| Author | Message | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1217 Registered: 3-2005 |
I am really excited about the current series of lessons John MacArthur is teaching on the Kingdom parables of Jesus.( see www.gty.org to listen to these messages.) Today, he taught on the parable of the wheat and tares, and I heard some very interesting insight. The parable is told and interpreted by Jesus in Matthew 13. When I was in SDA, and also from hearing this parable taught by many other teachers, the impression is given that the field where the wheat and tares are sown and grown is the church. So, therefore, we are instructed to let the tares grow with the wheat, and not pluck out the tares, for fear you take the wheat with the tares. But look how Jesus interprets this passage in Matt 13:38 "the field is the WORLD, and the good seed stands for the sons of the Kingdom..." So MacArthur went on to say that he studied twenty different commentaries while preparing his sermon, and guess what, they all said the field was the church. He said, 'Now isn't that interesting? Jesus says the field is the world, and all the commentaries say it is the church. Now what could be simpler than just taking the words of Jesus at face value?' He went on to say that 'if you believe that the field is the church, then that is what creates all the monumental problems we have today in the church. Because, how could a church really exercise discipline? How could one expose false teaching? Because if you did that, then you would risk uprooting the wheat with the tares.' This has very practical implications for me personally. Because, it is because of this parable that I have sometimes had second thoughts about exposing Adventism or Catholicism as false gospels. I think that we would all agree that there are many truly saved people in Adventism and Catholicism. That being the case, then in a way that parable if interpreted as traditionally done by most people, would have to give me pause in helping to expose these false systems, if, as seemingly most of evangelicalism believes, that Adventism and Catholicism are just other Christian denominations. I have seen where folks think that in exposing SDA and RCC for what they are is attacking other believers, and therefore helping in rooting out the wheat with the tares. But after hearing this simple exposition of the Word this AM with MacArthur was most helpful. What do you think? Stan | ||
| Jorgfe Registered user Username: Jorgfe Post Number: 85 Registered: 11-2005 |
Stan - that is an absolutely fascinating concept. I believe that you are right. I feel that we are all really fortunate to be the benefactors of all the insights you bring to this forum. Keep them coming! Gilbert | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2231 Registered: 3-2004  |
Stan, I just opened my Bible and read Matt. 13:38 and it says the field is the world and the good seed are the children of the kingdom. New Berkeley Translation. WOW!!! Another SDA untruth exposed. Thank you. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3269 Registered: 12-2003  |
Interesting, Stan. I remember reading that the field is the WORLD, but when I think about the parable, I've also thought about it as the churchóor at least that its principle applies to the church. So interesting! I agree; actually reading it as it is clears up a lot of problems! Thank you! Colleen | ||
| Riverfonz Registered user Username: Riverfonz Post Number: 1222 Registered: 3-2005 |
I remember when Des Ford gave his famous forum speech--the shot heard 'round the SDA world' back in Oct. '79, he was strongly advised not to give his presentation on 1844 and the I.J. And the reasons given were "don't upset everyone". "Yes we know what you are saying is true, but Des, you need to show more pastoral concern", "you might root out the wheat with the tares" etc etc. Yes, Ford's great courage to expose the false teaching of 1844, did cause a great shaking out. Of course his critics will say that his message violated Jesus' parable of the wheat and tares. There were thousands of people who left the SDA church and gave up their faith completely over Ford's ministry. But thankfully, there are a significant number of us who have been strengthened in our faith as a result of all that happened in SDA history, and God has sovereignly worked to keep his faithful true church through all of this. We must be faithful to sound doctrine regardless of the consequences. John MacArthur finished up his teaching on today's broadcast of the wheat and the tares with further clarification on it's meaning. Since, the field is the world, then God sows his true seed, while Satan sows the tares right along with it. But, an interesting point was made, that all of us come into this world as tares or weeds, and we are newly created as wheat when we become saved. And we don't know which of the tares will become wheat. The whole history of the world has been characterized by God sowing the seed and Satan sowing the tares. So, as further application John went on to say that the job of the church is to preach the gospel to the tares in the world, and trusting God with the results. However, he said "it is not the job of the church to politically root out the tares, and to spend a lot of time trying to change the world politically. An example of trying to take the Kingdom by force was the Crusades." Instead we are to preach the word, warn against false teachers and destructive heresies, and God will give the increase for His harvest at the end of the age. At that time the true tares will be cast into the fire. It is amazing to me, that I never really carefully read this passage before. I had always assumed that conventional wisdom of the majority of commentators was right. But if the interpretation that the field is the church wins the day, then as John said, it makes for a very weak church when it comes to discipline and correcting false teaching, and I have to wonder if just changing that one little word in Matt. 13:36 from world to church might be what the devil likes in order to try to make the true church weaker. I am thankful for great Bible teachers like MacArthur, who really study the Word, and are not afraid to proclaim the truth. Not that we believe everything any teacher says, but we test it by scripture like the Bereans did. Stan | ||
| Windmotion Registered user Username: Windmotion Post Number: 259 Registered: 6-2001  |
Seems to speak against the "adventist ghettos" too doesn't it? Inclusively, Hannah | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3281 Registered: 12-2003 |
Oh, good point, Hannah! I agree with MacArthur that our job is not to change the world politically. I've often pondered the implications of effecting social change through good politics. Without doubt, God has used governments and political processes to effect His will. I as a Christ-follower, however, must allow my focus and commitment to be entirely Jesus. I believe that when we submit to Him and offer ourselves as living sacrifices to Him, He uses us to bring light into the darkness. As people become children of light (see Ephesians 5), they begin to bear the fruit of the light which "consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth." Real, lasting, true change is only brought about by individual changed livesóby people who are new in Christ and alive with the Holy Spirit. Honoring Jesus and living in submission to Him are the means of the only lasting social change in the world. Colleen | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2235 Registered: 3-2004 |
Colleen, That is what I am learning in the two years since I decided not to be re baptized. "Real, lasting, true change is only brought about by individual changed lives-by people who are new in Christ and alive with the Holy spirit. Honoring Jesus and living in submission to Him are the means of the only lasting social change in the world." Diana |
