1) Rob’s Chronological Bible Commentary: Introduction

Article author: Rob Rose
Article editor: JayMalakai (Links only)

“A Seeker’s Quest”

Back in 1973, there was a young woman in San Diego, California. Her name was, “Mary”. Mary met and fell in love with a young man named, “Bob”. They courted and after several months, they were married. Mary had been raised by an Italian mother and a partially Irish father so Roman Catholicism was in her blood and upbringing. On the other hand, Bob had been raised by a Mid-Western set of parents who had moved to San Diego while he was still a young lad. Although not deeply religious, Bob was generally raised as a Protestant, although a rather superficial form of it. Methodism would probably be the closest style akin to Bob’s upbringing.

During Mary’s teenage years, however, she met a very special priest, Father Callousie. Father Callousie was a unique brand of priest. His words differed from the other priests and bishops she had been exposed to in the Church. He didn’t demand that she attend Confession nor follow the directives of the Pope. Plus, he never taught her to pray to Mary. Father Callousie shared a very different yet very inspirational message with her. This message changed her life forever. First, he instructed Mary to read her Bible for herself. Additionally, she was taught all she needed to do to be a Christian was confess her sins before God, the Father, and to accept Jesus, the Christ, as God’s atonement and salvation for her sin. In fact, that’s all anyone had to do to be saved. Upon hearing this, she prayed a sinner’s prayer and immediately felt the Holy Spirit enter into her life.

She would carry this faith on with her into her marriage. Mary continued to attend Roman Catholic services and her husband, Bob, himself not a Catholic, attended mass with her. He still believed in Jesus and his wife, Mary, wasn’t hung up on a Catholics-only mentality. Rather, Mary believed that all true Christians went to Heaven, not just Roman Catholics. This was a testimony to the influence of Father Callousie.

Come 1974, Bob and Mary gave birth to a little bundle of joy… me! Within that first month, I was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith with both sets of grandparents in attendance. Mary’s brother, George, my uncle even served as my Godfather. About the time I turned four, my parents had moved to a different area of the city. My mom was going through some difficult times dealing with some personal issues so she went and investigated the local Catholic Church. When she arrived to speak with the priest, however, he was rushed and did not have time for her. He was very preoccupied and had a very important task to attend to… he was going to the gym to work-out. Because of this very important date with the health-club, he just did not have time to counsel my mom. As you can imagine for a young mother going through troublesome times, this was a devastating blow to her. This was no Father Callousie. The Church didn’t have time for her and placed a physical workout as a higher importance than her spiritual condition. The Roman Catholic Church failed her during her time of need.

My mother went back to her new house spiritually fragile and heart-broken. When she returned home she remembered a neighbor whom she had met just two days before. He lived three houses down from us and his name was Wade Parker. In casual conversation, he had mentioned that he pastored a church, Grace Chapel, about a mile from where we lived. It was part of the Christian Missionary Alliance group of churches. Christian Missionary Alliance is technically non-denominational, but their theology, organization, and doctrine are very Baptist in style coupled with a strong emphasis and support for missionaries serving in foreign countries. This is the first church which I remember attending. My first Sunday School experience was with the Christian Missionary Alliance Church, my first sermons were with the Christian Missionary Alliance Church, as well as my first exposure to the old fashioned hymns. Every Sunday service included the singing of the Doxology.

Because of my mother’s recent negative experience with the local Catholic Church and the serendipitous encounter with Pastor Wade, she felt that the Lord had led her to this new church. My grandmother, being a proud Italian Roman Catholic, was very unhappy with Mary’s move toward the Protestant faith. This caused much tension between them for many years. While my mother insisted she was still a Christian, her mother would insist that the Roman Catholic Church was the only true Church. (Happily, my grandmother came to accept my mother’s faith as she, herself, accepted Jesus personally in her final years.) My mother refused to raise me under these rigid beliefs so she enrolled my in a decidedly non-Catholic Christian grade school when 1st grade arrived, Christ the Cornerstone. Curious was the fact that our Church, Grace Chapel, was a Christian Missionary Alliance church and it was located right next door to Christ the Cornerstone, a Lutheran Church. Christ the Cornerstone served as a Church and a private school, as well.

On Sundays I received Baptist style teachings and during the week I received Lutheran instruction. Additionally, at home I had Roman Catholic influences from my mother’s side, and Methodist influences (to a lesser degree) from my father’s side. I attended Lutheran school for four years, through fourth grade. As you can tell, I was blessed by an eclectic mix of Christian teachings.

In fifth grade, my parents went through a brief separation but then reconciled. This resulted in my placement in the public school sector. I’d remain in public school until graduation, in 1992. This was definitely a culture shock and provided many challenges to my Christian upbringing. I discovered many ridiculed my beliefs and Darwinism was in full swing. My exposure to “the Real World” and secularism began in full force. It was even worse once I reached Junior High. During my parents’ separation, someone introduced my mother to the ministry of Chuck Smith and Calvary Chapel. Chuck Smith broadcast his services over the radio and she began playing them regularly at home and in the car, exposing me to his teachings, in the process. When I reached 7th grade, Wade Parker had retired, my parents had split up and got back together, and we began attending Maranatha Chapel, a Calvary Chapel affiliate. This further broadened my understanding of the Bible and the differences between the various sects of Christianity.

In 7th grade, I shared a class with a Jehovah’s Witness. She began challenging me on my beliefs. Because I was young and not researched, I was unable to counter many of her points. I discovered a book called, “So, What’s the Difference?” by Fritz Ridenour. It was a brief book which compared different World religions, cults, and Christian sects with Biblical teachings. Imagine my surprise when I discovered there was an entire third branch of Christianity heretofore unknown to me, the Eastern Orthodox Church! I had no idea what this was or that this was the actual oldest branch of Christianity, despite the claims of the Roman Catholics. Heck, the Church of Antioch is already up and running in the Book of Acts! It was overwhelming.

I began questioning my faith. Did I really believe these things or did I just follow it because that’s how I’d been raised? What about the good Mormon kids I knew? They’d been raised Mormon so that’s what they believed. What about this Jehovah’s Witness in my class? Hadn’t she been raised to believe in her faith, as well? What made me right? Why should I assume that I believed anything anymore correct or truthful than they did? Didn’t I know some kids who had been raised in Christian homes, but were in fact, not really good people? Hadn’t I encountered some delinquents in my very own youth group? What about this evolution thing? It seemed to be the truth from what I was being taught. The evidence was overwhelming, right? Was I really a Christian? Should I even be one? What was really the truth? Couple that with the fact that I was now aware of girls and trying to fit in with other kids and my faith took a backseat in my life. I would continue down this path for several more years.

It was right after I graduated high school that another important event happened. This event shook me spiritually and was a catalyst in exploring my faith as well as the faith of others. My best friend who had been raised Lutheran, decided to convert to Mormonism. Even though I wasn’t really spiritually in tune with much, I remembered what I had read on Mormonism from that Ridenour book back in 7th grade. It sounded wrong. I began to research Mormonism in depth in an attempt to help my friend see the error of his ways. It didn’t work and he was baptized in the LDS Church in the summer of 1994. I learned a great deal about the Latter Day Saints and even attended seven discussions with LDS elders and sisters of the faith. This culminated in my attendance of a Mormon church services. (This included my participation in a Mormon Communion service complete with LEAVENED bread and… water…?) I acquired a copy of the “Book of Mormon”, as well as “Pearl of Great Price” and “Doctrines and Covenants”. These are the three Mormon Holy Books which are considered at best equal and at worse above the Bible. I am happy to report that my friend did eventually leave the Mormon Church and returned to Biblically-based Christianity. In fact, he is now a writer for this very website!

This experience prompted me to collect and study other books of faith. My library grew to include copies of the Koran, the Rig-Veda, the Upanishads, Watchtower magazines, and the kabbalah’s Zorah, among others. In the mid-90’s, about five years following my graduation from high-school, I discovered the ministry, Koinonia House, which is headed by Chuck Missler. These lessons were not church sermons, like I was used to always hearing, but Bible-studies that wandered into really intellectual topics including ancient history, quantum mechanics, apologetics, and current events. It was the first time I encountered a Christian ministry geared toward intelligence and research. He would reference histories written by the likes of Herodotus, Josephus, Philo, Eusebius, Tacitus, among others. He would also reference a variety of other personalities including Stephen Hawking, Henry Morris, Tony Blair, Mohammed Ataturk, and more. The Bible became fascinating again and these teachings transformed world history from a dull, dry topic that I endured in school to a brilliantly fascinating story that was entwined with the Bible, science, and was continuing into the very world I lived in today. History became colorful, alive, and exciting. The intermingling of it with the Biblical narrative caused my imagination to soar. I experienced wonderment again much as I had when I was a child. Koinonia House repeatedly used a key verse which I have adopted for myself. This verse should remain in your mind as you read my scribing, as well as anyone else’s. The verse referenced is Acts 17:11:

 

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

 

- Acts 17:11 (NIV) emphasis added

 

This verse instructs you not to believe anything I say. As I continue to compose my chronological commentary for the Bible here on this website, I may bring up certain theories, conjectures, or viewpoints which you will not agree with. In time, I should have something to offend everybody. That’s okay. My goal is not to have you believe everything I write, but to challenge you to do your own homework, to educate yourselves, and to further your witness. Research what I write. Be like the Bereans. See whether or not what I say is so. Don’t take anything anyone writes at face value. Always compare it to Scripture and take it to the Father in prayer. In the end, it’s not important to me whether you agree with all or any of my musings. It’s important for me to spark an interest in your further study and exploration. If it brings you closer to Christ and His Word… mission accomplished!Koinonia House’s approach reinvigorated my dwindling spiritual life and my hobby/career as a student, researcher, and apologist really began in earnest because of their materials. It prompted me to return to college and my faith strengthened. After much comparative religious study and further scientific research, I came before my Father in 1996 asking for His guidance and rededicated my life to him. I mark that year as the true personal choice and maturation of my Christian faith. I was no longer following what I had been trained to follow. I had made the informed choice to believe of my own accord. In Matthew 22:37, we are told, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind,” (NASB). I first took notice of this verse when Tom joined the LDS Church. It spoke to me because it didn’t just appeal to accepting God based on emotions or feelings (heart and soul), but it also appealed to using our intellect (loving God with “all your mind”). This was so different from other religions, such as Islam, which demanded blind acceptance and disdained, or even condemned skepticism and critical thinking. The Bible actually encouraged me to continue as I had. In fact, one of Solomon’s proverbs states:

 

It is the glory of God to conceal things,but the glory of kings is to search things out.

- Proverbs 25:2 (ESV)

 

This actually seems to challenge the believer to go and research. God has hidden knowledge out there for us to find. We just need to be diligent to go about the work of finding it and educating ourselves. Jesus, Himself, seems to confirm this:

 

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”

- Matthew 7:8 (NASB)

 

So, having an inquisitive mind and desiring knowledge, proof, and evidence is actually a good thing. In fact it’s encouraged and commended. It’s the spirit with which you undergo such studies which determines whether or not your cause is just. Are you seeking to strengthen your faith? If so, you will be rewarded. Are you seeking to manipulate and tear down others? If so, you will not be blessed. The condition of the heart determines how God views such things.

 

Over the past 15 years, I have continued to expose myself to different variations of Christianity, both denominationally and culturally. I’ve spent much time studying under Messianic Judaism. Understanding the Hebraic nature and Jewishness of the Scriptures opens up several new dimensions and layers to what’s written. It has been most rewarding. I’ve also attended Charismatic gatherings, Episcopalian services, Emergent Churches, and discussed Chaldean beliefs with Iraqi Christians who have relocated here. Between 2003 through 2008, I worked at a Christian bookstore. While there, I encountered every denomination, sect, and cult under the sun. The opportunity availed much reading material to me and helped me learn the differences, strengths, and weaknesses of the numerous Christian beliefs and Bible translations. It also provided me with more than my fair share of loonies and fanatics. Preterism; Pre, Mid, and Post-tribulationism; amillenialsm are concepts I have studied. Clavinism vs. Arminiansm, along with the lesser known Molinism, are also familiar to me. I’ve run into the Gnostics and researched Arianism. And, while controversial, I have familiarized myself with the Nestorians and actually find them to be quite remarkable, but that’s another article for another time.Today, I continue my education in school and I am pursuing a degree in Education with an emphasis in History. I wish to share knowledge with others to make the world a more interesting place, the Bible a fascinating collection of books, and the soul a fertile place for the Spirit. I wish to do for others what Koinonia House ministries did for me, make the Bible alive once again and a source for wonder and knowledge. The Statement of Faith here on The Genesis Key is a perfect list for my purpose, beliefs, and goals on this site. The statements are why I enthusiastically support The Genesis Key and am proud to contribute to it. I moderate a Bible Discussion group in San Diego with the same express purposes that I have previously stated. It’s a nice eclectic group. We’ve included Messianic Jews, Calvinists, and members of the Church of the Nazarene, among others in our group. What we all have in common is a love for our Savior, the Word, and a desire to learn more. We will approach the Bible in a chronological fashion, exploring any historic, scientific, and apologetic detours on the way. This is, again, for the purpose of igniting interest in further study and exploration. My goal here, on The Genesis Key, is to provide a running Biblical commentary which parallels that which we discuss during our get-togethers. I will provide references and links for further study in each article that I submit. I hope this proves to be a fun, provocative, challenging, and stimulating experience. But most of all, I hope it ignites a hunger, a thirst, and a passion for studying the Bible for yourself. It’s quite an exciting journey and I’m in it for the long haul. Won’t you join us? We should have lots of exhibits to see, many treasures to discover, and much theology to discuss along the way. I hope you’ll come along. After all, we only seek the Ultimate Destination. With Jesus as our Savior and the Holy Spirit as our guide, we shall find that which we seek. After all, Jesus’ promises say so, therefore so it shall be!

 

For Further Exploration:

• Koinonia House Ministries: www.khouse.org (The ministry which greatly influenced my intellectual life)

 

 

• Lifeway Christian Stores: http://www.lifeway.com(This was the Christian Bookstore where I used to work. It was called “Berean Christian Store” at the time)

 

 

• Blue Letter Bible: www.blueletterbible.org(A great free online Bible which allows you to search by key word, chapter and verse, and several English translations)

 

 

• Bible Discussion Audio: http://archive.org/bookmarks/rook7474(This is the free, public site which contains the audio files of our San Diego-based Bible Discussion group. Files are provided in several formats including for both streaming and download, including MP3, VBR, Torrent, VBR ZIP, Ogg Vorbis, and Flash)

 

 

• Our group also has a Group Page on facebook. Just run a search for “Rob’s Bible Discussions” and apply to join if interested. It’s a very informal group.

So What's the Difference?: A Biblical Comparison of Orthodox Christianity with Major Religions and Major Cults, Ridenour, Fritz. Published Work. G/L Regal Books. 1979 (This is the book I discovered in 7th grade which first showed me the differences in Christian sects, cults, and world religions.)