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DIE OU TESTAMENT, MODERNE ONDERRIGTING EN DIE INTEGRERENDE BEWYSGEBASEERDE BENADERING

DIE OU TESTAMENT, MODERNE ONDERRIGTING EN DIE INTEGRERENDE BEWYSGEBASEERDE BENADERING

Ek het onlangs ‘n video van 17 minute gekyk met die titel Wat Het Die Ou Testament Te Doen Met Kurrikulum deur David I. Smith, Ph.D., skrywer van On Christian Teaching. In hierdie video ondersoek Dr. Smith lesse uit die Ou Testament wat nuttig kan wees in hoe ons mense vandag leer. Hy let op hoe die Hebreeuse Bybel in drie dele verdeel is:

Die eerste deel staan bekend as die Torah, wat “Lering” beteken, en bestaan uit Genesis, Eksodus, Levitikus, Numeri en Deuteronomium, wat ook gesamentlik bekend staan as die boeke van Moses of die Pentateug.

Die tweede deel staan bekend as die Profete en sluit die boeke Josua, Rigters, Samuel, Konings, Jesaja, Jeremia, Esegiël, Hosea, Joël, Amos, Obadja, Jona, Miga, Nahum, Habakuk, Sefanja, Haggai, Sagaria en Maleagi in.

Die derde deel staan bekend as die Geskrifte, die Psalms of die Wysheidsboeke en sluit die boeke Job, Psalms, Spreuke, Hooglied, Rut, Klaagliedere, Prediker, Ester, Daniël, Esra, Nehemia en Kronieke in.

Hierdie verdeling was ook hoe die Nuwe Testamentiese skrywers die Ou Testament verstaan het. Jesus het na sy opstanding vir sy dissipels gesê:

Dit is wat ek vir julle gesê het terwyl ek nog by julle was: Alles moet vervul word wat oor my geskrywe staan in die Wet van Moses, die Profete en die Psalms (Lukas 24:44 NIV 84, beklemtoning myne).

Maar as ‘n snelskrif het hulle soms na die hele Ou Testamentiese kanon verwys deur net die Wet en die Profete te sê. Jesus, nadat hy bevestig het dat die grootste gebod is om God lief te hê met ‘n mens se hele wese en die tweede is om ons naaste lief te hê soos onsself, het gesê:

Aan hierdie twee gebooie hang die hele wet en die profete (Matteus 22:40 AFR33, beklemtoning myne).

Toe Filippus Natanïel kry, sê hy vir hom:

Ons het die een gevind waarvan Moses in die Wet geskryf het, en oor wie die profete ook geskryf het – Jesus van Nasaret, die seun van Josef (Johannes 1:45 NIV 84, beklemtoning myne).

En soms, hoe hulle na die hele Ou Testament verwys het, het hulle aansienlik verkort deur bloot “die Wet” te sê. Hier gebruik Jesus albei snelskrifterme in een antwoord:

Moenie dink dat Ek gekom het om die Wet of die Profete af te skaf nie; Ek het nie gekom om hulle af te skaf nie, maar om hulle te vervul. Voorwaar, Ek sê vir julle, totdat die hemel en die aarde verdwyn, sal nie die kleinste letter, nie die minste streep van ‘n pen nie, enigsins uit die Wet verdwyn totdat alles volbring is nie (Matthéüs 5:17, 18 NIV 84, beklemtoning myne).

Wanneer Jesus “die Wet” sê, beperk Hy nie sy kommentaar tot die Tien Gebooie nie, maar verwys Hy na al die 39 boeke van die Ou Testament. Hy sê dat alles in die Ou Testament oor die verlossingsplan, van Genesis tot Maleagi, vervul moet word.

Elders, het Jesus die term “Wet” gebruik toe Hy slegs na die psalms verwys het, wat deel is van die Geskrifte, wat demonstreer dat die snelskrif “Wet” gebruik is vir die hele Ou Testamentiese kanon en nie net die vyf boeke van Moses nie:

Jesus antwoord hulle, “Is daar nie in julle Wet geskrywe nie: Ek het gesê julle is gode?” (Joh. 10:34; Jesus verwys na Psalm 82:6).

 

VERPLIGTINGS, ONTWRIGTING, ONDERSKEIDINGSVERMOË

Ons het dus gesien dat die Ou Testament in drie dele verdeel is: die Wet, die Profete en die Geskrifte. Wat interessant is aan Dr. Smith se aanbieding, is dat hy die idee aanbied dat hierdie drie dele van die Skrif – die manier waarop God onderrig, die pedagogie van onderwys – die openbaring van waarheid op drie verskillende maniere benader. Hy stel voor dat:

  • Die Wet (vyf boeke van Moses) leer deur “verpligtings”, die instruksies, die reëls, wat ‘n mens moet doen.
  • Die Profete leer deur “ontwrigting”, die gevolge van ongehoorsaamheid en God se roeping vir mense om terug te keer na gehoorsaamheid.
  • Die Geskrifte leer deur “onderskeidingsvermoë” en kyk na die lesse in die wêreld, soos om die mier of die lelie van die veld te bestudeer.

Wat my opgeval het van Dr. Smith se tesis, is dat hierdie verdeling van die Skrif in drie verskillende metodes om die waarheid te onderrig, die Integrerende Bewysgebaseerde Benadering beskryf wat ons hier by Come and Reason Ministries bevorder. Basies is dit onderrig deur die integrasie van die drie drade van bewyse wat God gebruik het om waarheid aan die gevalle mensdom te openbaar en waardeur ons Skepper ons die werklikheid leer. En daardie drie drade is:

  • Skrif/goddelike openbaring (2 Timoteus 3:16) – wat met die Wet sou ooreenstem
  • Lewenservarings (Psalm 34:8; Johannes 20:27) – wat met die Profete sou ooreenstem
  • Wetenskap/natuur (Romeine 1:20) – wat ooreenstem met die Geskrifte

Die Wet leer deur goddelike openbaring – God-geïnspireerde direkte openbaring. Byvoorbeeld, God het aan Moses die waarheid geopenbaar van ‘n letterlike sesdaagse skeppingsweek gevolg deur die Sabbat; die oorspronklike sondelose toestand van die mensdom; die versoeking, die val en die vloek wat op die aarde geval het; die beloofde Messias om die gevalle mensdom te verlos; die rebellie en die Vloed; God se plan vir die hele wêreld om geseën te word deur Abraham se Saad (Jesus); die doel van God vir die Joodse nasie om sy evangeliste te wees om die wêreld voor te berei vir die komende Messias; en die onderriginstrument van aanskouingslesse (bv. die heiligdom) om die hele verlossingsplan uit te voer.

Deur die Profete leer God deur lewenservarings – die vermanings, waarskuwings, teregwysings, beloftes en pleidooie gevolg deur die werklike gevolge van die verbreking van vertroue met God, weiering om sy instruksies te volg en sy wysheid te verwerp; maar ook die ervaring van die barmhartigheid, genade en verlossing vir diegene wat deur die pynlike tydelike afdwalingsreis en terugkeer na God gekom het.

En in die Geskrifte leer God deur die wetenskap en die natuur, observeer die konflik tussen goed en kwaad wat oor alle aspekte van die skepping beveg word. Van nadenke oor hoe die werklikheid eintlik werk tot om geïnspireer te word deur die bestendigheid van al God se wette, die betroubaarheid van sy onderhoudende krag en die kompleksiteit van die onderling gekoppelde stelsels van ander-gesentreerde skenking waarop alle lewe gebou is.

Maar vra die diere, en hulle sal jou leer, of die voëls van die lug, en hulle sal jou vertel; of praat met die aarde, en dit sal jou leer, of laat die visse van die see jou inlig (Job 12:7, 8 NIV 84).

Die hemele vertel die eer van God; die uitspansel toon sy handewerk (Psalm 19:1 AFRB’23).

Gaan na die mier, jou luiaard; Dink aan sy weë en word wys! (Spreuke 6:6 NIV 84).

 

DRIE AFDELINGS, EEN BOODSKAP

God is die God van die werklikheid, die Skepper, die bouer van ruimte, tyd, energie, materie, sterre, planete, sterrestelsels en alle lewende wesens (Genesis 1; Johannes 1:3). God is die onderhouer van alle werklikheid (Kolossense 1:17; Hebreërs 1:3). En God se wette is die protokolle waarop die werklikheid funksioneer en werk. Waarheid lei ons altyd terug na God, want God is die bron van alle waarheid. En alle waarheid, wanneer dit reg verstaan word, openbaar ‘n volmaakte harmonie tussen God se openbarings in die Skrif, wetenskap en ons ervarings in die lewe.

Sonde is die oortreding van die wet – die afwyking en oortreding van die protokolle waarop God lewe en gesondheid geskep het om te werk. Sonde, die oortreding van die wette van die lewe, veroorsaak dus pyn, lyding en, tensy dit deur ons Skepper reggestel word, die ewige dood. Hierdie waarheid word in die Skrif geopenbaar (Romeine 6:23; Jakobus 1:15; Galasiërs 6:8), gedemonstreer in wetenskap/natuur; (bv. bind ‘n plastieksak oor ‘n mens se kop en oortree die wet van asemhaling, die gevolg is die dood.); en bevestig deur lewenservarings. Hierdie ewige lesse, hierdie ewige waarhede, word vir ons opgeteken deur goddelike inspirasie in die Ou Testament – in die Wet, die Profete en die Geskrifte.

As God se verteenwoordigers vandag, is dit ons verantwoordelikheid om sy metodes te gebruik, om aktief die integrerende bewysgebaseerde benadering te gebruik, om ewige waarhede met ander te deel, om ligte te wees wat in die duisternis skyn, om mense te leer hoe die werklikheid werk, om denkers te word en nie bloot weerkaatsers van ander mense se gedagtes nie, om volwasse mense te word “wat hulleself deur voortdurende oefening opgelei het om goed van kwaad te onderskei” (Hebreërs 5:14 NIV84), mense wat die denke van Christus het (1 Korinthiërs 2:16) en wat, soos hul Verlosser, God se ewige waarhede kan leer deur die Skrif (Wet), lewenservarings (Profete) en wetenskap/natuur (Geskrifte).

 

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Testimony 46

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!

Beverly S., 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 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 60

Just watched watched lesson 10 in the 1st quarter 2021 bible study classs on Isaiah. I want to thank you for your intellectual spirituality; it’s not an oxymoron! From the point of view of a teacher I also enjoy seeing how much personal pleasure you clearly take in not just tasting, but feasting on God’s word – it reminds me of Jeremiah not being able to hold it in! It makes me smile that your cup is so full and overflowing that you make it to Tuesday’s lesson (on a good day). It just goes to show the richness of God’s Word.

God bless the Come and Reason Team from our church here in Great Britain.

Andrew H., Great Britain

 

Testimony 75

Thank you so much for everything you do! Because of all these truths, I’m excited to be with Jesus! I always pray everyday, “COME TODAY, JESUS.” Before finding C&R, I was always praying for delays, “NOT TODAY OH GOD. I AM NOT READY.” I just need to share more, talk more bout this truth, so everybody will be excited for Jesus.

J C Shin

Testimony 27

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 5

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

 

Testimony 70

I have been watching you for many years and have learned to love God with all my heart. I was raised by a loving Christian mother that had been lied to about who God really was, so our religious upbringing was hell fire and damnation. As soon as I was old enough and moved out, I not only left the church, I ran as fast as I could to get away from it. Sad to say, it wasn’t until the past couple of years that I learned and understand who my Father really is and how much He loves me. I understand God’s Design Laws (which make sense) and when I’m teaching my church Bible study class, I’m able to really put to use the things I’ve been learning and Holy Spirit is leading. Thank you for introducing me to my Father of true, pure love. Everyday with Him is new and exciting. One thing that breaks my heart is that I didn’t know Him sooner. God Bless you and your ministry!

Judy Phelps, Reno, NV, USA

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 35

I am so pleased with the response your message is receiving at my church from the middle-aged to the young adults. I have given out 100 copies of the first two seminars and there are more request every week. One of my [class members] came to me after viewing the series, grateful and impressed with how easy the message was retained. He had been a Seventh-day Adventist in fear all his life, and felt like the scales were removed from his eyes after viewing the seminars. I am so impressed by the change I see in members who have received this message, we are in one accord. However, I am sadden by the negative response of the older people. I am verbally attacked anytime I talk about imposed laws, but I believe my mission is to enlightened everyone I can. I watch your Bible Study Class on YouTube every Friday night and I feel like I am apart of the class. All of you are in one accord and I am so blessed to have found you. I pray that all of you continue to spread this message and I am committed to doing my part.

Clara S., Westfield, MA, 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 6

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.

H. S., Australia

 

Testimony 31

It was very touching to hear the testimony of your class share how viewing God’s true character has changed their lives. My feelings are the same – there is so much freedom in knowing that God LOVES me – regardless of my… just, REGARDLESS! I’m still blown away by the true gospel, the fact that God is not ready to strike us when we fail. He is not arbitrary. He simply loves us and warns of the natural consequences because He can’t stand to see us suffer. I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS GOD!!!

Ceil V.,  UT, USA

 

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 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.