In the days of Jesus, there were people that were very educated both in theology and law. Some of them believed and became Christians. Most, however, persisted in their own ways. In fact, they harassed and tried to provoke our Lord. Ultimately, there was a showdown in which Jesus pronounced a series of “woes” or warnings against them. The complaints of Jesus were about the hypocrisy of the religious leaders.
They prevented others from an opportunity to have faith so that they might join in the kingdom of heaven. They made a pretense of religion that was nothing more than showmanship. They were willing to reach out to anyone so that he might become a proselyte to their form of false religion. They made foolish a person who would make their pledge before God. They were willing to pay tithes while avoiding what was a most important part of the worship experience. The pretension of righteousness was certainly manipulation. They were more concerned about appearing righteous before men than before God. They distanced themselves from the rebellion of their ancestors against God in favor of idols though themselves were guilty.
Jesus lamented over the city of Jerusalem. Then he proceeded, in chapter 24, to offered an answer to three questions from the disciples which were: When shall these things be? What shall be the sign of your coming? What shall be the sign of the end of the world? It is not by accident that our Bible presents details of the future after warnings to his opposition in their present time.
They hatched a plot that led to the ultimate murder of Christ. These men were highly educated and highly revered. They were wrong! Later the Apostle Paul dealt with the heresies proposed by people that responded, “a modern way to understand.” He later wrote, “avoid profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.” (1 Timothy 6:20)
As history approaches our own time, there have been philosophers and speculators that stood against salvation through Jesus Christ. We can remember radical cult leaders that may have been well educated but caused people to go astray and embrace terrible things. Being theologians and having many college degrees does not mean they correctly speak for God and for his Scripture. This was basically a matter of the seven woes Jesus pronounced. Scholars and influential people may have made great accomplishments; they had real followers, but in many cases they were wrong. The wrong is not in their education but in its application.
They thought they knew the truth but did not. They wrote books, made speeches, and taught classes, but what they said was wrong. That has persisted to the last few decades in which college professors have perverted the truth while brainwashing their students to an ultra-liberal way of thinking. Even in seminaries for the teaching of the gospel professors were supposed to teach future ministers. Critical thinking has distorted the truth of the gospel. Some of these people brought great shame on the church. Others confused the teaching of the Scriptures that led people to question God.
Not too long ago, a writer held in high regard wrote that Christians wanted the violence in the Middle East to escalate so they could bring on the battle of Armageddon and the return of Jesus to earth. That is totally ridiculous. When the Heavenly Father decides that Jesus will return to earth, it will be his decision and his alone. As we attempt to serve the Lord, there has been much distortion in the name of God leading to propaganda against Christianity.
There are those blatantly wrong who manipulate Scripture and discuss future history to expound on their ideas and not the truth. It is nonsensical that a human could take the unfolding of future history out of the hands of God and make things happen in the desired way. The Bible tells us the rapture is next to happen and not the Battle of Armageddon anyway. Let’s get the facts straight. No one can use twisted teachings to accuse Christians of wanting the death of thousands of people when that battle does occur. God is in charge, not any human being. Get it right and get it straight just like Jesus insisted long ago.
being. Get it right and get it straight just like Jesus insisted long ago.
