Rightly Dividing God's Word

Monday, February 7, 2011

Issuing "directives" for church problems?

The April 2010 question posed by the Lexington Herald-Leader to its FAITH BLOG members was:

“The Catholic Church has now issued a directive that explicitly requires church officials to report some crimes to the police. When dealing with abusive situations within a congregation, do communities of faith have an obligation to do more than what the law requires? What steps, if any, does your church or congregation take to protect its membership from sexual predators, spouse or child abusers? Does your faith community have specific ministries to help such victims or to prevent such problems?”

You may go on-line at: kentucky.com and register (join) to read all the faith blog articles/responses and follow the blogs of those who are currently members; you may also join the faith blog network.

My reply to this question was as follows:

The question reveals a problem that is in existence because church leaders have empowered themselves with the right to legislate religious practice. History reveals that this was one of the major factors in the formation of the Catholic denomination, (which later split=Greek Orthodox & Roman).

Does the Bible contain instructions as to how to handle such situations? If so, ought not ALL churches be in unison as to practice? If not, why not? The fact that there is diversity (if any) evidences that all protestant denominations have followed Catholic tradition in legislating practice as if the Lord’s church has a democracy-type government. If the Catholic church had been following the bible in this area, rather than uninspired men, would it now have to take the action that your question mentioned?

The New Testament epistles from Romans to Thessalonians were written to either one local church or churches in an area (Galatia), but the instructions did not vary as to how to handle ANY situation. There were sexual predators, spouse or child abusers in those churches in the first century as now, and the instructions, if followed will remedy the situation. Man does not have the right to deviate from Christ’s instructions as revealed by the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures; man is to obey them by faith.

A good question, perhaps better question for all to consider and give answer to on this matter is: “What is the Bible teaching on it?”

If the Bible was followed, two things would result: such abuse would not exist and churches would be in unity in their practice. That is just what Jesus mentioned in His prayer in John 17:20-21. “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.” Note the effect of this unity upon those still in sin: “that the world may believe that thou hast sent me”.

Yes, the church here has ministries to protect and help-they are those teachings of Christ as preached by His chosen apostles in the N. T. epistles. We teach the Bible here, and our instructions ought to be those of every church who makes the same claim; if not, why not?

RDB

Please, God, let us win!

The February 2010 question posed by the Lexington Herald-Leader to its FAITH BLOG members was:

“March Madness is upon us, and in Kentucky that doesn’t mean Easter, it means basketball.

“A pretty good case can be made that throughout history, God has taken sides. Does God take sides in a ball game? Is it right to pray to win? Does goodness have anything to do with winning?”

My reply to this question was as follows:

The situation of God taking sides throughout history does not apply to sports at all. Rather, bible history reveals that man has ‘taken sides’ by his choices as to whom he will serve. Early man ‘chose’ to go against his Creator: Romans 1:18-32 –

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

God did not cause this behavior; man CHOSE to do these things. The ‘side’ that man ought to choose is seen from the following admonitions:

Joshua - Joshua 24:14-15 – “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Elijah posed the same choice in 1 Kings 18:21 –

“How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.”

Jesus stated in Matt. 6:24 –

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

The apostle Paul stated the choice that preachers face in their preaching: Gal. 1:10 –

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.”

Is there any way or ‘sense’ that God takes ‘sides’? God purposed salvation to be in Christ before the creation (Eph. 1:3-11; 3:9-11; Tit. 1:2).

Accordingly, God has promised blessings for those who ‘chose’ to serve Him. He promised adoption as His spiritual children to those who would in faith, obey His will. Accordingly, thru the history of the bible, the righteous have been those to whom he chose to bless. Thus, Abel was accepted while Cain was rejected; Noah and his family were spared while the wicked destroyed; Lot was spared while Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed. So likewise will it be at judgment as the righteous few will be rewarded with heaven while the wicked majority will suffer eternal damnation. It is in this sense only that God “takes” a position.

The comparison of an athlete to a Christian is used in scripture, but in each case, it is used to teach that a Christian strives ‘lawfully’ in his ‘spiritual’ race.

1 Cor. 9:24-27 – “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should bedisqualified.”

Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Colossians 2:18 – “Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind…”

2 Tim. 2:5 – “An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.”

2 Tim. 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Heb. 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Of the other 3 questions posed, only one can be answered in the affirmative (does goodness have anything to do w/winning), but again, 'goodness' is defined by God as the keeping of His commandments; not by man in terms of rooting for a ball team.

Does God take sides in a ball game? NO, God’s ‘business’ or concern is seen from Psalms 74:12 - "Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth."

Is it right to pray to win? Prayer is not for this purpose. Does goodness have anything to do with winning? Only in life.

rdb
copyright 2011

Saturday, February 5, 2011

What does 'day of rest' mean to you?

The July 2010 question posed by the Lexington Herald-Leader to its FAITH BLOG members was:

On a Sunday drive around any town, folks are mowing, weeding or watering their gardens and yards. The Old Testament commandment is pretty clear: chill out on the Sabbath. Mark Buchanan, author of The Rest of God, notes the Hebrew word “shabbat” simply means “to cease.” Does that mean you should cease everything? Chik-Fil-A famously closes its doors on Sunday. Do we need rest, both physical and spiritual? Do you use the Sabbath to feed your soul by weeding the flower bed? Do you find God in nature? Can “work” be restorative?

My reply to this question was as follows:

The command “Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy” was given to the children of Abraham, thru Isaac and Jacob. It was a part of the “Ten Commandments” or Law of Moses.

Exodus 31:12-17 – “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”

Deut. 5:2-4 – “The LORD our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The LORD made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day. The LORD talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire…”

This law was never meant to be a universal law for all nations, and was abolished when Christ came, being replaced with the gospel. See Romans 10:4; Heb. 9 & 10.

Violations of the Sabbath:

Numbers 15:32-36 – “While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. And those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation. They put him in custody, because it had not been made clear what should be done to him. And the LORD said to Moses, "The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp." And all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death with stones, as the LORD commanded Moses.”

Exodus 35:3 - "You shall kindle no fire in all your dwelling places on the Sabbath day..." (for explanation/clarity, see previously Ex. 16:21-23).

Faithful observance of the Sabbath was prerequisite to their living in Canaan, as the blessing of remaining in the land was conditioned upon their obedience, which has always been true of spiritual blessings from God.

The entire book of Deuteronomy contains Moses’ warnings to be faithful in all that God had commanded their parents at Mt. Sinai. That first generation had NOT been faithful and died for their disobedience during the period of the 40 year wilderness wandering (Numbers 14). Even Moses sinned and was not allowed to enter Canaan (Deut. 3:23-28). The only two people who had been in Egyptian bondage and survived the 40 years of wandering, and made it into Canaan, “from 20 years old and upward”, were Caleb and Joshua. The reason? They “FULLY FOLLOWED THE LORD” (see Numbers 14:24 and 32:11-13).

The second generation of Israelites would be led by Joshua into a conquest of Canaan. Chapter 28 clearly links obedience as the condition for remaining in the land. In verses 45-47 it states, “all these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you TILL YOU ARE DESTROYED, BECAUSE YOU DID NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF THE LORD YOUR GOD, TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES THAT HE COMMANDED YOU. They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck UNTIL HE HAS DESTROYED YOU.”

Lev. 26:14-39 is another chapter stressing the punishment for their disobedience. In verses 34-35 it specifically states: “Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, THE REST THAT IT DID NOT HAVE ON YOUR SABBATHS WHEN YOU WERE DWELLING IN IT.”

Clearly, they did NOT “remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy” as a nation. Sabbath observance was clearly part of their obedience (see Ex. 31:12-17; Lev. 19:3, 30; 23:3; 26:2; and Jer. 17:24).

The reason for the captivity and loss of possession of Canaan was their disobedience. As a nation, they had a stubborn and rebellious heart, “doing what was right in their own eyes”

(Deut. 12:8 - Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

Judg. 17:6 - In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

Judg. 21:25 - In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.)

Does this mindset still prevail in religion today?  God’s spiritual blessings were foreordained from the foundation of the word:

Eph. 1:4 - …he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…that we should be holy and blameless…

2 Tim. 1:9 - Who hath saved us…according to his own purpose…which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began…

Tit. 1:2 - eternal life, which God…promised before the world began…

These spiritual blessings are ONLY in Christ, and they are conditional upon one’s obedience to the commandments that Jesus gave to the apostles; which they preached to all in the gospel message as they went “into all the world”.

God cares for all His creation, but His intent is that they might become His children. (Matt. 5:45 – “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”)

2 Peter 3:9 – "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

RDB

Those four horses in the book of Revelation.

The September 2010 question posed by the Lexington Herald-Leader to its FAITH BLOG members was:

Lexington has got the World Equestrian Games coming down the stretch and the city is awash in horses. The best-known horses in the Bible: those four horses in the book of Revelation. Revelation even has its own Big Red and Black Beauty, along with a white horse and a mysterious pale horse. Theologians have long debated the meaning of Revelation. What does that oh-so-interesting book in the New Testament mean to you? What in the heck was St. John of Patmos thinking? Is the purpose a warning of end times to come, a message of hope or something else entirely?

My reply to this question was as follows:

Revelation, by its very nature, was not designed to be interpreted literally, as is readily apparent anyone who sits down to actually read it. John affirms in Rev. 1:1 that it was sent and "signified" - a term which means to speak in signs or symbols (hence not literal, but figurative). Such symbolic language is common to us from the parables and the illustrations in John 10.

The very nature of Revelation then, as John affirms, is not to be literal, but figurative, and hence must be so interpreted (in harmony with other plain statements found elsewhere in the Bible, and also in light of other similar expressions found in the Old Testament which are explained for us).

This helps us to understand why the four horses in chapter 6 as well as the Lamb, the four living creatures, the dead souls speaking, the sun turning black and the moon turning to blood are not literal, but symbolic.

The second major point we need to understand about Revelation is the time for which it was written. Revelation was written to convey a message to those then living, and efforts to make it refer to specific events centuries later utterly ignores this point. There could be no way anyone then reading it could be blessed (1:3) if it did not convey a message to them as they read it then. Why should they heed its message (22:7) if it had no reference whatsoever to them, but referred to something going to happen yet 2,000 or more years into the future?

The truth of the matter is that John was writing Revelation with them in mind. Again, we turn to the very first verse, where he affirms he is writing about those things "which must shortly take place." to pass, it cannot be talking about over 2,000 years into the future!

This message is carried throughout the book of Revelation. Note that the time is "near" or "at hand" in 1:3 (cf. Matt. 3:2, Mark 9:1); "about to suffer" (2:10); "I am coming to you quickly" (2:16); "I am coming quickly" (3:11); "a little while longer" (6:11); "delay no longer" (10:6); "the third Woe is coming quickly" (11:14); etc. Even in the last chapter we see the same message repeated repeatedly: "the things which must shortly take place" (v. 6); "I am coming quickly" (v. 7); "for the time is near" (v. 10); "I am coming quickly" (v. 12); and "I am coming quickly" again in verse 20. Obviously the "coming" here does not refer to the second and final coming, or the Lord lied in saying it was "quickly," "shortly" and "at hand." Frequently the same term is used with the idea of coming in judgment (cf. Matt. 10:23, Isa. 19:1, but not literal), and this seems to be the message John was giving to the oppressed Christians of that time. This being so, recognizing the time element of the book of Revelation, there is no way Jehovah Witnesses, Premillennialists, Armstrong, Adventists, etc. can claim Revelation is either being fulfilled today or refers to events yet in the future.

As we look at the book of Revelation as a whole, let us consider why it was written, and what its message was. The book was written as an encouragement to the Christians of that time in the face of discouraging persecution from the Roman government. The tribulation was already on them, and more were yet to die (2:10; 3:10; 6:11). In view of these continued deaths, the cry was raised, "Is it all in vain?" "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will Thou refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth" (6:10), and John's message is the reply to this cry. The book centers around their cry for vengeance-not for the sake of revenge itself, but as a testimony it had not all been in vain. But, first, God says, it is all according to a plan: others must first die too (6:11), but "a little while longer," and My purpose will then unfold. Now, note in 16:6-7 that Christ "didst judge" these things, giving His enemies blood to drink for having poured out the blood of the saints, and the "altar" (cf. 6:9) now sees that "true and righteous are Thy judgments." Again, in 19:2, in direct reference to 6:10, we find "He has avenged the blood of His bond-servants on her." And, finally, in triumph, those who had remained faithful to the Lord throughout the persecution are now sharing in the triumph of the cause of Christ in 20:4-6.

But Why Figurative?

At this point, the question is again raised, But why then is the book figurative? Why didn't John just come out and say that? Remember Pharaoh’s reaction in Ex. 5:2, 5-9? The pattern for giving a message to God's people, which they understood and their enemies thought was "the ravings of a lunatic" was then set in Ezekiel 4. The same was now employed here as the Christians understood the wonderful promise of relief and victory, but the Romans thought it was the writings of one "not worth bothering with."

All that is contained in this book: the events, the beasts, the judgments, etc. must be kept within the concept of the time, nature and purpose of the book, or we no longer have a context, but a pretext. This does not mean that it does not contain a message for us today, for surely it does, just like the message on church discipline found in 1 Cor. 5. We must not become discouraged and assume God has lost control, but to recognize He has a purpose and in the end, He will vindicate His cause!

The failure to recognize these important truths, though, has led to many speculations-all the way from the Premillennial position to the Jehovah Witnesses' position to the Historical position (which has to be revised every 100 years to account for "new events."

Dan. 2:44 and Heb. 12:28 affirmed we have received a kingdom which could not be destroyed. It was tested by Satan, and confirmed by the Lord. As before, Satan went down in defeat, even though he threw everything he had against the church in its infancy: the power of the Roman government, the pressure of Caesar worship and the worldliness of the city of Rome as well. His final defeat has been foretold (Matt. 25:46).

RDB

What does the Bible say about: Racial Integration?

The January question posed by the Lexington Herald-Leader to its FAITH BLOG members was:

For this month the question is pegged to the Martin Luther King Holiday:

CNN polled its viewers and found that most worship with people of the same race. In the book “United by Faith,” author Curtis Paul DeYoung says that only 5 percent of the churches in America are integrated. Why do you think this is the case?

The question is one that I personally wish all churches would address! Prejudice is the reason that there are so many churches and so much division in religion. This is not new, for integration was THE major issue in the church from the outset. Integration between Jew and Gentile was the big obstacle addressed in every N. T. epistle. Racial prejudice exists because a perverted message is proclaimed. Perverted messages exists because of the selfish motives of false teachers (cf. Phil. 1:15-18)

First of all let me mention that the congregation here at Mill Street is integrated; and always has been. The church that you read of in the Bible was purposed to be composed of by people of ALL nationalities (see Matt. 28:18 – “all nations”; Mark 16:15 “every creature”; Luke 24:47 – “all nations” ; and John 17:18 –“the world”)

God INTENDED to unite all into ONE body (1 Cor. 12:13 – “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

Eph. 2:11-19 - “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.”

Again, passages from EVERY N. T. epistle, addressed to either an individual Christian or church, condemned prejudice and called upon them to accept one another as brethren; equals, “fellow-citizens” in the household of God.

Why then does the situation mentioned in the CNN poll exist? Obviously, because a perverted message is proclaimed.

[see 2 Cor. 11:13-14; Gal. 1:6-9; 1 Tim. 4:1-4; 2 Tim. 4:3-4]

Jesus faced integration issues among the sects of the Sadducees and Pharisees. He condemned it upon the grounds that “God is no respecter of persons”. Salvation was meant for whosoever will come upon to Christ upon His terms. Thus we find that belief & confession in Him as the Son of God; repentance from dead works and immersion in water consistently preached to the sinner as the “form of doctrine” to be obeyed, that would free the sinner from his sin thereby becoming a servant of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18)

A church that follows Christ's teachings will accept ALL upon the terms that God has ordained: faith and obedience to these commands of Christ, regardless of their nationality.

RDB

Love, marriage and the church

A question posed from the Lexington Herald-Leader on their "FAITH BLOG" for the month of February was:

"To have and to hold, from this day forward, until death do us part." That could be a really long time and can include sickness or health, wealth or poverty. Not every two people who want to get married should. What do you tell them? How do you counsel couples who want to part ways? What is the future for traditional ideas of marriage?

You may go on-line at: kentucky.com and register (join) to read all the faith blog articles/responses and follow the blogs of those who are currently members; you may also join the faith blog network. My reply to this question was as follows:

The Bible teaching on marriage is clear. The marriage institution was created by God and intended for man’s happiness. It is stated in Genesis 2:24, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” Jesus, in Matthew 19:6 stated of this, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

Furthermore, we find in Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

While God instituted marriage for man’s benefit, it is not a requirement for salvation. In other words, one does not HAVE to marry. (Matthew 19:12 – “For there are eunuchs, that were so born from their mother's womb: and there are eunuchs, that were made eunuchs by men: and there are eunuchs, that made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.”)

If however, marriage is entered, then the Bible is clear as to its duration, (Romans 7). God’s instructions regarding marriage is applicable to everyone, i.e., no one is exempt from them. There is nothing in the scriptures that suggest that one’s spiritual condition before God has a bearing on the matter. Again, 1 Corinthians 7 describes a marriage of a believer and a non-believer (see also 1 Peter 3:1-5).

Divorce is also legislated by the Bible. There are two reasons for which a marriage may be dissolved: physical death (Romans 7) and adultery (Matthew 5 & 19).

In view of the significance and role of marriage, CARE must be taken in the selection of a mate. This is where the problem of broken homes, abuse and neglect originates: disrespect for God’s laws regarding marriage.

Much more insight on the importance of selecting a mate may be seen from God’s instructions to the children of Israel regarding the intermarriage with the Canaanite people (Deuteronomy 7:3-4- "neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For he will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of Jehovah be kindled against you, and he will destroy thee quickly." (see also Exodus 34:16; Joshua 23:12-13; 1 Kings 11:2; Ezra 9:2) This is especially seen from Solomon’s marriages in 1 Kings 11. God’s concern is obvious from this passage. The salvation of our souls!

What does the future hold? That depends upon whether preachers preach the truth from the Bible on marriage, divorce, and re-marriage. If their concern is more over a drop in membership, they will proclaim a “perverted” gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). If their love for God and for the souls is their motive, then they will boldly proclaim God’s will on the subject and, in so doing, give witness of their genuine trust in God to defend His cause.

People’s convictions are developed from what goes forth from the pulpits, for the proverbial apple does not fall far from the tree.

RDB

Friday, February 4, 2011

The terrible history of the Valley of Hinnom

One of the detestable abominations of God’s people of which the prophet Jeremiah wrote, was the literal burning alive of their children in sacrifice to a false god (Molech), for which God’s wrath was coming upon them. The place of this human sacrifice was just outside the city of Jerusalem in the valley of Hinnom. God had warned them through Moses many years earlier, "You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD." (Lev. 18:21)

Yet Jeremiah wrote of them:

“And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.” - Jer. 7:31

“And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” - Jer. 32:35

We read that King Ahaz, of Judah, “…walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim. Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.” (2 Chron. 28:2-3)

Of Manasseh, another king of Judah, we read that he, “…caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” (2 Chron. 33:6)

Then, a drastic change occurred…

Following Manasseh, King Josiah abolished this idolatrous worship and afterwards the Jews so abhorred this place, that they cast into it not only all manner of refuse, but even the dead bodies of animals and of unburied criminals who had been executed. And since fires were always needed to consume the dead bodies, that the air might not become tainted by their putrefaction, the fires burned continuously, and maggots were ever present here. (see 2 Kings 23:10) Sulphur was also used to further accomplish the disposal of the refuse.

Thus, this literal place (Valley of Hinnom) of the O. T. provided a fitting description for the eternal punishment of the wicked AFTER the Judgment in the N. T. corresponding to Gehenna. We can understand from the events associated with this literal place why the language describing Hell is used.

The word ge'-en-nä comes from a Hebrew term denoting the “Valley of Hinnom" this place of worship to the pagan god Moloch. Jesus described the punishment of Gehenna as follows: “And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell (ge'-en-nä), into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell (ge'-en-nä), into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire (ge'-en-nä): Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-48).

See also Matt. 5:22, 29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33, where the word ‘hell’ is from (ge'-en-nä).