Handling Praise - Proverbs 27:2 August 27, 2008
Posted by JP in Scripture.add a comment
Pro 27:2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
We’ve all experienced how encouraging a word of praise can be. Most of us can remember a time when a parent, teacher, or employer voiced approval that motivated us to even greater heights.
Yet for many people, praise is nearly as difficult to handle as criticism. Because the Word of God instructs us to be humble (Matt. 18:4; Phil. 2:3), we may sometimes feel confused about the right way to give or receive compliments.
How, then, should we accept recognition?
- Acknowledge the comment by simply thanking the person. Don’t belittle the words in any way or explain reasons why you do not deserve them.
- Identify and acknowledge the character quality that led the other person to offer his praise. For example, does he have a discerning spirit, deep compassion, or strong love for others?
- Share what the encouragement means to you. If someone tells you how he enjoyed your teaching, you might say, “That really motivates me to study harder; I want to be what God desires of me.”
- When appropriate, deflect the praise to others. For instance, a pastor might redirect kind words about an effective worship service by acknowledging the wonderful staff that works with him. When you rightly praise others, it builds their self-esteem while protecting you from pride.
Both criticism and pride can develop us or be dangerous to us. Our response is the determining factor.
False Teachers… August 7, 2008
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Discussion, Faith, Scripture.1 comment so far
The false teacher is deceptive. Verse 15 of today’s passage describes him as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He appears to want people to know the “real” truth about God, but his interpretation of Scripture may contain outright lies or a distorted mix of fact and error. Since wise believers study God’s Word, they can detect a “sheepskin” starting to slip. The wolf is further exposed by his personal life, which won’t be consistent with righteousness (Matt. 7:16). A close study of his decisions, actions, and words will reveal that he does not follow the Lord’s will or biblical principles.
The false teacher’s life and message are self-indulgent. His enticing ideas appeal to his listeners’ fleshly nature. In fact, he’ll often permit activities prohibited in Scripture. Some deceivers describe God’s grace as a license to live without restraint (Jude 4). Paul clearly denounces this lie, teaching that believers have died to sin and shouldn’t live in it (Rom. 6:2).
The body of Christ is expected to use Scripture as the standard against which to measure a leader’s lifestyle and words. When we seek divine truth, we are given the discernment to know a holy message from a misleading one.
A false teacher wants to create uncertainty in his listeners. In order to gain followers, he must persuade his audience that he possesses knowledge they lack. The people who accept this misleading information as absolute truth will usually return to the false teacher for more. Having followers strokes his ego and provides “proof” that he is right.
Those who have a sound doctrine won’t be led astray. That’s why it is so important for our faith to rest on biblical truth—for example, Jesus Christ died for the sins of mankind, the Holy Spirit dwells in believers, and Christians will be resurrected bodily. Defeating false teachers takes more than “my pastor says . . .”When confronted, we must defend our faith with Scripture we ourselves have studied. By regularly reading and applying God’s Word, we will be better prepared when confronted with untruth.
Building a sound doctrine protects believers from misleading messages and arms them to defend the faith. Do not be caught unprepared. If you haven’t already started, begin to study the Bible today. Should you need help, ask your pastor or a godly mentor for guidance.
August 1, 2008
Posted by JP in Discussion, Scripture.1 comment so far
A great commentary by Kenneth Hemphill…
I listened intently as he patiently asked the following three questions: 1) Are you certain that you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? She responded “yes.” 2) Do you believe that the Bible is God’s Word and is sufficient for all our needs? Again she responded in the affirmative. 3) If I show you truth from God’s Word that deals with the issues that concern you, will you obey them immediately and completely? My friend did not elaborate at this point, but the lady began to exclaim that we wouldn’t understand. She pointed to her financial need and loneliness. My friend listened patiently and then started again repeating the three questions.
The implication was obvious. If we pointed her to Scripture which she confessed to be a “sufficient guide” and she refused to obey God’s Word, we had no other advice to give her. It would be like going to the doctor and refusing to follow his prescription.
While you might smile in agreement, let me pose a question: “Is the Bible sufficient for church growth and health?” I’m not suggesting that we don’t need to organize for Bible study and outreach. God is not a God of confusion; He works through orderly strategy. But do we really agree with the Apostle Paul that it is “God who gives the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:7)? And if it is God who actually causes true growth, it only makes sense that we find His design for these matters in His Word. We face the temptation of relying too heavily on the next model, method or marketing strategy to grow our church, rather than looking primarily to Scripture for our growth strategy. I believe that if we search the Scriptures and apply their emphases, we will experience the growth and health the Lord desires.
The 10 Commandments…. conceptual truths July 3, 2008
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Discussion, Faith, Scripture.add a comment
The ‘big 10’ offers more than just list of what to do or not to do. It reveals deeper conceptual truths that guide us in our walk with God, and a righteous path in this life. It also gives us a method of living that is beneficial, physically and spiritually.
Let us look at these commandments from God and their deeper meaning and applicability:
Exo 20:2 I am the Lord your God, Who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
This first contains an essential truth to spiritual/religious righteousness: There is one True God, the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob. This One is the Lord.
Lord is defined as one who has authority, control, or power over others; a master, chief, or ruler. One exercises authority from property rights. God is the creator; all things exist from Him and for Him. His sovereignty and authority over all things is absolute as He alone has the ‘property rights’ for that which is His by His creation.
(3) You shall have no other gods before or besides Me. (4) You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; (5) You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, [Isa. 42:8; 48:11.] (6) But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
This is the commandment against idolatry. It speaks not just to worshipping little statues, but to placing ourselves under the control of anything other than the One True God.
Many things in this life gain control over us, or rather, there are many things that we place in positions of importance in our lives more so than God: Money, prestige, success, sports, drugs, relationships, etc.
God tells us that all things in this life are secondary to Him and His Lordship in our lives. This causes me to think on my own life and my struggle with alcoholism. I’ve been recovered for just over 8 years now, and I remember back to when I was deep in the bottle, it wasn’t that my life was in shambles from drinking that caused me to seek recovery, because for the most part I was an extremely functional alcoholic. But I realized that alcohol had control over my life, everything I did or thought about doing revolved around the idea of drinking. Often times when planning an outing, or going out to dinner, or visiting friends, I thought about whether or not there would be drink available, and sometimes that made the difference in what I did or did not do.
(7) You shall not use or repeat the name of the Lord your God in vain [that is, lightly or frivolously, in false affirmations or profanely]; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.
This isn’t about simply cursing using the name of God profanely or frivolously. It speaks to us on a deeper level of respect, love, and reverence. To train a person not to take for granted the name of that which is of paramount importance in their lives teaches that person to demonstrate respect for those things. By commanding us not to treat His name frivolously or falsely, He teaches us to learn respect by demonstrating respect.
( 8 ) [Earnestly] remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (withdrawn from common employment and dedicated to God). (9) Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (10) But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your domestic animals, or the sojourner within your gates. (11) For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it [set it apart for His purposes].
Ah, the ‘4th commandment’ – that which separates so many who would have us earn our salvation through works and religious observance…
This, in its simplest terms, is an instruction on how to care for our lives and ourselves.
Work is an unfortunate necessity. We must work to earn a living, and often times we must work hard. This commandment teaches us that all work and no rest is a bad thing. We must rest our bodies and our minds; we must take the time to let our physical and mental selves rejuvenate and recuperate.
God demonstrated this necessity for us although I would offer that He needed no rest, but chose to do so. We are not omnipotent, thus we must take the physical rest.
There is also the spiritual aspect here regarding the foreshadowing of the Gospel of Christ. Jesus Christ is our spiritual rest. It is His salvation that provides us rest from the pursuit of righteousness through works which is the law given in the OT.
(12) Regard (treat with honor, due obedience, and courtesy) your father and mother, that your days may be long in the land the Lord your God gives you.
Respect and obedience to authority – this is something we learn as children, or do not learn depending upon how one is raised. God instructs us to honor (respect) our parents and this is the first step in teaching a person respect for authority.
In the New Testament, we are told to respect and adhere to the authority of the government, and throughout scriptures, we are admonished to respect and adhere to the authority of God. This respect begins at home, with the parents.
(13) You shall not commit murder.
Wow, so much to discuss regarding murder, what it is and what it is not, and why we should not do it….
Murder is defined as the unlawful killing of another person. It is not simply killing someone, thus government-sanctioned executions do not apply, and accidental killing does not apply, slaughtering animals for food does not apply.
There are many psychological ramifications involved here that I will not go into at this time however, but this idea of ‘not committing murder’ may make an interesting post of its own some day…
(14) You shall not commit adultery.
(15) You shall not steal. [Prov. 11:1; 16:8; 21:6; 22:16; Jer. 17:11; Mal. 3:8.]
(16) You shall not witness falsely against your neighbor. [Exod. 23:1; Prov. 19:9; 24:28.]
I am taking these three together as they all lean towards a central issue: Trust, reliability, and righteousness.
To lie, cheat or steal irreparably damages, or destroys trust. One who lies cannot be trusted, one who cheats on his/her spouse cannot be trusted. One who steals cannot be trusted.
God desires for us to re-become the image of Him, and God has demonstrated to us that He is ever faithful, and ever honest. We cannot become like Him if we do not demonstrate the essential qualities that He possesses.
Additionally, we cannot be the witness, the testimony of His love, wisdom, and faithfulness if we demonstrate the opposite, and if we cannot be the witness to His glory then we are not doing the job He has given us to do.
(17) You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s. [Luke 12:15; Col. 3:5.]
Coveting… that carnal desire to have that which belongs to someone else – it is a destroyer of souls. Scripture tells us that the root of evil is the love of money. This is an intricate part of coveting – loving something other than God.
When we covet what are we doing, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally? We are sublimating our love of our Lord with a desire for material things. We are setting the stage for idolatry.
When one becomes covetous, it leads into a downward spiral of other issues. If we want something someone else has, and we want it badly enough we easily fall into lying, stealing, yes… and adultery.
Ultimately, God’s commandments given to Moses to share with His chosen people give us the basic blueprints on how to succeed in life, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Adherence to these commandments will disciple us, keep us from our own naturally carnal tendency to self-destruction, and provide us with a strong witness and ability to share the Gospel of Christ crucified and risen from the dead.
The Gospel June 27, 2008
Posted by JP in Faith, Scripture, Venting.add a comment
1 Cor. 15:1-4: AND NOW let me remind you [since it seems to have escaped you], brethren, of the Gospel (the glad tidings of salvation) which I proclaimed to you, which you welcomed and accepted and upon which your faith rests, (2) And by which you are saved, if you hold fast and keep firmly what I preached to you, unless you believed at first without effect and all for nothing. (3) For I passed on to you first of all what I also had received, that Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for our sins in accordance with [what] the Scriptures [foretold], (4) That He was buried, that He arose on the third day as the Scriptures foretold,
The gospel is defined as the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus for our sins. Christ Jesus’ sacrificial atonement for our sins, granted by His grace through our faith. Nothing more, nothing less.
I entreat all of my brethren - follow the commandment of our Lord and spread the Gospel of Christ. Place this goal first and foremost in your hearts and minds, and put the doctrinal debates, the political debates, the social change debates on a back burner. Do not let the concerns of society, or of your particular denomination take the front seat in your Christian life, but strive to make the Gospel your first priority and responsibility.
Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary; use words.
Reformed doctrine and evangelism… June 7, 2008
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Scripture.5 comments
In an earlier post I talked about the idea of ‘calvinism vs. evangelism’. Basically I wanted to explore the idea if Calvinism nullifies, or rejects, evangelism. Let us start by looking at some quotes from Chad Woodburn of Master’s Flock:
Calvinism doesn’t necessarily reduce zeal for evangelism. But it is easy to see how the abuse of the Calvinistic teaching could easily drain people of any urgency and zeal for witnessing…
But, Calvinism is easily used to reduce evangelistic fervor... There have been many young theology students who started out with a deep passion for evangelism who, when they bought into the Calvinistic beliefs (or began to misuse those teachings), lost their zeal for witnessing. They have echoed the discouraging words that were spoken to William Carey, the great pioneer missionary to India. He was told something very discouraging by a Calvinistic church leader who did not want him to go to the mission field. That leader said something like this: “Young man, when God wants to save the heathen, He will do it without your help or mine.”
One’s general theology can also produce small changes in one’s gospel message. Not only does Calvinism (or its misuse) make a difference in the level of zeal for evangelism that some people will have, but it can also make a significant difference in the message itself. For example, it is questionable whether a true Calvinist cannot honestly say to a lost person, “God loves you and wants to give you heaven as a free gift.” Instead, he has to add a footnote to that saying, “that is, if you are one of those God has already chosen to save.” Why? Because, they do not believe that God wants to give heaven as a free gift to all lost people (including the non-elect lost), just to the “elect” lost.
This snippet goes a long way to explain why there is a belief that Calvinism discourages evangelism (being a self-studied ‘calvinist’, I’ve never understood exactly why people would assert such… until now.)
Here’s the thing; apparently strict Calvinists, or Calvinist doctrine teach predestination and irresistible grace to such and extreme that the idea of spreading His Gospel seems pointless. While I now understand that point and why those assertions are made, I cannot understand how anyone would come to this conclusion particularly since it is so contrary to everything the bible teaches us about obedience and witnessing.
We are instructed to spread the Gospel. That is simply not a suggestion, or a request, it is a command. We are to spread the good news of Christ crucified and risen. Regardless of what we know, or think we know about God’s soveriegnty and the idea of ‘election’.
I’ve had a conversation with myself a time or two about this; “If God has elected people to salvation, then do I need to or not need to witness? Well of course I do! God did not hang signs around their necks saying ‘elect’, so I have no idea who is or is not ‘elect’. Nor do I know if it was God’s purpose for me to point the way for this individual or that individual, or not.”
There was more to that conversation, but I think you get the idea. Ultimately, I am reminded of operations at my work. When my company tells me that we will be doing something a certain way, or I am instructed to perform a duty, then my obligation is to do that duty, the way I am instructed, with just as much energy and enthusiasm as I should perform all of my duties. Until my name is on the sign in the front of the building, or until my company asks me for my opinion, then my job is to embrace the direction given to me and put my whole heart into doing that job, whether I understand all the whys and wherefore’s.
In looking around for some information for this post I came across some interesting commentary regarding Calvinism and Arminiansim. Some of the commentary I’ve seen touches on some difficulties I’ve had with calvinist doctrine, and the other as well. I’m going to do some research and try to hash out a few things regarding both doctrines and hopefully will gain some interpretive assistance from the Holy Spirit and report back to you regarding what I believe will be a biblically indestructible combination of two paradigmatically opposing doctrines.
Does Reformed doctrine reject/nullify evangelism? June 2, 2008
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Scripture.5 comments
This is the question I’m exploring now.
Reformed doctrine teaches the biblical principals of God’s soveriegnty, election, and predestination. This has been claimed by some to nullify the idea of evangelism, and I want to explore if that truly is the case. What I am up against though, is an argument that I have not seen fully fleshed out. The claim has been made, but the support has not been given.
Thus I am at a disadvantage when trying to work through all the ins and outs of the assertion, and I am in danger of supporting the truth that reformed doctrine does not nullify evangelism by creating strawmen and other logical fallacies.
So, the call goes out to any and everyone who believes that reformed doctrine does indeed nullify or reject the idea of evangelism to tell me why you believe this is the case. I will be honest up front and say that I doubt your arguments will sway me from the truth of scripture, but I’m sure they will provide me with a better understanding of what is not understood in scripture and the reasons it may be misunderstood.
Calvinism discussed… May 28, 2008
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Discussion, Faith, Scripture.add a comment
What is Calvinism?
It is a series of theological beliefs first promoted by John Calvin (1509-1564). They were affirmed by the Synod of Dordt (1618-1619) as being the doctrine of salvation which is contained in the Bible. It laid the foundation for Reformed Theology.
Calvinism is often summarized by The Five Points of Calvinism, which are easy to recall by using the acrostic “TULIP:“
T: This usually stands for “Total depravity:” This is often mistaken to mean that humans are all hopelessly, intensely sinful. Actually, it means something quite different: as a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God — the Fall of Man — sin has extended to all parts of every person’s being: “his thinking, his emotions and his will.”
Sometimes, this has been called “Total inability.” This is the concept that it is impossible for the ordinary “natural” human to understand the Gospel’s message. They are spiritually helpless. First, God must first decide to intervene in the form of the third personality within the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, the person is lost forever.
Rom 5:12 Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned.
Mar 4:11 And He said to them, To you has been entrusted the mystery of the kingdom of God [that is, the secret counsels of God which are hidden from the ungodly]; but for those outside [of our circle] everything becomes a parable,
U: This stands for “Unconditional Election.” This is the concept of predestination: that God has divided humanity into two groups. One group is “the elected.” It includes all those whom God has chosen to make knowledgeable about himself. The rest will remain ignorant of God, and the Gospel. They are damned and will spend eternity in hell without any hope of mercy or cessation of the extreme tortures (I must point out that currently I have no firm belief system on the subject of hell other than that it is an eternity separated from the Glory of God - which to my mind would indeed be tortuous). God made this selection before the universe was created, and thus before any humans existed. The ground or grounds that God uses to select the lucky few is unknown. What is known is that it is not through any good works on the part of the individual. It is not that he extends knowledge to some in order to find out who will accept salvation and who will not.
There is a degree of tension within the Bible concerning precise division of responsibility between God and humans on this matter. The Bible does not resolve this issue.
Hyper-Calvinists believe that a person has zero responsibility for their own salvation; it is all up to God.
Arminians teach that humans have free will and thus can accept or resist the call of God
Rom 9:15 For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion (pity) on whom I will have compassion. [Exod. 33:19.]
Rom 9:21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same mass (lump) one vessel for beauty and distinction and honorable use, and another for menial or ignoble and dishonorable use?
L: This stands for “Limited atonement” or “Particular Redemption.” This is the belief that Jesus did not die to save (justify) all humans. He only died for the sake of specific sins of those sinners who are saved. This idea is often misunderstood because scripture tells us that God desires that all men be saved. The truthful description of this doctrine is “unlimited atonement with limited application”:
Mat 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which [ratifies the agreement and] is being poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [Exod. 24:6-8.]
Eph 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
I: This stands for “Irresistible Grace:” This is the belief that every human whom God has elected will inevitably come to a knowledge of God. The elect cannot resist the call.
Joh 6:44 No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day.
Rom 8:14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
1Pe 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
P: This stands for “Perseverance of the saints:” This is the “Once saved, always saved” belief — that everyone who has been saved (justified) will remain in that state. God will begin and continue a process of sanctification which will continue until they reach heaven. None are lost; it is impossible for them to lose their salvation.
Php 1:6 And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.
Rom 8:28-39 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (29) For those whom He foreknew [of whom He was aware and loved beforehand], He also destined from the beginning [foreordaining them] to be molded into the image of His Son [and share inwardly His likeness], that He might become the firstborn among many brethren. (30) And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. (31) What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] [Ps. 118:6.] (32) He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? (33) Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] (34) Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? (35) Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? (36) Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. [Ps. 44:22.] (37) Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. (38) For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, (39) Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Joh 6:39 And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that I should not lose any of all that He has given Me, but that I should give new life and raise [them all] up at the last day.
Objections to Calvinism:
Universalism: This term has many meanings. Today’s most common meaning is that all individuals will eventually attain Heaven. None will be lost forever in Hell. Whether or not they have been saved during their lifetime is unimportant; the number and degree of sins that they have committed is also of no consequence. This belief system is so outrageously contradictory to so much of scripture it is a wonder anyone believing it can even say they’ve read or understood the Word of God.
Arminiansm: This is comprised of a series of beliefs which were first advocated by a break-away group of Dutch Calvinists. They teach beliefs that differ significantly from each of The Five Points of Calvinism:
- That each person is not spiritually helpless. She/he has free will and can choose to be saved
- God selected the Elect on the basis of his foreknowledge of who would respond and be saved.
- Jesus died so that everyone had a chance to be saved. But first, the person must choose to accept salvation.
- Man has free will and thus can resist the call of God.
Now then; I was raised understanding the belief (false belief) of man having free will and being able to accept or reject the salvation provided by Christ’s sacrificial atonement upon the cross, and it wasn’t until much later in my life after a complete rejection of all I was raised to believe and then through serious consideration of His Word and what it really said, that I understood those beliefs to be completely contrary to scripture its teachings of an omnipotent and soveriegn God.
Basically this belief system teaches us that God is dependent upon us. That He remains at our beck and call to be accepted or rejected as we see fit. It teaches that the best our Sovereign Lord could do was to look into the future and see who would or would not accept Him and then ‘elect’ those He foresaw as accepting Him. This belief system has at its foundation man’s utter arrogance and carnal need to be above his Creator…
Complete and utter hogwash.
One last detraction of Calvinism, or more directly; the doctrine of predestination and election, is that it somehow destroys evangelism. Once again, man placing his ability and input over that of the Sovereign God. Somehow, God is dependent upon us to spread His Word and ‘win souls’. I think however, that I will carry over the refutation of this nonsense to another post…
The Series: Romans 14 broken down May 15, 2008
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Discussion, Scripture.2 comments
Rom 14:1-6 AS FOR the man who is a weak believer, welcome him [into your fellowship], but not to criticize his opinions or pass judgment on his scruples or perplex him with discussions. (2) One [man's faith permits him to] believe he may eat anything, while a weaker one [limits his] eating to vegetables. (3) Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgment on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him. (4) Who are you to pass judgment on and censure another’s household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand. (5) One man esteems one day as better than another, while another man esteems all days alike [sacred]. Let everyone be fully convinced (satisfied) in his own mind. (6) He who observes the day observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.
It is apparent that differences of opinion existed with Christians even among the immediate followers of Christ Jesus, just as it is today. Paul used much of this chapter to discuss this idea, but he did not attempt to put an end to those differences of opinion yet chose to try to find a balance.
Paul makes distinction between those strong in the faith and those weak in the faith, and many scholars debate still as to who is who exactly. The most common understanding is that Paul referred to the converted Jews as those weak in the faith, but I would offer that he more so referred to those who take a legalistic view of faith, obedience, and doctrine as those who were weak. In that the view of ‘must do’ and ‘must not do’ in terms of Christianity offers a crutch to those who cannot release themselves to the truth of the Gospel given to us repeatedly as; salvation by Grace through faith, and not of works, or self-effort:
Rom 3:28 For we hold that a man is justified and made upright by faith independent of and distinctly apart from good deeds (works of the Law). [The observance of the Law has nothing to do with justification.]
Rom 4:5 But to one who, not working [by the Law], trusts (believes fully) in Him Who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (the standing acceptable to God).
Eph 2:8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
Gal 2:16 Yet we know that a man is justified or reckoned righteous and in right standing with God not by works of the Law, but [only] through faith and [absolute] reliance on and adherence to and trust in Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). [Therefore] even we [ourselves] have believed on Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law [for we cannot be justified by any observance of the ritual of the Law given by Moses], because by keeping legal rituals and by works no human being can ever be justified (declared righteous and put in right standing with God). [Ps. 143:2.]
The difficulty here is that this legalism, this weakness of faith, compels one to assent to doctrine or practices which one does not fully embrace. This hypocrisy avails the believer no benefit and leads unconstrained to self-righteousness.
I also believe that Paul understood that any attempts for producing absolute oneness of mind among Christians would be useless; but he desired instead to push the idea that Christian fellowship should not be disturbed with the ‘striving of words’. It would be wise for us to ask ourselves, when tempted to disdain and blame our brothers in Christ; “Does not God own them?” and if He does own them, dare I disown them?
Paul’s admonitions here are twofold: Let not the Christian who uses his liberty, despise his weak brother as ignorant and superstitious, and let not the scrupulous believer find fault with his liberated brother, for God accepted him, without regarding the distinctions of meats, days, etc. If we do so, we usurp the place of God, and take upon us the responsibility to judge the thoughts and intentions of others, which are out of our view.
Rom 14:7-13 None of us lives to himself [but to the Lord], and none of us dies to himself [but to the Lord, for] (8) If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord. (9) For Christ died and lived again for this very purpose, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. (10) Why do you criticize and pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you look down upon or despise your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God. (11) For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. [Isa. 45:23.] (12) And so each of us shall give an account of himself [give an answer in reference to judgment] to God. (13) Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavor never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother.
Although some are weak, and others are strong, all must agree not to live to themselves. No one who has given up his name to Christ is, or can be, a self-seeker; that is against true Christianity. The business of our lives is not to please ourselves, but to please God. That is true Christianity, which makes Christ all in all. Though Christians are of different strength, capacities, and practices in lesser things, they are all the Lord’s; all are looking and serving, and approving themselves to Christ.
Christians should not judge, in the spirit of condemnation, or despise one another, because both will have to give an account to the Lord. Every one of us should search his own heart and life; those of use who are strict in judging and humbling ourselves, will not be so ready to judge and despise his brother. Nor should we say or do things which may cause a brother to stumble or to fall, and nothing creates a more prominent stumbling block than judgment and condemnation.
Rom 14:14-18 I know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is [forbidden as] essentially unclean (defiled and unholy in itself). But [none the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean. (15) But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! (16) Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.] (17) [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. (18) He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men.
Paul expresses his absolute certainty that nothing is essentially unclean for those who abide in the Lord – nothing in and of itself that is. He tells us though that if one views something as ‘unclean’, then it is; and because of that truth, we are not to engage in those things that pains our brothers. We should not give others an occasion to criticize us for our actions – regardless if we feel justified in those actions spiritually. Because the truth of the matter is that the Kingdom of God is not about getting or doing the things we like but in living in righteousness, peace, love and joy.
Basically, if we are in fellowship, and I view the use of foul language as unclean or improper and you do not view it as such and so continue to use such language in my presence, then you are no longer walking in love. I take the time here to remind us Christ Jesus’ command to us all:
Mat 22:36-40 Teacher, which kind of commandment is great and important (the principal kind) in the Law? [Some commandments are light--which are heavy?] (37) And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.] (38) This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. (39) And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.] (40) These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.
Rom 14:19-23 So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another. (20) You must not, for the sake of food, undo and break down and destroy the work of God! Everything is indeed [ceremonially] clean and pure, but it is wrong for anyone to hurt the conscience of others or to make them fall by what he eats. (21) The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him. (22) Your personal convictions [on such matters]–exercise [them] as in God’s presence, keeping them to yourself [striving only to know the truth and obey His will]. Blessed (happy, to be envied) is he who has no reason to judge himself for what he approves [who does not convict himself by what he chooses to do]. (23) But the man who has doubts (misgivings, an uneasy conscience) about eating, and then eats [perhaps because of you], stands condemned [before God], because he is not true to his convictions and he does not act from faith. For whatever does not originate and proceed from faith is sin [whatever is done without a conviction of its approval by God is sinful].
This then is the culmination of the concept of Christian liberty, and the truth concerning what we can do, cannot do, and more importantly what we should do or should not do.
We are admonished to eagerly work for harmony and the building up of each other, which is the foundation of a Body working together as detailed in Romans 12. We cannot edify one another, work together for the good of God’s purposes when we are quarreling about things that have no bearing on the truth of the Gospel; that of salvation by grace through faith and the glory of a Christ sacrificed on our behalf and raised again into eternal life.
Personal convictions on what is right, or wrong, are simply that: personal convictions. We must endeavor not to lead another brother (or sister) to participate in that which they feel is wrong, nor should we offend those brethren by subjecting them to our participating in those things.
Let me reiterate verse 21:
Rom 14:21 The right thing is to eat no meat or drink no wine [at all], or [do anything else] if it makes your brother stumble or hurts his conscience or offends or weakens him.
Certainly Paul refers specifically to eating and drinking in this verse, as the contention regarding the consumption of ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ foods was the specific quarrel he was addressing. However, that does not deter from the fact that Paul is clear in the concept he was presenting as a much broader concern. It is the right thing to not do something if it makes your brother stumble, if it causes him offense, or if it weakens his faith. That applies to everything in our lives be it eating pork, drinking wine, smoking, cussing, et al.
Some have taken the concepts in this chapter, particularly the first half, and have flipped the meaning in order to fly in the face of the sensibilities of other Christians and the spiritual leadership of their particular congregation. Basically they use this chapter to tell other Christians to ‘talk to the hand’ when they are approached regarding their behavior and their conformity to the ways of the world. This is simply wrong.
Indeed scripture does confirm that we have freedom in our lives that we have no condemnation, as adopted heirs to the glory of God, and Paul confirms this freedom in this chapter. However, this is not the intent of this writing by Paul. He was not telling us “Hey, as Christians we are basically free to do what we want the way we want so take your complaints and shove them.”
What he was telling us is; yes, we are free in Christ. Yes I view certain things as acceptable and I am free to participate in them, however, I understand that my participation in those things causes you offense, injures you in your faith, and subsequently I will abstain from those things in the spirit of love and unity. If I place my personal convictions of freedom over my concerns for your spiritual welfare, then I am not walking in love as commanded by Christ Jesus.
The Series… Sanctifcation May 11, 2008
Posted by JP in Bible Study/Reference, Discussion, Faith, Scripture.1 comment so far
In the previous post we discussed justification as Christ’s righteousness imputed to us through God’s grace by faith (a reliance upon and trust in Him). That justification, a one time adoption as heirs to the Glory of God breeds regeneration (a new birth as new creatures in Christ) thus leading us to sanctification and continuing (progressive) sanctification:
Sanctification [positional], is to be set apart, to be made holy. A status conferred not by moral transformation but by the sacrifice of Christ:
Heb 10:10 And in accordance with this will [of God], we have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One).
Through faith and grace, through the sacrificial atonement of Christ Jesus we are set apart, we are made holy, in the eyes of God, and thus in the eyes of the world. This is the keystone to Christianity and the failure of the idea of being able to do whatever we want to do, however we want to do it. As new creations in Him, we are to be Christ-like in our lives, our witness is not in only what we say, but how we live.
Not only have we been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) once and for all, we continue in ongoing process of sanctification that conforms us to the image of Christ:
Php 2:12-13 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). (13) [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.
2Co 3:18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
Heb 12:14 Strive to live in peace with everybody and pursue that consecration and holiness without which no one will [ever] see the Lord.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!
What exactly are we being told by God’s Holy Inspired Word? We are told that we are to work on our sanctification with trust and reverence to the power of God working in us, that we are not to trust in, and be cautious of, our own ideas and to guard against those things that would discredit the name of Christ. We are told that we do this continually and to grow in His grace from now until the day we leave this earth and that without this pursuit of holiness others may not ever see the Lord.
How more plain can scripture be? We are to strive to be Christ-like in all that we do, we are to place our faith and trust in Him to cause this holiness to come to fruition for we cannot do it in and of ourselves, and that if we do not continue in this pursuit, the world will not see Him.
Since we are admonished to preach the Gospel to all peoples, and to go out to all nations making disciples it is a no-brainer to understand that the way we act, the way we live, is as important, if not more so, than what we say.
Preach the Gospel at all times; and if necessary, use words.
So, what’s the deal then? What of ‘Christian liberty’ and the freedom from condemnation if we cannot live the lives we want to live? The answer is simple:
We are set apart by the most righteous God to be His representatives to the unsaved world. We cannot represent Him if we are ‘wearing’ the ways of the world.
He is not of this world and the things of this world, and as His representatives here in this world, we cannot be of this world and the things of this world either. If your neighbor or co-worker cannot look at you on a daily basis and see the light of God shinning from you in the way you act, the things you say, or the way you say them, then that neighbor or co-worker cannot see God.
Christian liberty is not the freedom to be, or behave, in any fashion we choose. It is the freedom from death and condemnation for the sins we have committed or may commit.
This then brings us to the pragmatic issues of Christianity and the Christian life; hypocricy, self-righteousness, striving to be a ‘good Christian’, legalism, et al. These are the big issues, these are the tough issues. Do we pretend to be ‘holy’ when we want to cuss and scream? Do we risk acting as if something we do not feel in our hearts that we truly are? Do we rely on what we ‘feel’ or what we know?
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
This will be the underpinning purpose here at JP’s Mind; to address the practical issues of daily Christianity from time to time, in order to pursue my own holiness through Him as well as help others in their own pursuits.
