Drange’s  brilliant book,  Non-Belief and Evil)

Some, struck with the incongruity of the loving God (as portrayed in the Bible) casting  ignorant people in Hell for all eternity come up with  the view that God will judge people by the sincerity of their hearts and their good works and let the good ones into the kingdom.

But wait: Isn’t  Sola Fide (faith alone) and Sola Gratia (grace alone) at the heart of the Protestant doctrine of  justification by faith? Then how can God look at how well the Buddhist, Hindu and Sufi lived and let them into Heaven based on their works when works are supposed to have nothing to do with right standing?

Evangelicalism, which  some ex-Armstrongites like Martha and the Bereans website  friends  have bought into, can’t match the philosophical and theological force of the Armstrongite teaching that a good, loving and just God will find a way for every single human being to come to a knowledge of the truth—including the mentally retarded, the mentally ill  as well the sincere atheists and agnostics who did not have enough evidence to believe.

Even the apostate WCG cannot let go of this refreshing teaching of Herbert Armstrong. Significantly, Armstrongism is the only movement which says it alone is right and yet which opens the  door for those who disagree to be saved eventually. This is a  most compassionate view which should promote tolerance. 

  

Herbert Armstrong, contrary to his Evangelical critics, actually did more to promote  the exclusivity of Christianity and Christ by stating that good Buddhists, good Muslims,  good Hindus, good Bahais etc. would not be saved in their ignorance  just because they were not wicked like Hitler; but would get their chance to learn the one truth and make a personal confession of Christ (See Romans 10). 

Evangelicals, Church of God 7^th Day  and Seventh-Day Adventists have more than one way of salvation—one for those who heard and rejected Christ and another for the millions who died without hearing, leaving God  no option but to  find a way to get them to His Kingdom without their having personally accepted Christ.

So if he could do that for  so many “good heathens”, why allow so much evil in the world ostensibly to accommodate free will ,which  He then takes away by putting people in  Heaven who never really made that personal choice?  There  is not enough space  to point  out the serious moral and theological problems which orthodox Christianity poses. It is a pity that so many are so emotionally scarred and abused that they might not have the  intellectual energy—or interest—to look at the strengths in the theology of  Armstrongism.

I admit I am  deeply  embarrassed, even angered, as a thinking  Armstrongite (an oxymoron?) to read the nonsense taught by the lunatic fringe in the movement (In fact, they are so many they might even be the mainstream!)

I am happy for the CGI, to which I belong,  which retains the finest teachings of Herbert Armstrong without the dross and the excesses. I am NOT saying it is the only true church! For all GTA’s moral weaknesses and reprehensible personal behaviour, he reformed a system without throwing out the baby with the bathwater.  Ron Dart’s work in the CGI has also been invaluable in preserving an intellectually respectable brand of Armstrongism.

The atrocious doctrine of an ever-burning hell; the view that billions of sincere people will be lost simply because they never knew about Christ; the severing of Christianity from its Hebraic roots and the Hellenisation of  Christianity; the de-emphasis on the eschatological Kingdom  of God and the  profound truth of the eventual deification of humans are some of the major reasons I could not leave Armstrongism for orthodox Christianity. Agnosticism or theistic Existentialism is a far better option to me.  The God of Evangelicalism, Adventism and orthodox Christianity is not worthy to be worshipped. Herbert Armstrong had that right.

Mr. Ian Boyne, CD, was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) in 2010. His responsibilities include serving as Chief State Liaison to the Office of the Prime Minister, Office of the Governor-General and the Office of the Leader of the Opposition and giving oversight to the Research, Publications and Production (Editorial and Photo) Division.

Host of the Agency’s flagship interview programme, Issues and Answers, Mr. Boyne furthers the public education thrust of the JIS through his incisive range of questions which elucidate the Government’s response to the national issues of the day.

Mr. Boyne has had a long career with the JIS as he first joined the entity when it was known as the Agency for Public Information (API) in 1976 as feature writer and television broadcaster. In 1983 he became the Press Secretary/Speech Writer to the then Minister of Industry and Commerce, Douglas Vaz and from then to 2002 worked with every Minister of Industry under successive administrations as Speech Writer/Public Relations Consultant after which he rejoined the JIS in 2002.

In the media fraternity, he is regarded as a veteran journalist who entered the profession in 1975. Outside of the JIS, he is the host of the 26 year old TVJ programme Profile, the host of Religious Hardtalk and a columnist for the Sunday Gleaner.

In 2009, the Government of Jamaica recognized his contribution to journalism with the Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD).

Mr. Boyne is a Minister of Religion and the author of “Ideas Matter: Journey into the Mind of a Veteran Journalist.

LCG: Some members are shocked that Mario Hernandez will be the public face of LCG in Cuba

According to Gerald Weston, Mario Hernandez will be trotting off to Cuba to be the public face of LCG to the Cuban nation.  I cannot imagine people who have suffered mightily through the legalism of the laws of socialism, with many who have died because of it, would embrace more legalism in a church.  God is not bound up in the demands, rules and regulations of the LCG.  What the Cuban people need more than anything is freedom with grace, not arrogant narcissistic bubbling lectures by Mario on how things should be.

LCG is not presenting "original Christianity" to the Cubans. Besides, which version would they be presenting?  James version?  Paul's version? The Cubans will hear very little about Jesus but lots and lots about the law.

Now for that wonderful news. Mr. Mario Hernandez, our Spanish Regional Director, and Mr. George Schaubeck from Costa Rica recently visited Cuba, where God is beginning to do a work in an area that was once closed to us. How exciting it is to reach out to people who have not previously been introduced to original Christianity and all that this means! Messrs. Hernandez and Schaubeck visited with about 50 people in total, people who had come in contact with us via the Internet or personal acquaintances and requested we contact them. Some 30 people were already committed enough to attend a Sabbath service conducted by Mr. Hernandez. One man was baptized, but we expect many more will take that step in the near future, and we are now making preparations to hold the Feast of Tabernacles on the island for what we believe will be the first time ever! 

These truth-seekers are what the Bible refers to as firstfruits(James 1:18). They are stepping out in faith to join with others whom God is calling to do a Work at the end of the age. In a real sense they are pioneers of the age to come, the time that we refer to as Tomorrow’s World, when Jesus Christ returns to this troubled planet to set up His Kingdom. They are the called of God, and if they respond to that call and are chosen and remain faithful to the end (Revelation 17:14), God will resurrect them to be king-priests to teach these same truths to others (Revelation 5:9-10; 20:4).

Living Church of God: Are members struggling with hardening hearts

The poor LCG member just can never get it right. Apparently some LCG members are "hardening their hearts" and are no longer teachable.  In other words, if you dare question anything you have a bad attitude and have hardened your heart against the "truth" relayed to church members.  Why can't church leaders ever write anything positive for their member?  Perhaps talk about Jesus...though I know that is a big stretch.  When he is talked  it is by making church member feel guilty about crucifying him.

Are You Teachable? The Scriptures reveal that an important quality of character that God is looking for in Christians and future leaders in His Kingdom is teachability—the desire and willingness to listen and learn. Abraham was teachable and responsive to God’s instructions (Genesis 12:1-4). Moses was a very capable leader, yet he was also humble and teachable (Numbers 12:3). David’s attitude comes through in Psalm 119:33 when he writes “Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes.” Solomon recognized his human inadequacies when he asked God for wisdom and an “understanding heart,” so that he could learn to rule God’s people wisely (1 Kings 3:9). When Jesus said the meek and the poor in spirit are blessed, He was emphasizing their teachability and their willingness to learn and grow (Matthew 5:3-5). The Scriptures also reveal that when we harden our hearts to God’s instruction, we will reap serious consequences (Proverbs 28:14). We have been called to reign with Jesus Christ in the coming Kingdom of God—and being teachable is one of the keys to attaining that reward. Let’s strive to develop this most important quality.

Have a profitable Sabbath,

Douglas S. Winnail

United Church of God Still Disgusted By The Cross

United Church of God's ignorant response to crosses at their upcoming feast site is just as absurd as Almost-arrested Bob Thiel's outrage at the crosses planted in the snow in honor of the Milwaukee COG murder victims. They still want to know as little as possible about the man they claim to follow while still pretending to be followers.

March 20, 2017

I wanted to let you know about one of UCG's newest feast sites. It is in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.  

What gets me is that organizations like UCG continually preach against these so-called "false Christians" and their wrong doctrines. Yet, they meet for services on the Sabbath (at their church halls, and now this feast site). They are the ultimate hypocrites! They'll be telling the membership (at the feast) how "we are to come out of this world" and they are right there with those they adamantly preach against.

UCG posted this note on their site:

"On Lake Junaluska’s informational signs there are small crosses and there is a large cross at the far end of the lake. However, there are no crosses in the hall where services will be held."

--Former member of WCG and RCG

See previous stories here on Banned:

James Malm: People Who Wear Crosses Are Followers of the Anti-Christ

The Church of God: Embarassed By The Cross?

10th Anniversary of the Living Church of God Killings and LCG Leaders Remain Silent

Apostle Malm and Prophet Thiel: Despisers of the Cross

I Wish I Had 6-20 Hours to Be Able To Sit In Front Of All COG Members And Answer Questions...

...and then they would join me because of all the amazing truths I would tell them  Dave Pack is letting his mind wander again.  The overwhelming majority of COG members would rather trot to the lake of fire on a fast horse with a porcupine saddle than sit for 6 - 20 hours listening to his delusional mind babble on.  On top of all that, he apparently envisions himself a modern day Paul.

I wish I could sit down face to face with the whole church for about six hours and have what Paul did in Acts 20…went so long, Eutychus fell and killed himself, if you know the story. [laughter] I wouldn’t want that part, but we’d just resurrect him if that happened, I guess, like Paul did, and go on. But I wish I could have 6 or 10 or 20 hours with all the thousands of God’s people around the world—in one place—and just answer questions…just a giant Q&A session. I wish I could. There’s no way to do that, but let’s hold a survey for a moment about what we’ve learned. Go back to the subject of questions, and let’s ask a question before we get into the sermon. Would anyone rather I did not give so much detail? Should I leave points and details out? You know, less material, just less material?

I was trained by two of the greatest COG Exorcists and have the ability to discern demons

Dave Pack is also the world's greatest exorcist.  Is there anything the man cannot do...at least in his own eyes?  It is a shame he cannot discern the demon staring back at him every morning in the mirror.

“…and in your name have cast out demons? and in your name done many wonderful works?” Now, let me stop. These are many who cast out demons. I finally understand why it talks about that. I knew, personally the two men…and I’ve explained this before, who knew more about casting out demons than any ministers in Worldwide. If you put me in there, the three of us cast out more demons than probably any other 300 ministers, because I had those two fine mentors, Frank McCrady and Jim Reyer. The first man is deceased; the other still alive at age 85.

And most ministers avoided demons like the plague. This is not something that’s common. Rarely did anybody ever, ever cast out a demon. They tended to explain them away as psychological problems. I remember being at a Feast, as early as 1976, when a minister senior to me said, “Go get Dave Pack”—and I was only twenty-seven years old. But from then on, and before that really, because these men were so close to me…those two gentlemen…I learned most men did not deal with demons. They didn’t recognize them. They didn’t discern them, which is a gift. If you’re in the Body of Christ, discerning of spirits includes demons. They never dealt with them, so who are the many who cast out demons? And the many who did many wonderful works? Before I answer that question, verse 23 is shocking…

RCG Members Prohibited From Telling Disfellowshipped Members "Good-bye"

The things that occupy Dave's mind is truly amazing.

“Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresses, and abides not in the doctrine of Christ, has not God. He that abides in the doctrine of Christ, he has both the Father and the Son…[There’s going to come a point where there’s going to be this separation.]…If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed…[Just go…Pull away. Don’t even say goodbye, because that means “God be with you”—that saying, God speed.]…For he that bids him God speed…[Who even says goodbye—God be with you—that’s what it means.]…is partaker of his evil deeds” (vs. 8-10).

There’s no room there…I mean, you don’t even say goodbye. Just close the door and be done, or you’re a partaker. How interesting.

UCG is wrong to have 1 1/2 hour church services and therefore must be shunned

Dave Pack has a hard time with the fact that many UCG church services are only an hour and half long instead of the HWA mandated two hours.  Because UCG "blew off tradition' they should be shunned.  Dave Pack blew off tradition with 3-4 Thur sermons and should be shunned too!  What a moron.

Now let’s read quickly, again, what we’re all familiar with, but it’s important to see it…II Thessalonians, chapter 3, verse 6: “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ…[Before I go on, remember, again…Just what is it, brethren, that makes us different from the churches of the world? What is it again? We obey what God commands. We obey God. So here’s a command.]…that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”

Even traditions—not just truths—traditions…Somebody says “I believe every doctrine of the Church, but I just refuse to believe certain traditions”…whatever they might be…“I think we should have one song to open services and three to close.” That’s a tradition. Somebody says “I refuse to believe we’re doing it right.” I’m being facetious, maybe a little silly, to illustrate a point. That’s a tradition. There’s no verse in the Bible that says you do it that way. “I think services should be an hour and a half.” The United Church of God thought that…they blew off that tradition. By definition, when they blew off a tradition established by a righteous apostle for decades, do you realize—in a sense—you cannot have fellowship with the 10- or 12,000 people in United on that basis alone—because they have 45-minute sermons. They do many other things that are wrong in their services—and they teach a host of false doctrines as well—but they blew off the tradition of length of services.

There’s not a verse you can turn to that says the length of service, but if every pastor says “I think it should be an hour”…“Well I think it should be three hours”…Then somebody else says “Well, I think 30 minutes is enough.” Someone else says “Well, I like two hours”…but somebody else says “Well, I want an hour and 45 minutes”…Think…Can you imagine the chaos just on the length of services? That’s not a doctrine, but a tradition that carries the weight of doctrine. So let’s imagine something in the sphere of what Paul is talking about—traditions. And then…

Because I Practice Brotherly Love and Walk In Truth, No One Leaves My Church.

Dave's grasp of scripture is so astounding that his followers just cannot leave the Restored Church of God.  Mix that amazing truth and his amazing grasp of brotherly love church members just cannot bring themselves to leave.

It’s why clear verses to some are unclear to others. Christ spewed out of His mouth thousands and thousands of people to become wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. They had fallen below the ability, apparently, with that condition to grasp—to grasp—things that we are being shown. If we fear God, we’re under His government, we’re practicing brotherly love, we’re walking in truth—we’re doing all the things that the Body of Christ is doing—we’re doing His Work…all those different things Christ reveals to us—and interestingly enough almost nobody leaves.

Also, interestingly enough, the few that are, are ministers and their wives. Those are the only people who left anywhere in the world. Christ’s sheep know His voice—they didn’t leave. But we could ask the question…And I’m going to come back to this later on…does that mean the few ministers who left, or their wives…but let’s just say the ministers…are wolves? We’re going to take another look at who is and who is not a wolf!

We did lose some ministers who were not helping brethren understand prophecy. Now, let me just say again, we lost three ministers recently. Between them, they were only able to take a single, 100-year-old widow with them. That’s all they were able to take. But let’s just say that her advanced age…such a woman was not mentally prepared to withstand what came at her…the effects of age made her easy prey. A man left a couple weeks ago; he took no one. Another man, who left a month before that, actually took no one; but one person came back. So the net loss, if you count this 100-year-old widow that they went in and took out…that one man did…it was literally a net. They took no one. I’ve never heard of anything like that.

But if I just took a moment to kind of, through language, stroll through the names of all the ministers we’ve lost down through the years, it’s not been like Worldwide. Virtually no one follows them. Now that encourages me. That encourages me, and it ought to make any minister, I guess, who still could be thinking about leaving…I don’t think there’s anybody, but I’ve said it before…ought to make them think long and hard about how much God’s sheep hear His voice. 

Literal or Parable & Allegorical Understanding

From a reader here:

Literal or Parable & Allegorical Understanding

A few years ago, after church services, a round table discussion about various religions began. After several minutes the following comment was made, “All religion is made man.” Immediately someone said, “Except ours.” After several minutes of continued discussion, the comment was repeated with emphasis, “Remember this, all religion is man made.” A few years ago someone questioned another’s belief in God. The answer was, “Yes, absolutely, but I prefer the word creator rather than God."

The word “God” was derived from the word “good.” This may have been done to emphasize the goodness of the creator more so than the greatness of the creation by the creator. Both are equally valid. There are three Hebrew words translated as God; “elohim” Strong’s #430, which is the plural form of  “eloah” #433, which is derived from “el” #410, which means might, strength, and power. Elohim does not always refer to “God” as creator as the following will show; keeping in mind that Strong’s Concordance reference for the Hebrew word “elohim” is #430.

Genesis 23:6 Hear us, my lord: thou [art] a mighty(430) prince among us: …..(Refers to Abraham as elohim, but not as God)

Genesis 30:8 …. With great(430) wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, …(Refers to Rachel and Leah - as elohim / godly wrestlers?)

Exodus 9:28 …… that there be no mighty(430) thunderings and hail; …….                                                                                   (as elohim / godly thunder and hail?)

Exodus 22:9 ….... come before the judges;(430) [and] whom the judges(430) shall condemn, . . .godly judges? - maybe, maybe not)

Jonah 3:3 …... Now Nineveh was an exceeding(430) great city of three days' journey.(Was Nineveh an elohim / godly city?)

Searching for and learning the meanings of words, rather than the traditional teachings of 20+ years of Baptist and Methodist teaching as well as 50+ years of awareness of and/or association with the Church of God has helped in coming to a completely different understanding of the Bible.

Twelve years ago, an interest in trying to understand the bible more clearly was begun, rather than relying on traditional teaching. Over time, an understanding was realized that parables, allegories and “dark sayings of old” were used in the Old and New Testament. “Dark sayings” in Psalms 78:2 and Proverbs 1:6 are used in the sense of being difficult to understand or hidden. Galatians 4:22-26 states that the story of Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and their sons are allegory (vs. 24). Did those “hidden” terms use anthropomorphism and personification to describe natural conditions of the world we live in as well as all people, no matter who the person is or where that person resides on this earth? 

Once the similarity of stories from the O.T. and N.T. were compared to nature, our solar system, the universe and us as humans, the meanings began to become clearer. Also, similar stories are a part of nearly every culture throughout time on this earth. Compare the stories of Krishna of India, Tammuz of Syria, Esus of the Celtic Druids, Mithra of Persia, and Quexalcoati of Mexico, Dionysus of Greece and many others. All were crucified gods and all have stories similar to the one we know best. Why?

The following are a few of examples to explain some allegorical possibilities:

Genesis 32:24-31 gives the story of Jacob wrestling with a man; who most folks say was either God or an angel. But Numbers 23:19 states that God is not a man. It is questionable if angels are men as well. Also Jacob called the place Peniel and Penuel. There is a tiny gland in the middle of our brain which is named Pineal. This pineal gland is connected to the optic nerves of our eyes and is sensitive to light. 1John 1:5 states God is light.

1. Important events, in the Bible, happens at a high place. Mt Siani, Mt Zion, Mt Ararat, Mt Moriah, Mt Carmel, Mt of Olives, Sermon on the Mount, large “upper room” and others. Could all these be allegory for our own personal “mountain” which is on top of our shoulders? Psalms 139:13-14 . . . [God] formed my inward parts . . .  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
2. 1 Kings 6 describes the construction of the temple, which could allegorically describe our skull and the parts of the brain. The temple, which really counts, is made without hands. (Mark 14:58). If you point to your temple, would you point to the side of your head? Is that just coincidence? “For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16)  “. . .the kingdom of God comes not with observation: . . . the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21)  A study of the word “within” may reveal an understanding that very well may not mean “among” as we have been told. The Greek word translated “within” (Strong’s #1787) appears only two times. The other is in Matthew 23:26 and the word means “inside”.
3. There are twelve signs of the Zodiac. One of those is Gemini, a set of twins (total 13). One of those signs is represented as a woman, Virgo. There were twelve sons of Jacob and one daughter (total 13). There are twelve main followers or disciples of Jesus plus a woman, Mary Magdalene (total 13).
4. There are 2 sets of 12 (total 24) cranial nerves that start originate in our brain and extend into our body. There are 24 elders around the throne of God. (Rev. 4:4) Could that throne be our skull, which contains the brain, and be the “Great White Throne” where judgment occurs?
5. There are four main parts of the brain; cerebrum, cerebellum, limbic system, and brain stem. The cerebrum is further divided into four parts; frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe and temporal lobe. Could either of these four parts be the four beasts of Rev 4:7-8?
6. According to some cultures, there are seven points of energy associated with the human body. Six of those points of energy are within the body from the base of the spine to the head. Work takes place within those six energy points. The seventh is just above the head where no work is involved within the body. Could our seven day week be an allegory for the six points of energy in our body with the seventh just over our head where a crown would be? Could these be the seals of Rev 5:1 which are written “within” and on the “backside” be along the spine of our body? Could the seventh be the crown we are promised?
7. Jesus was killed on Golgotha or Calvary. Both mean skull. Golgatha is transliterated from Hebrew. Calvary is transliterated from Latin. (How did a Latin word find its way into a book written in Greek?) Could the death of Jesus be allegorical for the death of our own ego and carnal desires? Those attitudes originate in our brain. BTW, transliteration is not translation. Transliteration offers no definition, only an approximate sound and spelling of a word.

There are many, many more possibilities which, if fully understood, could free us from the control of the Nicolaitans. (Revelation 2:6 & 15)  Nico is Greek for victory (control) and laitanes (laity) is Greek for the common people; OR victory over or control of the common people. That is not to say that the ministers, in general, are purposely trying to deceive the people, but traditional orthodoxy came about over many, many years of control. Ministers / clergy teach what they are taught to teach. Generally, the lay people are expected to accept what is taught without question. During the “Dark Ages” the vast majority of people were not able to have a copy of the bible even if they could read. The thoughts and actions of people were controlled to the point of death if commands were not obeyed. During the Dark Ages, approximately 600 CE to 1600 CE, millions of people were tortured and/or killed by the church. As a point for an interesting study, the word “church” is not a valid translation in the bible. King James was instrumental in having the word “church” used instead of the correct translation, assembly and/or congregation for the Greek word ἐκκλησίᾳ, transliterated as ekklesia.

Following are two examples of the control of the Nicolaitans.

1. William Tyndale wrote a more correct English translation of the bible in the early 1500’s CE.  The church had banned the unauthorized translation of the Bible into English in 1408. Tyndale was killed by strangulation while tied to the stake and his body was burned at that stake because of a treatise he wrote critical of Henry VIII’s divorce. At that time Henry VIII had broken with Rome and became the ruling authority of the Church of England. Tyndale also claimed that the Bible did not support the view that the “church” was the body of Christ.
2. Galileo Galilee was charged, by the “church”, with teaching and defending the Copernican doctrine that holds that the sun is at the center of the universe and that the earth moves. This doctrine had been deemed heretical in 1616, and Copernicus' book had been placed on the index of prohibited books. In June 1633 Galileo was taken to the “church” and ordered to kneel while his sentence was read. It was declared that he was “vehemently suspect of heresy”. Galileo was forced to recite and sign a formal withdrawal of his statements.

These are only two examples of the “church” and its control of the people. There are many, many millions of others who were either killed or severely punished because they challenged the church hierarchy and their dogma and dictates. It still happens today in a figurative sense.

If the bible is read with a literal interpretation for proper understanding, then one must deal with the numerous illogical and contradictory statements within that book. Did Jonah really stay in a whale’s (big fish) belly for three days and three nights? Will Jesus literally ride a white horse out of heaven?  Who caused David to number Israel? (Compare 2Samuel 24:1 and 1Chronicles 21:1) Will there literally be a “New Jerusalem” that comes down from “heaven”?

As a general rule Jesus spoke only in parables.

Mark 4:33 . . . with many such parables he spoke the word to them, even as they were able to hear.  

Mark 4:34 But He did not speak to them without a parable. . . . .

Is it possible for the Bible to have been written with allegory, metaphor and parables in the same manner as Jesus spoke? Could this explain the illogical and contradictory statements within that book? If God is in heaven, could heaven be our highest and controlling organ, i.e., our brain?

If the Bible truly is the “Word of God” there must be a reason it is written with those illogical and contradictory situations. If parable, allegory, metaphor and dark sayings are considered as a possibility then maybe there are other questionable situations or events from the bible which could be better understood. We have been admonished not to accept the letter of the law.

2Corinthians 3:6 . . . . not of the letter, (literal understanding?)  but of the spirit: for the letter kills,  (hides understanding?) but the spirit makes alive. (gives better understanding?)

Our traditions are so very deeply rooted and difficult to overcome without the following example:

Acts 17:11 . . . . [Bereans] received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched(350) the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  (Strong’s #350, examined, studied)

These two questions are asked,

1.     “Do we really know and understand the meanings of the words in the Bible?”

2.     “Do we really want to know and understand the meanings of the words in the Bible?”

All previous comments and suggestions in this article are not limited to understanding the Bible by it being the sole source of what has been written here. These comments and suggestions have been known and written for thousands of years throughout the generations and cultures of mankind.

George and Ira Gershwin, a couple of New York Jewish song writers wrote “It Ain’t Necessarily So” for the play “Porgy and Bess” in 1935. It seems that the Gershwin brothers may have had a better understanding than most folks. They did not write “ain’t so”; but wrote “ain’t necessarily so.”

Could they have understood the parables, allegories and dark sayings of old?

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It ain't necessarily so

It ain't necessarily so

The things dat yo' li'ble, to read in de Bible,

It ain't necessarily so.

Li'l David was small, but oh my!

Li'l David was small, but oh my!

He fought ‘ol Goliath, who lay down an' dieth!

Li'l David was small, but oh my!

Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale,

Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale,

Fo' he made his home in, dat fish's ab-do-men.

Oh Jonah, he lived in de whale.

Li'l Moses was found in a stream.

Li'l Moses was found in a stream.

He floated on water, till Ol' Pharaoh's daughter,

She fished him, she said, from dat stream.

Well, it ain't necessarily so

Well, it ain't necessarily so

Dey tells all you chillun, de debble's a villun,

But it ain't necessarily so!

To get into Heaven, Don' snap for a seven!

Live clean ! Don' have no fault!

Oh, I takes dat gospel, when’er it's pos'ble,

But wid a grain of salt.

Methus'lah lived nine hundred years,

Methus'lah lived nine hundred years,

But who calls dat livin' when no gal will give in

To no man what's nine hundred years?

I'm preachin' dis sermon to show,

It ain't neces, ain't neces, ain't neces, ain't neces

Ain't necessarily ... so!

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