BIBLE TRUTHS AMID CONFUSION

Pieter Weeber, Th.D.

In this book a number of basic biblical truths, that are seldom preached in churches nowadays, are again given a prominent place. Many pulpits are silent about many subjects that used to be well-known in the Reformation. There is a lot of infotainment going on in churches. Pastors cater to wide-ranging tastes among churchgoers and shun sermons about suffering, cross bearing and the radical consequences of becoming a Christian. In this series of aspects of the Christian life Dr.Pieter Weeber goes back to views that were common knowledge in the Puritan era. After having acquired his Master’s in Theology he was awarded an honour’s degree at the Newburgh Theological Seminary in Indiana on the subject of election. He has written a number of books and preaches in churches of diverse denominations in The Netherlands.

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2 ACCESS TO GOD

CHAPTER 3 DO WE HAVE A SENSITIVE HEART?

CHAPTER 4 TWO GOSPELS: CHRIST’S AND SATAN’S

CHAPTER 5 EDUCATING CHILDREN

CHAPTER 6 NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES OF GOD

CHAPTER 7 ARE OUR HEARTS HONEST?

CHAPTER 8 CHRISTIAN FOOLS

CHAPTER 9 CROSS-BEARING

CHAPTER 10 DIVINE CHASTISEMENT

CHAPTER 11 DIVINE GUIDANCE

CHAPTER 12 EXPERIMENTAL SALVATION

CHAPTER 13 GOD AND WAR

CHAPTER 14 FAITH

CHAPTER 15 GODLY COMPANIONS

CHAPTER 16 GOSPEL PREACHING COMMANDED

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION

There was a time - not so long ago - when the blessed truths of the Gospel were common knowledge. These truths were regularly preached from the pulpit. Many church-goers were largely familiar with this message. Of late a generation has grown up who is almost ignorant of these precious truths. These biblical truths are not given a prominent place in today’s sermons. Many evangelical churches adopt techniques that are used in politics. Preachers are no longer invited because of their insight into biblical truth, but on account of their personal popularity. As soon as some elders or church members voice their discontent about such sermons, the preacher will be “disposed of”. This tendency is strengthened by the fact that many youngsters are turning their backs on church attendance. The result is that services should to a large extent cater to what young people like. Religious gatherings must have a high entertainment level. Therefore sermons should be pleasant, witty and in no way confronting.

Modern evangelism is organized on the same lines. It is customary to start telling people how wonderful it is to know and accept Jesus. He will remove all our problems and keep us happy. He will cure us of all our diseases. Is that the evangelism we come across in the epistles? Are people in the New Testament invited by such promises? The key to evangelism is clearly explained in St.Matthew’s Gospel. When Joseph learns that Mary, his bride-to-be is pregnant, he had a good mind to divorce her quietly. But then we read early on in Matthew 1:20-21 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said: Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins. Here we read beyond the shadow of a doubt that Jesus’ coming was not meant to make people happy, but to deliver them from their sins.

Nowhere do we read in the Bible that God loves everyone. That is a concept that has crept into our present-day preaching. Let us look at Deuteronomy 32:40-42 I lift My hand to heaven and solemnly swear: As surely as I live forever, when I sharpen My flashing sword and My hand grasps it in judgment, I will take vengeance on My adversaries and repay those who hate Me. I will make My arrows drunk with blood, while My sword devours flesh: the blood of the slain and the captives, the heads of the enemy leaders.

Another text having a similar force is to be found in Isaiah 63:3 I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with Me. I trampled them in My anger and trod them down in My wrath; their blood spattered My garments, and I stained all my clothing. Do these texts confirm that God loves all people irrespective of the conduct of their lives? The Lord Jesus came to save people from their sins. When God opens our eyes and the Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to us, we become aware of our sins which have angered God, the Almighty. Not until that moment do we realize that we are completely dependent on the Lord Jesus to have our sins pardoned by His blood sacrificed on Golgotha. It leads us to repentance. Some people experience this poignantly as was the case with Isaiah, Paul and the Philippian jailer. With others - like myself - such conviction is gradually coming on them in the course of time. As soon as we have accepted Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of our lives, we become a son of God. In the Bible this transition is called a Rebirth. What is sometimes forgotten is that as soon as this has taken place, we become Satan’s target. He is furious that his house has been broken into and will leave no stone unturned to make us return to “his fold”.

When people have accepted Jesus on their own terms and become aware that our initial feelings of joy and peace have evaporated and Satan’s attacks are let loose with undiminished force, they return to their worldly lives again. 

This was the case in the Parable of the Sower. Here we read in Mark 4: 14-19 The farmer sows the word. Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Many Christians all over the world are persecuted and face death or imprisonment. World-wide there is an organization called “Open Doors”, which distributes bibles and other religious literature in many countries where Christians eke out an austere living amid much hostility and violence. Many pastors everywhere in the world lose their lives, because they refuse to stop preaching. In our western word we may profess our faith without any restriction. But if we want to live differently and are no longer averse to showing it to outsiders, we shall feel opposition or contempt. In the following chapters I have discussed a number of subjects that are hardly dealt with in our pulpits anymore nowadays. My prayer and hope is that God will use them to enrich our lives with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Pieter Weeber