Part 18
Revelation 12:7 tells us that Michael and his angels fought with the dragon and his angels. This would indicate that Michael has angels assigned to him to control and direct in the spiritual warfare going on in the heavenlies.
2. Gabriel Means "God's hero" according to Ryrie. I will list the verses which mention him and add comments as needed.
Daniel 8:16: Gabriel is instructed to give Daniel information. The verse mentions that Gabriel spoke with a man's voice.
Daniel 9:21: Again in this verse Gabriel is giving information to Daniel. It might well be surmised that the messenger of Daniel 10:13 is also Gabriel. This would put Michael and Gabriel fighting the forces of the Devil together.
Luke 1:19: This verse shows Gabriel to be a messenger again, only this time he is giving information to Zacharias about the coming birth of John The Baptist. In Luke 1:26 he is seen appearing to Mary, again giving information. He is certainly a messenger.
Luke 1:19: In this verse he is mentioned as one that "stands in the presence of God...." This would indicate that he is specifically a messenger that awaits God's command and is God's messenger to man upon certain occasions.
Conclusions relating to archangels:
1. There is more than one prince in the Old Testament.
2. The princes of the Old Testament are probably the archangels of the New Testament.
3. Michael is an archangel.
4. Gabriel is possibly an archangel. This is impossible to determine. He is not mentioned as such. He is definitely a messenger as opposed to the warfare of Michael, so may or may not be an archangel. If he is an archangel then the class of archangels can have different duties. (Messenger/warrior)
CHERUB
This is Strong's number 3742 and Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament's number 1036. Strong mentions of keruwb, "a cherub or imaginary figure" TWOT mentions that it is a name for angels that are pictured in Scripture as part man and part animal.
It comes from an Akkadian term meaning "to bless, praise, adore". It is used first in Genesis 3:24 of the guards at the gate of the garden of Eden. They were next seen on the ark of the covenant and on the drapes of the tabernacle. Their image was used in Solomon's temple and will be used in the Millennial temple according to Ezekiel. (Exodus 25:19; 37:8; Ezekiel 41:18-25)
2 Samuel 22:1-11 records a song of David which depicts God riding on a cherub. This might relate to the idea that the visions depict the throne of the Lord over the four creatures. Ezekiel mentions that the creatures have wheels under them, and that they move with the wheels. (Psalm 18:10 is a similar thought of the Lord riding a cherub.)
1 Kings 6:24-27 shows that there were cherubs in the temple that Solomon built. (2 Chronicles 3:11-12 also)
Ezekiel 9:3 depicts the cherubim on the ark (formed by man at God's instructions) and the fact that the glory of the Lord is leaving that position
as God prepares to leave the temple. This was His dwelling place from the time of the Exodus to the time of Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 10:2-14 shows the cherubs to be the four creatures that are under the throne of God in the heavenlies. (Ezekiel 1 and 11:21 also mentions them) The description is very detailed and i.s similar to the vision of Isaiah in Isaiah 6:1ff, and John in Revelation 4:6ff.
Ezekiel 28:14-16 names the Devil as a cherub before he fell. He was one of the highest angels originally. Verse fourteen mentions,
"Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth, and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of god; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire."
The idea of walking might well indicate that he was walking in and out among the creatures that Ezekiel mentions. The term "anointed" and the term "covereth," as well as the phrase "upon the holy mountain" indicate that he had access and/or position other than that of one of the four creatures. I wonder if He might have had the position of Gabriel originally. Gabriel would fit into this terminology.
CHERUBIM
Cherub = Funk and Wagnalls, "A representation of a beautiful winged child, the accepted type of the angelic cherub.....In Scripture, a celestial being."
In Genesis 3:24 the cherubim were stationed at the gate of the garden of Eden after Adam and Eve had been sent out. The fact that the four living creatures are called cherubs would strongly indicate that this is the dwelling place of God at that time in history. (Topic number d04350 is a study on the Garden of Eden and mentions this dwelling place of God.)
(To summarize the texts: Exodus 25:18-22 speaks of the two cherubs on the lid of the ark; Exodus 26:1 speaks of the ones on the curtains; Exodus 26:31 speaks of the ones on the veil; Numbers 7:89 tells of the fact that God communicated with Moses from between the cherubim on the mercy seat; I Ki. 6:23-35 mentions Solomon's temple; I Ki. 8:6-7 depicts the cherubim on the ark as the glory of the Lord came to Solomon's temple.)
SERAPHIM
Seraph according to Funk and Wagnalls is "A celestial being having three pairs of wings." ("Funk And Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary"; New York: Funk and Wagnalls Inc., 1976)
Isaiah 6:2 and 6 are the only references which use this term. It seems to be speaking of the same creatures as Ezekiel describes in his chapter ten.
I, have for years, thought that this was a descriptive term of the beings named cherubim. The similarities between the cherubim and seraphim are great and the term seraphim is closely related to fire. The Cherub would be the class of the being, while Seraphim would be a term describing their appearance. I have never run across anyone that agreed with me until in 1991 when I looked it up in the "Theological Wordbook Of The Old Testament". They agree with me.
Billy Graham disagrees. He views the Seraphim as lower than the Cherubim. This is seen in "Angels:God's Secret Agents" New York: Doubleday & Co., 1975, p 49.
Dickason also disagrees and suggests that the seraphim are different from the cherubim. "Another special class of angels are the seraphim. They also, as the cherubim, are closely associated with the glory of God and are probably related closely in class to them. (Dickason, C. Fred; "Angels Elect And Evil"; Chicago: Moody Press, 1975, p 65)
Dickason also makes a distinction between the cherub of Ezekiel and the living creatures in Revelation. He bases this on the differences in the two authors descriptions. Personally, if John were looking from one side only, his description of the beings would be very similar to the creatures of Ezek.
1. Colossians 1:16,
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers — all things were created by him, and for him;"
Even with the warfare that is raging on around us on the spiritual plain, we can have a confidence in God. He is in control even in that realm. He has his army and it is constantly controlling the influence of the Devil and his followers.
2. As we begin to see the powers of the angelic host we should remember that the demonic host is also powerful. We should put a healthy respect into our thinking, as we would do battle with the Devil and his. We need not fear them, but we should not be overconfident. Prayer is the key to controlling the Devil's activities and not our own might, power, and wisdom.
3. Daniel depicts a great watchfulness over Israel in the spiritual realm. I assume the angelic host is also as watchful and active on the behalf of the church.
With the Spirit indewlling individuals, with the Spirit gifting individuals to build up the church, with Christ present when we gather together, with the angelic host watching over us, just what are we doing in the church today? Planning softball leagues, aerobics, fellowship dinners, sweet heart banquets, Christmas Banquets, teas, etc.
Why aren't we planning evangelism campaigns, missions conferences and edification seminars?
REALLY, ARE WE WORTHY OF ALL THE ATTENTION GOD HAS
GIVEN US?
OCCULT
It has been reported that there are three times more witches and fortune tellers in the old West Germany than there were preachers.
There are murderers in prisons in this country for killing in the practice of human sacrifice.
In America we have schools teaching courses in witchcraft. Americans spend over two hundred million a year on astrology. It has been reported that Americans buy two million Ouija boards a year. I have been told that there is a "rent a witch" firm in Ohio.
Doubleday has an occult book club with over a hundred thousand members. Baseball clubs hire astrologers to help in the seasons games.
So, do you think that the occult is active in our nation? Indeed, Christians dabble in it at times.
Have any of you ladies been around when someone was determining the sex of an unborn child? There are several methods. You can swing the wedding band suspended on a thread over the unborn baby. If it swings one way it's a boy and if the other way it's a girl. Spit into Saniflush and if it turns one color it's a boy, if it turns another color it's a girl (This one may have some basis in science). Take the number of the month of conception and add the age of the mother at conception and if the total is even it's a girl, if it's odd then it is a boy.
Have you read your horoscope? Have you ever had a wart removed in any manner other than medically? Have you ever water witched? Have you ever used an Ouija board? (See appendix one if you want further information on water witching. It contains information I assembled after being told by a student that he and a Christian leader had been out water witching and that he didn't think there was anything wrong with it.)
If you answered any of these yes, then you have been involved in the occult. We tend to accept some of the Borderline occult in America.
Why do we as Christians accept the Devils activities as all right?
a. Education — we've been bombarded with it. We are in the world system, and being influenced by it.
b. Movies such as Shirley McClain's movie on her experiences, Friday the 13th and many many more.
c. T.V. series Friday the 13th, as well as a number of movies that uplift the occult.
d. The television show Bewitched may have started some of the acceptance — cute witch with a cute wiggling turned up nose. What can be the matter with that? It is witchcraft.
e. We are not spiritual enough to discern the good from the bad.
f. There are talk shows now that have "good" witches that make it sound really good.
Let us move now into our study of the occult.
Occult defined: The term relates to something that is secret or hidden. It relates to things that are beyond the normal understanding — related to the mystic or dark side of things.
Some of the parts of the occult are:
parapsychology
palmistry
horoscopes
astrology
crystal balls
Jean Dixon type prophecy
tarot cards
seances
drugs
Ouija boards
astral projection
water witching
removing warts
the sixth and seventh books of Moses
Let's see from the start that Satan is able to do great feats.
Satan's copies before Pharaoh: Exodus 7:8-12 Aaron's rod became a serpent — The magicians did the same — Aaron's serpent ate those of the magicians; 7:14-25 Water to blood — v22 "And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments"; 8:1-7 Frogs upon the land — v 7 The magicians did it, also; 8:16-19 The lice came — v 18 Magicians tried but couldn't; 8:20-32 flies — Magicians don't try; 9:1-7 livestock killed — Magicians don't try; 9:8-12 — boils — Magicians couldn't even stay in court of Pharaoh v 11.
What do we learn here? God can and does limit the Devil's miracle power when He wants to, or the Devil's powers may be limited by the nature of the Devil himself.
The power we see today in the Occult is by God's permissive will and we need not get upset. We need only avoid it and/or deal with it if it comes up. We need not go looking for trouble. It will find us if the Lord wants us involved. We aren't to be ghost busters, or demon dumpers, we are to be good soldiers of the Lord.
Take a moment to read Exodus 20:4,5. This text speaks of idolatry. This is the putting of something in place of God. It is the looking away from God. It is looking to something else for help, wisdom, and guidance. These are the things people in occultism are looking for. Occultism is very close to idolatry in principle.
Let us take time to look at some of the specifics of the occult, so that you will know what the occult is. I fear that many believers do not know what they are dealing with.
Astrology: Astron means star and logos means discourse. It is the finding out of how to live your life from the stars. It is allowing the horoscope to control your life and run how you think.
In 1500's Nostradamus studied the stars for years. Many predictions come from him. Some were true. He believed God guided our lives and affected our lives by the stars and planets and constellations. To believe in this is to believe that every light bulb in a light bulb factory affects the life and future of the cockroaches and the spiders.
The stars in the early days were, and even still are, believed to affect the growth of crops etc. This is linked to the same thinking that produces astrology.
ASTROLOGY REFUTED
1. Finding your future, from other than God, is a form of idolatry. Leviticus 19:4 "Turn ye not unto idols, nor make...melted gods."
2. Astrology is allowing unsaved people and the devil to have control over your life.
3. Isaiah 47:11-15 shows the end of the star gazers.
What about just trying it? One pastor said this. He tried it just once. The reading said he should drive more carefully that day. Later that day he noticed he was driving much slower than usual. It had affected his life. He said that was enough.
Sure astrology works to some extent, but it is the devil and certainly his workers behind it.
Mind Reading: The mind reader supposedly can through thought waves tell what you are thinking, with no verbal or physical communications. The mind readers have been exposed so many times over the years that one should be surprised to find anyone that believes in them however there are many that do.
If the mind reader is not tricking his viewer, then his information is coming from some source other than God. That source is probably Satan.
Ouija Board: There were four million boards sold in the U.S. in 1967. The board usually has a yes in one upper corner and a no in the other corner. The alphabet, and numbers one through zero are printed on it as well. There is a glass or pointer that the participants lightly touch. The pointer
then points you to the yes or no, or if the answer is longer will spell out the answer to your question.
Finding out information from non natural, nonscientific means leaves you gaining information from the supernatural. God does not operate this way and there is only one other in the supernatural that does.
Prediction: One of the current favorites is Jeanne Dixon. Jeanne Dixon once mentioned that she had a snake crawl up on her stomach and look at her. She said that she saw in those eyes the wisdom of the ages. Sounds like Eve and the garden. She is a good Roman Catholic and claims her powers of prophecy are from God.
Let's see what God says about the accuracy of His prophecies.
Deuteronomy 18:22 mentions that the prophesied item must come to pass or the prophet is a false prophet.
Deuteronomy 13:1-3 If the item comes to pass and a prophet tries to get you to follow other gods he's false.
If Jeane Dixon is one of His then the Lord has slipped in the last few hundred years. She is in trouble for Deuteronomy 18:20 says a prophet presuming to speak for Him will die. Deuteronomy 13:5 also states false prophets are to be killed. I wonder if she would like some literal interpretation and quick application?
The predictionist can usually by viewing the world situation, and knowing history, give a 50% accurate set of predictions. They can also subscribe to a subscription service that will help them in assembling their information.
Esp: Extra sensory perception is basically knowing about what someone is holding or thinking about without communication. It is usually done in tests with shapes on cards. Some offer proof of this by suggesting twins that often sense when the other is dying. This may or may not be ESP. It is communication on a thought level. This goes into the mind reading area, also.
ESP Refuted: Some say what's wrong with using this sixth sense, or whatever it is.
1. God Gave Us Six Senses: Sight sense, smell sense, hear sense, touch sense, taste sense, and good sense. Those are the only senses we need. No other sense is found in the Scripture. If He had given us some super dooper sense why didn't He make it one we'd know all about like the others? Why didn't He tell everyone how to use it.
2. If God didn't give us a super sense then where does it come from if someone has it? THE DEVIL.
Witches: The Old Testament gives us some information concerning witches. Exodus 22:18 They are to die. Deuteronomy 18:10-12 states that witches are an abomination unto the Lord. Galatians 5:19-21 tells us that you can't be a witch and be saved.
Coven And Sabbaths: A coven normally contains six male, and six female witches, with a high priest or high priestess. They meet monthly and have several festivals during the year.
It is reported that during these ceremonies they remove their clothes and bath in salt water. The salt water bath is to purify them.
Witchcraft: This is the practice or craft of the witch. It involves all that they are and all that they do.
One of the famous cases of murder in California might be of interest to you.
There is a book named Helter Skelter which details the thinking and actions of Charles Manson and his followers. His thinking seems to have been a mixture of Rock and Roll, the Devil, witchcraft, and Indian myths. ("Helter Skelter"; pp 239-242))
This study is continued in the following topic.
OCCULT CONTINUED
Firewalking: This has been verified over and over again. People walk on super hot coals with no pain and no burns. Some of this may be a hoax for tourists, but many are for real.
I read once of a woman that was carrying her baby across coals. She was not fully prepared and dropped her child which died the seconds before they could reach it.
If everything the devil does is a mimic or copy of something God has done, what does firewalking copy? Try Daniel 3:17-27 — read it.
Firewalking Refuted: We are limited to natural laws. Heat causes burns which are painful to the human body. For this natural law to be laid aside we must have supernatural intervention. God or Satan. God intervenes in nature for his purpose and glory. There is no glory or purpose for God in firewalking, thus we can safely state that fire walking is of the Devil's power.
Transference: There are several ways mentioned in "The Devil's Alphabet" were something is transferred. You can transfer disease or a problem to someone in a casket and it goes away. This is done by saying a little saying beside a casket just before burial and then throw something of yours in. I have to wonder if this isn't part of the reason back in history when it became a part of the ritual of funerals to go up to the casket and "view the deceased."
Transference can come from the dead to the living. Someone seeing a suicide victim — suddenly the same feelings and fears associated with the other persons death become part of the viewers life.
One missionary dealing with a sorceress on her death bed for salvation — her son choked to death on a bean as the woman renounced the devil.
Put your family and yourself under God's protection when you deal with the occult.
Rod And Pendulum: What is it? We have mentioned the swinging of a ring over an unborn child to determine sex. Have you ever heard of a dowser or water witch? A forked rod or stick run by a man to find water.
They diagnose and treat ailments with this system. They even in color therapy move a pendulum over colored threads. The pendulum picks the thread color and that thread is moved over the affected area. This, by the way, can be done over the phone. Healing has resulted. You tell me where it came from.
Dr. Koch tells of a clergyman that can approach graves with a pendulum and tell the sex of the occupant with 100% accuracy. Even graves 100 years old.
Mediums: The Scripture is clear concerning mediums also. They are to die, Leviticus 20:27; Anyone consulting a medium is to be driven out, Deuteronomy 18:11.
Seances: The seance is a meeting of people interested in reaching the dead. There is usually one that is in charge. When the dead spirit is reached there is often voices and/or appearances. Sometimes unnatural things occur as well. Tables lifting, lights, etc.
The late Bishop Pike spoke with his dead son several times through mediums.
Mediums: The medium is the one that controls the gathering, and is the medium through which the dead spirit is contacted. Their voice at times becomes the voice for the dead spirit.
The thought of this occurrence is to gain knowledge from the other world. Isaiah 8:19 tells us not to seek advice from the dead. This should be enough to deter any believer from being involved with such things.
A couple of other references that might help in this area: 1 Samuel 28:3-25 Samuel was brought back to talk to Saul; 1 Chronicles 10:13,14 shows Saul was punished for seeking a medium instead of asking of the Lord for information.
Raising From The Dead: Some believe that people can have the power to raise others from the dead. Those occurrences that have happened, are done through trickery.
Some religious people have taken the Bible wrongly and believed that they could raise someone to life. The problem is that they were not able to.
Letters Of Protection: These are letters that are given that supposedly protect life and property. They were passed down from generation to generation with the property. I read of one in Germany that was written on parchment. It was a promise from Satan to protect the property. The account mentioned that within hours of the removal of the paper from the barn, the farm was hit by lightning and destroyed. This barn and farm were near a great explosion of a munitions train during the war, yet sustained no damage. The farm was about 300 years old, as was the parchment. Not only had it survived World War Two, but it had survived several other conflicts, and catastrophes as well.
Mental Suggestion: This is the ability of talking to people with sickness and suggesting to them that they are now well. The power is in the mind of the people involved.
Ghosts: The accounts of ghosts are common, even with believers involved. There seems to be an activity of spirits in this physical world. These probably are not the ghosts that he lost think of, but rather demons, having their fun. Ghosts are supposed to be the spirit's of dead people that seek to communicate with this world.
Meditation: Meditation is the art of being quiet and emptying your mind. A new business has been formed in some cities. It is called Mind Control. They will teach you to meditate. Big companies are sending their workers to it so they can learn to relax and get away from the stress of corporate America.
At the end of the course you are taught how to have two symbols of Divine Intelligence come upon you. They will give you advice in love, life and business. You can choose what intelligence you want. George Washington, Jesus or any other.
Transcendental Meditation: This is usually felt to be centered in Hinduism. It takes meditation one step further. It is an emptying of the mind so that a dead spirit can take over your mind and think through you.
I am told that it is taught in some public high schools at taxpayers expense. Something seated and produced by Hinduism is taught, while Christians can't even pray.
Meditation is something that the believer should be involved in, however it is not the meditation of the occult. It is thinking and considering the Lord and His Word, not emptying our minds for some other being to fill.
How do we meditate upon the word?
1. Feel the need. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 shows we should be thinking and meditating on the spiritual — the Word and God.
2. Enjoy the quest. Seek new things from the Word.
3. Take a paragraph and read it. State what it means. Memorize it? Think about it. Apply it personally. Commit yourself to doing it. Act on it. Pray for help.
Astral Projection: This is also termed Out Of Body Experience. It is something that happens at times, whereby a person exits his body and can view their own body from a distance. Some travel to other places, while others just view themselves and return. The close range O.O.B.E. experiences are often related to the person being very sick or injured, and they watch as the doctors work on them.
Some tell us that this is a Scriptural principle and offer as proof Ezekiel's experiences of being transported. They also suggest 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 as Scriptural proof of out of body experiences. Not so. Some also suggest that Christ wasn't really raised from the dead, but that he was one of the early O.O.B.E.'ers.
Astral Projection Refuted: The very fact that they say Christ was an OOBE'er tells me they are out. 1 Corinthians 15:12-15 says if Christ didn't raise from the dead then we are false teachers and our faith is in vain.
God has limited us to time and space. What Ezekiel experienced and quite possibly what Paul as well as other prophets experienced, may have been similar to this astral projection, in that the devil often copies from God. Indeed, little of the Devil's work is original, but most of it is copied as we've seen.
If it was God's first, we have some very important facts which don't hold true in the devil's phenomenon.
In Scripture they were of God's idea — they were involuntary. As far as the man was concerned — they were for revealing God's information for God's purpose. ALSO, if we could get out of our bodies to escape pain why didn't God teach us all how to do it so we could just have our body carried into the dentist or doctor for repairs while we fly to Hawaii.
May I suggest the following as some of the devils possible counterfeits:
THE DEVIL'S COPY OF GOD'S ORIGINALS
high priests pastors
witches Christians
walking on fire Shadrach, Mechach,
Abednego
astral projection Ezekiel, Paul
pendulum prayer and God's leading
divination prayer and God's leading
astrology prayer and God's leading
covens churches
clairvoyance discerning of spirits
demon angels
medium Holy Spirit
fortune tellers God's leading and prayer
palmists God's leading and prayer
tarot cards God's leading and prayer
Ouija board God's leading and prayer
transcendental
meditation on the Word
meditation
seance prayer meeting
prophets God's prophets
CONCLUSION
From my studies I find several things of importance.
1. Even in dabbling in the occult, people find themselves depressed — uneasy about the Bible and prayer.
2. When Christ faced the occult, it was stopped cold when He commanded. In other cases in the Scripture it was by command of an apostle, or by prayer.
3. Those in the occult that become Christians usually have a strong battle coming out, but they do have victory. They also lose their powers to do things that are not natural.
4. Many, many in the occult have horrible times sooner or later.
5. Many things of the occult have been covered up and have become acceptable to the world as a whole. For example: Ouija boards and pendulums for finding an unborn baby's sex.
6. Almost everything is enticing. It is pleasing and usually is desirable in some way.
7. Christians are often troubled by different parts of occultism but never does Satan have the final victory. The book of Job is our promise of that. Job specifies very clearly that the Devil's power over Job was limited by God.
8. Most of the time when people in occultism want help, or when people are plagued by problems linked with the occult, they seek help from the church. Interesting.
9. In reference to number eight, we might mention that quite often Catholic churchmen have been ineffective in helping people, but when a born again Christian is asked, help is available.
10. A question. How come the occult formerly was under cover but now is out in the open?
Fact. The occult is open where Christianity is at a low point. Voodooism is rampant in some South America countries where there is little religious activity. The U.S. is at a record low spiritually, and the devil is making hay while he may.
I might add one element. Drugs. They are used in most Voodoo and witchcraft. We need to know about these things for they are becoming more and more a part of our culture. The Occult is in the public school systems to a point. Some systems allow teaching in the area. There are many students that are involved in the occult as well, and they affect the other students.
I heard an ad from the public library just the other day about the witch that was teaching a girl witchcraft. Come to the children's library to see if this girl becomes a witch. It was an ad for children to come to the public library to hear a book read.
Television programs are pushing it. Toy stores are pushing it. The devil wants Christians involved in these things to ruin their testimony and lives, but remember we have the Holy Spirit within us and He is more powerful than Satan.
Consider Revelation 9:19-21. Millions dead yet they hang on to these sins in the end time. Murder, sorceries, immorality, theft, and idolatry. Sounds like the occult will be rampant in the end.
Let's see to it that we keep ourselves and our families from these things. Separate yourself from it unto God for God's glory and your sake.
If the devil copies God's miraculous and everyday ways of working with man, why settle for 2nd best (the devil's), when we can get God's best.
I would like to list a number of terms with a short definition for each. This should help if you do any reading on the subject.
GLOSSARY
Amulet: An ornament that has a spell or writing on it that wards off the evil spirits. It is worn around the wrist or neck.
Animism: The belief that all objects have a soul. (Rocks, chairs etc.)
Astrology: The belief that the stars and planets control our lives, and the thought that our lives may be predicted on the basis of the universe.
Augury: The practice of divination.
Bewitch: To cast a spell on a person or thing to bring about harm.
Black Magic: Witchcraft.
Charm: A spell that has power to do things. It is also something that one wears that is related to the occult.
Clairvoyance: Predicting what can't be known.
Conjure: To call forth a dead person or demon.
Coven: Group of witches and/or warlocks. Often six witches, six warlocks and one priest or priestess. Thirteen total.
Crystal Gazer: A person that predicts the future with the help of a crystal ball.
Curse: Declaring evil upon a person, or the result of same.
Demon: A fallen angel that is servant of the Devil.
Divination: The predicting of the future by any means.
Exorcism: The process by which demons are cast out of a person or dwelling.
E.S.P.: Extra-sensory perception. Knowing through mental powers.
Extra-Sensory Perception: Knowing something without senses, knowledge, or contact with a person.
Familiar: A spirit that abides in an animal that serves and helps the owner.
Fetish: An object that primitives believe have power to ward off evil and bring good fortune to the owner.
Fortune-Teller: Someone that predicts the future of a person. They use different means. (Crystal balls, palms, cards etc.)
Hex: A spell to ward off evil.
Horoscope: A prediction of a person's future based on the stars. It is both a diagram for the predicting, and a prediction either verbal or printed.
Incantation: A chant or saying that is repeated to bring about certain things, such as a hex or some magical occurrence.
Magic: Power over forces other than natural, by the use of spells etc.
Medium: Someone that is used to speak between a person and a spirit. The medium may just be a contact or may speak for the spirit.
Necromancy: Calling forth of spirits to attempt to foretell the future.
Occult: Those things relating to supernatural occurrences and powers.
Ouija Board: A board with the alphabet and numbers on it. A pointed piece points out messages from the spirit world.
Palmistry: The foretelling of things by looking at the palm of a person's hand.
Phrenology: Telling the future based on the feeling of the skull.
Poltergeist: Ghosts. They are usually seen as fun loving ghosts that don't do harm.
Precognition: Knowing the future.
Premonition: A feeling of something that will happen in the future.
Presentiment: A feeling of something that is going to come to pass fairly soon.
Psychic: Someone that is sensitive to the supernatural and forces related to It.
Psychic Phenomena: Events or occurrences that are unexplainable by normal laws of nature and logic.
Reincarnation: The process by which a soul comes back in this life numerous times, via different bodies or levels.
Satanism: The worship of the Devil.
Seance: A meeting of a group for the purpose of communicating with the spirit world. A medium usually leads the meeting.
Soothsaying: Foretelling the future.
Sorcery: The use of power obtained from spirits to do things.
Spell: A word or words that have magical power when spoken or repeated.
Spiritism: The thought that the spirit world communicates with this world through mediums or objects.
Tarot Cards: The cards a fortune teller uses to predict the future. There are twenty-two of them and each has a picture on it.
Telepathy: Communication between two people without speaking, hearing, seeing etc.
Trance: A condition where a person is not conscious of themselves or their environment.
Voodoo: A religion from Africa that is centered now in Haiti and the Netherland Antilles, based on spirit control and worship.
Warlock: A male witch. Usually they gain power from the Devil.
Witch: A female witch. As the warlock, they gain power from the Devil.
Witchcraft: The practice of magic accomplished with powers from the Devil.
Witches' Sabbath: The meeting of a coven for the practice of rites. This is at midnight.
MISC. INFORMATION THAT MIGHT HELP IN YOUR STUDY
Deuteronomy 18:10-13
1 Samuel 15:23 lists divination as comparable to rebellion against God.
Isaiah 8:19 Ezekiel 21:21 mentions three items:
a. Shakes the arrows: The arrows had names or places written on them and the arrows were shaken and dumped on the ground, or thrown in
the air. They would follow the direction of the arrows, or go to the place written on the top one.
b. Household idols.
c. Look at the liver: They would cut the liver from an animal then split it open. They determined the message from the number of, or color of the rocks found inside. Others used the color of the flesh itself to determine the answer to their question.
See also Numbers 22:7; Numbers 23:23; 2 Kings 17:17; Ezekiel 12:24; Ezekiel 13:6; Acts 16:16-21.
CONCLUSION
We've all heard comments about the wolf in sheep's clothing. We all relegate that in the spectrum of Christianity to the liberals and false teachers under the umbrella of "Christianity." I would like to suggest that today we have little ways in which it is really the devil creeping under that umbrella — slowly but surely sneaking into the church and its activities.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15 states, "For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."
We normally relate this to the false teaching that is made to look like truth. We do have a serious problem with this today. The churches divorce rate is currently about the same as the worlds. We have accepted the world philosophy of, try it you'll like it. If you don't, divorce it.
We are also seeing more and more unsaved people as church members. Some are even on the boards of previously sound churches. Indeed, I have been told of unsaved sitting on the boards of fundamental churches.
The Devil has been copying the Lord's ways, means and ideas since the beginning.
I trust that you will take this section as with a grain of salt until you do some thinking about it on your own in future days, but I have been tossing
it around a lot over a long period of time, and feel that there is a bunch of truth in it.
In this study I would like to just think of the devil's influence on the church. He doesn't have to copy the church or the Lord's doings, He now just has to wait a few months until the church copies the world's ways and he has his stuff into the church at the church's invitation.
Just what are some of these items that we, the church, copy?
What I'm about to say may not be bad, but consider it — beware of it — act on it.
1. When I was growing up the rock and roll stations introduced us to the top 40. Today we have top forties of Western, Blue Grass, Popular, Rock, Heavy Metal And now Christian Music. We have Christian rock, Christian rap and I recently heard music that was an attempt to copy the New Age music recently.
2. We have had toy action figures with us for a number of years, at least since Star Wars, and in the late 80's we were introduced to Bible Action Figures.
3. We have for years had Sunday School songs and choruses, but now we have Christian words put to everyday tunes of the world. (Brother John, I've Been Worken on The Railroad etc.)
4. The world gave us heavy metal and the church now has Christian Heavy Metal.
5. Historical novels have been with us for years and years but the Christians of our time just have to have their Christian Historical Novels based on the lives of Biblical characters.
6. How about Bible Trivia? The terms in the title of that game ought to say enough to help us understand our subject in this study — Bible — Trivia. Really.
7. I walked into a Christian's home in the late 80's and noticed several Jr. Hi. age young people playing Bible Pictionary. One of the young people was exploding with excitement because she had the answer first, and she
hollered at the top of her lungs, "The Blood of Christ......" I really think that the blood of Christ should have a little more dignity than that.
8. The rock groups had their guitars, bass guitars, keyboards and now so do the churches.
9. We need to have a good evangelism program so we are out there using memorized programs that have been set up by people that are near commercial quality. Why do we need a spit and polish program when we don't need it. If we needed it, we would have first and second evangelism not Romans.
Others use questionnaires to get the people to talk to them. The use of questionnaires is not wrong, unless it is a tool to get in the door. If you are really interested in the answers to the questions, and plan on using that information, then surveys are okay. If you use it for a door opener, consider a study of ethics.
10. The world has given their employees packages of benefits and pay and termed it many things, but today we have many pastors that judge a prospective church on the pay package that they offer. Within the pay package are items such as:
salary, parsonage allowance, travel, conference expenses, vacation pay, clothing allowance, medical insurance, social security, retirement package, moving expenses, relocation expenses
and anything else the pastor can suggest.
By the way, what is living by faith? I fear for many it is:
F inancially secure
A ffluent
I ncome rising
T ax sheltered
H ome paid for
11. Christians have condemned the costly cathedrals of the Roman church yet we are building bigger, and better, and snazzyer churches than ever.
12. We have known for centuries that the Lord holds each and everyone of us as very valuable. We know that we all have great value in God's eyes, yet we have invited the "self image" and "self worth" philosophy into our churches, and many of our youth are thriving on it.
13. We despise bigotry yet we have educational bigotry in many of our fellowships and groups. We have some looking down their noses at minimally educated people, and they in turn condemn the higher education people as over educated.
For that matter how many of the churches that you have been in have black people as members, unless the whole church is black?
14. The Roman Church had their problems with not allowing the lay people to have the Bible to read for centuries. Never will fundamentalists do that, we have said for many moons, yet we have many seminaries teaching their students, Our Pastors, that you cannot properly understand the Bible unless you know the original languages. Not to many steps down the road and we may have the Romanists telling us off about that one.
15. How about the teaching and preaching of the church today?
How accurate is it? I have seen men declare boldly something that is in the Old Testament that was for an age past as fact for our living, yet ignore other teaching in the Old Testament or the New Testament that declares that the principle has been set aside.
I heard a man declare boldly that the sin of the father will be visited upon the children and he gave an illustration of a father that went into adultery in June and in July his Godly teenage daughter started sleeping with her boyfriend. Now the story may be true, yet it does not prove that the principle is for today. Indeed, the Book of Ezekiel chapter 18 seems to say that God has changed that principle.
I sat in a Sunday School class in a Baptist church and listened for half an hour about the bills that the church had. The pastor told us that we had to take offerings to pay those bills before the Lord returned, so that we wouldn't have to take offerings when the Lord was here. Proof? Yes, of course he had a proof text. 1 Corinthians 16:2,
"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come."
That Was Paul Speaking By The Way.
How Biblical is it? I have heard many many sermons that the speaker used a bit of a verse as a spring board to go off into some topic that he wanted to cover, and never again return to the Word for direction or proof.
How honest is it? We say that we reject the principles of modern day counseling and the psychiatrists of days gone by, yet we still hear "Christian counselors" that are rerunning the old, "why do you hate your mother" (or father), Fruedian principles.
We say in some circles that we reject the accreditation as teaching institutions, yet we accept the accreditation of the organizational part of the institutions. Seems a bit illogical to most.
16. How about missions today?
Are we following Biblical principles? Or are we out there trying man's concoctions? I have been told of men that are attempting to start a churches by telemarketing. The same principles that insurance salesmen use to sell insurance.
We are seeing more and more Christians feel that we should use the world's principles.
When I was on deputation and the support wasn't coming in a Christian sat me down and told me what I was doing wrong. He mentioned that I wasn't being a good Public Relations man. He thought that the church was all wrong in sending people out on deputation. His thought was that we should introduce advertising campaigns into the church and raise money as a secular Ad Campaign might raise money.
Are we totally committed to reaching the lost? Again, when I was on deputation I sat across the table from a man that was questioning the "Cost Effectiveness" of missions. If the missionary can't produce certain results then he is not being cost effective and should be brought home or sent elsewhere.
The telemarketing that I mentioned earlier is based on the same principle. If you can't raise enough interest by making so many phone calls in an area then it is not cost effective to go ahead and start a church in that area.
What Happened To "Saving The Lost At Any Cost."?
What Happened To "Sold Out For God."?
What Happened To "Giving All For God's Glory."?
One more question. "What Happened?"
17. The world has had radio for many years and believers have used secular stations to propagate the Gospel. In recent years we have "Christian Radio" that is for the purpose of ________, you tell me, cuz I don't know.
If it is for the propagation of the Gospel, why do I hear so little Gospel on it. If it is for the edification of the saints, why do I hear so much false doctrine on it?
I have people constantly telling me how great the listening is on Christian radio, yet every time I tune in on Sunday morning, I hear I'm going to hell because I sinned last Tuesday.
The real crime is that we have Christians supporting those stations. God's money is going to help propagate false doctrine and play Christian rock.
Sure I can be selective to what I listen to, but how about that lost person that tunes in looking for help and finds some false teaching to follow.
I'm not against giving to Christian programs, but do it directly to the ministry and encourage them to change to secular stations where the lost people listen. At least on secular radio the lost know selectivity is necessary.
18. I promised myself that I would not mention dress when I was finishing up these comments. I would not want to talk about dress. Yes I would want to talk about dress. In fact just a comment or two, (or three or four).
As I try to live a Godly life why would I want to use the same sort of language the world does?
As I try to live a Godly life why would I want to frequent the places that the world frequents?
As I try to live a Godly life why would I want to live by the same standard that the world lives by?
As I try to live a Godly life why would I want to educate myself as the world educates itself?
As I try to live a Godly life why would I want to look and dress like the world looks and dresses?
END COMMENTARY.
19. How about Christian performers that cost $8000 per show?
20. Maybe the Christian Publishers — you know those that really want to reach the world. Reach the world with the Bible at $34.95 a copy.
21. Might we suggest that we are not only copying the world, but in some cases we are working with the world — with the lost.
We have mission translators that turn their work over to the Roman Catholic Church. We have evangelists that turn their converts back into lost, state churches as well as to the Roman Catholic Church. We have people that work within the Roman Church.
These are all groups that evangelical and fundamental people support with God's money.
22. How do we treat the names of God? I was in a Sunday School class recently called the God squad. Cute? Yes. Honoring to God? I doubt it, on the whole.
23. We don't teach about the devil, demons, and hell today. We are helping eliminate those things from a new generations thinking. Add to that the fact that many of these same kids watch the occult etc. on television and assume that it is good viewing.
24. In the early 90's I was listening to "Christian radio" and heard a news flash. It was from Jerusalem and it was "on the spot coverage" of Christ's triumphal entry. Actually it was stated that they were covering a parade.
The commentator mentioned that the parade was planned by the religious leaders, and that it had great political overtones. The blurb sounded innocent enough, however it was teaching falsehood. Christ was not political, the religious leaders did not plan it and it was not a parade. Aside from that it lowered the Lord's declaration of Himself as KING to the level of a newscast that was false coverage.
25. It wasn't bad enough to have a bunny that lays colored decorated eggs, but now we have shrink wrap, religious plastic coverings for eggs.
26. We saw a sign advertising Easter goodies in Wyoming. Chocolate bunnies, marshmallow eggs, crosses and suckers.
Do you feel that the church is making the "Holy" things common and everyday? It seems that the church has taken many things spiritual and placed them on a plain that is so common that the children of our day are going to have a hard time understanding why church, the Bible, and Christianity are of any importance at all.
Do we really know what evil is anymore? Do we really recognize the devil's ways when we are looking at them? Do we really understand the ramifications of what we are doing in the church today?
God Forbid That You As A Student Of God's Word Go Out And Perpetuate What Is Going On In Many Of Our Churches. If All You Are Going To Do Is Further What The Devil Is Doing In The Church Then Don't Get Involved In The Ministry. God Does Not Need You.
How Dare You Use God's Money, Your Time To Assist The Adversary.
If on the other hand you are going out into the world to use the Bible as your handbook for Christian living, for church planting, for church organization, for family building, then Go For It And May God Bless The Day Lights Out Of You.
Bold? Heavy? Opinionated? I Certainly Hope So. If It Isn't Then I Have Failed In What I Wanted To Do In This Section.
If you are not awake to the Devil's work in the church in this country now, then I suspect that you are a bit on the blind side.
A related study is the study of humanism and its effect on the church. If you just read through the Humanist manifestos, you will see that the humanist thinking is having serious affects on the church.
I would like to close with a passage of Scripture:
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Keep the order on that right". It's submit to God and resist the Devil NOT submit to the Devil and resist God.
WATER WITCHING
The question to be answered is this, "Is water witching part of the Occult?"
FACTS
1. There does not seem to be any explanation for the phenomena, either logically, nor scientifically. Some suggest that it has to do with the magnetic fields, yet if this is true, why are water witchers incorrect at times. (They do not always find water.) If a law of nature is in effect when it works, then the phenomena should work at all times.
2. The Encyclopedia Americana, nor The Illustrated World Encyclopedia, nor the New Universal Standard Encyclopedia contain an entry under the heading water witching and the Encyclopedia Americana has none under the term Dowsing. If there were solid evidence to the truth of the practice it would seem that they would discuss it.
3. The book of Job tells us in the first two chapters that the Devil can control nature within the limits that God places upon him. He is able to control specifically in the book of Job: People, 1:16,17; fire, 1:16; Wind, 1:19; man's physical diseases, 2:7.
4. Webster's Ninth Collegiate Dictionary under water witch states, "One that dowses for water". (By permission. From Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary copyright 1991 by Merriam-Webster Inc., publisher of the Merriam-Webster (registered) Dictionaries.) Another term used is dousing for water. It comes from douse which means to place into water. A water witcher is one that claims to be able to find water below the surface of the earth by using special powers.
The use of terms like "power", "witch", and "divining" would indicate that someone in the past — the one that first used these terms thought that there was more to the effect than natural activities.
The usage of the term "supposed" would indicate that Webster had a question in his mind as to the validity of the practice.
6. Dowsing is not only used for finding water, but minerals as well. (One author mentions that the practice started with the location of minerals in England many years ago.)
7. "It works." is usually the comment to those questioning the practice. "It works." does not make it right, proper, scientific, nor from God.
Job tells us that Satan controlled nature to the extent that God allowed. "It worked." but it wasn't right, proper, scientific, nor from God, it was from the Devil. "It works." is no proof at all.
1. There seems to be little, if any, scientific evidence to support the phenomena.
2. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I have heard the figure of it's working 50% of the time, more than once. If it were scientific and related to the laws of nature, 100% of the time would be more appropriate.
3. If it works there is no natural explanation for it from science. (At least to this point, I have seen none offered.)
4. Most dowsers claim power to find water. Where does the power come from? If God sent it, why didn't He tell us about it. Others call it a special gift. Again, if it is from God why did He not mention it in the Word? Indeed, why didn't he give it for the use of the Israelites in the wilderness? (Don't tell me that was what Moses was doing with his rod, either.)
5. The terms used in relation to the practice seem to be terms that normally relate to Satan rather than God. "a power", "witch", "witching", and "Divining".
6. If it works for metal ore and water, then why haven't scientists been able to:
a. Verify the process.
b. Develop the process.
c. Explain the process.
And finally if you can dowse for metals and water, then why not oil and other valuables. If all of this is possible, then why do so many scientific companies spend billions of dollars on exploration for these substances.
7. To prove with Scripture that water witching is part of the Demonic tool chest, there is no verse to quote, yet the principles of finding things that are unknowable by common channels is soundly rejected within the scriptures.
At best water witching would be classed in the area of wives tales, and at worst it could be attributed to Satan.
If there is no proof that it works, then it would seem to fit in the first category. If there is no rational explanation for it, and it works, then the later seems to be the more appropriate.
NOTES OF INTEREST
It has been reported that the armed forces tried to witch for land mines in Viet-Nam. The validity of this is questionable since there is no documentation that I know of, but if it were true, then why did they take mine detectors and detonators to the Middle East as they did in 1991?
There is an entry in a book that attributes the process of water witching to the category of fakery. (Danny Korem & Paul Meier, M.D., "THE FAKERS", Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.) Pages 52 through 59 give logical explanation to the phenomena.
I personally reject the fakery aspect and feel that from what I have read and heard that it probably is a process by which you can find water at times. I further would hold that this is accomplished by a power, not of God, but of the Devil.
Some references that relate to the topic indirectly:
The finding of water through water witching is basically finding out information that cannot be known by natural senses and means, or from God.
The Scripture seems to deal with this at times under the topic of divination. The following references speak to that subject. Numbers 22:7;
Numbers 23:23; Deuteronomy 18:10; 2 Kings 17:17; Jeremiah 14:14; Ezekiel 12:24; Ezekiel 13:6,7,23; Ezekiel 21:21,22,23; Acts 16:16.
You might desire to look up the term diviners also. Genesis 44:15; 1 Samuel 28:8; Proverbs 16:10; Micah 3:6,11; Zechariah 10:2.
FINAL DISCLAIMER
If at any time scientific evidence is given to prove contrary to the above information I will be pleased to give it consideration.
If at any time Biblical evidence is given to prove contrary to the above information I will be pleased to give it consideration.
By the same token before you, the reader, set the thoughts set forth aside, it is your responsibility to prove with some evidence that the thoughts are incorrect. A phrase like "It works." is not valid evidence that the process of water witching is not of the occult.
You must also deal with the thought that all information comes from the Word, the things that we can sense through the senses, those things that we can learn from scientific observation/experimentation, and those things which we can logically deduce. Water witching is not related to any of these sources other than the sense of sight in what might be observed, which is suspect to fakery, and taste, if water is found.
I would enjoy seeing rebuttals, responses and rotten tomatoes raised by these thoughts. (Remember, I Want To See The Tomatoes, Not Wear Them.)
INTRODUCTION TO
ANTHROPOLOGY
There is scientific evidence that the human soul has weight. In 1907 Dr. Duncan MacDougall placed dying patients on a very sensitive scale just before they died. At the point of death there was an immediate weight loss of from 3/8 to 1 1/2 ounces. He did this experiment on six people. Of the six bodies there were four that showed this weight loss. He also tried the experiment on fifteen dogs, and not one of them changed weight at the point of death.
So there. We do have souls and they vary in weight. I wonder if that indicates that a weight problem in this life is transferred into the next life. Ha.
We can't use such a short experiment to definitely prove that the human being has a soul, however if you believe that the Bible is God's Word to man, you can know that there is a soul within man. Indeed, many of the religions of the world view man's makeup as containing a soul and/or spirit.
As we enter into a study of anthropology, we are going to be studying man. This section is somewhat unique, in that it is the only subject of theology which laps over into the secular world of study. Anthropology is a secular subject as well. Unsaved people are interested in the study of anthropology as well as the Christian. The secular view of man will be different to some extent because their basis will be the theory of evolution, while the Christian's basis for study is the Bible.
Secular anthropology will view man as descending from a long evolutionary cycle, while Christian anthropology's view of man comes from the creator of that man, God.
Within the secular scheme of study there are many divisions of study. I would like to show a chart which shows some of these divisions and their relation to the overall system of study.
Academic Areas
Study Of The
Study Of The
Humanities
Sciences
Natural Social
Study Of Behavior Social Studies
Study Of Man
Study Of The Mind
Study Of
Society
Archaeological Physical Biblical
Most of you have heard of the Alex Halley book and movie, called "Roots." We are all interested in our roots. We desire to know about our fathers, our grandfathers, our great grandfathers etc.
We are about to really study our roots. We are going to look into the origin of man. As I approach the doctrine of man I'm left to wonder if I have anything to say. I don't even know about myself much less about mankind. Now, the doctrine of "SIN" — that is another story. I have some knowledge of it and can speak with a little authority.
In short Anthropology is the study of man, or the science of man. We will get into a more detailed definition in a few moments. There are two sources or approaches to the study of man.
We can study man from the approach of human philosophy as most of the world approaches the subject, or we can look at what the Word of God tells us about man, and draw conclusions from that source.
From our Christian perspective it is most logical to look at both, and hold to what the Lord has given to us in the Word.
There is value in looking at the secular philosophical approach to anthropology. Let us take a brief look at these benefits.
1. They have some things that would help us understand the lost world. Of course we don't want to accept evolution as a belief, but we can certainly learn of the basic thought of this system so that we can talk intelligently to an evolutionist about his spiritual needs. His spiritual need does not change just because he is an evolutionist, but when we talk to him of God, there are some hurdles we must overcome.
2. There are, I'm sure, some facts that they have within their area of study that might help us understand how the world system operates. This again translates into a help when talking to the lost. It also helps us understand why the world system is the way it is. If we understand their system we won't need to become disgusted with the lost when they act the way they do.
We have already noted the main difference between the Philosophical and the Biblical approach. We will contrast these two in a few minutes, but for now let it suffice to say that:
The philosophical approach is from man and man's thinking which is not as clear as the Lord had desired it to be. Man's thinking is clouded by sin and the fall. This approach deals with only the emotional and intellectual part of man and does not usually deal with the immaterial part of man. God has no part in man's origin, career, or destiny as they understand anthropology. To them there is no God.
The Biblical approach is based on the Word of God and is the thinking of Almighty God. This gives the approach all of the validity it needs for the
Christian. This approach deals with all areas of man, both material and immaterial. It covers moral, spiritual and eternal. What is said in these areas is, by nature, truth because it is revelation from God.
There are a couple of terms that we need to think about at this
point. Extra-Biblical Anthropology is the study of man based on man's experience, history and intellect. Intra-Biblical Anthropology is the study of man based on what God has revealed about man in His Word.
Extra-biblical anthropology gives to us such teachings as Evolution and humanism. Both are based on man's ideas and concepts about what we are and what we can do. By the very nature of the teaching it leads to the materialism of our day. If we are only man, and can only enjoy this life, then we must assuredly enjoy it to the hilt. If I am only in this life, then I will enjoy all that I can gather together to the hilt, and not worry about others. I Am Central To My Thinking. Recognize any of this in the world today?
If this is true, and we know that materialism has a strong hold on the church, then we might wonder just how effected the church is with extrabiblical anthropology. Indeed, one of the last sections of this study is on humanism and its inroads into the Christian community. (Topic number d04250-d04300.)
It should be recognized that the Bible does not approach man as a textbook. You do not find a I and II Man in the table of contents of the Bible. The Bible does not lay out a systematic set of information. We need to go into the Word and glean what it says about man as we go. There is no systematic anthropology found in the scripture.
The Bible has much to say about man, and it has much to say to lost man if he will listen. His listening, however is usually the problem.
If a lost man will recognize the fact that the Scripture has some authority over them, and will follow it's precepts he may enjoy a good life here on earth, and be a moral upright being. His eternal destiny will not be affected however. He will ultimately spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
While we are thinking about the authority of the Scriptures we might make brief mention that the Scriptures are authoritative in all that they say. In
what it says about science, it is correct. In what it says about man, it is correct. In what is says about medicine it is correct. The point however is that it is not a science textbook, nor is it a pre-med text book. The point is this. When the Bible speaks on a subject It is correct and we should have complete trust in it.
We should realize that the Bible speaks on some areas relating to man that the extra-biblical system does not address. Such things as: The true origin of the universe; The true origin of man; Man's original state; Man's fall from that state; The new birth; The real cause of death; The bodily resurrection.
We need to notice that the Word of God does not change and that it is presenting the same view of man that it did when it was first written.
It should also be noted that the extra-biblical system is constantly changing it's view as to the origin of man. There are many views of the creation of the universe that have been presented through the ages. None have been proven correct and many of them are barely plausible.
This constant flux is because of the fact that the people that come up with these schemes have nothing except other men's ideas upon which to base their thinking. They have no real basis upon which to build, while the intra-biblicist has the Word of God to base his thinking on.
Christian Anthropology — the study of man's origin, fall and course, based upon the Biblical record.
Let us see how Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary defines anthropology. "1:the science of human beings; esp: the study of human beings in relation to distribution, origin, classification, and relationship of races, physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture 2: a part of Christian teaching that concerns the origin nature, and destiny of human beings....." (By permission. From Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary copyright 1991 by Merriam-Webster Inc., publisher of the Merriam-Webster (registered) Dictionaries.) We are interested primarily in the number two definition. It is of interest that Webster recognizes that there is a very definite difference between the two types.
Anthropology, in short is the "science of man." We will look briefly into some of the other areas of anthropology, but for the most part will look at the origin, nature and fall of man.
DEFINITION
"1. The science treating the physical, social, material, and cultural development of man, including his origin, evolution, distribution, customs, beliefs, folkways, etc." ("FUNK AND WAGNALLS STANDARD DESK DICTIONARY"; New York: Funk and Wagnalls Inc., 1976)
The term comes from the merging of two Greek terms: "anthros" meaning man and "logos" meaning study.
"The word "anthropologos" first appeared in the works of the Greek philosopher Aristotle and meant 'treating of man,'". (Funk, Wilfred Litt.D.; "WORD ORIGINS AND THEIR ROMANTIC STORIES"; New York: Bell Pub., MCML, p 234)
As we have seen the study is viewed in two ways:
1. Human Philosophy. This information is based on all of man's experience and thinking and reasoning. The result of this form is Evolution and Humanism.
2. Biblical Perspective. This is based squarely upon the Bible, and then includes information from extra-biblical that may substantiate and enhance intra-biblical anthropology. The result is a true view of man which is based on Biblical creationism.
CONTRASTS
INTRA-BIBLICAL EXTRA-BIBLICAL
1. By nature, centered on the Word of God
Excludes the Word of God completely
2. A philosophy created by God
A philosophy created by man.
3. Creation by God Evolution
4. God centered Man centered.
5. Deals with original state of man
Offers no information.