The Bible Says that it is Exclusive

The Bible states very clearly in many different ways and times that it is the exclusive authoritative work of God. Meaning that you may choose between all other religious/spiritual writings or teachings, many books, philosophies, beautiful beliefs and systems, all of those are lumped together in a category called "the extrabiblical." You may have all of those written or thought, and so believed, but if you chose this vast category, surely filled with wonderful sounding and beautifully written ideas and theologies, then you must eliminate the Bible from your system. For one cannot take in all the world has to offer plus the Bible, because the teaching of the Bible makes it so.

So the choice is all the world's wisdom, guidance and teachings, OR the Bible. They are mutually exclusive, because the law, prophets and writings of the Bible make it exclusive by unabashedly claiming exclusivity. Here are some of the claims the Bible makes/warns about its content:

Galatians 1:6-10

Paul explains to the Galatians that if they follow a different salvation than "By grace you have been saved through faith" that they are following a different gospel of the one that they were originally taught. This gospel (which for the Galatians was wrapped up in becoming Jew-like before becoming Christ-like) was false and idolized a physical act of Jewish worship, removing the focus from Christ's sacrifice to mans ceremonial works under the old guardian law.

Revelation 22:18-19

The final warning in the Bible reminds mankind never to add or subtract from God's complete word, for therein lies terrible punishment equivalent to the misdeed.

Deuteronomy 4:2

Similar to the Revelation passage, this passage states that the Lord God wrote these laws, and that mere man should not alter them in any way.

Deuteronomy 12:32

A command to be careful to observe the full law- ie not the parts that seem agreeable to us in the present day. Also added is another warning against changing the law.

Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus says that He has come to fulfill the law and the prophets and that there is penalty severe for relaxing the laws of the Word. 

Luke 16:17

Finally, Jesus states that it is easier for this heaven and earth to pass away than for the law to actually be changed. (By this change He means for God to change it, not for the graffiti men have been known to be responsible for). Perhaps this is why it is prophesied that this heaven and earth will indeed pass away, and that all will be accomplished in the law through Christ. 

So you see, the Bible has said of itself that it is 'written in stone' and shall not be added to (by other theologies) or subtracted from (to create a personalized false Jesus).  The choice remains for every heart to decide: the world's many writings or the Bible. 

Three Kings and Gift Giving

It's black friday, which also means that it is socially acceptable to begin Christmas music for the season. While listening to the song, "Do you hear what I hear?" the verse with the shepherd boy to the mighty king this thought was sparked. The wise men from oriental (Asian/Middle East) lands brought gifts for a Royalty, but the baby King of kings was cold in the manger. The song actually says, "a child, a child shivers in the cold, let us bring him silver and gold." Doesn't really make sense to give this child jewelry does it? On one level it does because He is the KING the king in the end, the Aragorn of LOTR, the Aslan of Narnia! But the child is in a cave (what was used for stables at the time of Jesus' birth) and I am not sure that blankets and more simple everyday wares would not have been a bit more fitting. I am not saying the Asian/Middle Eastern kings were failures or bad in their giving at all. I am just trying for a different angle at the nativity scene. However, this observation and gesture makes me think of the verses in James 2:14-17. Then again, these verses refer to the believer, and I believe that it is safe to assume that we were dealing with seeking future believers at best, so to hold the wise men to this standard would be sac religious. Morals of the story: The best that you can give is an acceptable offering for Christ. Humor: Jesus received just three gifts for Christmas- but they were pretty large price tag items- so this story's guidance on budgeting for Christmas is still unclear.