July 2003 chaplain's corner

The Chaplain's Corner is a monthly message for chaplains.

Chaplain's Corner - July, 2003

Rev. Rich Hines

This message is primarily for those who call on the name of Jesus Christ as their own Lord and Savior, and are serving as correctional or rescue mission chaplains within the United States.

This month, rather than an exposition of a portion of Scripture, I want to address the issue of teaching inmates and in the case of rescue missions the residents, about the central place and importance of the Bible. It is absolutely foundational to all Christian life and ministry.

Generally, inmates have little or no comprehension of the AUTHORITY of the Bible. Many things in their religious and secular backgrounds, and even in the correctional religious system, contribute to this. Some of them are convinced that the Bible is archaic, full of errors and totally FROM A HUMAN SOURCE.

By the power of the Holy Spirit a Christian chaplain must correct these serious errors and convince inmates that the Bible actually is the very word of an Eternal, Sovereign God. It alone has the ultimate answers to their deepest problems. I want to suggest a two fold approach: teach inmates and residents about the SOURCE and AUTHORITY of the Bible. But first, I want to spend a little time on the issue of translations and paraphrases.

You need to understand that the educational level of most inmates is not suited to the King James Version (KJV), yet at the same time be very CAREFUL not to get them into a text ONLY because it is easier to read - at the cost of a good word for word translation.

At Aurora Ministries we highly recommend the New King James Version (NKJV), which is a solid word for word, new and accurate translation from the same family of ancient texts as the KJV. We also highly recommend the New American Standard Bible (NASB) which is a solid word for word translation from the same texts the NIV paraphrasers used. The difference in these two base manuscript texts is about 15%, and no major doctrine is contradicted or changed by either manuscript. The NKJV is less expensive than the NASB and has all the differences in manuscripts noted in the margins.

An important truth to remember about how God gave His word is that, in the original languages, especially in the New Testament, it was given by the Holy Spirit - in the COMMON LANGUAGE of everyday people.

If you're a brother that is stuck on the KJV, we heartily agree with you that it is an excellent word for word translation. It was done in the common language of England in the early 1600's. That form of English is not the common language of English speaking people today. Don't fear that some of the newer English word for word translations are not equally giving people the true word of God. Remember however, it is best to stay away from paraphrases like the NIV, the Living Bible, and other simplified versions that sacrifice commitment to word for word accuracy for the sake of "readability."

Having stated that, I must also confess that I have seen inmates with a very limited educational understanding of language, transformed by the old KJV Bible. I know it was the Spirit's work through His word.

Some parts of Scripture are - by its own admission, "hard to understand," (2 Peter 3:16). One reason for this is that the Bible is from a Holy God to sinful men. Yet thorough and prayerful searching of God's word gives the reader understanding as to its meaning. Look at Psalm 119:97-104, 130. Note the seven different phrases the writer uses that all describe the Bible: "Your LAW," "Your COMMANDMENTS," "Your TESTIMONIES," "Your PRECEPTS" "Your WORD," "Your JUDGMENTS," and "Your WORDS."

97 Oh, how I love Your Law! It is my meditation all the day.

98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the ancients (the aged), because I keep Your precepts.

101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.

102 I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me. (right there we see God Himself teaches the sincere reader)

103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

130 The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.

Yes, humble, teachable believing hearts that spend much time in God's word (no matter what the translation) can indeed learn His ways. At the same time you need to correct at the outset any idea that anyone can come to a "quickie" understanding of the depths of God's word. It takes time.

Now I want to stress that you need to teach about: THE SOURCE OF THE BIBLE -

There is much external and internal evidence that the Bible (the 66 books of the canon - 39 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books) is in fact the very word of God.

Externally, we can look at the evidence from archaeology, ancient recorded history, and more importantly, at the miracle of changed lives - all show that what the Bible says is true and works.

However, the strongest testimony that it is truly God-breathed, is the internal evidence within the Bible itself. Men do not write like the Bible. By contrast, men always lift themselves up in their pride rather than constantly showing their failures and weaknesses and total inability to correct themselves. But the Bible does exactly that!

1 Peter 1:10-12 tells us the prophets who wrote at God's direction did not even understand the very things they wrote! By contrast, a human author that is truly the source of his own writing knows and understands what he is communicating.

So chaplain, you MUST establish the Bible as the very word of God. It is the message of the Creator to His creation, man. It was given to us by God, the Holy Spirit. Good verses and passages for teaching on these themes are:

Psalm 119:96

"I have seen the consummation of all perfection, but (by contrast) Your commandment is exceedingly broad."

This is saying the Bible is more than anything an unaided human mind can wrap itself around.

Acts 1:16

"...THIS SCRIPTURE had to be fulfilled, WHICH THE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE BY THE MOUTH OF DAVID..." (Compare to 2 Peter 2:19-21)

2 Peter 1:19-21

"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed, as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star (a reference to Christ) rises in your hearts; knowing this first (literally, first of all - as a matter of utmost importance), that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation (or origin), for prophecy (telling forth God's truth) never came by the will of man, BUT HOLY MEN OF GOD SPOKE AS THEY WERE MOVED (or carried along) BY THE HOLY SPIRIT."

1 Corinthians 2:12-14

"Now we (followers of Christ) have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, NOT IN WORDS WHICH MAN'S WISDOM TEACHES, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (scrutinized)."

1 Thessalonians 2:13

"...we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it NOT AS THE WORD OF MEN, BUT AS IT IS IN TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD, which also effectively works in you who believe."

There's a lot in this verse to teach your sheep (see the September 2001 Chaplain's Corner).

2 Timothy 3:15-17, This passage is very important. Go over this at least twice a month with those under your care!

"...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 (literally, "is God-breathed out"), and is profitable for doctrine (teaching), for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Hebrews 1:1,2

"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, who He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds,"

God is a God of communication, and His greatest communication is through and about His Son.

1 Peter 1:10-12, I referenced this key passage earlier, but look at it now.

"Of this salvation the prophets HAVE INQUIRED and SEARCHED carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, SEARCHING what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating (by inspiration, by the breath of God) when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. TO WHOM (the same prophets) IT WAS REVEALED that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - "

These very men of God, the prophets that wrote at the guiding of the Holy Spirit, didn't understand all of what they were writing. It had to be revealed to them what it was about and for whom it was written.

Jude 3

"...contend earnestly for the faith (i.e. the body of truth to be believed, the Bible) WHICH WAS ONCE FOR ALL DELIVERED to the saints"

You also need to teach inmates THAT THERE IS NO ONGOING REVELATION FROM God. There is no more inspiration of Scriptures. All that God has said to man has been said in the blessed 66 books of the Old and New Testament.

You also need to teach THE AUTHORITY AND IMPORTANCE OF THE BIBLE IN DAILY LIFE - The transition from the SOURCE to the SERIOUSNESS of the AUTHORITY of the Bible is easily made. If it truly is from God, it has His authority! He is Master and Sovereign of all. There is no one higher who has the final word over Him. He is the final Authority.

We teach the authority of the Scriptures as much or more by the way we act in front of the inmates and residents as by what we say to them. Everything in the lives of chaplains and volunteers as it is on display to them, MUST have sound Scriptural backing. When it doesn"t, when you are (like I often am) out of step with the Spirit of God, you need to confess that to the inmates and residents. You and any other minister of the gospel (myself included) need to be Spirit-filled and not fleshly.

It is impossible to be Spirit-filled (Holy Spirit controlled) and not at the same time Scripture -filled. A comparison of Ephesians 5:18,19 to Colossians 3:16 and Acts 4:31 shows this fact.

Ephesians 5:18,19

"...do not be drunk with wine, but (literally)"be being kept" filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, "

Colossians 3:16

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing (warning) one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."

In Ephesians it's "be filled with the Holy Spirit." In Colossians it's be "word of Christ" richly indwelt or filled. In both cases the results are the same: speaking to and teaching one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing in your heart to the Lord. It's impossible to be Spirit filled or controlled, and not word controlled.

Acts 4:31, gives an example:

"And when they (the church) had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness."

Stephen was a man "full of faith and the Holy Spirit" (Acts 6:5). In the seventh chapter of Acts, we see the demonstration of that filling. He boldly spoke out the Scripture confronting sin from the Old Testament.

We must interpret every part of our lives in the light of the Bible and be very careful not to interpret Scripture in the light of our experiences or what "the brethren" say. As inmates and residents SEE in you the evidence of every thought being brought into captivity to obeying Christ's word, they have a living example of the authority and importance of God's word in daily living.

You need to be telling them how you have been challenged RECENTLY to change your thoughts rather than to support them, by the witness of the Scriptures. You should also regularly show them how the Bible has answers to everyday problems in your life. Then, they'll often want to make comparisons to their own life.

An inmate (or anybody else) lacking the understanding of the role and power of God's word will never be a success in the Christian life. They will be lost eternally, thinking perhaps they were saved, or they will be doomed to a lifetime of Christian carnality and chastening from their heavenly Father, UNTIL THEY LEARN TO LIVE BY GOD'S WORD. This is very, very important.

Good verses and passages for teaching on these themes are: Joshua 1:1-9 (especially verses 7-9), Psalm 1, Psalm 119 (the longest chapter in the Bible), Mark 12:18-27 (especially verses 24-27) where Christ pointed out the tragic error of not understanding the Scriptures and applying them to one's life, and Hebrews 4:12,13 quoted below:

"...the word of God (the Bible) is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, (it gets right down to the core) and is a discerner (a judge, a critic) of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."

I cannot escape one bit of exposition here from Hebrews 4:13. When it says the word of God makes us "naked and open," the text is actually communicating the following image. The Scriptures of the Bible uncover us and like an ancient wrestler, take us by the throat in a stranglehold of conviction before God. That's authority in and over our lives!

A FINAL THOUGHT: You must start with the source and authority of the Bible with the inmates and residents because without their having the correct view of Scripture, it's useless to talk to them about God. Unless a person's concepts and understanding of whom they refer to as "God" are in line with what the Bible teaches about Him, their worship will be idolatrous.

No one can find the true God and the truth about Him without the revelation that comes from Him. It is the biblical Jesus, and only that Jesus, that is the pinnacle of that revelation to man from God. God has told mankind all they need to know about Him and has placed it in the written Scripture of the Bible. That Scripture points us all to Jesus Christ.

For the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Rich Hines

Minister To Chaplains - Aurora Ministries