Call Us: 423 661-4734 | Email: requests@comeandreason.com      
WIE HET WIE GESKEP? DEEL 1

WIE HET WIE GESKEP? DEEL 1

Oor die verloop van die volgende drie weke gaan jy heerlik bederf word – ‘n driedelige reeks wat die oorsprong ondersoek van die mees algemene siening van God wat binne die Christendom en die wêreld geleer word. En ek is veral opgewonde, want ek hou daarvan om nuwe dinge te leer, nuwe insigte te kry en meer legkaartstukke bymekaar te sit; en hierdie reeks, geskryf deur ‘n genooide blogger, Dominic Rusu, doen presies dit. Ek hoop jy geniet dit ook. – Tim Jennings

‘N VERKENNING VAN DIE OORSPRONG VAN ONS GUNSTELING GOD

Deel 1 van 3: Inleiding

deur Dominic Rusu

Het God die mensdom geskep – of het ons God geskep?

Dom vraag, reg? Maar in alle erns, die antwoord hang af van jou beskouing van God. En my antwoord op hierdie vraag is ja. Albei het gebeur.

Ek glo beslis dat God die Skepper, Ontwerper van ons materiële bestaan, die mensdom geskep het. Maar ek stel ook voor dat die god van wet en orde – wat nou stewig gevestig is in die hoofstroomteologieë van Judaïsme, Christendom en Islam – deur die mensdom geskep is en ontwikkel het as gevolg van die druk van hierdie sondige bestaanstoestand. Hierdie oorweldigende kollektiewe menslike begeerte na ‘n goddelike wetgewer en skeidsregter van finale geregtigheid het ontstaan as direkte gevolg van die sondeval van die mens en die gevolglike toestand van sonde.

Daar is twee teenstrydige weergawes van goddelikheid:

  1. Die God van die ontwerpwet – die Skepper van die kosmos
  2. Die god van die opgelegde wet – ‘n kosmiese weergawe van ‘n Romeinse keiser

Ontwerpreg is hoe die werklikheid werk. Ons staar natuurlike gevolge in die gesig as ons nie in ‘n toestand van versoeningseenheid met God is nie. In hierdie werklikheid is regverdigmaking en geregtigheid albei woorde wat ons belyning met God se ontwerp vir die mensdom beskryf.

Ontwerpwet is gemoeid met die innerlike toestand van die hart – soos Jesus gesê het, “die koninkryk van God is binne-in julle” (Lukas 17:21) – die morele toestand van die karakter, die enigste ding wat ons saam met ons na die hiernamaals sal neem. Dit is waarom God in die Nuwe Verbond sy wet op ons harte en gedagtes skryf (Hebreërs 8:10). In die debat oor die vraag of moraliteit absoluut of relatief is, openbaar die ontwerpwet dat moraliteit absoluut en onveranderlik is, omdat die Skeppergod nie verander nie, altyd konsekwent is, en dit is sy natuur wat dien as die basis waarop lewe gebou is om te funksioneer.

Opgelegde wet is heeltemal anders. Geheel en al gestruktureer op die veranderende aard van menslike begeerte en behoefte, en verkeerdelik toegeskryf aan die Skepper, is opgelegde wet nie gemoeid met die toestand van ons karakter nie. Dit is slegs gemoeid met die beheer van gedrag. Daar word algemeen geglo dat eksterne afgedwingde wetgewing ontwikkel het vir die algemene welsyn, vir die welstand van die gemeenskap in hierdie gebroke wêreld. As sodanig gaan opgelegde wetgewing alles oor die moraliteit van dade, ons gedrag, en nie oor individuele welstand of karakter nie.

Moraliteit van dade is gemoeid met hoe ons optrede die samelewing as geheel beïnvloed, ongeag of ‘n misdaad ‘n individu of die gemeenskap teiken. Die dryfveer van opgelegde wetgewing is om samewerking te verhoog en die chaos te verminder wat inherent voortspruit uit ‘n sondige toestand. Gevolge vir die oortreding van menslike opgelegde wette is ewe chaoties omdat mense en hul wette arbitrêr is. Daarom is die strawwe wat deur die samelewing opgelê word niks soos die natuurlike gevolge van die oortreding van ontwerpwetgewing nie, en sulke strawwe gaan ook nie oor die herstel van ‘n individu se karakter tot eenheid met die staat nie.

Boonop verander die moraliteit van dade in die menslike reg voortdurend, onderhewig aan die vooroordele, klem en uitdagings van ‘n bepaalde menslike kultuur. Wat immoreel en krimineel is in een samelewing of tydperk van die geskiedenis, kan op ‘n ander plek en tyd moreel en wettig word, ongeag die impak daarvan op die karakter. Dink byvoorbeeld aan hoe alkohol, tabak, “onwettige” dwelms, genadedood en aborsie moreel en wettig is in een samelewing of tydperk van die geskiedenis, maar immoreel en onwettig op ‘n ander plek of tyd.

HOE EN HOEKOM?

In hierdie driedelige reeks sal ek die saak bou dat die grootste misleiding wat Satan bereik het, was om die mensdom te oortuig om op hul opgelegde wette staat te maak om hul doelwitte te bereik. Hy het dit gedoen deur die mensdom te kry om ‘n god-prototipe aan te hang wat gebaseer is op die menslike begeerte om sy vrese te ontsnap en te oorleef: ‘n goddelike koning, heerser, vors, monarg en wetgewer – ‘n kosmiese keiserlike diktator wat orde uit chaos kan bring deur die oppergesag van die reg. Na die sondeval het ons sondige bestaanstoestand die opkoms van die goddelike god-koning onvermydelik gemaak.

In deel 2, Sonde “Skep” die Oppergesag van die Reg, sal ek die vervalsing van die mens se siening van God as Satan se eindspel beskryf. Om mense deur hul ellende, vrees en selfsug te manipuleer, is bloot ‘n middel om hierdie doel te bereik; dit is nie Satan se uiteindelike doel nie. Ons dink te veel van onsself wanneer ons glo dat Satan se doelwit is om ons ellendig te laat voel. Die uiteindelike aanval is op die ware God. Sy vyand gebruik ons vrees vir nie-bestaan en die chaos wat sonde veroorsaak om ons te dryf na skepping van die valse god van wet en orde wat die Skeppergod in ons harte en gedagtes vervang.

Ek sal ook demonstreer hoe die toestand van sonde, wat deur Satan se versoeking van Adam en Eva in ons wêreld ingebring is, ná die sondeval die magtigste skeppingskrag op hierdie aarde geword het. Die mensdom is so gedompel in hierdie skeppingskrag dat ons, sonder ‘n lewende verbintenis met God, geen ander keuse gehad het as om ‘n god na ons beeld te skep nie.

Ons sal die oorsprong en verfyning van wet en orde in menslike samelewings naspeur. Vir die wêreldse verstand lyk dit asof die oppergesag van die reg briljant gewerk het vir die mens se oorlewing en vooruitgang in hierdie sondige bestaan. Dit is die rede waarom baie sukkel om selfs die misleiding van die valse god van wet en orde te sien. Ons word in wet en orde gebore net soos ons in sonde gebore is. Hierdie kritieke kulturele samestelling vir oorlewing is dus die kern van byna alle menslike interaksie.

In deel 3, Christus ontbloot die Valse God van Wet en Orde, sal ek beskryf hoe gevalle mense dit wat op hierdie sondige aarde werk (oppergesag van die reg) geneem het en dit op God geprojekteer het en die Skepper se ontwerpwet koninkryk met ‘n goddelike diktatorskap vervang het. Ek sal die saak maak dat dit nie ‘n menslike sameswering was nie, maar die onvermydelike gevolg van vrees en selfsug wat liefde in die hart vervang het. Dit was presies Satan se plan nog voor die sondeval. En die “vordering” wat die Christelike kerk deur die Hervorming gemaak het, het hierdie korrupsie van die beeld van God heeltemal geïgnoreer.

Ons sal ook die betekenis van Christus se lewe ondersoek en demonstreer hoe hierdie openbaring bedoel was om ‘n helder lig te werp op die korrupsie wat binne die Joodse teologie plaasgevind het en te waarsku oor wat sou kom met die vorming van die Roomse kerk.

Die Goeie Nuus van die lewe van Christus is die duidelikste siening van die ware karakter van God en sy gebruik van mag – hoe Hy regeer. Maar selfs die openbaring van sy lewe is binne ‘n paar honderd jaar deur die kerk vervals. Die waarheid is dus weer bedek met die god-koning-beeldspraak. Alhoewel Christus se lewe inderdaad die goeie nuus is, is dit oor baie ander redes as wat die hoofstroom Christelike teologie leer. Die regstransaksie-siening van verlossing pas by die god-koning-motief, maar dit is verkeerd, en het verwoestende ewige gevolge.

Die goeie nuus wat Christus gebring het, is die korrekte siening oor God, die Skepper wat minder besorg is oor die gemeenskaplike welsyn van ons gebroke samelewings en die mededinging tussen kulture, stamme en nasies, en hoofsaaklik gemoeid is met die genesing van elkeen van ons individuele karakters.

Hierdie waarheid is nie nuttig vir aardse gesag en mag nie. Die ware karakter van God is dus gerieflikheidshalwe opsy gesit en vervang met ‘n god-koning-beeld – ‘n kosmiese krygsheer, ‘n goddelike stamleier, ‘n “welwillende maar regverdige” heerser. Hierdie god, in sy vele vorme oor kulture heen, sou gebruik word om menslike gedrag te beheer met die doel om in ‘n gebroke wêreld te oorleef en om te verseker dat “geregtigheid” geskied – hier op aarde en vir ewig. Gegewe ons sonde-geteisterde intellek en emosies, is dit presies wat ons dink ons nodig het, wat ons wil hê en wat ons geskep het.

Sedert my tyd as ‘n lid van die Come and Reason Ministries-klas, het ek die kontras tussen die twee weergawes van God duidelik verstaan. Maar ek is voortdurend agtervolg deur die vraag hoe dit alles gebeur het.

Ek het nou my antwoord en in hierdie driedelige reeks sal ek my gevolgtrekkings met jou deel, met die doel om bloot te lê presies hoe ons die oppergesag van die reg na ons beeld geskep het.

Donate online, securely via PayPal using your credit or debit card (no PayPal account needed, unless you want to set up a monthly, recurring payment).


cancel recurring payment

 

Want to use zelle instead?
See how on our
Support and Donations page.

Upcoming Events

calendar

Testimonial Post Slider

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 40

I was brought up in a different faith and have been petrified my whole life of God. I believed that I would burn in hell for eternity. When I was 12 I started pursuing the things of this world, but for the next 45 years the Spirit was always calling me, as I knew there was a God through nature. I could see the vast sea of stars in the universe and knew there was something bigger out there. Five years ago, through a Revelation seminar, I was blessed to learn about God’s character and government.

Then I found Come and Reason Ministries and have come under some extreme pressure when I speak about the ministry. One time a member sent me an internet article titled “Whats wrong with Tim Jennings?” I asked her what she thought of it and she said “I don’t know, I didn’t read it.”

I have always wanted to find out for myself the truth about God, so I stayed with the Design Law construct and have been liberated to understand the big picture. Once we consider Design Law, all other Bible stories and prophecies seem to fit perfectly. It is truly beautiful to see people grasping how God operates this Universe of Love and the liberation it has provided in their lives. It blows my mind to see how consistent Design law is with what our founders believed. I hear statements like “This makes so much sense.”

Tom W., Mt. Pleasant, MI, USA

 

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

 

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 23

I would just like to add my voice to the many people who, I believe, must have contacted you to express their appreciation for the “Healing the Mind” DVDs. I’ve been listening to your Bible study class discussions for many years and I’ve been personally blessed by your research and teaching about the character of God.

L. G., Oakland, MI, USA

 

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!

Paul C.,  Springfield, MA, USA

 

Testimony 62

I would like to express my thanks to the C&R team for creating a platform from which people can learn to trust in God and grow. My life is a witness to the effectiveness of this ministry. Without believing the truth about God as you have shown, I don’t know what my life would be like. I had given up on God helping me with certain sins – it was all useless. Given that the scripture is clear and God is so good, how could I have betrayed him so many times? I was a yo-yo christian; spinning up and down. My faith and enthusiasm was driven by discoveries/threats that prophecy is about to be fulfilled. But when I watched your “Healing the Mind” seminar, it was like a light finally went on. I could see God had no plan to hurt me, the danger came from sin, and that He is working to protect me and strengthen me. Thank you for allowing God to use you. The message God gave C&R saved my life!

Antony N. – Hobart, Australia

 

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 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 30

God lead me to your book “The God-Shaped Brain” while I was searching for another book about the brain and then to your interview about your book on HeartWise Ministries [where] I found out about [Come And Reason Ministries]. I’m now devouring the webcasts of your Bible studies. I have been so greatly blessed and I thank God so much for your courage to speak the Truth in love no matter what. Listening to you contrast the two opposing systems (laws) and digging deep to unearth the hidden treasures in the Bible makes me so incredibly happy and I feel very blessed to be part of your Bible Study Group although I live far away. I am just so excited that there is a group of people that is spreading the Truth about the character of God and it saddens me how few realize what our Father in Heaven is really like.

Kessy B., Australia

 

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 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 16

Your seminars are still inspiring and changing our lives and we continue to share the principles we have learned from you. Your ministry has changed our lives!

E.W.

 

Testimony 42

I am just writing to say that I have been so blessed by the teachings of Come And Reason Minitries recently. I watched last week’s bible study lesson on Youtube and am thankful that the error in the printed lesson guide you use was pointed out and this week’s study was of equal benefit, if not more so. My understanding of God’s nature has been very confused of late and I am so grateful for clarity in this matter. I have never really fully understood previously how a good God can cause bad things to happen and now I realise that He doesn’t, it’s a natural consequence of sin. May the almighty Father and His Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to bless your ministry.

Laura P., United Kingdom

 

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.

Brendon S.