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Misunderstanding the Truth

Misunderstanding the Truth

Do you ever get misunderstood? I am rarely misunderstood when I am in session with my patients, or in personal conversations with friends or family members. But I have noticed one situation in which I am too frequently misunderstood and often misquoted.

I teach a Bible Study class at my church and whenever I challenge a traditional view all too often someone misunderstands what I said. A few months ago two religion professors were in my class. During class I challenged the idea that God has to inflict eternal death on the unrepentant in the end. I affirmed the Bible position that says, “sin when it is full grown brings forth death” James 1:15. I went on to say what confuses many is that God, in many places in the Bible, used His power to put people to rest in the graves (flood, Sodom, first born of Egypt etc). But I pointed out that all of those people are going to be resurrected either to eternal life or, at some future time, to reap the full consequence for unremedied sin.

But after class I received an email from one of the professors expressing frustration that I would teach that God did not destroy the world with a flood or kill people in Old Testament times. Of course I never said this, but that is how it was heard.

Recently, I was invited to a church to do a Healing the Mind Seminar. After all was scheduled, travel had been arranged and with just a few weeks before the event the pastor emailed me to cancel because he had read some troubling reports about my beliefs on an anonymous website. As I explored what had been said about me I was able to clarify that every position on the website was false, a distortion arising out of the misunderstanding in the mind of the person who wrote the website.

I tracked down the author of the website and called him. He had never spoken to me personally nor taken the time to clarify what he thought I believed. Needless to say he had made numerous assumptions about what I said that I never intended.

Recently, I was holding a Bible study with a group of young people and a young lady had many questions. I did my best to answer her questions. After the study however there were many concerns yet unanswered. This young lady took a very Biblical approach, she contacted me directly to clarify her concerns, and sure enough multiple misunderstandings had occurred. When I said that Jesus didn’t have to die to somehow change His Father from an angry wrathful God into a loving and forgiving God (i.e. appease the Father’s wrath), she thought I said Jesus didn’t have to die. Of course, I never said any such thing (I called and checked with several other persons who attended the study and they agreed I had not said Jesus did not have to die). I had even explicitly said that mankind could not be saved without the death of Jesus, yet it somehow wasn’t heard.

These examples expose one of the weaknesses of our human minds. Once we have settled on a belief, drawn a conclusion, formed an opinion the mind begins filtering information based on the beliefs we hold. Thus new truth, insights or ideas that contradict current beliefs are often misunderstood or misheard. There is an old saying, “We don’t believe what we see. We see what we believe.” And there is much truth in this saying. Our minds have the ability to deceive ourselves (Jer 17:9). Therefore, we must learn to develop minds which remain open to new truth, new ideas, new perspectives, minds that love the truth and will follow it wherever it leads. We must resist the temptation to “arrive at the truth” for the moment we arrive at the truth the mind closes and is no longer open to grow.

The Bible tells us in the end the wicked are lost because “they did not love the truth and thus be saved” (2Thes 2:10). The lost are those people who close their minds to new truth, new ideas and new insights clinging instead to old truths, traditions and understandings. This process happened to the Jews in Christ day who would not accept the unfolding truth that Jesus brought, but instead clung to their traditional views. This process is stated beautifully by one Christian writer:

Of the people in his day Christ said: “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” The Jews willfully closed their eyes and their ears, and barred their hearts with prejudice, lest they should see a better way, and be aroused from their dream of security. The people of the present generation are pursuing a similar course. New truths are constantly unfolding; new and clearer light is shining upon the pathway of God’s people. But the great mass of mankind are satisfied with their present condition, and are unwilling to exchange error for truth. But we are to be sanctified through obedience to the truth. For want of this Bible sanctification, the soul of many a professed Christian has become a desecrated shrine, the haunt of hollow formalism, of selfishness and hypocrisy, pride and passion. {ST, January 28, 1886 par. 4}

Be a lover of truth! Keep your mind open to new light, new truth, new insights shining forth from the throne of God. The Sun of Righteousness is rising with healing in His beams of truth! The Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit is being poured out to enlighten and ennoble a generation to meet God. Open your mind to God’s Spirit and be willing to follow the truth wherever it leads!

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Testimony 64

I’ve been reading the bible and walking with Jesus since I was around 16. I’m 42 now. I’ve mostly been alone in my walk although I went to several churches in different denominations. For the past 3 years God has been showing me His character of agape. It’s been a blessing and changed how I view God and my walk with Jesus. About a year ago I came across the power of love and the principles of design law. These teachings changed how I read scripture and have been such a beautiful blessing. I’m very excited and grateful for these truths. We share these truths of agape, design law and the reality of the principles of the two trees in the garden of Eden with people on Facebook and YouTube. People all over are learning to trust God and His agape design law which makes life possible. Thank you for everything you shared with me. May God continue to bless your ministry and lives.

Bradley M., Hinsdale, NY, USA

 

Testimony 41

I have been blessed by your ministry. I have experienced personally, and deeply resonate with, the God of love and the beautiful picture of God’s character that you present. I have seen your seminar series on YouTube, read ‘The Journal of the Watcher’ book, used your mobile app, and also listen/study the bible study lesson with you each week. I concur with many of the thoughts and perspectives that you share. I understand your conclusions on natural laws vs imposed law and the legal/penal substitution (incorrect diagnosis). This makes perfect sense to me.

Bless you for all you do.

Melissa L.

 

Testimony 63

I’ve been very blessed by “The God Shaped Brain” and this ministry, through video and podcast, over the last few years. It’s truly opened up my eyes more to the truth about God and the importance of that truth in the present world. The message is so inviting, freeing and enlightening and MORE people need to know about it. I believe it is the last message that can truly, not only prepare a people for salvation and translation, but vindicate the character of God.

Michael V., Yonkers, NY, USA

 

Testimony 32

The message [of Come And Reason Ministries is] for all Christians (and those who may become Christians) and not just Adventists or any other group. It is difficult to imagine why any [anyone] with intellectual and spiritual honesty could find fault with the way you explained the healing substitution concepts and the truth about God’s character, though I know some will reject and criticize. On behalf of those in our group near Tacoma, WA, thank you and your staff for all of the hard work and for sharing the Gospel in this manner. God’s message of healing love will be carried to the whole world and then Jesus will come – He promised it.

Terry U., Tacoma, WA, USA

 

Testimony 52

Your unique way in spreading the truth is what we all need today. Most of us don’t recognize the contamination coming from all the lies and selfishness in the world. Because of our fear of death, we forgot how to live. Lies left and right. I was losing hope and faith, because of so many ideas that are always contradicting each other – so many questions answered by other, more complicated, questions – until I found your channel on YouTube.

You did not just give me answers, you also taught me how to answer new questions that arise in my mind. Now I see things differently. I see God’s mercy, grace, and Love everywhere, in spite of all the chaos that we all have done as humans. I don’t fear death anymore. Accepting the Truth and Love about God is truly a genuine Freedom from all the confusions, sufferings, selfishness, pain, and death.

I just wanted to say, thank you, sooooo much for revealing the real Remedy for our infected life. I have a new hope and now see the world in a different perspective!

Wheinny P., University Place, WA, 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 47

I can’t even begin to thank you and your ministry enough for introducing me to the Truth about a loving and merciful God! I have my daughter and her in-laws to thank for sharing with me “The God-Shaped Brain” as well as your website. I listen to the Bible study class lessons on my daily walk. May God continue to bless your thirst-quenching ministry!

Liz H., Port Angeles, WA, USA

 

 

Testimony 68

Your message of design law vs imperial law is so uplifting and makes so much sense- it is a game changer for me. The fact that Jesus’s death is not a big payment by an angry God is , quite frankly, a relief.

Laura G., London, Ontario, Canada

 

Testimony 14

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

Anonymous

 

Testimony 17

The blessings of clarity and understanding you and your class inspire me to take from the word of God have impressed upon me so greatly the true, loving character of our Creator. I have found amazing freedom and joy through building a stronger, more intentional relationship with Him. What is new is that this is now a relationship built on love, reverence and respect rather than fear and obligation, and as such my eyes have been slammed OPEN as I am continually impressed by the manifestations of God’s true character in His provisions for fallen man.

T.E.H., Salt Lake City, UT, USA

 

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.

Viliami L., Australia

 

Testimony 4

I’m a youth leader in South Africa. We as a youth group are currently using a lot of the material on the Come and Reason site. Since we’ve started using the material, our youth group has grown.

R. V. N., South Africa

 

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 10

I personally download and listen to each of Come And Reason Ministries Bible study class lessons and PDF study notes to use when teaching my class. Really appreciate the class especially when Dr. Jennings is teaching. Thank God there are persons like him doing His work and traveling to share His beliefs.

B. L.M., North Plains, OR, USA

 

Testimony 55

I was born [into the church], then I left it for many years. 10 years ago, I came back, but I could not take the hypocrisy and the lack of answers to the missing pieces. I struggled, but I did not abandon my commitment to know the truth. God is leading me to the simple understanding of his relevance and I am relearning what the church taught me as a youth… that he loves me, that he has led me to a knowledge of him such as I have never known. He is using Dr. Jennings to connect the dots that are now so apparent and hiding in plain sight!

Dean P., Arlington, TX, USA