For His Glory
Pastor Tom Marker
A chapter entitled "Is Jesus a Man, Myth, Madman, Menace, Mystic, Martian, or the Messiah? can be found in the book, Without a doubt by Kenneth Richard Samples, Baker Books of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2004. That's seven possible perspectives regarding the Person of Jesus Christ. Not unlike Josh McDowell's book entitled "Lord, Liar, or Lunatic?" truth is, there is a virtual plethora of understandings and misunderstandings as to the true nature of Jesus and the casual non-informed will most certainly become confused.
Just one example is all that is necessary. Barbara Thiering is the author of the book, Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls, published in June, 1992. She is a lecturer in theology at Sidney University. According to Thiering, Jesus
was born, according to the modern calendar, in the year 7 BC, in a religious community near the Qumran plateau, 25 km. east of Jerusalem. his mother conceived him while she was engaged to be married, at the time when people in the community she lived n still considered her to be a virgin. As a result, some regarded her son as illegitimate. in later life, he married twice and fathered three children. Emerging as a religious leader, he was arrested for infringing the rules of Judaism. As punishment, he was sentenced to death, but survived a bungled execution. His loyal followers helped him to escape and he spent the rest of his life in hiding, meeting with friends,and helping his associated to write documents that would spread his ideas. his was 70 when he died, possibly in France.
Sounds like a Hollywood screenwriter's overactive imagination, doesn't it? Sadly, she is not alone in her delusions. For centuries, heresies have flooded the masses with drivel such as this and there always seems to be an audience to embrace the nonsense.
Which is why God's people must be informed to address the madness with a solid defense that is biblically sound. That is why I love the book of Colossians that clearly defines in no uncertain terms who Jesus was, is and forevermore shall be, Amen.
And that is what we at ETS {Equipping the Saints} will be exploring, beginning Sunday, January 15th at 6 p.m. It's the one thing for the average man on the street to be biblically illiterate, it's downright shameful and embarrassing when Jesus' own followers walk around without a clue. Come join us. In addition to solid teaching in the Word of God, we have a great time of fellowship and always end praying for one another.
Pastor Tom Marker
A chapter entitled "Is Jesus a Man, Myth, Madman, Menace, Mystic, Martian, or the Messiah? can be found in the book, Without a doubt by Kenneth Richard Samples, Baker Books of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2004. That's seven possible perspectives regarding the Person of Jesus Christ. Not unlike Josh McDowell's book entitled "Lord, Liar, or Lunatic?" truth is, there is a virtual plethora of understandings and misunderstandings as to the true nature of Jesus and the casual non-informed will most certainly become confused.
Just one example is all that is necessary. Barbara Thiering is the author of the book, Jesus and the Riddle of the Dead Sea Scrolls, published in June, 1992. She is a lecturer in theology at Sidney University. According to Thiering, Jesus
was born, according to the modern calendar, in the year 7 BC, in a religious community near the Qumran plateau, 25 km. east of Jerusalem. his mother conceived him while she was engaged to be married, at the time when people in the community she lived n still considered her to be a virgin. As a result, some regarded her son as illegitimate. in later life, he married twice and fathered three children. Emerging as a religious leader, he was arrested for infringing the rules of Judaism. As punishment, he was sentenced to death, but survived a bungled execution. His loyal followers helped him to escape and he spent the rest of his life in hiding, meeting with friends,and helping his associated to write documents that would spread his ideas. his was 70 when he died, possibly in France.
Sounds like a Hollywood screenwriter's overactive imagination, doesn't it? Sadly, she is not alone in her delusions. For centuries, heresies have flooded the masses with drivel such as this and there always seems to be an audience to embrace the nonsense.
Which is why God's people must be informed to address the madness with a solid defense that is biblically sound. That is why I love the book of Colossians that clearly defines in no uncertain terms who Jesus was, is and forevermore shall be, Amen.
And that is what we at ETS {Equipping the Saints} will be exploring, beginning Sunday, January 15th at 6 p.m. It's the one thing for the average man on the street to be biblically illiterate, it's downright shameful and embarrassing when Jesus' own followers walk around without a clue. Come join us. In addition to solid teaching in the Word of God, we have a great time of fellowship and always end praying for one another.
