[George]

Brother Winman said:

"I have been reading the book of Acts over and over this week. I am no scholar like you and many others here. But I do read carefully, and I do consider who is being spoken to, and even the history. But I simply see things different from you, no disrespect whatsoever. Perhaps I am wrong and I will continue to study this matter."

Aloha brother Winman,

I am pleased that you are studying the Book of Acts, but we may never come to an agreement on this issue. The reason that I say this is because of the difference in our approach to studying the Bible.

Now I mean no offense here, but if you go back over your statements concerning this issue, you tend to look for what the Scriptures "mean" (that is - what they "mean" to you); while I try to look to the Scriptures for what they "say" (because I can take them to "mean" anything I want them to "mean"). I want to know what God has to "say" about spiritual issues, I'm not interested in what He might "mean".

As Christians, there is a danger in "reading back into" the Scriptures our present understanding (i.e. the "Christian viewpoint") of a Biblical issue, when the events that were taking place and the people that were going through those events may not have been "connected" to us or the "church of God" in its present form.

For the record: I am not a "scholar". I have had no formal training in any "Christian" Bible School; College; or Seminary. From 1968 (when I first became a King James Bible believer) until today, what I have learned I have learned on my own, from reading numerous Christian authors and commentators, and many others (from 1968 - 1988 I probably read at least a book a week for all of those years); and for the last twenty years from reading and studying the Bible (without the commentators).

Instead of having my studies controlled and directed by teachers and professors, I have chosen my own course of studies and have controlled the direction those studies have taken me. At one time I had over 500 books in my Library, I am now down to about 50.

As I grow older I am less interested in what men have to say ABOUT God's Holy words, and more interested in WHAT God has to say about them. That is one of the reasons that I don't involve myself in many of the various "discussions" and "debates" that take place on the Forum.

This Forum has been very "instructive" for me, for it has demonstrated the chaotic state that the churches are in at this time. In the 50 years I have been a Christian I have observed the "deterioration" of so-called Christian "Fundamentalism" in America to the point where, by the testimony of many members of the Forum themselves, it is extremely difficult to find a genuine Bible believing church today.

It seems to me that the so-called "Evangelical" churches are embracing the "Emerging Church Movement" (ECM) and are swiftly sliding into apostasy; and on the other side of the aisle, many of the so-called "Fundamentalist" churches are embracing a form of "Christian Fascism", where the "pastor" has become a totalitarian dictator (every pastor = a "mini-pope").

There doesn't seem to be any "BALANCE". There doesn't seem to be any "MODERATION". In the early 1980's I despaired over these things and for a while I backslid because I didn't understand what was going on or the "tenor of our times" ("apostasy"). I believe we are living in the "latter times" or the "last days" [1 Timothy 4:1-16; 2 Timothy 3;1-17] and because we are, "the love of many shall wax cold"; and "some shall depart from the faith"; and "the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine".

The body of Christ is in the sorriest state I have ever seen it since I became a Christian. Chaos, anarchy, and rebellion rule the day and Christians are as "unstable", "untrustworthy", and "undependable" as their lost counterparts.

I believe that this Forum is a "microcosm" of what is taking place in "Christianity" as a whole. Look at the kooks, the crazies, and the crackpots who have come here in the last year and a half with some of their "hair-brained teachings"; look at the false teachers and hereticks who have tried to worm their way on to the Forum looking for disciples; look at the intellectual elites and Bible skeptics and correctors who constantly dog us with their insincere QUESTIONS - always QUESTIONS! Has the body of Christ ever been in such disarray?

The world (and the churches) are in exactly the same state of disarray as the nation of Israel was before the coming of the "king" - the problem is their first "king" was not the right "king", just like the "king" (anti-Christ) the world will choose will not be the right "king".

Judges 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

We Christians have got to start seeing things through God's eyes and not our own.

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Ezekiel 18:25 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

Ezekiel 18:29 Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?

We have got to start understanding things according to God's words [Psalms 33;4; Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4] and not the words of men.

Colossians 2:4 And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.
5 For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

We must beware of Satan and his "devices", and stick with the "simplicity that is in Christ".

2 Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

We have got to seek out the Holy spirit for knowledge, for discernment, for understanding, and for wisdom, instead of relying on our own understanding.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.