7/30/2019
The Beatles “rocked” the music world in the ‘60s/‘70s with a wide variety of songs which the four mop-heads sang and sold (millions) and became the phenom of the 2nd half of the last century—nothing like them, before or since. They changed the thinking processes of many, perhaps even for the better in many cases. They openly trashed religion which probably needed it, while ascribing themselves to even further-from-the-truth religions and promoting mysticism in some of their music. Their music prompted culture changes, military changes, political changes, etc. As to the simple popularity of their music, of course, many genres were altered to lean a little “beatle-ish”—yes, even country.
But, what has come to my attention recently is the high number of Beatles songs which have been recorded by large choral groups of men, women, mixed, school choirs of all ages and small, medium, and large orchestral arrangements! This is even more a phenomenal thing!
My reason to bring this up today is the SIMH this morning is a song I never heard them sing, but now on YouTube music videos I hear it a lot—it is a very beautiful number, “Because Golden Slumber” (this may be two numbers—Because and Golden Slumber, but I’ve not heard them done apart, neither vocal or orchestrally.) This is a lullaby, and is very enjoyable. Why it was in my head this morning is anyone’s guess. More on this later.
When people attend one of our bible studies for the first time, it isn’t unusual to have them say, “I’ve never learned that much bible in such a short time,” or “I learned more bible here than in any church I’ve ever been in,” or “in my church in a year.” True…, this isn’t rare. Well, this has nothing to do with teaching skills or massive Scriptural knowledge or understanding. “But,” one might say, “it has to be something??” It is. Simply put, it is the method of study and that creates a different method of teaching which forces a different method of learning. Isn’t that simple? Yes, it is.
The method of study is to consider first of all to whom the Lord was speaking by the men He inspired to write the words. Secondly, when did those people inhabit the earth? Thirdly, what did the Lord promise these people in the pages you can see as being written to, for and about them?
And, then, naturally, what did the Lord say to people like me, in my time? Scripturally, it is called, “…rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 tim.2:15) So if the verse says to rightly divide the word of truth (and it does), do you suppose we could wrongly divide the word of truth? Of course, we could. How do we know if we are “rightly dividing” or “wrongly dividing?”
The Bible is a very spiritual book. And in its pages are clear instructions concerning it. If the Lord promised something to someone in Scripture, whether conditional or unconditional, only those people to whom He made the vow should concern themselves with it. If the Lord wrote a commandment or made a law, then that law stands until the Lord speaks otherwise to the issue. (Look at changes in the dietary instructions of the Lord: Gen.1, Gen.9, the Law of Moses—Ex. thru Deut., Acts 10, 1 Tim.5.)
So, along comes self-righteous man with his applications of Scripture according to his interpretation, andvoila`, religions begin to form. Today, the religious world doesn’t even know how to count the number of sects and denominations! It was a blessed day when a man who knew better than to follow other men told me, “you don’t know and will never find an authority other than the word of God!”
You can look at Scripture many ways, but somehow, the Lord shows inside the book itself, the only valid ways:
There’s only one interpretation.
There’s 3 Applications: historical, doctrinal, and spiritual
Historical: as He said it, when He said it, to whom He said it(line upon line)
Doctrinal: precept upon precept to produce the concept of teaching
Spiritual: here a little, there a little as the Spirit of the Lord applies
But, always, it is the Word compared: “comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
The Lord himself was never in favor of religion. He sought of creation that man should recognize, honor and worship Him and Him only. He said, “I will not share my glory!” When mankind made a religion, in spite of pure intentions, that religion always runs afoul and we know of no organized religion which does what our Creator, the Lord God of the Universe calls on mankind to do or be. Thank God for HIs love, mercy and grace.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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