WAS JESUS MISQUOTED?

(BEYOND THE “HEADLINES!”)

Have you ever read a headline from a newspaper, or magazine, or an Internet site that caught your attention and you think to yourself, “WOW, I can’t believe this?” But then, when you read the actual article, you learn that the impression from the headline is not supported by the article itself! For me, this seems to be happening more and more.

I have a theory about all this: in our fast-paced, information-filled-world, the competition among news agencies to capture the public’s attention is greater than ever. So, there is a temptation to sensationalize headlines! This, accompanied with the fact that you can come across hundreds of headlines in a day while browsing the Internet and that many people just read the headline not the article, means that there are a lot of wrong impressions being left in the public sector!

I mention this because there is a very popular – what I am going to call a type of “headline” that is being read today!

This headline, however, is in the form of a popular book title, “Misquoting Jesus”. It is a book that was written in 2006 by Bart Ehrman – a book that took our country by storm. Sadly, Ehrman was at one time an evangelical Christian but ultimately walked away from his faith. And, in his book, “Misquoting Jesus” he explains why.

Think about the title “Misquoting Jesus” for a moment.

The title implies that Jesus has been misquoted — which means that words that have been attributed to Jesus are not actually from Him at all. How could that have taken place? The promotional material’s for Ehrman’s book claim that “many of our cherished biblical stories and widely held beliefs concerning the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, and the divine origins of the Bible itself stem from both intentional and accidental alterations by scribes.” What’s more, the author, Bart Ehrman, claims that his views are being made “for the first time.”

When you hear the title “Misquoting Jesus” coupled with the promotional claims for the book, what impression does it leave you? It’s pretty clear isn’t it?

The accusation is, that those who have copied the original manuscripts of the books of the Bible either intentionally or accidently changed the original manuscripts and by doing so, have made up a Jesus that never existed. It appears from Ehrman’s “headline” that what we read in the Bible, are NOT actually the words of Jesus but a legend about Jesus. This is revealed when Ehrman writes, “Sometimes Christian apologists say there are only three options to who Jesus was: a liar, a lunatic, or the Lord. But there could be a forth option – legend.”

So, what does all of this mean? Ehrman is claiming that our Bible today tells a story about a Jesus that really did not come from eye-witnesses, or from those who interviewed eye-witnesses, but “stem” from “intentional and accidental alterations by scribes.”

Well, needless to say, if this is true, as the promotional materials of Ehrman’s book claim, the ramifications are huge! However, what we’ll learn is that the facts do not support Ehrman’s headline — “Misquoting Jesus”. What we’ll learn in upcoming blogs is that his title is, sensationalized. What we’ll learn is that we are given a false and wrong impression! What we will learn is that the Bible we have today CAN be trusted!

So, “How Did We Get The Bible?”

Stay tuned.

Okay, let’s begin our series on “How We Got The Bible?” with TEN KEY POINTS! These TEN KEY POINTS will be a great introduction to our subject that we will be expanding on in the weeks ahead.

Here we go …

#1 The Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

#2 The Bible is made up of 66 different books that were written over 1600 years (from approximately fifteen hundred BC to AD 100 by more than 40 kings, prophets, leaders and followers of Jesus. The Old Testament has 39 books (written approx.  1500-400BC).  The New Testament has 27 books (written approx. AD 45-100). The Hebrew Bible has the same text as the English Bible’s Old Testament – but divides, and arranges it differently.

#3 The Old Testament was written mainly in Hebrew, with some Aramaic. The New Testament was written in Greek.

#4  The books of the Bible were collected, and arranged and recognized as inspired sacred authority by councils of rabbis and councils of church leaders based on careful guidelines.

#5  Before the printing press was invented, the Bible was copied by hand.  The Bible was copied very accurately, in many cases by special scribes who developed intricate methods of counting words and letters to insure that no errors had been made.

#6  The Bible was the first book ever printed on the printing press with moveable type (Gutenberg Press, 1455, Latin Bible).

#7  There is much evidence that the Bible we have today is remarkably true to the original writings.  Of the thousands of copies made by hand before 1500, more the 5,300 Greek manuscripts from the New Testament alone still exist today.  The text of the Bible is better preserved than the writings of Plato or Aristotle.

#8  The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls confirmed the astonishing reliability of some of the copies of the Old Testament over the years.  Although some spelling variations exist, no variation affects basic Bible doctrines.

#9  As the Bible was carried to other countries, it was translated into the common language of the people by scholars who wanted others to know God’s Word.  Today there are still 2,000 groups with no Bible in their own language. 

#10  By AD 200, the Bible was translated into 700 different languages; by 500, 13 languages; by 900, 17 languages; by 1400, 28 languages;  by 1800, 57 languages; by 1900, 537 languages; by 1980, 1,100 languages; by 2006, 2,426 languages have some portions of the Scripture.

Hi everyone!

I’m back from vacation with the family and I can’t wait to see everyone Sunday morning!!

I’m savoring all the reports that I have received on how the Lord has blessed the church in June – and, I can’t tell you how much that blesses me! I’ve heard the services were great and VBS was fantastic etc. And, I thank all of you who prayed for us while we spent family time together and rested. We had a great family vacation and rest.

Okay, at risk of boring you to death, I have added some family pictures of our vacation. I actually took some four hundred pictures on my IPhone alone. These are five and out some four hundred that I took while with the family this June.

From top left:

#1 Our children and in the back-ground is Palos Verdes, Ca. where I grew up!

#2 (Below) Walking a street in San Clemente, Ca. with TWO of my THREE girls. I’m a blessed father!!

#3 This photo was taken after a wonderful dinner with our dear friends Greg and Cathe Laurie!

#4 Got to play some golf with my Dad (Pete is now taller than me J) BTW, Greg JR. and my Dad have a hard time being reminded that I actually beat them in golf 🙂

#5 This picture was taken at Disneyland while watching the fireworks. I waited to take this photo till a burst of light came from the fireworks lighting up the sky. Pretty good, huh?

Finally, I want to announce a new “blog series” that I am beginning tomorrow!

It’s a series on: “How We Got The Bible?”

The term “Bible” means “book” – so we’re talking “THE Book!”

I take it that you have a Bible, right? You purchased your copy from a store, or maybe a friend gave it to you etc. That’s great! But, have you ever wondered how all the 66 books came together in the beginning, particularly, how the New Testament came together!?

In the weeks to come we’ll learn how the Bible was passed down to us. And, we’ll also learn why it is trustworthy and what it means when the Bible says that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God …” (2 Tim 3:16).

It’s been said that you eat an elephant “one bite at a time!” Well, we’re going to take a “bite at a time” with this series. So, stay tuned and let me suggest that you even invite your friends to the blog who are searching and who could benefit from knowing why the Bible can be trusted.

Blessings, Greg

I had a great visit with my favorite Israeli guide who is on a speaking tour in the country.

Roni Simon has led many of our tours to Israel and helped Greg #2 and I on a trip to Israel filming and capturing teaching’s on location.

Roni is a guest speaker at our church tonight at 7:00 pm and Sat. morning from 9:00- 12:00 after the men’s prayer breakfast.

He’s always insightful on the history of the land of Israel and also the dynamics at play in the land of the Bible today!

Blessings, Greg

Hi everyone!

Here are some of the notes I promised to post on the blog. Enjoy the provision of forgiveness our Lord purchased with His own life on the cross!!

Blessings on you, Greg 🙂

“I think I am in trouble with God” ANSWER Jesus is our advocate with God (1 John 2:1)

“I have sinned so much” ANSWER Jesus has already paid the debt of that sin (1 John 2:2)

“I feel so dirty” ANSWER. Jesus has washed us (Ephesians 5:26)

“I have been so unfaithful” ANSWER Jesus is the lover of the unfaithful (Hosea 3:1)  “I feel so far from God” ANSWER. Jesus is Immanuel (God with us) (Mt. 1:23)

 “I feel trapped and snared” ANSWER. Jesus is our deliverer (Rom. 11:26) and Savior (Eph. 5:23; Titus 1:4; 3:6; 2 Pet. 2:20)

“I feel weak and unable” ANSWER. Jesus is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:24) and God is sufficient (1 Cor. 12:9)

“I feel hopeless” ANSWER. Jesus is our hope (1 Tim. 1:1) — the Hope of Glory (Col. 1:27)

“I feel so sad and depressed” ANSWER. Jesus was a man of sorrows (Lamentations 3:28-30) and he gives us joy amidst the trials of life with His presence (Philippians 1:26)

“I’m sick and tired” ANSWER. He is our Sabbath Rest (Hebrews 4:9) and by His Stripes We Are Healed (Isaiah 53:5)

“I’m afraid” ANSWER Jesus is our Comfort (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17)

“I’m not sure I can make it” ANSWER. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb. 12:2)

“I have been so ripped off and so wronged” ANSWER. God is our avenger (Nahum 2:1)

“I’m hungry for something more” ANSWER. Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35; 6:48)

“I’m not sure which way to go in life” ANSWER. Jesus is the WAY (John 14:6) the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)

“I’m not sure what to believe… I don’t know what is true” ANSWER Jesus is “The Truth!” (John 1:14; 14:6)

“I don’t know what to do about a particular situation” ANSWER The Lord is a the great teacher (Ecclesiastes 12:11) and giver of wisdom (James 1:5)

“I concerned about the world and it’s rulers and it’s wars” ANSWER Everything is moving toward the Lord Jesus (Rev. 1:5) the coming King (1 and 2 Kings)

“I’m concerned about the Devil” ANSWER Jesus has disarmed and triumphed over the devil (Col. 2:15)

“I don’t know what to do now” ANSWER Jesus said the Father is seeking those who will worship Him in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:23)

Aaahh our worship group on Sunday morning’s! From left to right: Elle Causie; Mark Aoki; Kurt Schultz; Corey Reynolds; Cathy Cross; Faith Causie; Pete Denham; Sarah Denham; Shannon and Bill Parish; Damian Horne (guest worship leader); Dora Haupt (not pictured)

I’d like to invite you to join us this week in prayer! 🙂

We are EXCITED about new beginnings in our church ministry!

Please pray for the following…

#1 BOB SWEAT -is joining our staff as the pastoral administrator/principal of Calvary Chapel Christian School. Bob comes to us with twenty-nine years of experience in administration.  He has a Bachelor of Arts in New Testament Theology/History, a M.Ed in Education Administration and a Master of Teaching. Please pray for Bob, and his wife Roberta, for safe travels as they make plans to be with us mid-June. Bob will be assembling a school staff and addressing numerous administrative needs in a challenging economy. Pray that the Lord directs his every step!

#2 RICHARD AND HEATHER LAVALLIE – a wonderful, godly, couple in our church, will be joining the church staff as our Children’s Ministry Directors. Please pray that the Lord gives Richard and Heather godly vision and direction, and that the Lord directs their every step!

#3 We are in the planning stages for what we’re calling, “IMPACT CONCERTS” this summer that will feature music, classic cars and testimonies of the power of Christ changing lives. Please pray that the Lord leads the preparation for these outreaches, and blesses the “Impact Concerts” by making Jesus known in our city, and that many would come to know the Lord!

#4 Please pray that during the summer months, we as a church family would experience a wonderful time of growth and discipleship in God’s Word.  Pray that this SUMMER would be a time of REVIVAL to God’s glory!

VISION

“Calvary Auburn exists to be a powerful Christian community that loves God, loves His whole Truth (that equips our lives to make a difference and transforms our lives in becoming more like Him) – a community that nurtures and cares for each other — and that embraces the challenge to win those from all walks of life beginning in our own communities.”

THE MISSION

#1 Calvary exists to EQUIP every Christian to FULL MATURITY in Christ through discipleship and commitment to the whole truth of God’s Word. (Eph. 4:12-16; John 8:31-32; Romans 10:17; Acts 20:17; Matt. 5:17-18)

#2 Calvary exists to STRENGTHEN each other and the church family as a whole — with love and compassion and care and contribution — by the activating of each Christian’s unique gifts. (Romans 12:1-8; I Cor 12:12; 15-27; Ephesians 1:22 John 17:20-23; Eph 2:10; Psalm 139:14; 2 Cor 1:3-7; I Cor 12:6-7)

#3 Calvary exists to REACH our communities, city and county, with the Gospel coupled with good works that glorify the Lord! We believe our mission field is outside the walls of our church and homes. We embrace the challenge of the great commission to make disciples of all men. We believe that “church growth” is the result of multiplication, the multiplication that every member of the church influences for Christ, which strengthens the cause of Christ in this generation. (Acts 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20; Matt 5:16; Eph. 2:10; I Tim 6:18-19; 2 Tim 4:2)

#4 Calvary exists to SEND out soul winners in this generation who are unashamed of the Gospel – – the power of God to salvation –for the Jew first and the entire world second. (Romans 1:16-17; Eph. 4:12-16; Matt. 28:18-20)

The Bible teaches us that there are different ways of measuring time, as seen in the words chronos and kairos.

Ephesians 5:15-16 reads, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time(kairos), because the days are evil.”

Chronos is time that is measured by the clock. It carries the idea of an obligation, or something that needs to be completed in a particular timeframe.

Kairos is time that is measured by events or special moments, and carries the idea of opportunity.

A lot of people waste chronos – time on the clock, or even their entire lives – because they have not identified the kairos – opportunities and priorities of life – that God wants them to lay hold of and make progress in. They live by default rather than by design and godly purpose.

Let me illustrate.

Let’s say you are given a large jar and you are asked to fill it with large stones, pebbles, sand, and water. You first reach for the large stones to put them in the jar. They represent godly goals and priorities, the seizing of opportunities to make a difference for Christ. Then you put in the pebbles, which represent those events and obligations that are not the chief priorities of life, but are still important. By this time the jar is looking full, and you wonder if there is room left for anything more. It may not look like there is, but as you pour the sand in – which represents daily activities – it does find its way to settle in among the large stones and pebbles. Finally, you realize that you are even able to pour water in the jar, which represents even more daily activities. By filling the jar in this order – large stones, pebbles, sand, and water – you were able to fit it all in the jar. However, if you put the water and sand in first, you would find it difficult, if not impossible, to find room to put all of the large stones and pebbles in.

What’s the point?

It isn’t that there is always more room than you think to cram stuff in your life. Rather, it’s that if you do not prioritize putting the large stones in first, you will never be able to get them in later. The jar will become full of pebbles, sand, and water – the less important stuff.

Paul told Timothy to “take heed to yourself.”(I Tim. 4:12-16) In context, it was another way of saying that since you now know what matters the most, never allow it to be at the mercy of things that matter the least.

Here are the LARGE stones:

#1 Add godly character

#2 Give attention to God’s Word

#3 Activate spiritual gifts

#4 Absorb the Truth

#5 Keep accountable to these godly priorities.

SIN. It has the potential to bring EVERYTHING down.

It has to be STOPPED!

The good news, is, that’s what the Gospel is all about. 

The Father wants to STOP SIN and that is why He sent His Son to cancel its debt on the cross and in His resurrection provide the power we need to live a godly life.

Like, Joseph, who was horribly treated by others, betrayed, slandered, and falsely imprisoned – he did not return evil with evil. In, effect, he said, “the sin will stop with me!”

As Christians, we need to take the same stand! CHRISTIANITY is about BREAKING destructive cycles. The Lord may have you in your marriage or your family to do just that. The Lord may have you “there” to ensure the grace of God is “there” and that the power of the “Resurrection” is “there”! After all, “we are ambassadors for Christ!” (2 Cor. 5:20)

Today the Lord has given you the grace that you will need to be salt and light to God’s glory! 🙂

I want to thank ALL of you who have been praying for Don Daniel.

It’s with a heavy heart that I write these words.

Don went to heaven this morning.

His absence leaves a horrible vacuum.

When I think of Don, our dear friend, I think of a STRONG GODLY MAN! I think of a man who lived 2 Timothy 4:7 which reads, ^“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith!”

Don had been suffering with a sudden illness. I had cried out to our Father to raise Him up! I believed. But, this morning, though our cry was not answered as we had hoped, I DO praise the Lord – because Don has been RAISED UP and lives in the King’s presence!  

Don is with the great patriarch’s of the faith. He has seen the face of Jesus! He is in glory. And, the Lord knows how we all terribly miss him. Please keep his beautiful wife Joby, and the entire Daniel family, in your prayers. We will be gathering together on Thursday, May 7^th at 11:00 a.m. at Calvary Auburn, to give thanks to God for Don Daniel, and to stand with the Daniel family at this time.

 “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39