In This Issue

• RICHES, CAMELS, NEEDLES, AND TRUST
• "REARVIEW MIRROR ON A STATIONARY BIKE"
• THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS TRANSLATION
• MORE INFORMATION...

RICHES, CAMELS, NEEDLES, AND TRUST

Mark 10:22-27 tells us that "Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!' And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, 'Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God!' And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.'"

Remember the context of this discussion. A rich young ruler had asked Jesus how he might inherit eternal life. When Jesus indicated that God and His kingdom must come ahead of material possessions and that mere moral goodness is not enough, the young man was greatly disappointed and "went away sorrowful."

Jesus' instructions to the young man to sell his possessions and give away the proceeds is not meant to imply that one must become poverty-stricken before he can be a Christian. Jesus knew the young man's heart. Jesus kenw the rich young ruler was accustomed to trusting his riches to get him through difficult situations, and that he must divest himself of those riches and put his trust in God.

It is with this background that Jesus states the virtual impossibility of one putting God first when he is accustomed to buying his way into all the right social circles, and buying his way out of life's difficulties. "How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!"

Apparently, Jesus' disciples had noted that most things in life seem to come easier to those who are rich. If even rich folks will find it so difficult to get into God's kingdom, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus' statement that "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" has led some commentators to suggest that there was a hole in the Jerusalem wall called the needle's eye which a camel could crawl through with much difficulty. There is no evidence that such ever existed. In fact, Luke's account of this parable uses a different word for needle - the word a surgeon would use to describe the physician's needle. Consideration of the disciples' shock by the Lord's statement is sufficient to show that they considered His suggestion impossible. They were correct. He intended to suggest the impossible. But He also intended to enlighten them to the fact that what could not be done without God, can be done with Him as our Helper.

Even a rich man can be saved. But he must rise above the temptation to put his trust in material wealth and social position. These things will not save him. He must sweep these things aside and trust God. Jesus said, "Come, take up the cross, and follow Me." 

-Clarence R. Johnson

"REARVIEW MIRROR ON A STATIONARY BIKE"

 Growth (progress) is the law of life. No living thing remains static for any considerable length of time. It either grows or dies. The fact is: the process of death begins where growth ends. To express it another way: retrogression begins where progress ends. This is true both in the vegetable and the animal kingdoms. It is true intellectually, morally and spiritually.

 Looking back to past accomplishments or, conversely, to past failures, and using either to justify present immobility, physically, intellectually, morally, or spiritually, is paranoia. Comedian Richard Lewis hit the nail on the head when he quipped: "I’m paranoid about everything; on my stationary bike, I have a rearview mirror" (via Quotable Quotes, Reader’s Digest, October 1995).

Too many professed "New Testament Christians" are mounted on "stationary bikes" with "rearview mirrors." Some glory in the past, deeming its accomplishments to be sufficient for the present. Consequently, they are infinitely pleased with themselves because they are maintaining the status quo. Others, morosely look back to past failures and pessimistically excuse present indolence with the timeworn excuse, "It won’t do any good anyway."

In both of these cases they are hypnotized by a philosophy of lethargic procrastination. The former results from a spirit of self-adulation. The latter comes from a spirit of self-deprecation. The first is unbridled egotism. The second is stultifying defeatism. In either case, employing the ungrammatical but graphic description I once heard from the mouth of a sidewalk "red-neck": "They ain’t goin’ nowhere!" They are superbly satisfied blithely to pedal their "stationary bikes" keeping alert eyes on their "rearview mirrors" not knowing they are slowly but surely sliding toward spiritual disaster and death. The following comment is all but axiomatic: "It is one thing to learn about the past (i.e. look in your spiritual rearview mirror while forging ahead - jwa); it is another to wallow in it (allow it to justify present indolence - jwa)" [Kenneth Auchinloss, Newsweek, via Reader’s Digest, October, 1995]

All of God’s commands to us are in the present tense. Moses learned this at the Red Sea. When he said to the despairing Israelites, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord...," the Lord said to him, "Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward..." (Exodus 14:14,15)

Jesus taught the same lesson to his apostles when he said, "Go make disciples of all the nations baptizing them...teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo I am with you always..." (Matthew 28:19,20)..."beginning at Jerusalem" after they were "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:47, 49)...which would be given them "after the Holy Spirit came upon" them (Acts 1:8)

Ananias emphasized the same lesson to believing, penitent Saul of Tarsus as he, blind, prayed and waited, when he said: "Why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16)

Therefore, let us mount our spiritual bikes, put them in high gear, and pedal with all our might. By all means, have and use your rearview mirrors so you can learn from the past. Having learned its lessons, do not back up and "wallow" in it on a stationary basis whether it be good or bad. Be assured that you cannot ride to heaven on a "stationary bike" and your rearview mirror will not provide an acceptable answer for your lack of progress even if you equip your bike with a reverse gear!

--James W. Adams, Timberland Drive bulletin, Lufkin, TX, March 1, 1998

THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESS TRANSLATION

When discussing the Bible with the "Jehovah's Witnesses," they will try to pull their so-called "translation" over on you, namely the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. This is simply an attempt to get one foot in the door for their perversions. However, after a brief analysis of some key passages, only a spiritual ignoramus could be led into accepting it. A few examples of their passage perverting will prove this accusation and also answer their question put to us: "Why do you always use the King James Version?" Compare some of the following passages from their "translation" with a reliable one.

In defense of their materialistic theory that this world will stand forever, they have twisted 2 Peter 3:10 to say: "… and earth and the works in it will be discovered." Now according to their reasoning, rather than burn their trash, JWs discover it! And rather than be consumed in a burning house, they would be discovered! And if that be true, most people would rather remain anonymously undiscovered! However, such is only a perversion of the original words. Noticeably, in other passages where the same Greek root word is found JWs translate it "burn up." (Note such passages as Acts 19:19; 1 Cor. 3:15; Heb. 13:11). Hence, they are guilty of inconsistency as well as perversion of truth!

Concerning the Deity of Jesus, which the JWs deny, passages in support of this truth are mangled in the jaws of these tyrannical zealots of religion. Notice Phil. 2:6: "who, although he was existing in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God." The KJV says: "…thought it not robbery to be equal with God." The apostle Paul is asserting Christ's equality with God, that it might be seen what a sacrifice Jesus made in becoming man to save man! Regardless, the JWs make it appear that Jesus did not even consider Himself to be equal with the Father, and that to do so would require a seizure! Defined, seize means: "to possess or take by force: capture." (Webster's Dict.) Seizure being the act or process of seizing, they make Jesus take by force what actually is His already. In reading verses 1-10 of Phil. 2 in their perversion, one can almost see the apprehension with which these people tiptoe over this section. But changing it grammatically does not make their concept of Jesus the truth.

On the same subject, but with a different verse (Heb. 1:8), the same kind of treatment is made of a passage that unequivocally declares the Son to be God. First the KJV: "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever, a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." Now notice the twisting done by JW scholars (?) once again: "But with reference to the Son: 'God is your throne forever and [the] scepter of uprightness…'" A careful comparison of the two passages makes it apparent that in the minds of the JWs, Jesus is not Deity, nor will He ever be! There is such a vast difference between what the New Testament actually says about the Deity of the Christ, and what the JWs' perversion says about the Deity of Christ, that it is apparent to even the most causal reader that they translation is tainted with their error. One last comment about it: BEWARE! 

--Wayne Goff, Broadmoor Beacon, Nov. 9, 1981 

We are all manufacturers: we are either making good, making trouble, or making excuses. 

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