Believers use words like orthodoxy, heresy, traditions, and cults to label the kind of teachings others receive and the manner in which they carry out their lives of faith. Before applying such labels, wouldn’t it be wise to ask ourselves what these words really mean? Orthodoxy1 is the adherence to the correct opinion. An orthodox opinion in matters of religion can only be received via a direct revelation from God. In other words, orthodoxy refers to adherence to the opinions and thoughts given by God. Heresies are doctrines that differ from the thoughts and opinions God expressed in his word. Doctrinal traditions are teachings passed down through the ages. Such terms are often used to label people and their teachings. Instead of passing judgment arbitrarily, however, believers should use the Bible as their only standard for judging orthodoxy and heresy.
If the source of true orthodoxy is a direct revelation from God, then we should examine biblical history—the history recorded in the Bible, which is God’s word—to better understand it.
In Adam’s time, Adam was the only true orthodoxy because he was created by and conversed directly with God (Gn 2:7-8, 15-17). Despite being able to speak freely with God, Adam acted against God’s expressed will. He was deceived by the serpent and rejected the word of God. Instead of adhering to what he received from God, Adam took to heart the lies of Satan (Gn 3:1-6). This was how Adam betrayed the covenant. In response, God left Adam and the rest of creation (Gn 3:8-10, Gn 6:1-3). Should we still consider Adam to be orthodox after his betrayal? Adam became a heretic because he received and believed Satan’s words rather than God’s. Even after his betrayal, Adam continued to teach his descendants about God and how to follow his commands. These teachings from Adam, however, were mere traditions; no one could call them orthodox.
After Adam’s betrayal, God chose Noah from among Adam’s descendants and spoke to him (Gn 6:8-9). Through his obedience to God, Noah judged the people who were living under the traditions handed down since the time of Adam and established a new covenant with a new generation of people (Gn 7-9). That was when the world of Adam passed away. Hebrews 8 says, “If there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.” A new covenant was necessary because the people with whom God had made the previous covenant broke their promises (Heb 8:7-10).
Canaan, son of Ham, son of Noah, also sinned like his ancestor Adam (Gn 11). And, just as it happened before, God left his rebellious generation and made a covenant with Abraham (Gn 15). Just as God used Noah to judge the world of Adam because it was guilty of betrayal and heresy, God used Moses to judge the world of Canaan. To be more specific, after God appointed Moses to bring his people out of Egypt (Ex 6, Ex 12), he used the people who were obedient to his word and covenant (i.e. the people under the Mosaic law) to execute judgment on those who had betrayed, namely, the descendants of Canaan. This judgment was ultimately executed through Joshua, Moses’ successor, who led the Israelites to conquer to the Promised Land occupied by the descendants of Canaan and Ham (Josh 1 ~ 6, Josh 12).
Despite the clear pattern in their history, the Israelites again worshiped pagan gods in the time of Solomon (1 Kgs 11). Thus, because Physical Israel broke its covenant, God spoke through the Old Testament prophets and appointed Jesus in fulfillment of those prophecies. Jesus was appointed to judge Physical Israel (Mt 11:13; Lk 16:16) and to establish the twelve tribes of Spiritual Israel (Mt 10:1-4; Jn 1:12-13; Jas 1:1).
Considering the history we have examined so far, a few clear themes emerge. The first generation—the one with whom God initially forged a covenant—grows corrupt by falling prey to heresy (deception). This heresy is passed down continuously under the guise of tradition. The new generation—the generation making a new covenant with God—is established as the true orthodoxy by receiving the word from God and obeying it. The old, corrupt generation that betrayed is judged by the new generation that God considers orthodox because it possesses his word. When people who follow old, worn-out traditions claim to be orthodox, they are attempting to cover their betrayal and ignorance of the truth with lies.
At the time of the first coming, a group of pastors and elders who followed a bunch of old, worn-out traditions handed down to them by their betraying ancestors, gathered to oppose Jesus. They plotted in the Sanhedrin to kill Jesus and eventually had him crucified (Mt 27). They murdered Jesus because they believed they were the only group that was truly orthodox. They refused to hear the truth of what Jesus was saying. It has been about 2,000 years since Jesus left this world to ascend into heaven. While he was still with us, Jesus openly wondered whether he would find faith on earth when he returned (Lk 18:8). According to prophecies recorded in the New Testament, the pastors and religious leaders at the time of Jesus’ return will once again oppose him (refer to Rv 16, Rv 17).
Christians today all claim without evidence that their pastors, denominations, and churches are the true orthodoxy. They are quick to label people that follow teachings or denominations other than their own as heretics. They also claim to have already received salvation and the holy spirit. Are these claims true? Christianity began with the work of Jesus and the holy spirit, but today, instead of remaining with the spirit, it has returned to the flesh and is speaking lies (refer to Gal 3:3). In the time of the first coming, the people who should have been anxiously awaiting the fulfillment of God’s prophecies were the ones who opposed God when that fulfillment came. Today, people who should be rejoicing are opposing the messenger who has come in the name of the Lord (Jn 14:26; Rv 10, Rv 22:16). All the while, they sincerely believe they are acting in obedience to the commandments of God and Jesus. What a pity!
Today’s religious world is like a pitch-dark night (1 Thes 5:1-3). The sun and the moon in heaven have become dark, and stars have fallen from their places (Mt 24:29; Rv 6:12-14). Believers who began their lives of faith through the work of the holy spirit have returned mere flesh (Gal 3:3). This has happened because of an absence of God and the Bible, which are the word and light. It is only people who are born again of water and the holy spirit who can attain salvation (Jn 3:5-6). Today, at the time of the second coming, another generation has come to an end (Rv 6), and a new generation has arisen (Rv 7). The time has come for the 2,000 year old heaven and earth of the old covenant to pass away and for the new heaven and earth to arise (Rv 21). People who understand this will seek the place where true orthodoxy, and therefore salvation, is available.
SHINCHEONJI: Healing All Nations
http://cafe.daum.net/scjschool/E3qZ/200
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