Theology Digest, June 2012

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Volume 3, Issue 2

Theology

Digest Bishop Paul S. Morton International Presiding Bishop Publisher Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min. Dr. Justin Cohen Editor Elder Deidrea Sealy Associate Editor Staff Nadine Johnson Elder Mary Thomas Contributing Writers Bishop Dennis Golphin Bishop Lester Williams Dr. Duane Cook Pastor Eugene Lewis Theology Digest is a publication of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, Department of Christian Education. We welcome articles and other submissions.

Please know that all submitted articles become the property of the publication and we reserve the right to make editorial changes as our discretion.

For more information please contact Theology Digest, 2 Monroe Street, Amityville, NY 11701. 631-842-7091 or

by E-mail: bishopacl@mindspring.com

Theology Digest

From the Desk of the Publisher

By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

G

reetings Beloved in the name of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus, the Christ.

Many in the Christian Community might raise the question why a publication such as this, which is admittedly Christian, devotes time and attention to a subject like “Ancient Mythology and Religion.” The truth of the matter is that all religions build upon that which preceded it. Pentecostalism was a commentary on the mainstream reformation movement. The Reformation sought to improve Roman Catholicism; Roman Catholicism grew out of the early Christian movement; the early Christian movement was a commentary on Judaism as well as the polytheistic religion of Rome who dominated the world at the time.

We cannot fully appreciate what Christianity is without considering what Christianity was attempting to correct. So in this issue our writers are looking at our faith through the lens of its antecedents. We pray that by looking at our past we will have a greater understanding and appreciation for our current walk with Christ.

Theology Digest • 3

East

meets West

Bishop Lester Williams

I

was teaching a class on Timothy and one of the students said that the Bible says that a woman is not supposed to preach. I countermanded her and said to her, “That’s not what it says.” She appeared to be dumfounded and somewhat discombobulated that she had misquoted the Bible or misunderstood the actual intent. I held vehemently to my posture that she lacked understanding in deciphering that text. This has been one of the capstone scriptures that have been used for years to keep women out of ministry. But I had an even bigger problem. I had to contend with the fact that I have consecrated women in ministry and therefore, had to deal with the thought that I was in biblical error.

It so happened the next day, my nephew died and I had to attend his funeral the very next day. Unbeknown to me, he was Muslim.

4 • Theology Digest

After the viewing, we went into the temple for prayer to find that the men were situated to the front and the women were behind them. This is the lay out of the Jewish Synagogue which is still in effect today.

Islam has many Judaistic doctrines that were borrowed to effectuate its religion. During the service, a young lady came in with her husband and children. She forgot to tell him something and went to speak to him after he went to sit among the men and she was quickly pulled away by the other women.

What I had explained to people for years and to that lady about I Timothy 2:12 suddenly became alive. Women were not to disturb their husbands during prayer and teaching

services. This was not a religious matter as much as it was a cultural issue.

The Eastern Church taught its men and its men taught the family. So therefore, women were not to place themselves as educators or usurp the authority of the man in the family. In addition to this, the word speak in the Greek is not the same word for preach. The word woman, wife, and lady are the same. So spiritual intelligence has to dictate what relationship or designation is implied. It is certainly not applicable to all women. This is clearly the message of Ephesians 5:22. Wives (Women) are submitted to their own husband and not to all men as has been espoused. So we have enmeshed the cultures of the East into the liberated customs of the West causing a spiritual blockade to the move of God. So, what say ye then to Acts 10:34 and Galatians

3:28. God has no respecter of persons in that he values no one person over the other because we are all one in Christ Jesus.

I learned a lot that day from that experience from the service to the burial. It was a series of firsts for me. This was the first time I had ever been to an Islamic service.

My Christianity was showing and I was not apologetic. However, I was sensitive and respectful. I was the only male present that was not a practicing Muslim. Had I bowed in the prayers, I would feel like I was being accommodating to another name other than to Jesus Christ. As a Bishop, servant, and believer, we are called to be defenders of the faith. This was clearly Paul’s message to the seven churches of Asia Minor who were called to accept Christ’s teaching and dispel false doctrines that were steeped in fables and mythological dogma.

Theology Digest • 5

I Timothy1:3+4 - As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

In defense of our faith, many of the practices of other religions from which we draw our roots, would be taboo and create a firestorm. There were so many similarities in their teachings especially on the absoluteness of God. He reverberated that God is universal and cannot be contained in any particular denomination. The only major point where we seem to differ is on Jesus Christ and his teachings which make us Christians. I was left having to wrestle with the eternal destiny and salvation of my nephew without being dogmatic and a religious bigot. The Imam called the final resting place paradise. Jesus spoke of paradise as he hung from the cross and offered it to the thief who died with him.

The terms are the same. Could the places be the same as well? Or is this one of the symbolic elements of religion created for us to concur or disagree. The reasons for our arguments are more over our differences than our similarities.

6 • Theology Digest

When reviewing religions like Judaism, Islam, and Christianity with all of their prophetic and doctrinal commonalities then sprinkle them with a mythological flavoring and you have a cocktail for confusion.

Then, every man and the ideologies of every man become right in his own eyes.

How is it that our patriarchs said the same thing to the same people and it was interpreted differently? That reminds me of a congregation on a Sunday morning. The problem is not the tenets of religions, but hearing. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying.

I think that the formation of religions and doctrines are a result of bad hearing which led to bad practices. While other Eastern faiths converge at prayers and rituals and a covenant with God, we are adamant that God had a Son that not only brought us near to Him, but brought us to Him. Jesus became an Advocate for us to become one with His Father. Is this mythological?

In Mythology, the gods on Mt. Olympus did not mingle with the earthlings. In Judaism, God was the god of Israel and no one had exclusive rights to Him but them. In Islam, God is absolute and brings us near to him when we live a righteous life. In Christianity, we have a God that showed us how much He loved us by sending His son to die on a cross for us that we might a right to the tree of life which was promised to Adam in the beginning.

To have that kind of access, we get more bang for our buck. He paid a price that we could not and therefore by his grace and mercy grants us eternity with Him. I’ll take my chances with Jesus because He took a chance with me. As we grow closer to the end of time, the battle between the East and West in terms of teaching and practices will continue until the Lord Himself shall descend and the last trump shall sound. No faction can claim victory. The victory is in Jesus Christ.

Is There a Doctor in the House?

Yes, And His Name is Dr. Duane Cook

By Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min.

F

or the last several years, one of the most steadfast and consistent students in the Graduate School of Theological Studies has been Pastor Duane Cook of Chicago, Illinois. Each time there is an opportunity for a verbal exchange in one of the lectures, and every time there is a debate on the floor concerning some of the finer theological points of a presentation, Pastor Dwayne Cook can be counted on to have input.

It is primarily for those reasons, we are delighted to share with you, our readers, that on April 30, 2012, at the Antioch Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois, Pastor Cook received an earned Doctorate in Sacred Theology.

This event culminated the successful defense of his dissertation, last winter on the campus of Yale University. Dr. Cook becomes the 5th person to graduate from the Graduate School of Theological Studies.

A filled church gathered on Monday, April 30, 2012, featuring a combined choir along with a spirited celebration converted the commencement ceremony into a service of praise and worship. It was apparent that the members and gathered friends of Dr. Cook were extremely proud of him and his accomplishment. The service, which was presided over by the childhood friend of Dr. Cook and Senior Pastor of the Antioch Baptist Church where the service was held, was a brilliant blend of scholarship and spirit.

The evening closed with a commencement address delivered by Bishop Andy C. Lewter. Who spoke on “The Church taking back its role of providing Christian Education.” Bishop Lewter was joined by Bishop Dennis Golphin of Raleigh, North Carolina, who presented Dr. Cook with his degree, cap and hood.

Theology Digest • 7

“The Influence

of Greek

By Bishop Andy C. Lewter

A

sk any Christian and they will tell you that they are monotheistic, committed to one God and refuse to participate in any practices that acknowledge or salutes the mythological gods of the past.

While we all are resolute in our allegiance to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, we, unknowingly engage in some level of pagan practices every day of the week, literally. Every time we mention a day, and in some instances months, we are calling on the names of gods who have their origin in Greek and Roman mythology. Consider the following:

8 • Theology Digest

Mythology

on our Culture” Sunday

Derived from the Latin term ”dies Solis,” which means Sun’s day and was a weekly Roman holiday

Monday

Derived from the Anglo-Saxon term, “Monandage” and the Latin term “dies lunae,” which literally means the day of the moon.

Tuesday

Named after the Norse god of war, Tiu or Tyr the son of Odin. In French, Tuesday is “Mardi,” named after the Roman god of war, Mars.

Wednesday

Named to honor Odin also called Woden, the chief god of Norse mythology.

Thursday

Named after Thor the Norse god of thunder.

Friday

Named after the Norse goddess of Love, Frija. The Roman counterpart was Venus from whence we get the word “Verdi.”

Saturday

Named in honor of the Roman god, Saturn.

In addition to days of the week, several of our months were also named to honor mythological gods of the past. They include: January

Named after Janus the Roman god of gates and doors

February

Named after Februa, a Roman holy day of purification

March

Named after the Roman god of war, Mars.

May

Named after the goddess, Maia, the daughter of Atlas and mother of Miercoles.

June

Named after Juno, the goddess of marriage.

So you see in our everyday language, references to our mythological past is ever present. It is therefore true that you cannot know your future if you don’t know your past.

Theology Digest • 9

Greek Mythology and Christianity Bishop Dennis Golphin

M

y teenage years were a constant whirlpool of information from many sources. One of the most memorial aspects of my journey was my fascination with Greek mythology. During those tender years of development, my hunger and thirst for entertainment and education paralleled each other. In fact, I was not as aware of the differences in Greek Mythology from my Faith as I am today.

I did know that while there was a parade of gods who had interesting personalities in the mythical legends, I did understand that I believed in the one true God of Christianity.

I was captivated with the idea of how ancient people lived and worshiped, and mythology was useful in comprehending and classifying the various modes of religions and their belief system. Words like monolithic and polytheism were not yet a part of my vocabulary. So I read mythology as entertainment and studied Christianity as a way of life.

10 • Theology Digest

By the time Christianity is birthed in the Greco-Roman world of the 1st century, religious myths were at a zenith. Christianity as a small Jewish sect challenged not only the religious thinking, but the sociological welfare system of the day. Christianity grew so rapidly in magnitude and impact over a very short period, that by the 4th century it had become the central religion within the Roman Empire.

Let’s begin by making some basic comparisons between Greek mythology and Christianity. While we don’t worship the gods and heroes of Ancient Greece today, there are some parallels that can be seen in modern Christianity. Greek mythology and Christianity are comparable in these aspects, they: (1) teach that a woman (Pandora or Eve) caused the downfall of mankind; (2) teach a code of ethics; (3) and both have a champion of evil.

Take the downfall of mankind. In the Greek mythology and the Christian faith, a woman caused the demise of the world.

According to mythology, Pandora was the first

woman created. Upon her creation, each god and goddess gave her a gift. The gifts were put into a box, and she was told never to open it.

Her curiosity overcame her, and she opened the box. Disease, famine and all sorts of evil was expelled into the world. The only positive thing that came out of the box was hope.

In Christian doctrine Eve is depicted as the “root of all evil.” Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s commandment not to eat the fruit from the forbidden tree. A serpent appeared to Eve and convinced her otherwise. She persuaded, Adam, to eat of the fruit also and sin engulfed the world.

Both has as its’ goal a high moral code that teaches a high ethical standard. Every myth in the ancient Greek culture was comprised to teach some sort of lesson. In Christianity, it is the Ten Commandments and the parables of Jesus.

Finally, both religions have a savior figure that comes to the rescue of a lost world.

Prometheus was mankind’s savior according to the Greeks. His brother, Epimetheus, was

given the task of distributing gifts to all the creatures of the world. Epimetheus handed all the great gifts to the animals, and none were left for mankind. Epimetheus asked his brother to help him. Prometheus gave man the gods’ noble shape and the knowledge of fire.

Zeus, believing this to be blasphemous to all the gods, punished Prometheus. Zeus chained him to a tall cliff and hungry birds would peck out his liver and eat it. Nightly, his liver would grow back and the same torture would be experienced the following day.

In contrast, Christianity has an ultimate savior in Jesus Christ. We teach and believe that He is the Son of God who was sent into the world to rescue mankind from eternal damnation. We further believe Jesus was fully God and man simultaneously. The center of the Christian doctrine stands on the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. He in essence was a true historical figure ( now the God of Glory); and not a fabrication or myth to explain the existence of life.

Bishop Dennis M. Golphin, Th.D., Ph.D. Page 1 Theology Digest • 11

Replacing

The Mythology of the Philosophers

Acts 17:16 – 34 General Overseer Justin Cohen, Ph.D.

A

t times in our ministry, we encounter various cultures, worldviews, and religions.

The encounter in the Book of Acts chapter 17, which reports the visitation of the Apostle Paul to the city of Athens, introduces us to two groups of individuals; the Epicurean and the Stoic philosophers.

Paul had been preaching and teaching in the synagogues and in the public marketplaces. His message was obviously so radical, then when the Epicureans and

12 • Theology Digest

Stoics encountered him, they invited him to communicate the message on their turf.

Who were these philosophers? What was their philosophy and theology?

We discover the following; Epicureans were of the school of philosophy of Epicurus. The foundational concepts of this philosophy were that of “materialism”. The material world was all that existed. So, they did not believe in superstition or divine intervention of any sort. Divine intervention was not a factor because the gods either were incapable or unwilling to confront the evils in this world. They rejected the concept of an afterlife. Pleasure in life was the main objective.

Stoics were of the school of philosophy founded by Zeno. The foundational concepts of this philosophy are that of ““moral and intellectual perfectionism”. They believed that destructive emotions resulted from errors in judgment and therefore having a will that is morally and intellectually virtuous was the foundation for happiness.

With regard to their concept of God, they taught that the universe is a material, reasoning substance, known as God or Nature. This was further subdivided into the active material known as “fate” and the passive material known as “matter”.

It is obvious from both schools of philosophy that their concepts of God were shaped by the Greek mythology of the day which had various gods with various powers.

Their world view, although not always in

agreement with each other, sought to answer the following four questions in an attempt to formulate a coherent worldview; 1) Origin of all creation 2) Meaning of life 3) Morality 4) Destiny It was with an understanding of the mythological foundation of the philosophers that the Apostle Paul addresses each group’s foundational principles and answers the four questions with the Christian Theological response; vs. 22 – Acknowledgement of their gods and mythological concepts. vs. 23 – Acknowledgement of the insufficiency of their mythology. vs. 24 – Matter was a result of creation by a Creator. vs. 25 – God is self sufficient, and the giver of life. vs. 26 – God is omnipotent, omniscient, and sovereign. vs. 27 – God can be reasonably understood. vs. 28 – Humans are His creation as well.

(Origin) vs. 29 – We are subject to God, not viceversa. (Meaning of Life) vs. 30 – God has a philosophy and standard of living – repent! (Morality) vs. 31 – There is a future judgment.

(Destiny) Whether it is Greek mythology, Roman mythology, or any worldview, it is necessary to have a Biblical theology which can address those four questions. All theological misconceptions are rooted in the search for answers to those questions.

Christianity is the only theology and worldview which is consistent and coherent enough to answer the four questions thoroughly. Although various Mythologies never made exclusive claims to the truth, Christianity is uniquely qualified to do so and subsequently be the religion which replaced mythology.

Theology Digest • 13

“The Religion A

By Bishop Andy C. Lewter

14 • Theology Digest

that

t the time of Jesus’ birth the area in which he lived was led by a political puppet by the name of Herod.

However, the greater political rule for the region was the Roman Empire.

Roman religion was a direct descendent of Greek Mythology and while the Romans chose to change many of the names of the Greek gods to suit their own language, many

Christianity Replaced” of the same tenets remained true for both religious expressions.

In comparison, Christianity was a radical departure from the religious norm of its day.

Its emphasis upon an all seeing, all powerful, ever present God was an extreme alternative to the cultural mindset of the Roman Empire that had come to dominate for years.

The multifaceted pantheon of gods allowed for the establishment of many cultic practices and formations. With there being gods of love, war, fertility, transportation, construction and other areas, people were able to attach themselves to niche beliefs that bore little or no corporate responsibilities.

During the first half of the first century, a comparison of Roman Religion headed by figures such as Jupiter, Mars, Venus and that of Christianity with a sole messianic figure name Jesus, produced a picture that resembled David fighting against Goliath, however, in the end Greek and Roman mythology was replaced by Christianity.

Jane Ellen Harrison in the study of the Social Origins of Greek Religion, in 1912, along with William Smith in his dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, 1870, both indicate that Greek mythology began with Titans, a race of powerful deities who were descendants of Gaia and Uranus that ruled during a period called “The Golden Age.” The first generations of Titans included (12) figures: (6) males; Oceanus, Hyperion, Coeus, Cronus, Crius, Lapetus and (6) females; Mnemosyne, Tethys, Theia, Phoebe, Rhea, Themis. Eventually this group was overthrown by a younger race of gods called

Olympians, which included Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Hades, and Hestia.

Several recent movies depict this conflict such as the clash of the Titans, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

The Religion that Christianity replaced had been practiced for hundreds of years.

As Christianity would grow and develop, it repeatedly had to reinterpret and incorporate many “pagan” practices so that Christianity could become world-wide and universal.

A few examples of this is Easter, which could be traced back to the celebration of Ishtar, Halloween, which began as a festival amongst Celtic druids and even Christmas who some argue was originally a celebration of the birthday of Adonis, which was believed to be on December 25th. Even our current practice of worshiping on Sunday may have more to do with the celebration of “Sol Invictus” than with the fact that Jesus rose on the first day of the week. As we celebrate and affirm the God of our Salvation and Christianity, which is our path to the Almighty, let us not forget the religion Christianity replaced.

Theology Digest • 15

Myths D Pastor Duane Cook Mid-West Regional Christian Education Director

16 • Theology Digest

and

efinition of myth- A tradition or legendary story, usually concerning a hero, being or an event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.

Every ethnic group has had its own belief system. Paul addresses this in the first chapter of Romans. The Roman Empire incorporated all elements of their conquered lands provided it helped promote peace and their expansion. The Roman Empire was filled with different gods and religions.

Paul addresses this also in Athens when he referred to the

the Rise of Christianity altar to the unknown god. The basic idea was that of superstition. If one honors a particular god then there would be favor granted by that entity. People believed that if a god was neglected or offended then calamities would arise. The prosperity of Rome depended upon the people following the religious practices of the land.

Stories began to be invented to explain certain phenomenon using superhuman characters at their center. By the 3rd and 4th century belief in the old religions began to wane as economic and social upheaval challenged the faith in the securities provided by the gods. It is believed that people in general did not believe that the myths were historical.

When Christianity insisted that there was a recent person that claimed to be God in person and was historically present, this was intriguing to the majority of the Roman people. In addition, the God/man was risen from the dead, this was the most compelling argument.

Christianity began to replace the old religions because the eternal city was crumbling in spite of the worship that was being paid to the emperor and the other gods. The barbarians were threatening the social stability in many areas and the economy was not as robust as it had previously been. Whenever people feel that their physical circumstances are in direct relationship with their worship, their beliefs are likely to change if they do not experience favor as a result of increased dedication. Many Roman citizens began to consider the Christian teachings because their old forms of worship had not changed their situations.

Pagan religions did not totally vanish with the acceptance of Christianity into the mainstream of Roman society. We can see from history that later on there were periods when beliefs in the myths and the Roman gods were revived. This occurred for the same reason that many turned to Christianity. When there were national calamities, there were some people that claimed that it was the result of the old Roman gods being offended and exacting retribution for turning to Christianity. This is no different than the current trend in our American society. People are questioning Christianity in light of economic and social problems. Believers must hold on to Truth and not trust in myths as a result of fear and convenience. Jesus is still the only Way of Salvation.

Theology Digest • 17

Similarities of

Mythology and Theology Pastor Eugene Lewis

T

here are many similarities between Roman and Greek Mythologies and the New Testament and its theology.

Does one influence the other or is it a matter of coincidence and chance? Were the lines blurred because they were not written down and codified? Literary critics, philosophers and theologians have separate yet profound theories. This subject has not been pondered by many preachers and homileticians but there is a wealth of wisdom that could benefit the pulpit and the pew.

For example, prophecies of the deposing of rulers were common happenings in both Greek mythology and in Biblical texts. In both cultures these prophecies usually lead to conquest, usually murder in Bible stories, of the group that the over thrower will supposedly come from. This suppression rarely worked.

For instance, the Greek god Cronus was told that one of his children would conquer and overthrow him. In a desperate attempt to prevent this, Cronus devoured each of his children as they were born. However, through treachery and chicanery, Cronus’ wife Rhea succeeds to bear and hide the youngest child, who matures and defeats 18 • Theology Digest

his father. This child is Zeus. He liberates his brothers and sisters and then seizes his father’s power, becoming chief of gods.

The most important example in the Bible of this same type of prophecy is directed at Herod, who was King at the time that Jesus was born (Matthew 2). When three wise men tell Herod that the King of Jews was to be born that night, Herod demands that the three find where the baby was to be born and report back to him (Matthew 2:1-9). When the wise men fail to do so, he orders that all newborn boys in Bethlehem be killed (Matthew 2:16). However, Jesus escaped this fate because God tells Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, to take the baby and its mother to Egypt until the time that Herod dies (Matthew 2:13). Both the Christians and Ancient Greeks found these prophecies to be important parts of their histories.

Other similarities with Greco-Roman Mythology and the New Testament include the Dodekatheon and the Twelve Apostles, Bacchus and his similarities with wine and the Christian Eucharist are just a few examples of the similarities between GrecoRoman mythology and New Testament Christianity.

The Graduate School of Theological Studies Presents the

2012 SUMMER

THEOLOGICAL INTENSIVE At Yale University New Haven, CT.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012 Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Bishop Dr. Ghana Cooper Rudolph McKissick, Jr. Lecturer Lecturer

Tuition $295.00 Per Person

Lodging At The Omni New Haven Hotel At Yale 155 Temple Street, New Haven, Ct. 06510 Accommodations $159.00 Per Night Call For Reservations (800) THE-OMNI – Ask for The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship Rate (Hotel Reservation Deadline, Tuesday, July 31, 2012)

Bishop Andy C. Lewter, D. Min Convenor and Host

Send registration payment to: The Graduate School of Theological Studies 2 Monroe Street, Amityville, New York 11701

For Further Information Please Contact: Tonya Lewter, Coordinator (516) 223-3855 www.TheologicalIntensives.com