English – Vietnamese
Victor wrote the following response to a recent letter from Bimmy (in blue):
Greetings in Christ, Bimmy,
Paul and I share mail here. There are things I would like to say here in your letter to him. I will reply within your letter.
You write: “Dear Paul, You state ‘but that there is one Reality, which is God Himself, and all men’s presentations are false.’ You are a man are you not? and if your statement is accurate, then your presentations here are false as well. Maybe, I am missing something here, did Jesus or God tell you that you were someone or something other than a man? Perhaps, you are the new messiah of the 21st century asked to reveal the Gospel to the people?”
There are things of God and things of men. There are good things and there are evil things. God has created both, and both have proceeded from men. He has used men to do both. His purpose is to teach us to know good and evil, to choose good, and to prosper in Him.
We do not claim to be other than, or better than, men, but what we DO claim is that God is using us to speak what is true. When Paul says that all men’s presentations are false, he is saying that what is of the flesh is false, and what is of the Spirit of God is true. You will find that while there were many falsehoods proclaimed and practiced by the Jews and other peoples in the Old Testament, God also sent prophets to speak the truth, to tell people their sins, so that they could be delivered from their destructives. We are sent to speak such truth. It is not our words we speak, but His, yet ours because we are His.
You write: “You state ‘we have at length pointed out that we are NOT preaching a religion, but rather the Lord Jesus Christ, against man’s religion that has appropriated His Name without His power.’ Has God or Jesus given ‘Paul & Victor’ the power to spread God’s word in his name?”
Yes, He has done so.
You ask: “Or could this be ‘Pauls and Victors’ naivity and ingonarance that makes them an authority of the word of God????? Or could this be ‘Paul’s and Victor’s’ own opinions and interpretations of the word of God????”
Neither. How will you know, Bimmy? Or do you claim to know better?
You say: “Opinions and interpretations certainly does not make up the truth.”
Certainly they do not make up the truth. Concerning God, we have said that nobody has the right to his or her opinion. Which are you expressing, the Words of God, the truth, or your opinion?
You say: “The reader is intelligent enough to make that call for him/herself.”
Is that truth, Bimmy, or is that your opinion? Consider your words, “Opinions and interpretations certainly do not make up the truth.” Nevertheless, it is not a matter of intelligence. That is not our opinion, but the truth, as recorded in the Book of Truth, the Bible, which counters your opinion. As it is written:
“For the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those being lost, but to us being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the understanding of the perceiving ones. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe (1 Corinthians 1:18-21 MKJV).
You now address our readership, and Lord willing, we will share this with them. You say: “It is up to you dear reader, to isolate fact, from fiction, opinion, innuendo and interpretation. After all the search for God, is indeed a personal journey that only can be made from understanding and knowing your own personal truth.”
“Your own personal truth“? In other words, one may drive on the left side of the street, the other on the right, and both are right because it is “his own personal truth”? One can be against murder, and the other for, and a third somewhere in-between, as long as each “knows his own personal truth”? Or an employer can ask for one thing, but you have the right to give him something else, or refuse him altogether while remaining his employee because, after all, it is “his own personal truth” and “your own personal truth”? Or you have the right to smoke in a room filled with people and to keep that conviction, as “your own personal truth,” while others who do not believe in smoking, keeping that conviction as “their own personal truth,” have to inhale second-hand smoke?
The point is that there is a solid standard that does not waver, and which serves all equally and perfectly well. That is God’s Law, the fulfilment of which can only be obtained through the Perfect Standard, Jesus Christ, Who is none other than God Himself, proven so by the resurrection from the dead, which resurrection He declared He IS. Let us indeed separate fact and truth from fiction and opinion, Bimmy. For people to think they can treasure “their own personal truth” is simply foolish. As the Spirit-inspired prophets of God have taught, there is no “your own personal truth.”
Victor’s reply continues regarding the validity and consequences of “knowing your own personal truth”:
There was a period in Israel’s history, for example, when they were in a complete mess because, as it was recorded:
“In those days there was no king in Israel [no law and order], but every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6).
They each “knew their own personal truth.” The Bible calls “knowing your own personal truth,” “iniquity” which is “lawlessness.” There are two things in this world, Bimmy, and only two. There are, as you say, men’s opinions, and then there is God’s truth. It is written:
“Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar, just as it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, and You may overcome when You are judged'” (Romans 3:4).
There certainly IS Truth, it is God’s Truth, it is God’s will that we know the Truth, therefore we CAN know it, we do know it, and that is what we preach. Who will know it? Can “intelligence” determine it, as you declare? Here is what the apostle Paul said:
“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:14-16).
By Solomon, the wisest that ever lived, next to Jesus Christ, it is written:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8).
Do you have greater understanding, or more intelligence than did the writers of the Holy Scriptures? Whom should we believe, them, or you? They recorded, at the cost of their lives, that Christ gave His life that we would have His Spirit and Mind, to know truth from error. There is no other way to know the difference. Not knowing Him, we are in deep darkness, without understanding. As it says:
“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it” (John 1:4-5).
You conclude: “So in the interest of truth, let’s separate opinion from fact and let the reader decided for him/herself what holds true to them.”
Obviously, you think that we are opining in ignorance while you give us “the truth.” You find it difficult, if not impossible, to believe that we may be speaking the truth, and that you are giving us your opinion. If nothing else, consider that we teach authoritatively from the Holy Scriptures He has given to us for guidance and confirmation of His will and ways. We quote from the Scriptures, as did Jesus Christ Himself.
Are you wiser than Jesus Christ? What do you give us? Men’s philosophies, opinions, their “own personal truth”? Bimmy, it won’t work. We have been there, long ago, and are very thankful that we are no longer there. We have been on both of two sides, first dark, now light. We think that light is much better. When the Truth has apprehended you, then you too will be very thankful. We guarantee it.
You sign off with: “Best wishes to you on this quest dear reader. Bimmy.”
While you are wishing, and giving your opinions, we are preaching the truth, whereby people believing can come into Reality. Jesus said:
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
We are free, Bimmy, and we desire that you also be free, along with every person alive. Then there will be peace, love, joy, fulfilment, and godliness for all to share. That day will come. God has promised it.
Victor Hafichuk
Opinion
Humankind takes pride in the false humility of saying, “It is only my opinion.” But is it not opinion that divides us from God and from each other? People act as if by having an opinion, and allowing others to have the same, they are promoting peace and goodwill. While choosing to opine, many think they are being objective, broad-minded, and understanding, but it is the very opposite. Opinion promotes division, strife, disagreement, and dissension. That is how and why there are 35,000 plus “Christian” denominations and so many other religions.