Know Your Bible
MARCH 2000

Understanding Coupons And Scriptures

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$.69
BIG CHICKEN SANDWICH
With purchase of any fry and drink.

RALLY'S

Limit one coupon per visit
Offer expires Oct. 30, 1999.
Not valid with any other offer or discounts.
Valid at participating locations.

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What conclusions can be drawn from this coupon?
1. You must go TO RALLY'S - Not McDonald's or Wendy's
2. You must purchase a fry AND a drink.
3. You will get a BIG CHICKEN SANDWICH for 69 cents, NOT a burger.
4. You can only use ONE COUPON PER VISIT. If you're very hungry and want two 69 chicken sandwiches, you will have to pay full price for one!
5. After October 30, 1999, this Coupon is NO LONGER VALID.
6. You cannot use several coupons and discounts and add them together. This coupon is valid SOLELY BY ITSELF.
7. Some Rally's do not offer this. You will have to check BEFORE ordering!

Phrase it this way:

If you buy a fry and drink, you can purchase a $.69 chicken sandwich. If you do not buy a fry you will pay full price for the big chicken sandwich. Can it not be understand that if we fail to buy the fry AND the drink, we can't receive the deal? We must do both!

Compare to Mark 16:16:

"He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved. He that believeth not shall be damned." Can it not be understand that if we fail to believe AND be baptized we can't be saved? We must do both!

Why is it that we have no problem understanding a simple coupon? We know the coupon is not left up to our own interpretation. Nor does everyone have a right to their own opinion of what they make out of the coupon. We can't have the coupon saying whatever we want it to say and then make the statement: "You see it your way and I see it my way". The coupon says what it says, it states the rules, and those are the facts in the matter. The company that issued the coupon intended to convey a definite message. We must then comply with the statements made in the coupon. What the coupon says is not up for debate.

Yet, when it comes to such simple passages as Mark 16:16, and others, why don't we use the same simple logic? "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16). God, who issued the Scriptures, intended to convey a definite message. We must then comply with whatever God has revealed in the Scriptures. What the Scriptures say are not up for debate. Therefore, the Bible is not left up to our own interpretation. Even the inspired prophets, who God used to reveal His will were not at liberty to "slant" the Scriptures or inject their own understanding and opinions. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."(2 Peter 1:20,21). Nor does everyone have a right to their own opinion. Neither can "you see it your way and I see it my way". The Scriptures states the rules and those are the facts in the matter.

If Christ wants man to believe and be baptized, what other way could He have said it so that we could better understand?

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Intolerance

Listening to the various television and radio news and talk shows, it doesn't take long to realize the only "sin" today's society recognizes is intolerance. To speak against homosexuals is to be intolerant. Nearly all "Christian" religions are branded as intolerant. Even in the religious arena, to speak and insist only for what the Bible teaches is to labeled as intolerant to other beliefs and practices. Intolerance is quickly equated with hate and bigotry. So, no one wants to be even remotely speaking in such a way as to be considered intolerant.

Was God intolerant when He commanded Israel: "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)? Today, our "multi-cultural society" would have us to accept all religions whether they worship God or not. We must not attempt to teach a Buddha or some other idol worshiper like Paul did in Acts 17:16-33. This would show our intolerance of their beliefs. When verse 16 says, "Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.", there would be those who would accuse Paul of hate and bigotry. The solution for today is simply set aside our belief in the One True God and accept a plurality of gods.

Was Jesus intolerant when He said: "... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."(John 14:6)? There are those who would never be guilty of intolerance and are ever on guard to quickly chastise others who are. They would insist that we dare not teach the Jew or the Islam that Christ is the Son of God because we will be committing the sin of intolerance! The solution is for us to lay aside our belief in "one mediator" (1 Timothy 2:5) and accept others. Even among the "religious" there are those who would have us to accept the virgin Mary, the Pope, or a priest as an intermediary between us and the Father. To speak or teach against any of these will cause others to accuse us of intolerance.

Are the Scriptures intolerant when it teaches that those who commit "...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:...shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Galatians 5:19-21)? We must sit by and let the fornicator, drunkard, and the person who practices witchcraft do all they can to influence others to their lifestyles but we must not say one thing against it. If we do, we've committed that unpardonable sin of intolerance. We are branded as being full of hate and bigotry. If standing for what the Bible says makes me intolerant and a bigot, so be it. I'll take my chances on the Judgement day.

—E.R. Hall, Jr.

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