I am currently reading a book titled
"Inherited Lies" by Mark Dean
This book is An Audit of Christianity's Beliefs and Practices.
I personally think that no matter where your Christian walk is taking you this is one that should be required reading from the standpoint that it offers a view... a very viable view... on the bible.
It is not intended to sway anyone from their personal faith and beliefs but more to enhance our person and collective understanding on our beliefs.
How I happened upon this work was through a friend. ( A member of another church then I am )
But I was intrigued by the title. So once available I ordered it.
Truth be told, I have a terrible habit of starting most books and then switching to skimming more than word for word reading. Especially if I am reading things that are seemingly boring.... or if they appear to simply be opinion pieces that wont affect my thoughts and beliefs.
And that is exactly what I did with this one because I knew I had to tell something to my friend who would relay it to the author... so I ordered it ....from Amazon... (link below). It is approximately $10 plus tax and maybe shipping depending on your relationship with Amazon... and also Kindle......
BUT WOW... DOUBLE WOW
To me he makes so much sense... and at the end of the book is an email you can contact him directly.
In the middle of the book I read a few sentences and now am glued to reading this and the rest of the book with intent to learn. (Also I went back to the beginning to make sure I understand why he got to this point....)
What were the sentences I read?????
I'll get to that but first will quote something that leads to them.....
Chapter 6
Lie #6
The New Testament is New.
1st paragraph:
What is the New Testament? If you had to define it. how would you do so? Is it a collection of books and letters written in the first century? Is it the divinely inspired word of God? Is it a chronicle of how everything changed with Jesus? At the very least almost all Christians could agree that the New Testament is commentary on the first or Old Testament due to the fact that every single book and letter deals with events and predictions spoken of in the Old Testament. So what is it, besides the name that makes the New Testament new?
Paragraph #3. If you have the New Testament , for example, and I have the Old one, generally the belief is that your new one makes my old one obsolete. That's all fine and dandy if we are talking about covenants. Yet almost no one to whom I have spoken about the Bible thinks of covenants when talking about the Old and New Testaments. We think about books, letters or authoritative Scriptures.
4th Paragraph ... in part.
The Hebrew word rendered "New" in the
New Testament" not only allows for but leans heavily, I believe , toward a much better rendering ,"renewed".
OK.. I am stopping with the paragraph quotes and will offer some of mind tingling
thoughts (for me) when I read the following sentences...
During his discussion on translations of the bible he posts this....
Had the translators fully comprehended that the Lord was going to renew His vows with his one and only bride, Israel, I do not believe that they would have chosen either the word "new" or the word "testament"
cont.
Please consider with whom the one and only true and living God is going to renew His covenant in Jeremiah 31.Nowhere in Jeremiah does it say God will renew His covenant with the church.
So why have we heard so often from our pulpits that Christians are the bride of Christ?
cont.
Another of the lies we have inherited is that the church is the new Israel that has replaced that '' old testament Israel.
But think about that for a minute. What would that make God were He to marry a completely new bride to whom he just happened to giver the same name? (it goes on)
If new really means novel and without precedent in Jeremiah 31:31-34 then God is going to make a brand spanking new covenant with someone. But remember, this covenant cannot be someone different... (it continues)
The new covenant will be made with the same bride, the Israel that came out of the land of Egypt, after those days.
and there is so much more but I am going to stop now.
I encourage you to get this book and read it... slowly.
For everything I am now reading in it... and rereading my heart feels full and that can only be the Holy Spirit. It has to be.
Amazon.com
