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Laaste Generasie Teologie

Laaste Generasie Teologie

Mense reik dikwels uit na Come and Reason Ministries met vrae oor onderwerpe waaroor hulle bekommerd is, en een van die onderwerpe waaroor ek gereeld gevra word, is Laaste Generasie Teologie (LGT) – wat ek daarvan dink en wat is die ontwerpwet siening daarvan.

LGT is die oortuiging dat ‘n groep mense, wat dikwels na verwys word as “die oorblyfsel”, “morele volmaaktheid” sal verkry en “ophou sondig” voor die wederkoms van Jesus.

Die idee van volmaaktheid is nie ‘n menslike idee nie; die lering oor volmaak wees kom van Jesus af:

Wees dus volmaak, want julle hemelse Vader is volmaak (Matthéüs 5:48, NIV 84).

So ‘n stelling word dikwels met bewing aangehoor. Hoe kan ons sondaars ooit volmaak wees soos God volmaak is?

Die kritieste vraag om jouself te vra is: “Deur watter wetslens verstaan ek hierdie gedeelte?” Verstaan jy “wees volmaak” deur die lens van menslike wet, wat opgelegde reëls is wat gedrag monitor en beheer – of verstaan jy dit deur God se ontwerpwette, die protokolle waarop lewe en gesondheid gebou is om te werk?

As jy Bybelvolmaaktheid deur die lens van die opgelegde wet verstaan, gaan volmaak wees oor prestasie, dade, optredes, take en werke. Uiteindelik leer mense dat ‘n mens moet ophou “sondig” – dit wil sê, elke enkele optrede of daad wat jy doen, moet perfek wees. Diegene wat aan hierdie opgelegde wetsbegrip vashou, verkies die King James-weergawe van 1 Johannes 3:4: “Sonde is oortreding van die wet,” waarin hulle tot die gevolgtrekking kom dat “wet” verwys na opgelegde reëls en dat “oortreding” slegte gedrag of reëloortreding beteken. Hulle idee van Bybelse volmaaktheid is volmaakte reëlonderhouding.

Maar hierdie konsep veroorsaak vrees en moedeloosheid omdat hierdie lering dikwels gepaard gaan met ‘n ander misverstaande konsep: dat voor die wederkoms, 1) Jesus sy voorbidding vir sondaars as ons Middelaar in die hemel staak en dus 2) enige sondes wat daarna gepleeg word, nie vergewe of uit die boeke uitgewis kan word nie en dus 3) hierdie sondes bly op die sondaar se boeke en, 4) Daar sal dus van God verwag word om die sondaar in die helse vuur te straf. Dit is hoekom die laaste geslag volmaak moet wees volgens LGT-voorstanders, want vir enige sonde wat gepleeg word nadat Jesus sy bemiddelaarswerk voltooi het, sal die sondaar voor wetlik aanspreeklik gehou word.

LGT wat deur menslike opgelegde wette geleer word, veroorsaak baie benoudheid vir baie Christene omdat hulle hul eie swakhede, tekortkominge en foute ken, en hulle glo net nie dat hulle ooit volmaak kan wees nie – en volgens LGT sal slegs die volmaakte na die hemel geneem word wanneer Jesus kom. Hierdie teologie het dus nie vertroue in Jesus verhoog nie, maar eerder vrees by baie aangewakker en veroorsaak dat baie moed opgee met God.

Wanneer ons terugkeer na die aanbidding van God as Skepper, besef ons dat sy wette ontwerpwette is, die protokolle waarop die Skepper die werklikheid gebou het om op te werk; ons verstaan dat 1 Johannes 3:4 beter vertaal kan word as “sonde is wetteloosheid” (AFR20, AFR53, NLV) of om nie in harmonie met God se wet te wees nie, wat nie ‘n stel opgelegde reëls is nie, maar die ontwerpprotokolle vir die lewe.

Ons verstaan dat die basis vir lewe in God se heelal God is en die wet waarop Hy lewe gebou het om te werk. Ons besef dat ons as sondaars herstel moet word tot eenheid met God in hart, verstand, siel en krag. En ons lees Jesus se woorde oor volmaak wees in hul volle konteks, sodat Jesus ons kan inlig oor wat Hy bedoel het:

Jy het gehoor dat daar gesê is: “Wees lief vir jou naaste en haat jou vyand.” Maar Ek sê vir julle: Wees lief vir julle vyande en bid vir dié wat julle vervolg, sodat julle kinders van julle Vader in die hemel kan wees. Hy laat sy son opkom oor die slegte en die goeie, en laat reën oor die regverdiges en die onregverdiges. As jy lief is vir diegene wat jou liefhet, watter beloning sal jy kry? Doen nie selfs die tollenaars dit nie? En as jy net jou broers groet, wat doen jy meer as ander? Doen nie selfs heidene dit nie? Wees dus volmaak, want julle hemelse Vader is volmaak (Matthéüs 5:43-48).

Jesus self beskryf wat dit beteken om volmaak te wees: om almal lief te hê, deurlopend en betroubaar, net soos die son en die reën almal presies dieselfde behandel. Maar dit word verstaan dat dit slegs moontlik is deur eers herstel te word na ‘n liefdes- en vertrouensverhouding met God, soos Jesus verskeie kere gesê het:

“Wees lief vir die Here jou God met jou hele hart en met jou hele siel en met jou hele verstand.” Dit is die eerste en grootste gebod. En die tweede is sortgelyk: “Wees lief vir jou naaste soos jouself.” Die hele Wet en die Profete hang aan hierdie twee gebooie (Matthéüs 22:37-40, NIV84).

En hoe word God se liefde in ons harte herstel sodat ons volmaak kan wees? Dit is deur vertroue – dit wil sê geloof – in God. Soos die apostel Paulus dus geskryf het:

Alles wat nie uit geloof kom nie, is sonde (Romeine 14:23).

Bybelvolmaaktheid gaan nie oor dade of take nie; dit gaan oor liefde en vertroue, oor volwassenheid van karakter. Verwysend na Jesus, sê Hebreërs:

Gedurende die dae van Jesus se lewe op aarde het hy gebede en versoeke met harde krete en trane gerig aan die een wat hom van die dood kon red, en hy is verhoor as gevolg van sy eerbiedige onderdanigheid. Alhoewel hy ‘n seun was, het hy gehoorsaamheid geleer uit wat hy gely het, en toe hy volmaak is, het hy die bron van ewige verlossing geword vir almal wat hom gehoorsaam (Hebreërs 5:7-9, NIV 84).

Maar was Jesus nie altyd volmaak nie? Jesus was beslis altyd sondeloos, maar Bybelvolmaaktheid gaan nie oor sondeloosheid nie. Adam en Eva in Eden was sondeloos, maar hulle was nie volmaak nie. Bybelvolmaaktheid gaan oor volwassenheid van karakter, wat daaroor gaan om so diep in ‘n liefdes- en vertrouensverhouding met God te kom dat niks ons daaruit kan losskud nie. Die “volmaakte” is diegene wat getrou en lojaal aan God bly in hulle hart se toewyding, maak nie saak wat nie. Hulle het dalk vrae, hulle kan verkeerd verstaan, hulle kan verward wees oor hoekom dinge verloop soos dit doen; hulle kan uitroep soos Jesus, “My God, my God, waarom het U My verlaat?” (Matteus 27:45, NIV 84), maar ook net soos Jesus, vertrou hulle God steeds en sal hulle nie vertroue met Hom verbreek nie.

Daar is voorbeelde van mense wat sulke volmaaktheid bereik het – hulle was nie sondelose wesens nie, maar hulle was sondaars wat God so liefgehad het en vertrou het dat niks hulle uit hul getrouheid aan Hom kon losskud nie – daarom is hulle deur God beskryf as “volmaak”.

En die HERE sê vir Satan: “Het jy ag gegee op my kneg Job, dat daar niemand soos hy op die aarde is nie, ‘n volmaakte en opregte man, een wat God vrees en van kwaad wegbly?” (Job 1:8, NIV84).

Ander voorbeelde sluit in:

  • Daniël: Hy sal eerder in die leeukuil gegooi word as om God te verraai.
  • Shadrag, Mesag en Abednego: Hulle sal eerder in ‘n vuuroond gegooi word as om God te verraai.

Hierdie “volmaakte” mense was nie sondeloos nie; hulle was so gevestig in getroue lojaliteit aan God dat niks hulle daaruit kon losskud nie. Hulle sal nie hul liefde teenoor God en ander prysgee om hulleself te bevoordeel of te beskerm nie.

Dit is die volmaaktheid wat Jesus die ryk jong heerser beveel het om te verkry:

Jesus het geantwoord, “As jy volmaak wil wees, gaan en verkoop jou besittings en gee vir die armes, en jy sal ‘n skat in die hemel hê. Kom dan en volg My” (Matthéüs 19:21, NIV 84).

Deur watter wetslens verstaan jy Jesus se woorde? As jy dit deur die opgelegde wetslens lees, dan het Jesus net ‘n reël, ‘n optrede, ‘n taak gegee wat diegene wat “volmaak” wil wees, moet verrig: Hulle mag geen noemenswaardige rykdom besit nie; hulle moet al hul aardse besittings verkoop en die opbrengs aan die armes gee.

Maar as ‘n mens Jesus se woorde deur ontwerpwet verstaan, dan verstaan jy dat volmaaktheid eintlik gaan oor volwassenheid van karakter – in wie hulle hul vertroue plaas. Die Jode in Christus se tyd het geglo dat gesondheid en rykdom ‘n bewys van God se guns was, terwyl siekte en armoede ‘n bewys was van God se vloek, dat hulle uit God se guns was en deur God in sonde verlaat is. Die boek Job moes hulle verhinder het om so ‘n gebrekkige gevolgtrekking te maak, maar dit het nie; dit is hoe hulle gedink het en ander geleer het.

Die ryk jong heerser was van hierdie gebrekkige ingesteldheid en daarom was sy geloof nie in God nie, maar in die rykdom wat hom veilig, geborge en regverdig laat voel het. Jesus het vir hom gesê as hy ware volmaaktheid wil hê – volmaaktheid van hart, verstand en siel – dan moet hy ophou om op rykdom te vertrou en eerder op Hom vertrou; hy moet ontslae raak van al sy aardse sekuriteite en sy volle vertroue in Jesus stel. Maar die jong man kon dit nie doen nie, en onthul dat die probleem nie in sy rykdom was nie, maar waar hy sy vertroue geplaas het.

Die laaste geslag voor Christus verskyn sal voor ‘n soortgelyke dilemma te staan kom. Hulle sal onderdruk word deur dierlike magte wat opgelegde wette en dwanggeweld sal gebruik om die vryhede weg te neem van diegene wat nie as lojaal aan die dierlike stelsel gemerk is nie – insluitend die verwydering van hul ekonomiese vryheid deur hul eiendom en rykdom te neem. Diegene wat volmaak is in hul lojaliteit aan Jesus, sal nie hul geloof in Hom kompromitteer om aan hul bates vas te hou nie, of daardie bates persoonlike rykdom of genootskaplike rykdom is. Hulle sal nie die beginsels van God se koninkryk prysgee om aan hulle kerkeiendomme, hospitale, skole, klinieke of uitgewerye vas te hou nie. Hulle sal getrou bly aan Jesus, selfs al word hulle, soos Daniël, gevangenes van ‘n goddelose mag en word hulle in ‘n leeukuil gegooi.

Dit is presies hoe die Bybel die regverdige mense beskryf wat gereed is om hemel toe te gaan, die ware laaste geslag:

Hulle het hulle lewens nie so liefgehad dat hulle teruggedeins het vir die dood nie (Openbaring 12:11, NIV 84).

Die volmaaktes, diegene wat gereed is om Jesus te ontmoet wanneer Hy in die wolke terugkeer, is nie diegene met volmaakte dade of optredes nie, maar diegene wie se harte herstel is tot volmaakte vertroue in God. Hulle is so diep gevestig in hul verhouding met God dat niks hulle daaruit kan losskud nie. Geen beproewing, geen verdrukking, geen versoeking, geen leuen, geen pyn, geen verlies, geen aanval sal veroorsaak dat hulle geloof in God verbreek nie. Hulle is aan God verseël in hart, in verstand, in siel – en hulle vertrou God met hul toekoms.

Wees dus volmaak, want julle hemelse Vader is volmaak (Matthéüs 5:48, NIV 84).

 

 

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Testimony 39

[This ministry is the] biggest blessing I have ever received! Your DVDs and lessons could not have come at a better time in my life. I have experienced in the past year many difficulties that, if it wasn’t for this wonderful view of God that I have discovered through this ministry, I would not have been able to respond in love and forgiveness. My heart is being transformed everyday by the Calvary-looking God you teach. Hallelujah!! I have tears in my eyes as I write, because my life has taken a complete turn from where I was heading.

I am from Central America. Most of my family is scattered in different parts of the world and all have the same view of God that I had growing up; a distant, exacting, and ready-to-punish-us-with-tragedy type of God. So, I have been translating lessons for my family and, to my surprise, they have also been sharing them with others! I can already see the difference. My brother has often said, “Thank you for sharing, I have never heard it this way!” My other family members are taking an amazing turn from a message of “repent or burn” towards a loving God, pleading to us that we won’t reject him because he loves us eternally.

Bless you for all you do.

Sofia S., Ashfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 9

I really enjoy with you the view of a gracious God. Thank you for sharing the work you are allowing the Lord to do in you.

L., Queensland, Australia

 

Testimony 34

I was introduced to Come and Reason Ministries by accident, via a passing comment made in a bible study class we were visiting. I checked this website out and my life was changed. The understanding of the truth of God’s character, and how we apply it, is so right. The tricky part is consistently applying which “lens” to look through. As I began to understand, I started sharing the basics of this understanding with a discussion group I was leading and, suddenly, a lot of things started to make sense that never used to. At the same time, I enjoyed an amazing opportunity. I was able to conduct a full bible study at WORK! What an amazing experience! It is such a joy to share the truth about God and to share how it all fits in the war between God and Satan. So many people benefit when we have a correct understanding about how God works and who He really is! Thank you for this transformational understanding. Keep up the good work! God Bless you!

Tony P., CA, USA

 

Testimony 28

I have been following your Bible study class for about a year now. I must say I am impressed with how your ministry has grown. I took it upon myself to listen to all your lesson podcasts from the past and they have both enriched me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. I have learnt a lot from this class. I have also noticed how the class has grown in spiritual strength. One of the things that benefited me is that now I am not afraid of God. I use to be, but now it has melted away. The second thing is that you helped me to have a real life relationship with God. Now He is my friend that was always there and I love having him with me all the time. Thirdly, because of this class, it inspired me to take over and lead a class. I have called it “Let Us Reason Together,” adapting your inquisitive style and creating a class of free thinkers.

T. Banda, Malawi, Africa

 

Testimony 56

I cannot thank you enough for opening my understanding to the beautiful truth of God’s Law of Love and how it applies to everything. I have been a Christian for over forty years, but I feel like I am only now seeing with my eyes open. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!

Tammy Cinzio, Australia

 

Testimony 19

I truly believe that to know who God really is the first step to understand ourselves in a balanced and kind way, so the healing can take place. Your approach really makes sense – Thank you for your ministry!

A.M., Pittsburg, PA, USA

Testimony 22

I have found your Bible study class lectures to be very inspiring and useful as I prepare to teach class every other week. I subscribe to the podcast and download your notes on the weeks I teach. The audio and notes are such a great help in preparing. My own understanding of God’s character has grown as I teach the class. Commendations on the thought-provoking and well-prepared material Come and Reason provides. Personally, I get excited by the tie you make between the spiritual and mental/physical domains.

A.A. Corrales, NM, USA

 

Testimony 59

I’m a native Ghanan, but am currently in France for my master’s degree. Prior to this, during my final years at undergraduate studies in Ghana, I was introduced to your ministry and I’ve been immensely blessed by what you share, especially about the Design and Imposed Laws. God richly bless you for that.

One of the first things I did when I arrived in France was to buy all four of your books. They not only helped me, but those I shared them with. I shared the message with an atheist student and I marveled at how God worked mightily in his life. Today this person shares the Love of God with others and debunks theories of who God is not. I want to share what you present in your “Heavenly Sanctuary and Investigative Judgment” pamphlet, because the message brought rest to my soul and I live today as a healthy person.

God bless you so much and your ministry.

Michael A., Ghana

 

Testimony 14

We really appreciate your views on the judgment and they make good sense considering our free choice.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 13

I borrowed “Healing The Mind” DVDs from a friend and showed them at my home for a small gathering of women friends. Neither of my friends are Adventist, but they both enjoyed and embraced the messages you taught. In fact, one of the ladies prayed out loud in our group and that was the first time she had ever had public prayer.

J.B. ,Dalles, OR, USA

 

Testimony 24

I wanted to thank you very much for presenting your understanding of God. I’ve always been troubled by this question: Why did Jesus have to die? Since my conversion I understood that The Father & Jesus are one, I did not have issues with that. But was there not any other way to save us than for Jesus to die? I guess I actually had a question about God – if He is so wise, how come He did not find another way? I did not see the real ‘beauty’  in the cross. Only when you explained the picture in the medical context, Jesus providing medicine for my selfishness, have I started to finally ‘see the light’. Thank you so much. Your seminar, “Healing the Mind,” are absolutely marvelous & have shared them with my family and many other people, including colleagues at work. Thanks, thanks, thanks. May God bless you abundantly in your ministry.

M. W., Australia

 

Testimony 18

The Healing the Mind DVD set tarted me on a journey that has changed my relationship with our loving God more significantly than any other study, and brought me to your book and Bible study podcasts, which I now listen to daily, thanks to the availability of archived content on your site and on iTunes.

Anonymous

 

Testimony 15

I have been sharing Come And Reason Ministries Bible study lessons with several folk. You have such a beautiful view of the plan of salvation. If we had this message preached when I was young, my generation would still all be in church.

H. R., New Zealand

Testimony 61

I grew up in a prominent protestant church and had what I like to call religious anxiety. I’ve always had questions about God and Salvation that no one could seem to answer.  I didn’t know how to find resolution. During 2020, at the height of my anxiety, I fell to my knees and begged God to show me truth and light and to give me the hope that I’ve been longing for. Days later, I stumbled upon your online videos and it was like a veil was lifted and EVERYTHING made sense! For the first time in my almost 39 years of life, my religious/spiritual anxiety has lessened. I feel a sense of freedom and peace I’ve NEVER had before… and it’s all because my view of God has changed. Thank you!

Ashleighn C.

 

Testimony 8

Thank you for the ministry you are sharing with us, it is a real blessing to us and especially to my husband and myself! You are encouraging us to think for ourselves and not just to except everything, without thinking it through, with God’s word!

M.K., USA