 |
| Book Cover of C R Stam's THINGS THAT DIFFER. |
THINGS THAT DIFFER
by
C R STAM
I'm launching the Berean Grace Believers blog with this particular book review for a couple of important reasons.
First, without having been introduced to this book many years back, I would not have the confidence or knowledge required to undertake this blog.
Second, reading any post on this blog or any book reviewed on this blog or any other blog, book, column, comment about the bible, "religion", God, Christ or your salvation should not be tackled until you have learned what this book -- or similar books that teach 'rightly dividing' the scriptures -- will teach you.
C R Stam's THINGS THAT DIFFER: THE FUNDAMENTALS OF DISPENSATIONALISM is a recommended addition to your bookshelf, if you are a Christian who
- has been grappling with seeming contradictions you hear about or see in the bible.
- have always struggled with understanding how anything in the bible relates to the present, particularly your life.
- has been puzzled by why there are so many Christian denominations and don't know who is 'right'.
- wonders why there are so many 'versions' of the bible and which one is 'correct' (if any).
- doesn't feel confident enough about your knowledge of the bible (and this possibly keeps you from talking to others about God's word).
- may question your salvation or beliefs because of any of the above or other reasons.
Before I read this book I struggled with some of the above. The most distressing one being that I was so ignorant of the bible and the wisdom found in it's pages, I was unable to share much more than my testimony of salvation.
As paramount as a testimony of salvation is, being able to contend for the faith is critical in these iniquitous times. God's word is being attacked more viciously every day from every quarter. When a Christian speaks up to defend God's word and has no answer when challenged with questions or lies, Satan wins.
Why? Didn't God win victory over Satan at the cross? Yes, absolutely. On the cross, Christ was "the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) The cross is the "power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18)
But the cross only provided the means by which men may be saved. The means of salvation is available to everyone, but only given to those who believe it.
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference. Romans 3:23
This world belongs to Satan, the prince and power of the air. There is no longer any 'nation of God'. The only connections to God left in this wicked world is his Word as recorded in the bible and the holy spirit sealing his people.
Satan thought he was victorious when Christ was crucified, but he was wrong. He discovered his error too late.
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7,8
Christ secured a way of salvation to all who would accept his offer but none can accept it unless they hear it. The hearing of it is what Satan battles to prevent every day. He thinks he can still win.
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:13,14
The holy spirit is the bulwark preventing Satan from overwhelming and completely vanquishing the spread of God's word. (2 Thessalonians 2:6-8)
While the bulwark is in place, Christians must do battle with "the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God". (Ephesians 6:17) When the bulwark is removed, we shall be called home. Not a retreat, but a recognition that the work is complete; all those who will believe will have been reached with God's word.
Is THINGS THAT DIFFER the magic book that has all of the answers? No; that book would be the Bible. So, what's so special about this book?
Does this book address the seeming contradictions in the Bible? Some, yes, but not all. There are countless books, websites, magazine articles, critics and atheists that share thousands of what they assert are "contradictions" in God's word. Every word of God is under attack. It has been so since the beginning when Satan uttered those words, "Yea, hath God said..."
This book isn't about counterattacking these groundless contradictions. THINGS THAT DIFFER, however, will lay the groundwork for launching your own defense against these naysayers by sharpening your knowledge of the sword; God's Word.
Does this book address why there are so many "versions" of the Bible? Not directly. However, it will give you confidence in the veracity and dependability of God's Word and when you read the words from God Himself, defending the integrity of the Bible, you'll understand why there are so many "versions" and where Truth can be found.
(Although THINGS THAT DIFFER doesn't specifically address the above, Berean Grace Believers Bookshelf will be reviewing books that do address those issues.)
THINGS THAT DIFFER, however, does explain why there are so many Christian denominations and confusion over how the Bible is relevant to the present. And it will lay the groundwork for you to gain the knowledge you need to feel confident in your understanding of the Bible. And with such knowledge, you should feel secure in your salvation and beliefs.
What this book does is to explain how to know what part(s) of the Bible applies to us today, right now and why it applies to us. In addition, it explains that there are numerous "gospels" (i.e. "good news"), not just one, and what those gospels are and to whom they were given.
The sub-title of THINGS THAT DIFFERS includes the word "dispensationalism", which according to the dictionary means "belief in a system of historical progression, as revealed in the Bible, consisting of a series of stages in God's self-revelation and plan of salvation".
Another way of looking at "dispensationalism" is in the 'dispensing' of mail. Not all mail delivered to a household is meant for every member of the household. Each piece of mail is addressed to and meant for a specific person in the household. Although there may be sound advice or useful information in a piece of mail addressed to someone else in your household, the information is not meant for you to take action on. However, the mail addressed specifically to you is meant for you and you alone to act on.
The Bible "dispenses" instructions much like this. God delivered "mail" to Israel at a specific point in time and it was only meant for Israel's understanding and direction. He again delivered "mail" to Israel in the four gospels; again only meant for Israel. He eventually delivered mail to Gentiles; the "other nations", us.
Although, as the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.." (2 Timothy 3:16), we must also "rightly divide" it so that we know what is written specifically to us in this dispensation of grace.
And that is what THINGS THAT DIFFERS helps you to see. It doesn't just say it is so. The book shows you how the Bible explains it is so.
And like this first post being only the beginning of this blog, THINGS THAT DIFFER is only the beginning of the knowledge you will gain from reading it.
In the beginning of this post, I noted that without the introduction to this book, I would not have the knowledge or confidence to launch this blog. Yet, this book on its own did not give me the knowledge and confidence.
The book laid the groundwork; giving me the TOOLS to begin a journey. The journey commenced when I started studying the bible to see if the things that THINGS THAT DIFFER was saying lined up with God's Word. And when I decided it did indeed line up with God's Word and was actually opening my eyes to the meaning of the words on the Bible's page, I sought out preachers who were teaching the truth "rightly divided".
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
It was God's Word itself, as taught by these preachers, and my willingness to study the Bible daily, that gave me the knowledge and confidence to start this blog. Not only to start the blog, but to also speak confidently about Christianity and my faith.
The sword of God, his Word, is not the only piece of armor we are told to put on in Ephesians 6:11-18, but it is a critical part of our armor and we must keep it sharpened. Uncertainty dulls the sword, confidence sharpens it.
THINGS THAT DIFFER is a book published by the Berean Bible Society in Germantown Wisconsin. They publish a great number of books on "rightly dividing" the Bible. I will be reviewing a good number of those books on this blog. I will also include other books on "rightly dividing"; some by the preachers who have taught and continue to teach me.
However, I will not be limiting this blog to only books about "rightly dividing" God's word. The goal of this blog is to arm every willing Christian to address the issues included in the bullet points at the beginning of this post. However, as noted earlier, every book -- indeed, every bit of knowledge in this world -- must be viewed through the lens of "rightly dividing".
