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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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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.

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Testimony 33

I was invited over a friend’s house to see the “God and Your Brain” seminar today. I became [a christian] 36 years ago at the age of 19, but have struggled with the concept of God taking His ‘pound of flesh’ out on His Son to be appeased. Wow. Your seminar has been an incredible revelation and breath of reason and fresh air! I have your book, “The God Shaped Brain,” and it is SO eye opening. Finally, after 36 years enlightenment has come! Praise the Good Lord! What can I say, but that the Real Gospel is truly “Good News!” Thank you for your efforts in giving the Gospel a clear sound!

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Testimony 54

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Over the past couple of years God has been expanding my view of Himself and His character. Along my approximately 40-year journey, I have often had questions, but was hesitant to voice these and step outside the traditionally accepted thinking, for fear of admitting that I may in fact be eternally lost. In the recesses of my thinking has been the thought – if one blindly accepts (which is widely regarded as “real faith”) and does not question, is this really ‘truth?’ I often find it challenging to grapple with very theological ‘speak,’ but Dr. Jennings has a real gift of explaining spiritual concepts with clear practical examples. The weekly discussions are growing my Christian experience and slowly changing my view of how to live as a child of God in today’s complex world. Finally the whole Old Testament sanctuary teaching moved in my mind from fantasy to reality!

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Testimony 45

I have been confused for years about what [christianity] calls [its] most disgusting teaching. It has never made much sense to me and for that reason has been evermore empty. I have listened to your class off and on and have struggled determining what is truth, because of the resistance design law encounters in the church. So, I thank God for your ministry. What you teach makes sense. It’s logical and backed up by the power of love. I have never seen that in Christ until now. I am astounded by the insight that is found when we look at God’s ministry through design law. All strength to this message, as I believe it to be the power of God.

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Testimony 47

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Testimony 50

After coming into contact with Come And Reason Ministries, I can finally say that many of my unanswered questions have fallen into place. I discovered that my view of God’s Law was “imposed laws and rules” with “imposed punishments” and that this was the major culprit of my many unanswered questions. Thanks be to God for using you and those around you to help us who have struggled with this “infection” of thought. I have now rejected the “imposed law” concept to fully embrace “Design Law”… to look thru “Design Law,” instead of “imposed law,” is a relief.

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