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DIE SEWE VLAKKE VAN MORELE ONTWIKKELING

DIE SEWE VLAKKE VAN MORELE ONTWIKKELING

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VLAK 1 – Beloning en straf

Reg en verkeerd word bepaal deur elkeen wat die mag het om te regeer deur dreigement van straf en hoop op beloning. Genade (versuim om te straf) word deur ander op hierdie vlak as swakheid beskou, as beginselloosheid. Dit is die vlak waarop antieke Israel as slawe in Egipte gewerk het. Hulle het gedoen wat die slawedrywers beveel het om straf te vermy.

Mense op vlak een dring daarop aan dat God sy krag gebruik om die onberouvolle goddeloses te martel en dood te maak, soos bewys is toe hy die eerste getuienis oor homself bevestig het om Israel te regeer deur strafdade op die Egiptiese gode toe te pas, en deur magtige, skouspelagtige wonderwerke gedemonstreer het dat die Egiptiese gode hoegenaamd nie gode is nie.

Hierdie vlak van denke is so primitief dat dit nie eers ‘n brein vereis nie; die denke is heeltemal opsy gesit. Diere, plante en selfs bakterieë kan gekondisioneer word om pynlike stimuli te vermy en te groei na lonende stimuli. Dit is Satan se doelwit om die mensdom te verminder tot “redelose diere en wesens van instink” wat op vlak een werk.

Tevredenheidsteorie (Satisfaction Theory) van die versoening stem die beste ooreen met Vlak Een-denke, wat soos volg opgesom is: God het gesê moenie iets doen nie, maar wanneer ons ongehoorsaam is en doen wat God verbied het, onteer en beledig dit hom. Daarom reageer hy in sy geregtigheid met woedende wraak om die ongehoorsame tereg te stel om sy verontwaardiging te bevredig. Maar toe tree Jesus tussen God en mens in om die mensdom se plaasvervanger te word. God het dus nie die mens doodgemaak nie, maar sy Seun doodgemaak in ons plek en is nou tevrede dat sy eer en geregtigheid bewaar word.


 
VLAK 2 – Ruilhandel

Reg en verkeerd word bepaal deur ‘n billike ooreenkoms tussen twee partye, ook bekend as quid pro quo – “Ek sal iets vir jou doen as jy iets vir my doen”. Op hierdie vlak is wraak ‘n morele plig. Mense wat kwaad doen, moet met ewe veel pyn en lyding terugbetaal word, met ander woorde, “‘n oog vir ‘n oog en ‘n tand vir ‘n tand.” Om nie pyn en lyding terug te gee nie, is as immoreel beskou. Dit was eertydse Israel wat by Sinai gesê het, toe die wet die eerste keer gelees is, “Alles wat die Here gesê het, dit sal ons doen.”

Losprysteorie (Ransom Theory) van versoening stem die beste ooreen met Vlak Twee-denke, wat soos volg opgesom is: Omdat die aarde en die mensdom nou die wettige eiendom van Satan is en onder sy beheer, het die duiwel wettige regte op hierdie aarde en die lewens van die afstammelinge van Adam en Eva. Daarom het God ‘n ooreenkoms met die duiwel aangegaan om die lewe van Christus te verruil vir die lewens van die res van die mensdom.


 
VLAK 3 – Sosiale ooreenstemming

Reg en verkeerd word bepaal deur gemeenskapskonsensus, byvoorbeeld wanneer ‘n kind sê: “Maar al die ander mense doen dit.” Reg word as reg beskou deur die goedkeuring van gelykes.

Dit was antieke Israel toe hulle konings wou hê. Al die ander nasies het konings gehad, so dit moet reg wees, daarom het Israel daarop aangedring om konings te hê.

Regeringsteorie (Governmental Theory) van die versoening stem die beste ooreen met Vlak Drie-denke, wat soos volg opgesom is: Iemand moet die prys betaal sodat almal oortuig kan word dat God regverdig en reg is om sonde en sondaars te hanteer deur martelende straf toe te dien. Daardie iemand is Jesus, want hy is die enigste een wat daardie prys kan betaal om die mensdom vry te spreek.


 
VLAK 4 – Wet en orde

Reg en verkeerd word bepaal deur ‘n gekodifiseerde stelsel van reëls, onpartydige regters, opgelegde strawwe, en respek vir gesag. Reg is om ‘n behoorlike betaling of beloning vir goeie werk te kry, en verbieding en strafopgelegging vir die oortreding van die reëls. Gesagsfigure is selde bevraagteken, “Hy moet reg wees, want hy is die President, die Regter, die Pous, God, ens.”

Dit was antieke Israel in die tyd van Christus – “ons het ‘n wet!” het hulle verkondig, terwyl hulle probeer het om Jesus te stenig vir genesing op die Sabbat. Dit is ‘n groot deel van ons moderne wêreld, met sy gekodifiseerde wette, howe, aanklaers, regters, juries en opgelegde reëls. Gesag op hierdie vlak berus in die geforseerde druk van die staat om diegene wat van die gevestigde wette afwyk, te straf. Op hierdie vlak moet polisie-agentskappe en wetstoepassers die bevolking monitor, op soek na oortredings van die wet om gestandaardiseerde strawwe op te lê.

Strafvervangingsteorie (Penal Substitution Theory) van die versoening stem die naaste ooreen met Vlak Vier-denke, wat soos volg opgesom is: Jesus het gesterf om die wetlike straf te betaal wat die wet vereis en wat deur die hemelse regter opgelê is. Die wet moet nagekom word. Die mens het die wet oortree, dus vereis geregtigheid die oplegging van die regte straf. Iemand moet tereggestel word om die wettige boete te betaal. Jesus het ons plaasvervanger geword en is in ons plek tereggestel deur God die Vader (as die regverdige regter) om daardie boete te betaal. Sodoende word die integriteit van die wet gehandhaaf en sondaars kan vergewe word, maar slegs as hulle aanspraak maak op die wettige betaling wat Jesus gemaak het.


 
VLAK 5 – Liefde vir ander

Reg word bepaal deur te doen wat in die beste belang van ander is, om te besef dat mense waarde het in wie hulle is, ongeag die reëls. Verkeerd word bepaal, nie deur ‘n kontrolelys van reëls nie, maar deur nie te doen wat eintlik nuttig en voordelig vir ‘n ander is nie.

Jesus het dit getoon toe hy melaatses aangeraak het, met vroue gepraat het, met belastinginvorderaars gesosialiseer het, en op die Sabbat genees het. Die Fariseërs, wat op vlak vier en laer werk, wou Hom stenig omdat hy die wet oortree het.

 Morele invloedteorie (Moral Influence Theory) van die versoening stem die naaste ooreen met Vlak Vyf-denke, wat soos volg opgesom is: Sonde het ons van God geskei en ons harte verdorwe, sodat ons God nie langer vertrou het nie, maar God het ons te liefgehad om ons te laat gaan, so Christus se dood was die middel om ons te bereik met sy liefde en herstel ons om op Hom te vertrou.


 
VLAK 6 – Beginselgebaseerde lewe

Reg is om te verstaan hoe die ontwerpprotokolle en beginsels waarop lewe gebou is, funksioneer en intelligent te kies om in harmonie daarmee te leef. Reg is nie iets doen omdat ‘n reël sê om dit te doen nie, maar omdat dit verstaan word hoe dit in werklikheid werk.

Dit was hoe Jesus God se karakter van liefde uitgeleef het in alles wat Hy gedoen het, en ook die Apostels na Pinkster. Dit word verstaan dat God sê wat reg is omdat dit reg is, want dis die manier hoe dinge werklik funksioneer. Dit is nie reg bloot omdat God dit gesê het nie.

Samevatting en Christus as Oorwinnaar Teorieë (Recapitulation and Christus Victor Theories) oor die versoening stem die beste ooreen met Vlak Ses denke, wat soos volg opgesom word: Christus se lewe, dood en opstanding word verstaan as die enigste manier om reg te stel wat sonde aan God se skepping gedoen het. Toe die mensdom gesondig het, het die toestand van die mensdom verander, wat dit uit harmonie met God en sy plan vir die lewe geplaas het. Die mensdom is nou in slawerny gehou deur hul eie toestand van sondigheid (vleeslike natuur), hul terminale toestand (dood), en die leuens oor God wat deur Satan vertel word. Christus het gekom om hierdie drie magte te breek en te herstel wat sonde aan hierdie skepping gedoen het. So “het hy wat geen sonde geken het nie, vir ons sonde geword, sodat ons die geregtigheid van God kan word.” 2 Kor 5:21.


 
VLAK 7 – Begrypende Vriend van God

Diegene op hierdie vlak het nie net liefde vir God en ander nie (Vlak 5), verstaan nie net God se ontwerp protokolle vir die lewe nie (Vlak 6), maar verstaan ook God se doelstellings en kies intelligent om saam te werk om hul rol in Sy doelwitte te vervul.

Jesus het in Johannes 15:15 vir sy dissipels gesê: “Ek noem julle nie meer diensknegte nie, omdat die dienskneg nie weet wat sy heer doen nie. Maar ek het julle vriende genoem, omdat ek alles wat ek van my Vader gehoor het Ek aan julle bekend gemaak het.”

Mense op hierdie vlak verstaan die waarheid omtrent God se karakter van liefde, Sy natuur en ontwerp vir die lewe, die oorsprong van die bose, die aard van sonde, die wapens van Satan, die oorspronklike doel vir die skepping van die mensdom, die val van die mensdom in sonde, God se werking deur die menslike geskiedenis, die doel van die Kruis, en die uiteindelike reiniging van die heelal van sonde. Jesus het op hierdie vlak gefunksioneer, net soos almal wat gereed is vir verheerliking wanneer Jesus weer kom.

Genesende Plaasvervangingsrealiteit (Healing Substitution Reality) stem die beste ooreen met Vlak Sewe denke, wat soos volg opgesom word: Die verlossingsplan word verstaan as ‘n dieper en breër bedoeling as net die verlossing van die menslike spesie. Beide vlak vyf en ses is waar: God se karakter van liefde is verkeerd voorgestel, Sy metodes van waarheid, liefde en vryheid is nie ten volle begryp nie, God het dus ‘n groter doel gehad as net die redding van die mensdom; Hy was ook besig om die ongevalle wesens in lojaliteit aan Sy ontwerpmetodes en karakter van liefde vas te maak.

 

 

 

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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!!

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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

 

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We listen to your bible studies lessons in our class in Montana. You actually were the main reason I decided to get a laptop, so I can go to your site and listen, read, learn, and print the class notes. I am so grateful to learn the correct view of God and his character. Now, to just have others have an interest in knowing, so I can share it with them. Good thoughts your way.

R. N., MT, USA

 

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Your teachings about our heavenly Father have changed my life. Thank you sooooooo very very much! I know He’s doing some serious healing in my heart and life and I look forward to each new day to learn something new about Him and to just hear you speak about Him. Thank you, forever.

Nancy S.

 

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!

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Two years ago I stumbled upon your book, “Could It Be This Simple,” and then found “The God-Shaped Brain” videos on YouTube, your bible study class, and the ‘Come And Reason’ mobile app. I shared your book with a friend and after nine months of showing love, patience, and kindness this person has been changed by the love of God, too. The same love that healed me, I now express to other women in tangible ways, such as to a Baptist woman with high anxiety and childhood trauma. She was extremely happy and relieved when I shared about the so-called “judgment of God” and burning in hell. She had no desire to serve a God that was so harsh. I have repeated the phrase dozens of times to her. “What we believe has power over us, but we have power over what we believe…”

This message that you are sharing has changed my life. I will continue to serve other women and bring this message of God’s healing love to their lives by sharing your books, YouTube videos, and The Remedy Bible app. Keep up the good work. Don’t be discouraged. God is doing a mighty work in and through this ministry!

Jill L., Midwest, USA

 

Testimony 36

Thank you and may God continue to bless you as you share with others the intricacies of how we are all “fearfully and wonderfully made”. I must share that you have opened a whole new world to me, and I have found tremendous healing through what you have shared in two of your books, “Could It Be This Simple?” and “The God Shaped Brain.” I praise God for what you shared, what I have learned, and how I have grown and healed! My prayer is that My Precious Jesus will be seen by others in the way I live, act, talk, etc. and they may be encouraged to know He is truly a GREAT God of LOVE, desiring that no one should perish! God Bless you in your continued endeavors to present Him as He really is!

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I got the book “Could It Be This Simple?” a few months ago and the reading was wonderful and I was fascinated. I lent the book to a friend at work. She is having a difficult time and the book is helping her to find Jesus and I found this very exciting. She has asked me questions and I can see her life changing.

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Testimony 54

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Karen S., Portal, AZ, USA

 

Testimony 37

Hearing Dr. Jennings’ presentations in person came at a pivotal moment in my spiritual journey that began about nine months ago, when the fault lines inherent in my belief system began to crack under questions that most reasonable people end up asking about God and His nature. These were questions I couldn’t find answers to, and they shook my faith. I was unable let it go any longer and be satisfied. My Christian experience became distant. I was afraid; the fear in me rose like thorns, pushing me away from Jesus. And then someone heard my questions and introduced me to this ministry, and my life has totally changed.

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Testimony 14

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

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Testimony 29

Thank you for all of your work to correct misconceptions about God’s character. So many people that my husband and I have talked to seem to be against the natural law construct and view it as “errant” and “dangerous.” Having learned more about it through your blogs and lessons, I don’t really understand why they view it that way, except that it means they have to relearn theology they have known for their entire lives. But I’m so excited to relearn this. For the past few years I have been questioning how I could trust a God who punishes arbitrarily and is full of wrath for those who don’t obey His commands. That view made me afraid to “mess up” or “not be good enough,” even within my relationship with God. I really appreciated the point you bring out about God not wanting us to serve Him because we are afraid, but because we love Him.

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Testimony 2

I continue to enjoy your lessons every week. The more that I research your conclusions, the more I am convinced that the Holy Spirit has lead you to distill out the essence of human redemption. Thank you for your courageous stand for the truth.

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I just want to tell you how blessed I have been reading “The Remedy!” It has become a daily part of my devotional relationship with God. In it I have found a God of love and a God that loves me! The bible has come alive for me! It is the first time that I can say that I have felt hope fill my heart as I have read God’s word. This is good news I can share! Thank you, Dr Jennings! Thank you for your heart for others. I can’t put into words how this has set me free! It has strengthened my trust and love for God.

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