Contents
YM repeatedly questions the authority of the Bible. In so doing, he has essentially rejected the written words of God.
1. Denies the New Testament Scriptures
The True Jesus Church believes that the Holy Bible, consisting of the Old and New Testaments, is inspired by God. YM, however, rejects the New Testament as Scripture. He argues that when Paul wrote that all Scripture is God-breathed, Paul was speaking only of the Old Testament Scripture. He teaches that the New Testament is not God’s word but contradicts the Old Testament in many places. He cites Jesus’ teachings on the mount as examples of how Jesus has added to and subtracted from many of God’s words.
Although he often uses passages in the New Testament as basis for his own teachings, YM alleges that the church’s recognition of the New Testament is based on the decisions of the Roman Catholic church. According to YM, the apostles’ writings were meant to be personal letters, not Scriptures, and that most believers in the early church had no access to the Gospels. He views the 27 books of the New Testament as additions and revisions to God’s word and does not regard these books as carrying divine authority. Quoting God’s promise that He would write His laws on the hearts of His people, YM concludes that God’s word is not what’s written on paper, and that there is really no standard by which we can all follow.
In reality, the books of the New Testament were accepted by Christians long before the Synod of Hippo affirmed their canonicity in 393 A.D. The words and deeds of our Lord were known to the believers in the first century, even though written records as found in the Gospels were not widely accessible (cf. Lk 24:18-19; Acts 2:22). Paul expected his letters to the churches to be circulated and read (cf. Col 4:16). Peter, who wrote concerning the inspiration of the Scriptures, considered Paul’s writings as Scripture (2 Pet 3:16). Therefore, the authority of the New Testament books were already recognized very early on, even before the death of the apostles.
The apostles were eyewitnesses of the Lord Jesus and most of them had personally followed the Lord (cf. Acts 1:22). The doctrines they preached and wrote down were received directly from the Lord (cf. 1 Cor 11:23; 2 Pet 1:16). The words in the New Testament books center on Christ and were written and passed down through the disciples as words of eternal life (cf. Jn 20:31; Acts 5:20; Heb 2:3; 1 Jn 1:1-2). To question the authority of the New Testament is to discredit the word of life that originated from our Savior. Without the New Testament Scripture, our entire Christian faith would be baseless. [Back to top]
2. Belittles Scripture’s Authority
Not only has YM denied the divine authority of the New Testament, he has also begun to question the importance of the entire Bible. He claims that faith does not rest on written words or dogma, since the saints of old did not read the written words of God the Bible. In YM’s view, the saints who did not have the Bible were able to write the Bible whereas we who have the Bible to read today do not even understand the Bible. He believes that faith is captured in a mental image or in a moment of inspiration. He encourages his listeners to seek for things beyond the written words of the Scriptures.
On the surface, YM seems correct in teaching that our faith should not be confined to the exact letters. But as is evident in his talks, his final goal is none other than to overthrow the basic beliefs of the True Jesus Church. By questioning the importance of the written words of the Bible, he attempts to undermine the foundation of our beliefs. Without the Bible as the standard, faith would have no basis but would depend solely upon one’s own notions and feelings.
Ironically, YM keeps citing stories from the Bible to illustrate his point, although he tells his listeners in the same breath that we do not need too many written words. In other words, he picks and chooses what is important in the Bible to serve his own agenda. But when the words of the Bible contradict his teachings, they are cast aside as mere letters.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians that the new covenant is not of the letter but of the Spirit. “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Cor 3:6). From the context of this verse we understand that Paul is not dismissing the written words of Scripture. Rather, he is emphasizing that we must turn to the Lord in our hearts and accept what is written in Scripture about Christ (2 Cor 3:16-17). If a person only adheres to the letters of the covenant written in stone but does not accept Christ in the Spirit, his heart is still veiled and he cannot see life. Nowhere do we see any hint that Paul suggests doing away with the written words of the Scriptures.
The Lord Jesus and the apostles held the Scriptures with the highest esteem. When tempted by the devil, Jesus overcame by citing the very words of the Scriptures, saying “It is written…” (Mt 4:1-11). He asserted that the Scriptures bear witness about Him (Jn 5:39). After the resurrection, He rebuked the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus for their disbelief, saying, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!” (Lk 24:25). He then explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself, beginning at Moses and all the Prophets (Lk 24:27). In another appearance to His disciples, the Lord Jesus again spoke about the fulfillment of what is written about Him in the Scriptures: “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” (Lk 24:44). The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms together refer to all of the Scriptures written in the Old Testament. Our Lord Jesus was not referring to the fulfillment of some vague and general idea about the Christ. Rather, everything that is written in the Scriptures about Jesus Christ must be fulfilled.
Paul wrote to Timothy about the crucial importance of the Scriptures: “And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:15-16). As evident in some other translations, “Holy Scriptures” is literally “Holy Writings.” Without the writings there would be no Scriptures. The very words written in the Bible are sacred. They are God-breathed, and they make us wise for salvation. Dismissing the importance of the written words of the Bible is rejecting God and His words. To seek a way of salvation apart from the written words the Bible only takes a person further from God. The Scriptures must be the final authority and standard by which our faith and relationship with God are measured. [Back to top]