Old Wives' Myths

“Neither give heed to myths…” (I Timothy 1:4).

“Refuse profane and old wives' myths…” (I Timothy 4:7).

“They shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto myths” (II Timothy 4:4).

“Not giving heed to Jewish myths, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth” (Titus 1:14).

Paul was warning about this over 1900 years ago. It makes good common sense for us to think about the "myths", "old wives’ myths" and "commandments of men" which get embedded in church doctrine from time to time and return to the truth if we have been "turned" to these "myths".  

"It is a trustworthy saying, deserving full acceptation, and it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers, Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Don't be "Myth-taken"

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord...instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths… It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1:1-20)

You can search all you want but you will not find a single verse in the Old Testament that even hints of a penalty for sin consistent with Christianity’s morbid concept of “hell” (eternal conscious torment). It is a myth.  The penalty for sin is DEATH in the Bible.

In the New Testament the references of Jesus to Gehenna (translated "hell" in English) refers to the garbage dump outside Jerusalem where trash and some dead bodies were burned up. He was not talking about some never ending mythological torture chamber. In the garbage dump the worm does not die nor is the fire quenched until its job of consuming it contents is done.

Why Christians would make Gehenna a figure of speech for the Greek mythological hell is beyond my comprehension.  The only explanation is they were deceived by the one whose job it is to deceive...Satan.

Jesus came into the world to save sinners from DEATH - the penalty for sin. But for more than 1900 years there have been an abundance of leaders in the church like “Hymenaeus and Alexander” shipwrecked in regard to their faith by strange doctrines and myths. In embracing the myth of eternal conscious torment they blaspheme God it seems to me.  In effect they deny that Jesus is the Savior of the World.

It is not that anyone will escape judgment or condemnation.  It is just that all of God’s dealings with mankind in regard to judgment is with a view to the eventual reconciliation of ALL...even Hymenaeus and Alexander and their modern day counterparts. That is if you read and study the Bible, not some commentary or sermon of "Myth-taken" men (pun intended).

“…through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...” (Colossians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 5)

There is absolutely no thought in the minds of the writers of Scripture with regard to eternal conscious torment in hell.  Such punitive retribution was introduced centuries ago by corrupt theology and is being passed on as truth by many today. Churches are full of good people doing some good things...but teaching myths and strange doctrine is not among them.

God will do what is necessary after the resurrection to set everyone right with God and changing us into His image.

I understand the frustration of Paul with these men, and why Paul simply had to hand “Hymenaeus and Alexander" over to Satan. They refused to listen to the Scripture and preferred their own religious doctrine to the truth. That is why I write this blog and quote Scripture to back up my thoughts. Too many are simply unaware of the mythological guilt trip these false teachers impose on people...

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

The Joy of Your Salvation

King David lamented to God…“Restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:12)

I think many Christians have lost the “joy” of their salvation. David lost it due to the guilt associated with his sin and I suppose that still happens. But many who have lost this joy are not sure why? They are faithful members of a local church.

I sympathize with them because I lost my joy while actively involved in a local Church as a deacon, lay preacher, and bible teacher, and serving on an international mission board. But the more I served the less joy I had. After 25 years of working in the local church trying to please God, all I had was “guilt” that I just did not do enough, which guilt was regularly reinforced by well-meaning pastors and guest evangelists who would imply that most people would end up in hell because the church was not doing a good enough job to save them.

AND THEN IT HAPPENED…GOD OPENED MY EYES TO THE TRUTH. I had labored all those years to DO what God in Christ had already DONE for the lost.

Opening my eyes was pretty simple really. First He showed me that the doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell was a lie and showed me the truth about those mistranslated passages used to teach such a horrible fable. Then it was simply a matter of believing the Bible, especially the message Jesus gave the Apostle Paul to preach to the nations…

“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…for it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL MEN, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7, 9-11)

In this same letter to Timothy written 2000 years ago, Paul warned that the days would come when people would fall away from this faith and pay attention to doctrines of demons…

“But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons…have nothing to do with worldly fables…” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7)

This falling away began to happen toward the end of Paul’s ministry as shown in Paul’s 2nd and final letter to Timothy where he encouraged him to….

“Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. You are aware of the fact that all who are in Asia turned away from me.” (2 Timothy 1:15)

This turning from the gospel of the salvation of all given to Paul to a gospel of a mere “offer” of Salvation was well established in the Church by the fourth century AD along with some myths of deceitful spirits which are still taught as doctrines in Churches today…myths which have robbed mankind of the JOY OF THEIR SALVATION.

The JOY of my Salvation is my most precious possession!

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom EVERY family in heaven and ON EARTH derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in LOVE, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21)

1. Pray to be strengthen by His Spirit

2. Pray that we grasp and come to know the depth of the love of Christ

This is the prayer we should be praying for ourselves....and those we care about...knowing that God is in control of the rest of the stuff we normally pray about. 

When we come to know the depth of the love of Christ for sinners we will no longer believe myths framed by religious men…like a loving God torturing people for all eternity.

"God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor? Or who has first given to him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:32-36)