I'm not asking you to trust me...but you should trust your own brain and what you read from scripture. Trust The Lord and know that most people you meet on your "Christian Walk" will be wrong....to some degree, but nevertheless, wrong! I'm always reminded of [Matthew 24:4-5] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Years ago when I first began to study, this verse stuck out like a sore thumb to me. It told me that most people (when explaining the Word of God) would be wrong.....about most things.....most of the time. Well, right then and there, logic told me to search for the truth in places where the Mainstream Church held different doctrines. That wasn't too difficult because as you read the Word you see contradiction after contradiction in what "They" believe.
We just had a good example a few days ago when we were all discussing the fact that Ruth was not of the Kingdom of Moab. If you propose this idea to Mainstream Theology you'll get strange looks and be shunned. We'll....I showed everyone where the Moab she lived in was the Moab of Moses [Numbers 33:48-50] that he had given to Gad, Rueben and Manasseh [Numbers 32:33] that he had taken from the Amorites who had previously taken it from the Moabites [Numbers 21:23-26]. I received many arguments about this even when it plainly says this in scripture.
I also showed where The Lord God had specifically told the folks to stay away from the Moabites [Deuteronomy 23:34] and where this definitive scripture was repeated in Ezra 900 years later [Ezra 9:1-2] and even showed that the daughters were included also because somebody had said Deuteronomy only applied to the men (Good Grief).
I showed where the word in scripture translated incorrectly as God [Ruth 1:15-16] meant instead, "Judges" because that's who ruled in Israel at the time (verse 1) and the fact that Ruth used the correct name for God in verse 17. But, people were still scratching their heads, thinking I'm a looney. Why? Because they have heard this "touchy feely" story all their lives and it upsets their preconceived notions. Well, that's not good enough for The Lord. He expects you to use your God given intelligence and know that most of what you are being told.....most of the time.....by most of your respected teachers....is garbage!
One final thought. We have been drifting in and out of the Books of The Kings and of course Solomon was one of main characters. Has anyone given any thought as to why The Lord was so displeased with Solomon....and why he decided to split the Kingdom? Well....here is the main reason! [I Kings 11:12] But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites: Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
But....you know...people are still going to call me a crackpot because I think that this prohibition included Boaz marrying a woman of the "Kingdom of Moab" also! That's why Ruth was not of that kingdom....but an Israelite of either the tribe of Gad, Rueben or Mannesah! Why....do I believe this? Because I'm using my God given brain!
Typing too fast: The reference of Deuteronomy 23:34 (fourth paragraph) should be 23:3-4 instead, and the reference to [I Kings 11:12] in the sixth paragraph should be [I Kings 11:1-2].
Another example ....why you should trust no man!
Ruth 4:5-6 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.It seems that the kinsman did not realize that Ruth was part of the deal. If Ruth was an Israelite, then you need to give a reason why the kinsman was prevented from marrying her. It was his duty and his right. If Ruth was a Moabitess, then I need to show why Boaz could redeem her when the kinsman could not.
Gal 3:17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.I don’t like to say that the promise superceded the law, but rather, the law contains the provision for grace.
Matt 19:25-26 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.To be continued