Conjunctive Theology
The Road to Conciliation
By Dr. Ken Matto
The conjunction is a very important part of speech. In the English language it connects thought and meaning plus it joins together sentences, phrases, clauses and words. Where would little brothers be today without the conjunction? Hear the parent say, "...and take your little brother with you!" We get ourselves out of and into trouble by using the conjunction. You can hear in the courtroom, "but your honor...," or at home "...but honey I needed it...."
BEWARE THE CONJUNCTION
When speaking with many Christians It does not take lengthy conversation to realize there is a spirit of biblical stupidity which reigns in the church today. I use the word "stupidity" not as a put down but as a fact. You may say, "oh soften your approach, Ken and use the word ignorant." No I will not!!!!! The difference between the word "ignorant" and the word "stupid" must be understood from a serious perspective. People who are ignorant are lacking knowledge in a certain area. People who are stupid live their lives by unreasoned thinking. That is the difference.
An ignorant Christian needs to just continue learning but the stupid Christian seems to accept any philosophy or teaching without doing any type of investigation. The reason so many Christians are stupid is because they have built their foundational philosophy of life on "conjunctive thinking." Let's take a modern example and see if I am on the right track.
The Roman Catholics are Christians
Owing to the pulpit prostitution of false teachers like Billy Graham, Jack Van Impe, Bill Bright, et al, there are many Christians out there who believe the RC's are Christians regardless of what the bible says. If it is good enough for Billy Graham, it is good enough for me. So now, the stupid Christian has widened the meaning of salvation to include idol worship, the mass, and all the falsities of the Roman Church. This Christian has used "conjunctive thinking." They widened the meaning of salvation by saying "AND the Roman Catholics."
The Jews are God's Chosen People
The foolish Christian hears this and now treks down to the Christian book store and buys some Zionist theology books otherwise known as "Prophecy Books." He reads them and sees how God has a wonderful, future plan for Israel and according to Romans 11:26 all Israel will be saved. He neglects verses like 1 Peter 2:9-10 because his pastor was trained in a pre-Trib seminary and is skillful at neglecting verses that do not make their case.
(1 Pet 2:9-10 KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: {10} Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
What could be plainer than to see that those who are saved are "THE" people of God but nevertheless because the accepted teaching is that the Jews are God's chosen people along with Christians, we now have widened God's salvation program even wider. The salvation program is now, "AND unregenerate Roman Catholics, AND unregenerate Jews, AND Christians."
God Loves Everyone
Another myth which is taught in probably 99% of the churches is the myth that God loves everyone. This idea stems possibly from the belief that man is so wonderful that God just has to love us. The Bible teaches clearly in many places that God hates the sinner and the sin and both will be plunged into an eternal hell. Jacob I loved but Esau I hated says the Scripture in Romans 9:13 (KJV) As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. So God does hate and it is His right to hate because of His holiness and righteousness. The stupid Christian says "BUT God loves everyone..." God's love is qualified only for His children and not for all in the world. (John 13:1 and others.) Now let's look at God's salvation plan as butchered by the church. The salvation program is now "AND unregenerate Roman Catholics, AND unregenerate Jews, AND Christians, BUT God loves everyone." God's salvation program is now wide enough to place a cargo ship in it.
I believe these are enough examples to show us the dangers of conjunctive reasoning. If we are to be true Bible searching Christians like the Bereans then we are not add conjunctions where God does not. The Bible as written reflects the mind of God and when we try, with our darkened minds, to improve it or change it to satisfy the demands of an acquired philosophy, we bring 2 things to the Scriptures:
1. Adultery, resulting in:
2. Dilution
The adulterating of Scripture has become a normal practice in the organized church since the seminary began to judge the Bible by man's evil and darkened reasoning. The height of arrogance and rancor for the true Scriptures shines through from the evil branch of textual criticism and higher criticism (which I call "Liar Criticism") that emanates not only from the seminaries but purchased intellects by the publishers who continually dilute and adulterate God's Word with newer versions like God is handing down corrections of His word every 6 months so Rupert Murdoch's Zondervan can enlighten us further with newer manuscripts.
On the heels of adulteration always comes dilution. A simple example of this is if you have a glass of milk and then put Hershey's Chocolate syrup in there. Once you do that, is the milk white anymore? That is dilution, the words which God thunders toward the human race in the King James Version has either been removed, nullified, or alternatively translated so the tongue speaker, the indolent Christian, and the scholar can be appeased.
Why do I bring Pastors and Theologians into this study, because they are the progenitors of Conjunctive thinking and reasoning which is then transferred to the fainéant Christian in the pews. There has been so much philosophy added to the teaching of Scripture that even Christians who have been saved a long time can't tell the difference between the true teaching of Scripture and the gully wash that is man made.
Final Thoughts
Where God has placed a conjunction, we place it but where there is none, we have no right, neither by position nor education, to change anything God has stated in Scripture. Contrary to the belief of higher education, we are not smarter than God. In fact, the more education a person possesses, the easier the downhill slide into anti-biblical thought, and that my friend is the fact. Before I end my commentary, I want to tell you why I used the word "stupid" to describe Christians who refuse to think and search the Scriptures. I just told you!
(Mal 2:11-12 KJV) Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the LORD which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god. {12} The LORD will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the LORD of hosts.
(Mat 11:25 KJV) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
(Luke 10:21 KJV) In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
(Rom 1:22 KJV) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
(1 Cor 1:19 KJV) For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
(1 Cor 1:27 KJV) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
(1 Cor 3:18 KJV) Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
(1 Cor 3:20 KJV) And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
-2/22/98