What Does Bible Exposé Stand For?

Our Mission

In view of our COMMITMENT “in [our] hearts [to] revere Christ as Lord,” we seek to raise the COMPETENCE of Christ Followers so that they would “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people” and they would “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks [them] to give the reason for the hope that [they] have” with all COMPASSION, that is, “with gentleness and respect.” (1 Pet. 3:15; Jude 3, NIV)

Our Strategy

We believe 2 Timothy 2:23-26 spell out the R.E.A.C.H. strategy. (Originally presented in “Making Sense of Ang Dating Daan” blog entry.)

“But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (NKJV)

Refrain from a combative stance.  In discussions with people with opposing beliefs, keep in mind that “a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all… [and] patient” (2 Tim 2:24).  Remember that “a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.” The approach is as important as the arguments.  In the online forums, there will always bean attempt to provoke through insults or name-calling.  Never go down to that level.  Even if one may not win the cult member, he can win the hearts of the people who are listening in the discussion.  People tend to listen more when engaged “in humility” (v. 25) for those who come across as proud turns them off. Someone wrote, “You can always tell who is losing an argument by checking out who is yelling the loudest.” The Filipino saying applies here: “Ang pikon talo.”  (“He who loses his patience loses it.”)

Equip the saints.  Now more than ever there is a need to train and retrain pastors and church leaders and workers on what and why they believe so that they would be “able to teach” (v. 24).  Then, they can equip their members “so that they may know the truth” (v. 25).  According to a recent study, “16% churches without pastors plus 39% churches with untrained pastors translates into a need to train pastors for 55% of the churches in the Philippines.” In fact, it can even go as high as 63%. There is a need to equip the church so that they “should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:12-16. See also Titus 1:9-11). It is important to train the equippers to communicate the Word in a way that is simple, practical and authoritative.

Always show interest for the person.  Avoid personal attacks or ad hominem arguments.  They are not the enemies.  Satan deceived them, “having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Tim 2:26c).  Thus, they need to “escape the snare of the devil” (v. 26b).  Engage in a respectful way.  In doing so, one earns the right to be heard.  Ask the person why he got converted to the group.  He could have joined the group for reasons other than spiritual hunger.  If the person joined the group out of a social need, then befriend him.  Keep in mind that “people do not care how much we know unless they know how much we care.” 

Concentrate on major issues.  Discuss only the essentials of the faith with those with opposing beliefs and avoid “foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels” (v. 24, NIV).  Move away from minor issues like tithing or eating blood.  Even equally competent Bible scholars disagree on these matters.  Focus on fundamentals topics such as the deity and humanity of Christ.  Keep the discussion on track by summarizing the points already discussed.  In discussions, the cultists tend to veer away and jump from one topic to another.  So pull them back to the original topic.

Help them to think.  In “correcting those who are in opposition… [the goal is] that they may come to their senses” (v. 25).  If they misquote a verse, show them its context.  Explain how to arrive at its proper interpretation. Do not pit one verse against another.  This would appear to be dodging the issue.  Challenge them to think for themselves and not just accept blindly everything that their religious group teaches them.

Our Statement of Faith

We accept those essential doctrinal teachings on which, historically, there has been general agreement among all true Christians. We desire to allow for freedom of conviction on other non-essential doctrinal matters, provided that any interpretation is based upon the Bible alone, and that no such interpretation shall become an issue that hinders the ministry to which God has called us.

We explicitly affirm our belief in the teachings of Scriptures:

ABOUT GOD

There is one true God, eternally existing in three persons Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:18-20; John 1:1-3; Acts 5:3,4.

ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is God, the living Word, who became flesh through His miraculous conception by the Holy Spirit and His virgin birth. Hence, He is the perfect deity and true humanity united in one person forever.  John 1:1,14; Matt. 1:18-25; Luke 1:30-37; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:6-11.

He lived a sinless life and voluntarily atoned for the sins of men by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. 1 John 3:5; 1 Peter 3:18; John 10:17-18; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 John 4:10; Romans 3:24-26.

He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He had lived and died. 1 Cor. 15:4,14,20; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:24-29.

He ascended bodily into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father where He, the only mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. Acts 1:9-11; Eph. 1:20; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:24,25; 1 John 2:1,2.

ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Holy Spirit has come into the world to reveal and glorify Christ and to apply the saving work of Christ to men. He convicts and draws sinners to Christ, imparts new life to them, continually indwells them from the moment of spiritual birth, and seals them until the day of redemption. His fullness, power, and control are appropriated in the believer's life by faith.  John 3:5-8; 16:7-15; Titus 3:5; Rom. 8:2-4,9; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30; 1 Cor. 6:19.

ABOUT THE BIBLE

The sole basis of our beliefs is the Bible, God's infallible written word, the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament. We believe that it was uniquely, verbally, and fully inspired by the Holy Spirit, and that it was written without error (inerrant) in the original manuscripts. It is the supreme and final authority in all matters on which it speaks. 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5

ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS

Man was originally created in the image of God. He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation. Gen. 1:26-27; 2:15-17; 3:1-24; Rom. 5:12-21; 1 Cor. 15:21-22.

Man's nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Rom. 3:9-20; Eph. 2:1-7; Mark 7:20-23; John 3:1-21; Titus 3:5-7.

ABOUT SALVATION

The salvation of man is wholly a work of God's free grace and is not the work, in whole or in part, of human works or goodness or religious ceremony. God imputes His righteousness to those who put their faith in Christ alone for their salvation, and thereby justifies them in His sight. Eph. 2:8-10; Rom. 3:21-26; 9:30-33; Gal. 3:11-14, 22-24.

It is the privilege of all who are born again of the Spirit to be assured of their salvation from the very moment they trust Christ as their Savior. This assurance is not based upon any kind of human merit, but is produced by the witness of the Holy Spirit, who confirms in the believer the testimony of God in His written Word. 1 Thess. 1:5; John 1:12,13; Rom. 8:14-17.

Every believer is called to so live in the power and control of the indwelling Spirit that he will not fulfill the lust of the flesh but will bear fruit to the glory of God. Gal. 5:16-25; Eph. 5:18.

ABOUT THE CHURCH

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, His body, which is composed of all men, living and dead, who have been joined to Him through saving faith. Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:22-23; 5:23-32; 1 Thess. 4:13-18.

God admonishes His people to assemble together regularly for worship, for participation in the ordinances, for edification through the Scriptures, and for mutual encouragement. Heb. 10:23-25; Acts 2:41-42; 20:7; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Tim. 4:13; 2 Tim. 3:16-4:2.

The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all believers to proclaim the gospel throughout the world and to disciple men of every nation. The fulfillment of the Great Commission requires that all worldly and personal ambitions be subordinated to a total commitment to Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:46-49; Acts 1:7-8; Rom. 12:1-2; Gal. 2:19-20; Phil. 3:7-21.

ABOUT ETERNITY

At physical death the believer enters immediately into eternal, conscious fellowship with the Lord and awaits resurrection of his body to everlasting glory and blessing. 2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23-24; 3:20-21; Luke 23:39-43; 1 Cor. 15:12-58; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 John 3:2.

At physical death the unbeliever enters immediately into eternal, conscious separation from the Lord and awaits resurrection of his body to everlasting judgment and condemnation. Luke 16:19-31; John 5:23-29; Rev. 20:10-15; Matt. 13:40-43.

ABOUT THE LAST DAYS

Jesus Christ will come again to the earth–personally, visibly, and bodily–to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. Acts 1:9-11; 3:19-21; Matt. 24:44; Rev. 19-22.

© 2012 Bible Exposé Apologetics Ministry