Bouquets and Brickbats
WWW: I want to thank you for bringing the truth to the surface about the PK movement. As Christians, we are to take a stand for the truth as it is written in the Bible. I have always been cautious of this movement. I work with several people in my office that support the PK and attend meetings regularly. Not quite a year ago, I was attending an office dinner meeting and the subject came up about how all the wives loved their husbands more when they return from a PK meeting. I was asked if my husband supports the movement and I replied, "NO." I was asked very defensively. "Why not?" I explained to them our church's position and our own position concerning the movement. Nevertheless, I was treated as though I had just confessed to a felony. They could not understand what we see as wrong about the movement and it was even said that they thought we weren't true Christians because of our stand. This really saddens me to see how strong of a hold this has on people. My prayer is that the truth will be revealed before it's too late for some of these professed Christians.
I have seen the hate that comes from these followers of the PK movement, as I know you have as well. It is the "hate" that they feel for others who are not followers that concerns me. It seems to me that they are the ones doing the judging and are very defensive about their motives.
Thank you again for bringing this movement to light for a lot of people who might have been otherwise drawn into this nonsense. I appreciate and respect you for not backing away even though you have been threatened.
God Bless You.
WWW: I found your essay on God's hate while browsing the web (having started with a search on PK). It was certainly an interesting read, and I'm trying to be open minded about it, but I'm frankly confused about what it means regarding a person's hate. You skillfully use scripture to justify God's hate, but I was unable to find guidance for my own hatreds.
Probably the over-riding message of Christianity in most people's minds is that one should love all men. Do you believe this is true, and that only the all-powerful God is free to hate, or is hatred man upon man justified as well?
[EDITOR’S ANSWER: You asked about whether we have Scriptural warrant for hating false teachers or any person, for that matter. There are a number of Scriptures which suggest that we should hate them. Consider these words from the pen of the inspired Psalmist, David, Psalm 139:21-22 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
The Psalmist also indicated that he hated those that worshipped idols and the lies associated with that. Psalm 31:6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
I find it also interesting that a prophet rebuked Jehoshaphat for apparently helping ungodly people and loving those who hate God. 2 Chronicles 19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
Jesus commended the church at Ephesus for their being unable to bear those who were evil. It does not sound as if the members of that congregation were loving these people. Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.
I know that taking such a position goes against the grain of most of the preaching and teaching that is in the pulpits today. We are told that we are to love the sinner but hate his sin. We are also told that God loves all sinners but hates their sin. Scripture indicates otherwise and the Word of God is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice, I believe.
When you have read and considered this, I would be interested in your response.]
WWW: Keep up the outstanding work you are doing for our Lord, It seems at times the world tries to derail the mission you are on. I know it will not prevail. Always remember when you put God 1st you win every time.
WWW: Jesus never quoted the Sep, you must just be another Wolf in Sheep (sic. Sheep’s) clothing Jesus said to watch out for.
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read (sic. Read) it and weep. How many souls have you won to Christ in 97? None!
Get saved!
Rev Marlowe
Dear Mr. Marlowe,
Often I ignore such letters as yours for the only way to answer is to rebuke sharply. But, your letter reflects some things to which I must respond.
First, I must respond to your extreme arrogance in writing as you do and then signing yourself as "Rev (abbreviation for reverend) Marlowe." You have attached to your name the word reverend which should only be used with the name of God. Psalm 111:9 He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
The Hebrew word for reverend is yare' {yaw-ray'}. In the KJV, which is the Bible I use, the word is translated fear 188 times, afraid 78 times, terrible 23 times, terrible thing 6 times, dreadful 5 times, reverence 3, fearful 2, terrible acts 1, misc. 8, for a total of 314. The word means, 1) to fear, revere, be afraid. In the Qal stem it means: to fear, be afraid; to stand in awe of, be awed, to fear, reverence, honour, respect. In the Niphal stem it means: to be fearful, be dreadful, be feared, to cause astonishment and awe, be held in awe, to inspire reverence or godly fear or awe. In the Piel stem it means: to make afraid, terrify.
Sir, I am appalled that a mere creation of God would attach to his name an attribute that belongs only to God. His name is reverend and you arrogantly elevate yourself to that holy level when you sign yourself, "Rev Marlowe." Do you honestly believe that your name should awaken in me or others such awe and fear as the word reverend indicates? I can't speak for others, but I am not in the least awed by your name or what you write.
Of God, the Psalmist wrote, Psalm 89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
One of the great sins of Haman was his desire to have Mordecai treat him with reverence. Esther 3:2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence. Esther 3:5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
Mr. Marlowe, you are infected with the spirit of Haman as is reflected throughout your brief letter.
Sir, you lie when you say Jesus never quoted the Sep (Septuagint). [Editor’s Note: In the article to which Mr. Marlowe refers, I said that Jesus and the Apostles quoted the Septuagint]. Your arrogance has blinded you. Jesus quoted the Septuagint a number of times, more times that he quoted the Hebrew. Several New Testament passages are exact quotes from the Septuagint. Even the KJV translators declared that the Septuagint is quoted in the New Testament. In their messge to the readers, the KJV translators wrote, "The translation of the Seventie (Septuagint) dissenteth from the Originall in many places, neither doeth it come neere it, for perspicuitie, gravitie, majestie; yet which of the Apostles did condemne it? Condemne it? Nay, they used it, which they would not have done, nor by their example of using it, so grace and commend it to the Church, if it had been unworthy the appellation and name of the word of God."
Sir, if my claiming that Jesus and the apostles quoted the Septuagint makes me a "Wolf in Sheep (sic. Sheep’s) clothing Jesus said to watch out for" as you declare, does it not also make the KJV translators the same when they say the apostles used the Septuagint and commended it to the church as the Word of God. Do you hold that the translators of the KJV were wolves in sheep’s clothing because they declared that the apostles used the Septuagint and commended it to the church as the Word of God. I suggest that you read the message called "Translators to the Readers" found in the AV 1611. To use your words, "Read it and weep."
Because I believe Jesus and the apostles quoted the Septuagint, you declare me to be a lost person and urge me to "Get Saved!"
First, let me say, "If I am unsaved, as you claim, I am unsaved while trusting the Lord Jesus Christ with every fiber of my being. I rest my complete salvation in his finished work. Do you?"
Your ignorance of the way of salvation is also reflected in your expression, "Get saved!" Where in the KJV do you find such an expression? The verb "get" is a transitive active verb. It means "to obtain by one’s own effort or merit." It has the idea of receiving something because you deserve it. To "Get saved!" I would have to obtain salvation on the grounds of my own efforts, work and merit.
The KJV always uses the passive in reference to one being saved. "By grace are ye saved." It is scripturally incorrect to use the expression "Get saved!" And, if you believe that "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9), as the Bible declares, you are theologically and grammatically incorrect when you urge me to "Get saved!" Of course, one who attaches the attribute of reverend to his name, probably feels he deserves salvation and has obtained it by his being a Reverend, by his own good works, by his winning so many souls in 97, by his adoration for a particular translation of the Holy Word of God.
If you think I am lost because I say that Jesus and the apostles quoted the Septuagint, you must think you are saved because you deny they quoted it.
Your case would be ludicrous were it not so utterly pathetic. You reverence your own name and believe folks are saved by their own efforts and merits. You even make believing that Jesus and the Apostles did not quote the Septuagint a condition of salvation. I say that because you judge me to be a lost person who needs to "Get saved!" because I believe, as did the KJV translators, that Jesus and the apostles quoted the Septuagint.
"What must I do to be saved?" According to the "Rev Marlowe," I must believe Jesus and the apostles did not quote the Septuagint. I can believe in the substitutionary death of Christ according to the Scriptures, how he was buried and how he did rise again the third day according to the Scriptures. But that does not save me. If I believe the blessed and glorious gospel of Christ, I am still lost and in need of salvation and must "Get saved!" by denying that Jesus and the apostles quoted the Septuagint.
Dear Readers, forgive me, but such ignorance and arrogance must be answered and exposed.
Mr. Marlowe responded as follows:
You got the wrong manuscripts sonny boy! Jesus wouldn't touch that Roman trash with a ten foot pole. And why should he? He already had the Hebrew Old Test text, Duh, as was his custom, the sayings on the cross were in "Hebrew, Greek and Latin" the first choice was Hebrew. Not some Greek translation of the Old Test by a bunch of pagans read Ironsides 400 Silent Years and learn something. You probably believe Jesus spoke Aramaic too! Nice try Jesuit influenced child. Grow or get saved.
I responded:
Sir,
The saying on the cross which was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin, was written by Pontius Pilate. It said, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.
20 This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin.
21 Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews; but that he said, I am King of the Jews.
22 Pilate answered, What I have written I have written.
What does that have to do with what Jesus used? Nothing!
There is no biblical evidence that the sayings of Christ spoken from the cross were in any language but Greek. If there is, please send chapter and verse.
Sir, you also claim, "As was his custom , the sayings on the cross were in ‘Hebrew, Greek and Latin’ the first choice was Hebrew. I would also like to see some biblical evidence, chapter and verse, that says that Jesus customarily spoke in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Give chapter and verse also that shows that his first choice was Hebrew. I will be eagerly awaiting your response with biblical evidence for what you claim.
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Last updated on Friday, March 04, 2011