Glory of God Prayer Group, St. Cecilia Parish, Wa Diocese, Ghana - Let Your Light Shine

Saint of the Day

Pride

It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. Saint Augustine

Forgive those who hurt you

One who is injured ought not to return the injury, for on no account can it be right to do an injustice; and it is not right to return an injury, or to do evil to any man, however much we have suffered from him. Socrates

Pray and work

Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. Saint Augustine

He that is evil is a slave

He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king. Saint Augustine

Hear the other side

Hear the other side. Saint Augustine

Our walking is our preaching

It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching. Francis of Assisi

What does love look like?

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. Saint Augustine

The richest

He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature. Socrates

Words too big for the subject

Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. C. S. Lewis

A simple smile

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. Mother Teresa

Too honest to be a politician

I was really too honest a man to be a politician and live. Socrates

Humility

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less. C. S. Lewis

Affection

Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives. C. S. Lewis

Our life of poverty

Our life of poverty is as necessary as the work itself. Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them. Mother Teresa

He will not save us without our consent

He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent. Saint Augustine

The end of life

The end of life is to be like God, and the soul following God will be like Him. Socrates

Lay first the foundation of humility

Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. Saint Augustine

A man of courage

He is a man of courage who does not run away, but remains at his post and fights against the enemy. Socrates

The cause makes the martyr

It is not the punishment but the cause that makes the martyr. Saint Augustine

Concerns of animal life

We are certainly in a common class with the beasts; every action of animal life is concerned with seeking bodily pleasure and avoiding pain. Saint Augustine

This article has been inspired by the conflict that exists within Christianity mainly due to the interpretation of the bible (the genuine cases). First of all it is important for us to understand the place of the bible in Christianity before we can properly apply it to Christian spirituality. This article seeks to use the dealings of God with his people Israel, the dealings of Jesus and the apostles with the early Christians, the bible itself and common sense to try to establish the place of the bible in Christianity. I hope this article will help you strengthen your Christian roots.

Key areas to be discussed:

  • The Bible versus the Word of God
  • Where and how did we get the Bible?
  • How has God instructed his people from the beginning as recorded in the Bible?
  • Who is the final authority in the Church?
  • The protestant reformation (“revolution”)

The Bible versus the Word of God

Are the “Bible” and the “Word of God” the same? No. The bible is the word of God but the word of God is not the Bible. John 1:1-4 says, “In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came into being, not one thing came into being except through him. What has come into being in him was life, life that was the light of men.” This means that before the Bible came into existence, the word of God already existed. Matthew 24:35 says, “Sky and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” This is means that the word of God exists for all eternity.

So how can anyone try to squeeze the word of God into the Bible, into a time period between when the writing of the Old Testament started and when the writing of the New Testament ended? Christians don’t just live by the Bible but by every Word of God, whether it is WRITTEN in the Bible or not.

Let me emphasize that the Bible is the word of God; every word in the Bible is the living word of God filled with power for those who live by it. Yet the Bible is not all of the word of God.

Is all the Word of God in the Bible?

Twice John has stated that there are many things Jesus did [and certainly many things Jesus said, and by extension many things the apostles said and did. Every honest person should know that this is true] that are not recorded – John 20:30 and John 21:25. They did not write everything down not because what was not written down was not important but because they could not have written them all down. Moreover, they did not intend to write a reference book with an answer to every question that will ever rise in the history of mankind, as some Christians are using the Bible today, but they wrote so that it might help people to believe that Jesus is the messiah. - John 20:31. They wrote only what was necessary for this purpose and transmitted the rest of their teachings orally.

Paul confirms the above statements by John in 2 Thessalonians 2:15: “Stand firm, then, brothers, and keep the traditions that we taught you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” Paul says they passed on some truths by letter and others by preaching, and he says they should consider both equally important.

Paul says that the Thessalonians should not only accept what was written but also what was not written because what was written was not the authority but the people who wrote. The people who wrote were the very people who taught orally.

So to say “point to me if what you’re saying is in the Bible” actually contradicts the Bible. It is actually what the “authority”, which is not the bible, says that is to be accepted. The bible is under that “authority” which also gets its authority from God.

How has God instructed his people?

God, as I know him in the scriptures (Old and New Testaments), has never given the authority of guidance of his people to any book. God has always governed his people by using other human beings. He appoints leaders and empowers them to lead his people. All of God’s people were expected to listen to and take instructions and directions from these chosen leaders. These leaders include prophets, kings, judges, etc. It is through these leaders that all that is written in the scriptures came to us. What was needed to believe, accept and follow these leaders was to accept that they were duly appointed by God into their various offices.

How God instructed people in the Old Testament (OT)

One may argue that the Israelites followed the scriptures (Old Testament). Yes indeed, they did, but how did they get the scriptures? God did not drop it from heaven. He appointed people and spoke through them. What they taught was later written down. It is important to note that most of these were actually written later, even after the people through whom God had spoken had died. At least the earliest instructions in the Old Testament were not written at the time they were given. Initially the word was being passed on verbally. In fact, the Old Testament is the tradition of the Israelites which had been passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth. It was only committed to writing when people learned to write.

Therefore, this is how God guided His people in the OT: He appointed leaders; spoke His word to them; the leaders in turn taught His word to His people; the people lived the word and later (in most cases) the word was written down. This is how God worked among the Israelites, not write a book and ask them to distribute it so that everybody would read. The examples below show that God’s law/Word existed in a verbal form long before even the OT was WRITTEN.

Adam – Genesis 2:15-17 – Then the LORD God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to cultivate it and guard it. He told him, "You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad. You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day."

Note: At the time, this instruction was not written but Adam was to teach it to Eve and to their descendants. They would not reject it as the word of God just because it wasn’t written in a book.

2 Peter 2:5 - God did not spare the ancient world, but brought the flood on the world of godless people; the only ones he saved were Noah, who preached righteousness, and seven other people.

The story of Noah Genesis 6:5-8:22

Note: At the time the OT didn’t exist. Noah preached but the people did not heed. Did they have the right to refuse Noah’s words because they were not written in a book? If they thought so, God showed them that they were wrong. Almost all the instructions (Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers) that the Israelites lived by were given during the time of Moses. Before then there were no explicit instructions on how people should conduct themselves. On what basis, then, did God judge the people of Noah’s time as living sinful lives? It means that those people were living by UNWRITTEN instructions.

Genesis 13:12-13 – Abram stayed in the land of Canaan, and Lot settled among the cities in the valley and camped near Sodom, whose people were wicked and sinned against the LORD. Again, we find God declaring some people as wicked and sinful, when there wasn’t any written law to judge them by. They were living by UNWRITTEN instructions.

God’s covenant with Abraham – Genesis 17:9-14: God said to Abraham, "You also must agree to keep the covenant with me, both you and your descendants in future generations. You and your descendants must all agree to circumcise every male among you. From now on you must circumcise every baby boy when he is eight days old, including slaves born in your homes and slaves bought from foreigners. This will show that there is a covenant between you and me. Each one must be circumcised, and this will be a physical sign to show that my covenant with you is everlasting. Any male who has not been circumcised will no longer be considered one of my people, because he has not kept the covenant with me." Another law that existed long before the OT came into existence. These laws were passed down through oral tradition. This particular covenant became a problem in the New Testament (we’ll get there).

Israelites obeyed God’s instructions concerning Passover given through Moses and Aaron - Exodus 12:43-50: The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "These are the Passover regulations: No foreigner shall eat the Passover meal, but any slave that you have bought may eat it if you circumcise him first. No temporary resident or hired worker may eat it. The whole meal must be eaten in the house in which it was prepared; it must not be taken outside. And do not break any of the animal's bones. The whole community of Israel must celebrate this festival, but no uncircumcised man may eat it. If a foreigner has settled among you and wants to celebrate Passover to honour the LORD, you must first circumcise all the males of his household. He is then to be treated like a native-born Israelite and may join in the festival. The same regulations apply to native-born Israelites and to foreigners who settle among you." All the Israelites obeyed and did what the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, though none of these instructions were written yet.

God always spoke his mind through people and not a book. Even if the people have a book for reference, the book still needs to be interpreted. This is again done by people chosen by God, e.g. Ezra reads the book of the law (Nehemiah 8:1-8). Note in verse 7 that the people had to be taught the law. Also note in verse 3 that all the people who were listening could understand and yet they had to be taught the law. It means that it is not the intention of God or the writers for everyone to simply take the word of God, read it and correctly interpret it. In fact, Peter gave this warning about the writings of Paul, “Think of our Lord's patience as your opportunity to be saved; our brother Paul, who is so dear to us, told you this when he wrote to you with the wisdom that he was given. He makes this point too in his letters as a whole wherever he touches on these things. In all his letters there are of course some passages which are hard to understand, and these are the ones that uneducated and unbalanced people distort, in the same way as they distort the rest of scripture -to their own destruction.” - 2 Peter 3:15-16.

An example here would do a great job. A lady recently left the Catholic Church, and when I sat with her, she said things that made me laugh. One example will suffice. She quoted Isaiah 3:16-26, which reads, “Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, the chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, the bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, the rings, and nose jewels, the changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, the glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.” – KJV (she quoted from the KJV)

According to her, the above verses show that a Christian woman is not supposed to wear earrings, bracelets, anklets and the like. It’s actually a shame because I know that she wears headbands and uses glasses (mirrors). Dear reader, if you have even a moderate understanding of English grammar, you will see that her interpretation is outright ridiculous, especially when you read the whole chapter. Re-examine yourself; you could just be in her shoe. Let’s heed Peter's warning!

In short, whenever the people of Israel wanted to know what the mind/will of God was, how they should live to please God, they did not rely on a book but on the people God had appointed to guide them on such matters. Even when they had to rely on a book they relied on the leaders God had chosen to interpret the book for them. This is why the Israelites were able to accept seemingly contradictory teachings which were pronounced by their trusted leaders. Let’s take some references.

Compare Exodus 34:1-7 with Jeremiah 31:29-30 and Ezekiel 18:1-4

Exodus 34:1-7 – “Yahweh said to Moses, ‘Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones and come up to me on the mountain, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. Be ready at dawn; at dawn come up Mount Sinai and wait for me there at the top of the mountain. No one may come up with you, no one may be seen anywhere on the mountain; the flocks and herds may not even graze in front of this mountain.’ So he cut two tablets of stone like the first and, with the two tablets of stone in his hands, Moses went up Mount Sinai in the early morning as Yahweh had ordered. And Yahweh descended in a cloud and stood with him there and pronounced the name Yahweh. Then Yahweh passed before him and called out, ‘Yahweh, Yahweh, God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in faithful love and constancy, maintaining his faithful love to thousands, forgiving fault, crime and sin, yet letting nothing go unchecked, and punishing the parent's fault in the children and in the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation!’”

Jeremiah 31:29-30 – “In those days people will no longer say: ‘The fathers have eaten unripe grapes; the children's teeth are set on edge.’ But each will die for his own guilt. Everyone who eats unripe grapes will have his own teeth set on edge.”

Ezekiel 18:1-4 – “The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows, ‘Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: The parents have eaten unripe grapes; and the children’s teeth are set on edge?’ As I live -- declares the Lord Yahweh -- you will have no further cause to repeat this proverb in Israel. Look, all life belongs to me; the father’s life and the son’s life, both alike belong to me. The one who has sinned is the one to die.”

Specifically, compare Exodus 34:7 with Jeremiah 31:29-30 and Ezekiel 18:2-4

How God instructed people in the New Testament (NT)

We find a similar pattern in the NT to how God guided his people in the OT. Jesus came preaching and extensively quoting the OT, but on many points and occasions, He taught outside of the OT, sometimes even opposing its practices.

Compare Exodus 21:23-25 with Matthew 5:38-42

Exodus 21:23-25 – “If further harm is done, however, you will award life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stroke for stroke.”

Matthew 5:38-42 – “You have heard how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer no resistance to the wicked. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if someone wishes to go to law with you to get your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone requires you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks you, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.”

Specifically, compare Exodus 21:23-25 with Matthew 5:38-39

Also read:

Matthew 5:21-22

Matthew 5:29-30

Matthew 5:31-32

Matthew 5:33-36

Matthew 5:43-44

You accept all these new instructions because you believe in a person, not a book. You believe that Jesus is speaking on behalf of God, and so even if His teachings don’t agree with what was previously written in the Word of God, you gladly accept them. The Jews who could not accept Jesus as a true messenger of God could not accept his teachings.

You might say Jesus was God, which by the way you believe because of the witness of people not a book, because the book cannot witness for itself. What about the apostles who did the same thing. Let’s take some examples.

 

Related Articles

Living in a changed life

Three days fasting and prayers - Wednesday, 26th November, 2008 Teacher: Felix Dordaa Mahama Text: {bib=1 Peter 4:1-6} “When you go to Rome, do what the Romans do” Once we want something from a certain place, we have to identify ourselves with that place and live like the people there (“When you go to Rome, do what the Romans do”). Once we change our state of life, we have to change the things that we do or the way we used to do them. In our... Read more>>>

The Father

I begin my day not knowing what went into the night as I slept.I wake up every morning to see the clear beautiful bright sky.I hear the birds of the air sing and fly stylishly across the sky.I see trees wave their leaves in the air.I see animals of all kind around the land.I see people like me doing one thing or the other.I wonder and ponder over it … The FATHER’S love.   Oh yes!  The FATHER’S love:So great, so steep,So... Read more>>>

Lesson from the story of Joseph.

The brothers of joseph thought they were pushing him away from his dream of being who God said he would be. Little did they know that they were rather pushing him into it.   Read more>>>

It's a hoax: NASA finds message fro…

This message has been circulating on the internet and elsewhere about the discovery of a message from God by NASA. This is part of the story: The original message "NASA announced today that its Curiosity Rover has found an unambiguous message from God written on tablets in a Martian cave. According to an official press release two giant stone slabs the size of small elephants were located deep inside a cavern abutting Aeolis Mons, a large mountain. Upon one tablet is a copy of the Ten... Read more>>>

Who has more followers: God or satan?

Please finish reading before you do anything else right now; read this to the end. My name is God. I know you will give your time to me. I love you and always bless you. I am always with you. I need you to spend 30 minutes of your time with me today. Don't pray. Just praise. Today I want this message across the world. Will you help? Please drop everything & pass it on. Tell the devil you are... Read more>>>

Guarding friendship

Teaching for Sunday 21st June, 2009Teacher: Felix Dordaa Mahama Text: {bib=Sirach 22:19-27} Friendship = companionship History of friendship Friendship has existed since the beginning of creation: When God created man, he saw that it was not good for man to be alone, so he created woman – {bib=Genesis 2:8-23}. God used to come down and interact with Adam and Eve in the Garden. Destruction of friendship But man broke this friendship through disobedience by eating the forbidden fruit. We also frequently break our friendship with people... Read more>>>

Respect dignities

When we despise dominion and speak evil of dignities we break the divine pattern and bring a tide of curse upon ourselves and those under our care. As those under our authority behold how we treat those in authority over us, they will become fuelled by the same spirit and start to treat us in a similar manner. Once this spirit enters into a community, that community will burst apart at some point fracturing along personality lines. This is the... Read more>>>

About the Faith Outreach Ministry

Introduction to the Faith Outreach Ministry “But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 Background information on the Faith Outreach Ministry Basis of the Faith Outreach Ministry In 1991 the Catholic Charismatic Renewal organised a Life in the Spirit Seminars (LSS) program for some members, and as the Lord promised in Acts 1:8, He poured... Read more>>>

Auto-panic

It is as if most human beings are configured to be automatically  afraid whenever there are challenges. This auto-panic device makes even some Holy Spirit filled Christians to cry out, complain and wish for a return to their former ways of life when they go through a test.  In fact, when this auto-panic device is activated, it automatically uninstalls any faith application. Therefore, at this stage, anxiety, fear, worry, hopelessness, dejection etc. begin to control such a person. The people of... Read more>>>

The unchangeable changer

The Israelites left Egypt with jewelry and clothes they didn't buy. May our enemies look on as we advance in wealth and health miraculously because the unchangeable changer and the great I AM is our God and his name and power is our solace. Cosmas Nanyaa   Read more>>>

The Lord's prayer

Our Father, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. OR Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give... Read more>>>

Marriage is like FUFU preparation!

In fufu making, we basically use two crops- CASSAVA AND PLANTAIN!In marriage making, it involves two people- MAN AND WOMAN! Two different people are being put together to live as one.The cassava comes from the GROUND; the plantain comes from ABOVE! Two different people with different backgrounds are to live together as one.The cassava is always dirty but the plantain always enjoys the washing by rain water and the direct brightness of the sun.Don't expect your spouse to be like you! Your... Read more>>>

When God decides: authority of God

Exhortation during three days fasting and prayers: 28th–30th January, 2009Teacher: Felix Dordaa Mahama Text: {bib=Matthew 20:1-16} When God decides, no one can stand in His way. The message in the above title is what today’s text has presented to us. Jesus has likened the kingdom of heaven (i.e., the operation of God) to the farmer who has hired workers to work in his vineyard. The vineyard owner chose to pay the latecomers as much as he had paid the early comers, and this... Read more>>>

The different world of blurred future of…

The world is more than rotten The world has changed completely into what I can’t describe. Will I say rotten? Oh no, it will be an understatement. Some youth say, “We are in the 21st century.” Some also say, “We are the future leaders.” Other youth say, “We are civilised.” Still, others say, “Computer children.” Indeed this twenty-first century has changed. Things are now upside down, which has made the road to righteousness very rough for the youth and difficult to... Read more>>>

The 7 UPs

1 . Wake Up !!!Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." {bib=Psalms 118:24} 2. Dress Up !!!The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart." {bib=1 Samuel 16:7} 3. Shut Up... Read more>>>

A brief history of the Holy Rosary and h…

What is the rosary? The angel Gabriel’s greeting to Mary, when he came to announce the conception of Jesus, is familiar to most Catholics. It is echoed in one of the most popular Catholic prayers, the Hail Mary (in Latin, Ave Maria): “Hail, [Mary,] favoured one [or ‘full of grace’]! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). The words that follow in that prayer also come from Scripture, from Elizabeth’s greeting to our Lady soon afterward: “Blessed are you among women, and... Read more>>>

You need to pray

DEAR BELOVED IN CHRIST, GET A LITTLE TIME AND READ AND GOD WILL BLESS YOU, AMEN. BEWARE of the times. You need to:??Pray for forgiveness??Pray for strength??Pray for knowledge ??Pray for wisdom??Pray for insight??Pray for understanding??Pray for strong faith??Pray for grace??Pray for peace??Pray for mercy??Pray for protection??Pray for Holy Ghost direction??Pray for power??Pray for spiritual guidanceso to withstand in all times.Whosoever seeks these but not wealth is founded on a rock.   Read more>>>

There is hope

There is hope for a tree that has been cut down; it can come back to life and sprout. Even though its roots grow old, and its stump dies in the ground, with water it will sprout like a young plant. ({bib=Job14:7-9}). Take heart, the Lord of Hosts is still able, the mighty God of wonders is still at work, the rock of ages is gracious and Jehovah Jire is still providing our needs according to his riches in glory in... Read more>>>

Is the Bible the Final Authority?

This article has been inspired by the conflict that exists within Christianity mainly due to the interpretation of the bible (the genuine cases). First of all it is important for us to understand the place of the bible in Christianity before we can properly apply it to Christian spirituality. This article seeks to use the dealings of God with his people Israel, the dealings of Jesus and the apostles with the early Christians, the bible itself and common sense to... Read more>>>

Pursue Your Strengths

God has equipped each one of us with specific gifts and talents. It’s up to each of us to identify those gifts and be disciplined enough to develop them. You have to learn to stay in your strength zone. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? Take the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and as the Scripture says, give yourself to your gifts. In other words, don’t spend all your time trying to improve... Read more>>>