IS THE FAITH WORTH THE FIGHT? (Part Two)

By James W. Shear

(1926-2012)

The religious pacifist likes to give the impression that he patterns his actions, or lack of actions, after Christ. Nothing can be further from the truth. Christ cannot fit into the mold the pacifist has fashioned for Him any more than He could fit into the mold the Jews made for Him at the time of His earthly ministry. Contrary to the thinking of many, Christ, while here on earth, was one of the world’s greatest controversialists.

In his book, Christian, Contend for Thy Cause, J. D. Bales quotes from an introduction by B. J Radford to another book titled Jesus as a Controversialist. Radford wrote: “Perusal of this little volume will create the conviction that Jesus of Nazareth was a constant, persistent, strenuous and aggressive controversialist, and will help us to understand the bitterness of the intolerance of Scribes and Pharisees, and all those whose error and vices He so constantly controverted and exposed. The author helps us to an instructive view of the wide range and varied methods of the controversies which Jesus took up with the propagators of error. He allowed no theories, systems or customs, which have to do with human life or destiny to go unchallenged. Nor was there anything languid in His manner or method of attack.

“No one will be a controversialist of any kind who does not have a clear appreciation of the value of truth, and of his own responsibility in maintaining and propagating it. No one will be more than a languid controversialist who cares more for tolerance than for truth. Only he who feels the infinite life giving value of truth, and the fatal error, coupled with a deep sense of responsibility and duty in view of their irrepressible conflict will be such a controversialist as was Jesus Christ. He could at any moment have allayed the spirit of intolerance, which hounded him, and have stayed the hand of persecution, which at last nailed him to the cross, if He had consented to ‘a conspiracy of silence.’ When Pilate suggested a way of escape by compromising the truth, Jesus answered, with the cross a few hours ahead, ‘For this cause I came into the world, that I might bear witness to the truth.’

“The only antidote for evil is good, and the only antidote for error is truth. The world is so crowded with evil and error that he who would advance good and truth must be both a reformer and a controversialist. Peter and John and the rest, understood this and would not be forced into silence by any threats or punishments. Bearing witness to the truth in this error-ridden world is a business of strenuous belligerency: not of ‘dignified silence’ or ‘masterly inactivity’.”

The religious pacifist sees no difference in fighting the good fight of faith and looking for a fight. He sees no difference in contending for the faith and being contentious. Therefore, those who fight the good fight of faith, those who earnestly contend, dispute, reprove, and rebuke, as did Paul and others, will never meet with the approval of the pacifist. To him, there is no right way to challenge error. In other words, there is no right way to earnestly contend for the faith.

No doubt many mistakes have been made in efforts to “earnestly contend for the faith.” However, the greatest mistake we can make is to be forced into a dignified silence while Satan takes over and has his way with us.

Let us be reminded that those who fight the good fight of faith, finish the course, and keep the faith are the only ones who can lay hold to the crown of righteousness. Those who do this can die in hope (2 Timothy 4:5-7). The hope that is in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:3) should make the faith worth the fight. &

Admissions of Human Error in the Book of Mormon

By Bob Myhan

Below are several passages from the Book of Mormon wherein the supposed writers admit to the possibility of human error. I say “Supposed writers” because I believe it to be a complete work of fiction, written by a person or persons unknown.

“And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.” (I Nephi 1:3)

“Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh, I would excuse myself.” (I Nephi 19:6)

“And he gave me, Jacob, a commandment that I should write upon these plates a few of the things which I considered to be most precious; that I should not touch, save it were lightly, concerning the history of the people which are called the people of Nephi.” (Jacob 1:2)

“And it came to pass that I, Jacob, began to be old; and the record of this people being kept on the other plates of Nephi, wherefore, I conclude this record, declaring that I have written according to the best of my knowledge, by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream, we being a lonesome and a solemn people, wanderers, cast out from Jerusalem, born in tribulation, in a wilderness, and hated of our brethren, which caused wars and contentions; wherefore, we did mourn out our last days.” (Jacob 7:26)

“And now it came to pass, if there was no mistake made by this man in the reckoning of our time, the thirty and third year had passed away….” (III Nephi 8:2)

“And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you.” (Mormon 8:12)

“Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.

“And now, behold, we have written this record according to our knowledge, in the characters which are called among us the reformed Egyptian, being handed down and altered by us, according to our manner of speech.

“And if our plates had been sufficiently large we should have written in Hebrew; but the Hebrew hat been altered by us also; and if we could have written in Hebrew, behold, ye would have had no imperfection in our record.” (Mormon 9:31-33)

“And now I, Moroni, have written the words which were commanded me, according to my memory; and I have told you the things which I have sealed up; therefore touch them not in order that ye may translate; for that things is forbidden you, except by and by it shall be wisdom of God.” (Ether 5:1)

Dear reader, the above is not the language of inspiration. However, notice the language of the Bible.

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Romans 16:25-27)

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. (1 Cor. 14:37)

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles-- if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. (Ephesians 3:1-12)

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. (Philippians 3:17)

The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. (Colossians 1:24-26)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. (1 Peter 1:10-12)

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16-21)

We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6)

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. (Jude 1:3)

That is the language of inspiration. The apostles and prophets were ministers of the New Testament and knew that they were. (2 Cor. 3:1-6) &