P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
我不确定我是否见过他，但我就读的神学院的这位教授让我着迷。他叫杰克·迪尔。他在《旧约》系任教。我知道这是一种刻板印象，但在我看来，《旧约》学者是所有《圣经》教师中最坚韧克己的人。在我看来，他们总是比其他人更学术化，更不容易感情用事。他们让我想起很久以前一个节目中的警探，他有一句著名的台词： “只说事实，先生。” 当我得知迪尔要离开神学院是因为他开始相信 “神迹奇事 ”时，我感到非常惊讶。据我所知，他加入的这场运动异常情绪化。这场运动采用了灵恩派运动的许多过激行为。相信赶鬼、说方言、接受预言和神奇的医治。几乎所有人都在这场运动中宣扬行为的福音。信徒必须行善，才能保住他们永恒的救恩。我怎么也想不通，达拉斯神学院一位性格坚韧、勤奋好学的《旧约》系教授会是这样一个团体的成员。达拉斯神学院拒绝接受所有这些东西。他显然是掉进了错误教导的巢穴。 我没有关注迪尔在离开神学院之后的职业生涯。我偶尔会听到他以前的学生谈起他的所作所为。我听说他已经陷入了他所信奉的运动中的一些极端和非正统的教义之中。他相信一些事情，比如上帝正用可以听见的声音对不同的人说话。每次听到这样的报道，我都只是摇摇头就走开了，我无法理解迪尔是如何走到这一步的。 最近，我读到了迪尔为宣传他的新书而进行的一次采访。这本书描述了他的一生。在书中，他谈到了他所经历的困难。这些困难是我所不知道的。他讲述了多年前他父亲自杀给他带来的痛苦和创伤。这对他的影响从幼年就开始了。 但他的生活中还发生过其他毁灭性事件。他的妻子酗酒数十年。妻子的疾病对他们的家庭造成了严重破坏，几乎要了她的命。他有一个儿子是个瘾君子，吸毒后结束了自己的生命。迪尔对自己的挣扎非常坦诚。 在谈到他的父亲时，迪尔曾写道，他期待着在国里见到他的父亲。很显然，在他父亲去世几十年后，他仍然想念父亲。在采访中，他说有人写信给他告诉他，他的父亲不会在天国里。迪尔不会在那里见到他，因为任何自杀的人都会被关进火湖。这意味着他的儿子也会在火湖当中。 这样的评论并不让我感到惊讶。绝大多数参与“神迹奇事”运动的人都持这种观点。他们认为，救恩是可以失去的，自杀的人犯了很大的罪，无法悔改。 迪尔对这些评论的回应让我感到惊喜。虽然他已经花了数年时间参与那场运动，甚至还写了书来支持该运动。但他说他父亲是个信徒。我不知道他的父亲相信什么，但迪尔说，每个信徒都有永远不会失去的永生。他父亲自杀的事实并不能改变这一点。迪尔说，主的恩典确保他确实会在天国里见到他的父亲。 我不得不说：”哇！” 我不知道迪尔怎么能持有这样一个《圣经》信仰，同时又在一个否认这一信仰的运动中担任领导者。这也让我看到了基督的恩典。尽管迪尔接受了这么多奇怪的信仰内容和做法，但他知道自己拥有永生。 他让我着迷。我不理解他。但是，即使我们拒绝了合理的教导，但如果我们相信耶稣会赐予我们永生，那么这份礼物就是我们的。没有什么能改变这一点。这就是主对我们的恩典（《提摩太后书》 2：13）。
The book of Isaiah begins on a bleak note. In Isaiah 1–6, the prophet speaks of Jerusalem as a bloody city with corrupt leaders. The poor and defenseless are oppressed. Isaiah is commissioned to go and tell them to repent of their sins. But Isaiah is told that even though he will appeal to them […]
This question came up in one of my online seminary classes this week. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Why doesn’t it just say that he […]
By Ken Yates INTRODUCTION It is fascinating to study how the meanings of words develop and how different languages use a word. Recently, I heard a Spanish speaker use a word over and over again in a sermon. It was a word with which I was unfamiliar. At first, I thought he was saying causto. […]
By Philippe R. Sterling Saul was Israel’s first king. The Bible’s first mention of him paints a picture of physical perfection: “… choice and handsome…There was not a more handsome person…he was taller than any of the people” (1 Sam 9:2). His physical stature fit the ideal king’s description and was a significant factor in […]
By Bob Wilkin About twenty years ago, at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society, I heard a speaker present a message about the Angel of the Lord (Malak Yahweh). The speaker suggested that the Scriptures show that the Angel of the Lord is never the preincarnate Lord Jesus Christ. After the talk, I […]
By Dix Winston Imagine reading the great Russian novel War and Peace by starting at the book’s midpoint. It would make no sense to you. Who is Pierre Bezukhov, or Audrey Bolkonsky, or the Kuragan and Rostov families? And why is Napoleon invading Russia? It would be difficult, if not impossible, to understand the author’s […]
By Ken Yates INTRODUCTION When I was a boy, I was really thin. In fact, some called me “Skinny Kenny.” The nickname didn’t bother me because it was never said in a mean way. It was simply stating a fact. There were times, however, when I did not like being skinny. Back then, some advertisements […]
By Zane Hodges1 Among the very last recorded words of our Lord Jesus Christ are these: “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev 22:12, emphasis added). This is a clear and definitive statement on the subject of rewards by the […]
By Mike Lii In my family, I’m notorious for being a bargain hunter. I get a thrill when I can purchase a high-value item at a heavily discounted price. For example, my wife and son get hot during parts of the day during the summer months here in Texas. Why? I selected a nights-free electricity […]
In the 1970s, British philosopher Antony Flew coined the phrase, “No true Scotsman.” This expression stands for a well-known logical fallacy: A proponent of a position attempts to protect that position from...
Welcome to the Grace in Focus podcast. Today, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr will answer a question about fear of death. It is always normal...
Shane asked me three related questions: I was on a trip and was flipping through radio stations when I came across the interview you did talking...
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