DISTORTING THE TRUTH
1. In the book of John we find a simple expression: the Jews.
2. When this expression is found in the book of John it almost always indicates bad news.
3. John frequently used this description to describe people who opposed Jesus.
4. One example of this expression is found in Jn. 2
5. Jesus
had just performed a great sign; He had cleaned out the temple in
6. After
this event (and this should be classified as a miracle) the Jews said,
“show us a sign” (
7. Jesus
told them, “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up in 3 days” (Jn.
8. Jesus was talking about His body.
9. Near
the end of his life the Jews altered the Lord’s statement (Mk.
10. They
said Jesus specifically spoke of the actual temple in
11. If we compare Jn. 2 and Mk. 14 it is clear that these people lied.
12. People misrepresented Jesus.
13. In the book of Amos we find that the prophet had a similar problem.
14. He said some things that people didn’t like.
15. A man named Amaziah misrepresented him.
16. This story starts in Amos 7:10.
17. This passage tells us about a priest named Amaziah.
A. This man was the priest for the state religion (Baal worship).
B. Apparently this man had some influence in the royal court.
C. This priest used his influence to launch a complaint against Amos.
18. LET’S SEE WHAT THIS
MAN SAID – AMOS
19. The first charge that was made against Amos is found in verse 10.
A. The pagan priest said that Amos had conspired against king Jeroboam.
B. A charge of conspiracy is a serious charge.
C. A conspiracy means that people are secretly planning an evil act.
D. Something like murder or treason is being planned.
E. People are working together to destroy or overthrow something.
F. Amaziah
said that Amos was conspiring against the king of
G. This
conspiracy was being planned in the midst of the house of
H. The prophet Amos was in the king’s country and he was allegedly engaged in a plot.
I. This wasn’t true.
J. Amos had no political aspirations. He didn’t want to be king.
K. He was not trying to replace Jeroboam with another ruler.
L. He was not involved in any kind of plot.
M. If this prophet were involved with any kind of revolution it was spiritual, not secular.
N. Amaziah then made a second charge (10b):
O. The land is not able to bear all his words.
P. Here
is a metonymy. The word “land” meant the
people of
Q. The
people in
R. In fact, Amos was a person who bothered people.
S. His
message was not considered to be helpful to the northern section of
T. His message left people feeling bad.
U. These people didn’t want to hear the type of preaching he did.
V. Thus, it would be best if this prophet went south (verse 12).
W. It
would be best if Amos went to
20. What happened to Amos is the very thing that happened to Jesus.
A. The Lord had to tell people that the actions in the temple were corrupt.
B. He had to tell people they were thieves, swindlers, and crooks.
C. Jesus forewarned people that they would call for His death.
D. The people that needed to hear this message didn’t want to be told about their sins.
E. They didn’t want to hear that they were thieves and crooks.
F. To get Jeus talking about something else they said, “What sign are you going to perform?”
G. Both Jesus and Amos had people misrepresent them and their teachings.
21. As we look Amos 7 we find that other charges were made against this prophet.
A. Amaziah said Amos had predicated that King Jeroboam would die by the sword.
B. This charge was a lie.
C. This is not what Amos said.
D. Let’s back up to verse 9. READ.
E. God was coming against the king’s house. This is what the prophet said.
F. If we want to be real technical this is what God said, not God’s prophet.
G. Amos did not invent this message.
H. Furthermore, King Jeroboam died a natural death.
I. His son, however, died because of an assassination.
I). If I say that something is going to happen to your relatives that is one thing.”
J. If your turn around and claim I have said something will happen to you that misrepresents me.”
K. This what happened to Amos; his teachings were repeated but they were not accurately repeated.
22. Amaziah was so unhappy with Amos that he told him to go home (verse 12).
23. He told Amos to flee.
24. It appears that Amaziah alleged that Amos was preaching for money.
25. Amaziah
ordered this prophet to take his sermons to southern
26. He said that Amos was at the king’s court (verse 13).
27. He was in a place where he wasn’t wanted and it was time for him to leave.
28. AMOS AND JESUS HAD
THEIR MESSAGES DISTORTED AND USED AGAINST THEM.
29. Others have faced this same problem.
30. According to Acts 16 Paul expelled a demon from a young slave girl.
31. After the demon was cast out the girl’s owners became angry.
32. They made false charges against Paul and Barnabas.
33. Acts 16:20-21.
34. The falseness of the charges is established in verse 35.
35. When we think about Christians being misrepresented we cannot overlook what Peter said.
36. Peter predicated that people would “speak evil of” the “truth.”
37. In His first letter he said this (1 Pet. 4:4). READ.
A. When Christians do not do what the world wants the world often misrepresents them.
B. Jesus didn’t want to participate in the sins committed at the temple.
C. People misrepresented Him and His death.
D. Jesus met with some people that others didn’t like.
E. This caused people to represent him as a drunkard, a glutton, and demon possessed.
F. Amos didn’t approve of things in Northern Israel; he and his message were misrepresented.
G. Paul didn’t approve of things in Acts 16; he and his friend were misrepresented.
38. IF WE ARE A
CHRISTIAN WE WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE.
A. If we claim that God has given us a standard we must follow we will be misrepresented.
B. Those who claim that there is only one way to God are sometimes charged with extremism.
C. This belief is labeled as radicalism.
D. If we say that certain things are wrong some mark us as intolerant.
E. If we affirm that there is only one church we are classified as a cult.
F. If we reject all religions but Christianity we are viewed as bigoted and prejudicial.
G. If we say that we must obey the Lord to be saved we are seen as judgmental.
H. When we say that most will be lost we are called harsh and loving.
I. Saying that marriage is between a man and a woman causes others to say we are guilty of hate.
J. If we declare that we believe the Bible is from God some brand us as religious fanatics.
K. To say that our hope is based upon the next life is in some cases associated with fanaticism.
L. Some are inclined to associate this belief with terrorism.
M. Earnestly teaching our families and others about God is sometimes viewed as brainwashing.
N. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, Christians and Christianity are misrepresented.
39. One of the ways that we are misrepresented is not widely known
A. To those of you who are unaware of this, Christianity is misrepresented in the Koran.
B. In recent weeks we have heard a lot about the Koran.
C. What we haven’t heard is that this book misrepresents and distorts Christianity.
D. Some of what is in the Koran is more associated with Catholicism than Christianity.
E. Many of the practices this book opposes are Catholic and not Christian.
F. The Koran also opposes things that were abuses of Christianity.
G. To understand these abuses we probably need an illustration.
H. In the past there were people who said that the Bible approves of slavery.
I. In the past some argued that the Bible teaches that slavery is good and right.
J. Scripture does not say that slavery is good or right but this is what some alleged.
K. The Koran attacks Christianity in part because Muhammad saw so-called Christians justifying sin.
40. When the Koran uses the word Christianity it says several things that are very negative.
A. According to this volume (and I have the references written down),
B. Christians are wicked in their lifestyles (3:110; 5:59, 66; 57:27).
C. This is how this book represents the people in this room.
D. We are, according to this volume, evil people.
E. There are times when this is true in the church but this is not the norm.
F. This is certainly not the standard that is found in the Bible.
G. In the Koran it is alleged that Christians hate Muslims.
H. It is said that this hatred is great and it is deceitfully hidden (3:118, 119)
I. When disaster comes to Muslims the Koran says that Christians rejoice.
J. I find this charge to be rather interesting.
K. Afghanistan is being bombed. Muslims are dying.
L. How many have us have heard someone say in a prayer, “Praise God for bombings?”
M. How many have prayed or heard someone pray, “Oh, God slaughter more of those people?”
N. How many of us have rejoiced over the death of civilian or military causalities?
II). I will tell you what I have heard.
III). Just this morning someone said to me, “Think of all the Muslims in the world.
IV). There are millions of them and they are not saved.”
O. We haven’t prayed or thought these things but this is how we are represented in the Koran.
P. These misrepresentations are serious and they allegedly describe us.
Q. The Koran also says that Christians treat Muslims with guile (3:120).
R. Christians compete with each other to make illicit profits (5:62).
S. Christian priests (and this seems to refer to Catholicism) don’t condemn sin.
T. In fact, the priests are frequently guilty of sin (5:63).
U. Christian monks (this seems to be another reference to Catholicism) take rich people’s money.
V. They also keep people away from the truth (9:34).
W. Christians display pride, enmity, hatred, and faction among themselves (5:14; 30:32).
41. Because of these passages the Koran warns Muslims about being friends with Christians.
42. The exception seems to be if a Muslim needs a friend or needs help guarding property, ask a Christian.
43. This reference is found in 3:28.
44. It seems that we are the “last resort.”
45. Amos, Jesus, and Paul and Peter’s readers were all misrepresented.
46. Things were said about them that were not true.
47. Is this still occurring?
48. It is and it happens with a great deal of frequency.
49. When this happens we are often unable to respond in the way that we would like.
50. We can remember that this happened to others.
A. No matter what the people said Jesus the Lord kept going.
B. People could misrepresent His death but he still went to the cross.
C. Amos was misrepresented but he continued to preach.
D. Paul continued to evangelize even thought people misrepresented him and the gospel.
E. What about us?
F. If we or the message we bear is misrepresented what will we do?
G. The misrepresentation of our Christian life or our faith is a test.
51. Will we stay faithful to God even if we or our faith is misrepresented?