CIU professor tackles “Urban Legends of the Old Testament”

Dr. David Croteau

A new book by Columbia International University Professor Dr. David Croteau surveys 40 of the most commonly misinterpreted passages in the Old Testament. “Urban Legends of the Old Testament” is designed to help Christians avoid missteps in the interpretation of key biblical texts while modeling interpretive techniques that can also be applied to other Old Testament passages. The book is published by B&H Academic and co-authored with Dr. Gary Yates of Liberty University. It’s a follow-up to Croteau’s 2015 book “Urban Legends of the New Testament.”

Croteau discusses “Urban Legends of the Old Testament in this Q&A:

How are you defining an “urban legend” in your book?

An urban legend is a commonly circulated myth that is not true, but repeated throughout the culture as common knowledge.

Which of these legends do you think will most likely take readers by surprise?

God Has Promised You a Bright and Prosperous Future (Jeremiah 29:11). For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Bible Gateway reported that between 2012 and 2015, Jeremiah 29:11 was the second most searched Bible verse on its website. Some Christians believe that this verse promises personal prosperity or that it guarantees that all the circumstances in their lives will have a positive outcome. What if they go through hard circumstances that don’t turn out well? They could easily be deluded into thinking that God failed in His promise. That’s why misinterpreting this verse is a serious concern.

Which of the urban legends do you think could be detrimental to the church?

Christians Should Never Question the Authority of Church Leaders (1 Samuel 24-26) “touch not the Lord’s anointed.”

Some church leaders have misused this concept to teach that they should never be questioned. This is unhealthy. No church leader is perfect. None is perfectly wise. All have weaknesses. Church leaders who believe they are above being questioned might be revealing that they are power hungry. The church needs leaders who are servant-minded, not threatened by questions.

Would you consider belief in any of these urban legends heresy?

I think the one that comes closest to heresy is Old Testament Saints Were Saved by Keeping the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 18:5).

Salvation has always been by grace through faith. From Abraham in Genesis 15:6 to today, this is clear. In fact, this was the linchpin to Paul’s argument in Galatians 3, particularly 3:6-7. So believing that Old Testament saints were saved by their works undermines the gospel itself (see Galatians 1:6-8).

Is there a prevailing flaw in these legends?

The most common issue is not carefully paying attention to context. While sometimes, the literary context is the issue, many times, the historical and cultural context is the issue. Of course, other causes include a misunderstanding of Hebrew or how to interpret certain Old Testament literary genres.

What do you hope is the ultimate benefit to those who read your book?

First, I hope that the book creates a greater interest in the study of the Old Testament. Paul writes, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV). The phrase “all Scripture” includes, and probably primarily refers to, the Old Testament. Too many Christians neglect to study it and some are intimidated by it. Secondly, I hope that by carefully reading this book, they can learn sound principles for interpreting Scripture and begin applying them in their reading of the Old Testament.

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Dean's Post: "Looking for Something Better"

by Dr. John Harvey

The beginning of a New Year tends to be the season when we are all looking forward to the coming year and hoping that it will be better than the past year. In the spiritual realm, that practice of looking for something better is actually what faith is all about. Hebrews 11:13-16 reminds us that the heroes of faith all looked beyond the present to something better.

They adopted a heavenly perspective (11:14-16a). “They desired a better country, that is a heavenly one.”

The characteristic that all the heroes of Hebrews 11 had in common was that they were seeking a homeland (v.14). What made them different was their willingness to leave one “home” in order to look for another (v.15). They were willing to keep moving because they were longing for something better—a heavenly home (v.16a).

By adopting a heavenly perspective, they embraced their pilgrim status (11:13). “[They] confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”

They developed and maintained their heavenly perspective by taking three steps. First, they “saw” God’s promises with eyes of faith. Second, the “welcomed” those promises with hearts of faith. Third, they “confessed” who they were: “strangers and aliens on the earth.” Their confession was a response of faith.

When they embraced their pilgrim status, they received divine approval (11:16b). “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.”

It is possible to state positively what the author writes as “God was proud to be called their God. Why was God proud of them? Because he could see what they could not. He could already see the city John saw in Revelation 21:10-27, and he was proud that they were looking for it even though they could not yet see it.

At the beginning of this New Year, are you looking for something better? Will you adopt a heavenly perspective? Will you embrace your pilgrim status? Will you make God proud that you call him your God? Will you focus on his promises—seeing them with eyes of faith, welcoming them with a heart of faith, and responding to them with a confession of faith?

Blessings For The New Year!

Merry Christmas!

"Redemption is Real"

“Redemption is real.” The words of one of the graduates of the CIU Prison Initiative who received his Associate of Arts degree during commencement ceremonies at the Kirkland Correctional Institution. The prison is located just across the Broad River from CIU’s campus.

The CIU Prison Initiative equips qualified inmates through an accredited Associate of Arts degree, to reach fellow inmates with the message of Christ. After graduation, alumni of the CIU Prison Initiative are assigned as chaplain’s assistants at correctional facilities around the state.

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Alumni Spotlight: Larry Evans

Larry has been staying busy doing outreach ministry in the form of helping Veterans and their family members receive compensation or pension benefits. He started a nonprofit 501 (c)3 organization in 2013 called "The Veterans Information Workshop" providing workshops throughout the state of South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia to inform Veterans and their family members what VA Benefits they may be entitled to. 

"My degree from CIU in (Pastoral Care) has really helped me in so many ways that's unreal. So many of our Veterans suffer from PTSD or other related illnesses due to their military service. By me providing these workshops I come in contact with many who are suffering from a related service illness and need to talk to someone who can relate to their problem by me being a Veteran they feel comfortable talking with me. I have been able to counsel so many that I have come in contact with over the years simply by starting this workshop. We never know how God will work out a plan to bring healing and peace to his people."

Alumni Spotlight: Phil Thompson

"My MDiv from CIU has equipped me to engage meaningfully in discussions and theological grounding for the projects as a whole."

Phil heads up online theological learning initiatives for The Gospel Coalition. In November of 2017, TGC launched TGC Courses, a free and open Christian learning site. Since the time of its launch, the ministry has seen over a quarter million learners access courses over one million times. Phil also directs another effort that rolled out Fall 2019. TGN provides a series of 250 free theological essays on our site which will then be translated into several other key languages. Over the next five years, they are working to develop a core "pastor's bookshelf" of free resources in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Mandarin, Korean, Russian, and Arabic.

Phil also serves as a resident at his church, The Church at Cherrydale, in Greenville, SC.
While much of his work is in managing projects, Phil interfaces regularly with pastors and academics as they work to provide resources to the global church.

Alumni Spotlight: Ronny Kolty

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD and do good, dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness 

To God Alone We Strive To Bring Glory! 

We are amazed at every interval to witness God’s intervention. If there has ever been a doubt, the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit reminds us that God is faithful and if there have been setbacks, we know that He will see us through, if there has been any lacking, God’s track record shows that He did provide and will continue to do so. We look back through the years and marvel at God’s faithfulness at every turn. To Him Alone We Strive to Bring Glory. 

Feeling Like Quitting 

The caption seems to contradict the above sentences, but it is our reality. The common phrase Christians often hear when going through overwhelming circumstances is, “Don’t give up.” Though we’ve known the phrase too well and have sung that “chorus,” the reality is that we are the one going through it and the this “chorus” seems like an ancient tune. To deny the reality of our circumstances is like living in fantasy land but to acknowledge our struggles takes humility, and I believe that is the safest place to be. 

Misunderstood 

It’s not a pleasant feeling when been misunderstood. And to add salt to the wound, people misinterpreted the move to open a coffee shop is a retirement plan (You Must Be Kidding). If people outside of our circle mention it, it’s understandable because they did not know us, but if someone of the same “peers” says it, the wound runs deeper. The feeling of betrayal and frustration is no way close to how King David felt. However, we could taste a fraction of his expression when he said this; “For it is not an enemy who taunts me---then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me---then I could hide from him, but it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend” (Psalm 55:12-14, ESV). We cannot allow the comments from the people to dissuade us from doing what the Lord wants. We have to laugh about it and press on to be missional. We do have a “retiring plan,” and that is wearing our “sneakers” and ushering people with the help of the Holy Spirit into God’s Kingdom till Jesus returns or we go to see him.