Expert: Dr Don Howe - 5/29/2008

Question
Hello Dr Don,

I would be grateful if you could help me out Biblically with two enquiries:

1.  I met a person who told me they only study the Parables of Jesus.  They did not say they study the Gospels.  They also kept speaking about discovering the secrets in the Parables.

2.  They totally discount the teachings of Apostle Paul.

This does not seem to be correct to me and I wonder if this is a cult or what?  Also the fact that they say that Paul's writings are not valid eventhough I pointed out that Jesus chose Paul as His chosen instrument.

Lastly if they only follow the Parables of Jesus, what about our Lord's crucifiction, death, burial and resurrection and that it is paramount to us as Christian.

Thank you and God bless
Sonata

Answer
Sonata, thank you so much for your question. This person that you encountered studies only the Parables of Jesus, does not study the Gospels, and they seek the “secrets in the Parables,” whatever that is. And they do not think Apostle Paul’s writings are true. Sonata, your have met someone who is truly mixed up, lost, screwed up, mentally unstable, and does not how to read the bible literally. And they could definitely be part of cult and what they believe is not biblical.  
   This person could a member of a cult called the "Providence" movement of Joshua Jung.  Joshua Jung is a false prophet in Korea who started this cult and called it the Providence Movement. Jung’s  teachings  rests heavily upon two principal beliefs: that 2000 years ago, the work and message of Jesus Christ were not complete, and that we now live in a new time period that requires a new understanding of scripture and a new "Lord.” As with all false prophets in cults,  Jung  reinterpret any aspect of traditional teaching by labeling it as newly inspired revelation. Many terms such as "resurrection" and "born again" take on new meaning based upon his interpretations and his new understanding of the bible's figurative language. In all cults the cult leader is the only who can “interpret” the bible and scriptures, and they are the only one who can give “new revelations.” This way they have control of the members, prostrate that they are the only ones God talks to, and they belittle members so that no one will challenge them on their interpretations. It is about control and spiritual abuse.
   Jung teaches: "They (Christians) have to get out of a literal understanding of the Bible and thus they will see things clearly." They will see clearly by only Jung’s teachings and “new revelations.”  Jung  believe that the Bible is understood through Parables and Figurative Language. Their lessons state that an understanding of the meaning of parables in the New Testament will ensure that, "We will not miss the Lord of the Second Coming." Sonata, if the members of the Providence movement do not study with a  literal interpretation of the bible for themselves, and listen to only his “figurative language” this is a way of controlling them, and he thinks no one has  enough sense to figure out what the bible is saying except him. THAT WAY NO ONE WILL CHALLENGE HIM.
   You asked “Lastly if they only follow the Parables of Jesus, what about our Lord's crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection and that it is paramount to us as Christian.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 answers this “All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Sonata, notice that Paul is saying all scriptures is inspired by God, all scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for corrections, and instruction in righteousness. Paul does not say just the Parables of Jesus is profitable, but all scriptures.  Joshua Jung is a false prophet who thinks only the Parable of Jesus is profitable.
    You never take for face value what your pastor, false prophets, televangelists, or any other   minister, including me,  says about scripture. When you are studying a particular scripture first pray that God will reveal what He wants you to learn out the passage, and then interpret the scripture with a literal grammatical-historical interpretation and always keep the passage in the context that the writer has written it. Study the scripture in the original language and you will get a complete meaning of the scripture and it actually come live for you. It is exciting reading God’s Word.  2 Timothy 2:15 tells to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” By rightly dividing the word of truth, then we can glorify what Jesus did on the Cross. Joshua Jung is only trying to glorify himself, be spiritually abusive, control the minds of his followers, and show is only “wise in his own eyes.”
   Sonata, pray that God will show this person the truth. You should not be the one who tries to show him the truth unless you are strong in the scriptures, and good at debating.
Thank you for your questions.
May God Richly Bless You As You Rightly Divide the Word of Truth.
Blessing to you.

Dr. Don Howe, RN, PhD, ThD.