I've noticed a profound indifference in attitude when people are given sound advice! It's as if individuals take actions or behave in manners which they know are detrimental. Why? I've always looked up to people more mature than myself, more studied than I am and with more education than what I have. Many times the self-made wealthy man or woman offers sound advice! Yet, people are stuck in their defensive attitudes.
Proverbs 11:14 (ESV) "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety."
People fail without guidance and when proper counsel is available there is safety! Simply said, "It's wise to take advise!" This notion is supported by:
Proverbs 19:20 ( ESV) "Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future."
Some people "listen" to advise, but that's only half the story. One should "accept instruction". Why? "That you may gain wisdom!" People just fail to accept bonafide proven instruction! Their pride gets in the way. It's their way or no way!
I've often heard it said "I failed with my children because they weren't born with an instruction manual!". Wrong, I'm sure you had the "instruction book", maybe even read it, but you failed to accept it! I'm speaking of God's instruction to mankind; The Holy Bible. It was there all the time and if people read and ACCEPTED it, then they had that instruction manual:
Proverbs 22:6 ( ESV) "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
Yes, the Bible gives good advice. We're to listen, accept and implement. By implementation I mean that we should put wise advice into practical use! Pride is the roadblock. Pride is less valuable than having children who are selfish, materialistic, narcissistic, unmotivated, and disrespectful. Sure, we want our children to have what we never had, but we somehow made it, even succeeded.
I counseled a young married couple in particular. They came to my house with a marital problem. They both listened attentively, agreed with what I was saying (accepted), but failed to implement the advice given, even after saying it was a good route to a healed marriage. The husband had been in a computer romance using the computer at the library. My advise was that he no longer go to the library to use the computer. What did his wife do? She bought a computer for home use! She not only failed to implement, but did the exact wrong which was causing the problem. Needless to say, they are no longer married!
I was the one offering advise. Just being factual: I am older and hopefully more wise than they, I had experienced marriage and child-rearing for many years, I had studied God's word for years, I had years of business experience, an undergraduate degree and a graduate degree, the latter focusing on "Family Counseling". With all that, my perception, based on their actions, was that I was also much smarter than them. They had the basic education, menial jobs and little experience. That doesn't correlate to their worth at all, but they were in dire need of guidance and wise instruction. I took my time out several evenings, but they did it "their way"!
When raising my oldest child I was a child myself. I was young! I failed miserably because I was too busy working to provide. I just didn't take the time. The Holy Spirit led me to follow scripture and to take the time, but I was just too busy (so I thought). I asked no one for advise nor did I receive much. On all appearances I was doing the right thing. I loved him, took him to church three times a week and played with him. However, I did so many things wrong. Foremost among them, I failed to be the leader of the home! I allowed, even expected my wife (I was married before) to do the discipline and raise the kids. I was just the provider.
She failed to use the instruction manual too! When I tried to be the leader of the family, it was a tough battle. Consequently, I bowed out, shirked my responsibilities and let her do it "her way". She loved her childen and attempted to gain their love by buying things for them. Mostly it was brand-name clothes, bicycles, toys, and things to amuse them. My son had so many toys he didn't know which one to play with! All those toys failed to keep him occupied! He sought attention from wherever he could find it! He was an excellent son and still is, but his confused upbringing made him turn to marijuana for solace. I blame myself, although I made an atempt, it was feeble at most. I should have taken the lead in raising my children. That's my duty. Sure the mother is to do her part, but the father is the leader of the household.
When I tried to offer advice it wasn't accepted. I learned that if I kept quiet at least I had peace! Peace at the expense of failure is stupidity. I mentioned earlier that I was smarter than the young marrieds. That came with time. I learned by mistakes, but if one listens to, accepts and implements wise counsel, they are the ones who have the wisdom! (e.g., We don't have to use heroin to know it's bad. Just listen to the one who can tell you how bad it is!)
(I don't blame my ex-wife for our failures. She did about the best she could too. I blame myself for not stepping up to the plate and using scrripture in raising my children). I failed "to seek" in addition to listening, accepting and implementing.
We should all seek wisdom!
Proverbs 3:13-18 (ESV) "Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. "
On the other side of wisdom is foolishness:
Proverbs 12:15 (ESV) "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."
If you'll remember, I mentioned the "stupidity" of not taking advice? Scripture goes further. It's the "fool" who fails to "heed" advise. I've been a fool before, but I now make a strong attempt to do what's wise. I normally seek scripture myself which applies to the situation. Sometimes when I can't get the answer I ask a mature respected God-living Christian. If I get answers which solely please me, I'm getting wrong answers. Wisdom does not counsel pleasure. It counsels a hard course. Some advice angered me! That was the best advice I ever got. Although it made me angry, with introspection, I took that advice! It was scriptural and hard advice to swallow.
The most wise man ever said this:
Ecclesiastes 7:25 "I turned my heart to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness that is madness."
Our hearts should search out wisdom. Relying on our own internal "GPS" it won't be found. We'll normally take the wrong road! That's folly (foolishness). Why would we want to act in a manner which leads to failure? That's madness! Love is a hard thing. Love is seeing our children fail without bailing them out. Love is letting them fight their own battles. Love is letting them provide for their family. Love is being there when they seek advice, and if they're wise children they will "search and to seek wisdom" before a catastrophe happens. They are not to ask advice on how to escape the consequences of their foolishness, but how to avoid foolish behavior from the start. That's the type of relationship bred from love... from scripture!
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Freedom: How much should we have?
What is meant to be "free"? The best general definition for "free" is "given, made, or done of one's own accord; voluntary or spontaneous." (American Heritage Dictionary). It's something done by one's own choice. It's liberty!
The first mention of freedom (the state of being free) is:
Genesis 2:16 (NIV) 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”"
Therein is the closest thing to total freedom that mankind ever had! God supplied everything: the universe, the sun for light, the moon for seasons, the earth for our sustenance, the waters for our existence, the animals and herbs for our health, a mate for companionship and a beautiful perfect garden for our home! A Utopia! After giving us everything, God gave us freedom!
"You (Adam and Eve) are free to eat from any tree in the garden." This would be total freedom, but God in his wisdom gave mankind one regulation. "...you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil..." That's God's "First Law" and it's the one regulation which allowed mankind "limited freedom".
Anarchy is the complete lack of law, order and government. Everyone has the freedom to do whatever one pleases. Without that one law (do not eat of one particular tree) Eden would have been lawless. God, in his wisdom, gave mankind freedom, but also government. God, the ruler of the universe, gave man one law! The law was more than "not eating of the tree", but wanting to be as God; having his knowledge! Genesis 3:6 (ESV) "...that the tree was to be desired to make one wise". The law wasn't against eating, but against pride! Man desired to be as God! Man could not even obey one law! How pitiful. Today we must obey thousands of not millions of laws.
Before God instituted judges there was anarchy!
Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Without a ruler to impute laws and punishment people did whatever they wished. People were "free", but lawlessness presented problems. Without law it's "survival of the fittest". The strong take from the weak and the weak die. That's how the animal kingdom works. Man is more than beasts. We're endowed with a mind and a spirit! We desire to be free, but "complete freedom" has consequences. Complete freedom leads to bondage. If man is free to do as he wishes, the strong will seek to enslave the weaker or less intelligent. Yes, slavery was a result of freedom. Man had the freedom to enslave others because government either didn't prohibit slavery, or where there was law, it allowed slavery.
Not only did God give man his freedom, he gave that one law and dictated a punishment for breaking the law: "for when you eat from it you will certainly die". The penalty for pride was death! Man was "free", but God limited that freedom and provided a sentence for disobedience.
Mankind totally failed God! After man's "original sin" Satan became de facto ruler of the world:
John 12:31 "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world (Satan) be cast out."
God created the world. It's his footstool. He removed the protective hedge from around the faithful and has temporarily allowed Satan to rule. It's a test! Will his creation follow Him or the Prince of the World? The answer is "the Prince; Satan". The Anti-Christ, Satan's appointed ruler, is the father of lawlessness:
The first mention of freedom (the state of being free) is:
Genesis 2:16 (NIV) 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”"
Therein is the closest thing to total freedom that mankind ever had! God supplied everything: the universe, the sun for light, the moon for seasons, the earth for our sustenance, the waters for our existence, the animals and herbs for our health, a mate for companionship and a beautiful perfect garden for our home! A Utopia! After giving us everything, God gave us freedom!
"You (Adam and Eve) are free to eat from any tree in the garden." This would be total freedom, but God in his wisdom gave mankind one regulation. "...you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil..." That's God's "First Law" and it's the one regulation which allowed mankind "limited freedom".
Anarchy is the complete lack of law, order and government. Everyone has the freedom to do whatever one pleases. Without that one law (do not eat of one particular tree) Eden would have been lawless. God, in his wisdom, gave mankind freedom, but also government. God, the ruler of the universe, gave man one law! The law was more than "not eating of the tree", but wanting to be as God; having his knowledge! Genesis 3:6 (ESV) "...that the tree was to be desired to make one wise". The law wasn't against eating, but against pride! Man desired to be as God! Man could not even obey one law! How pitiful. Today we must obey thousands of not millions of laws.
Before God instituted judges there was anarchy!
Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
Without a ruler to impute laws and punishment people did whatever they wished. People were "free", but lawlessness presented problems. Without law it's "survival of the fittest". The strong take from the weak and the weak die. That's how the animal kingdom works. Man is more than beasts. We're endowed with a mind and a spirit! We desire to be free, but "complete freedom" has consequences. Complete freedom leads to bondage. If man is free to do as he wishes, the strong will seek to enslave the weaker or less intelligent. Yes, slavery was a result of freedom. Man had the freedom to enslave others because government either didn't prohibit slavery, or where there was law, it allowed slavery.
Not only did God give man his freedom, he gave that one law and dictated a punishment for breaking the law: "for when you eat from it you will certainly die". The penalty for pride was death! Man was "free", but God limited that freedom and provided a sentence for disobedience.
Mankind totally failed God! After man's "original sin" Satan became de facto ruler of the world:
John 12:31 "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world (Satan) be cast out."
God created the world. It's his footstool. He removed the protective hedge from around the faithful and has temporarily allowed Satan to rule. It's a test! Will his creation follow Him or the Prince of the World? The answer is "the Prince; Satan". The Anti-Christ, Satan's appointed ruler, is the father of lawlessness:
2 Thessalonians 2:5 (ESV) "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."
Remember that anarchy is "lawlessness"? It's where everyone does as he pleases. For a time people will be happy, but lawlessness (total freedom) comes with it's stipulation: Man must obey the ruler. That ruler is Satan. As with God who offered spiritual death for disobedience, Satan dictates that if you don't follow him you will be decapitated!
Revelation 20:4b (ESV) "I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands."
God didn't offer total freedom, but he was honest about it. He knew that we need laws to protect us! But with Satan, the deceiver, he offers freedom too, but with a severe penalty for those who fail to follow him... for the Christian they shall be decapitated! Too much freedom leads to force. Satan offers lawlessness, but for those who deny his authority, they either obey or suffer death! This leads to socialism.
Socialism has a implied goal: It's purpose is to provide the closest thing to Utopia as possible. Utopia is an ideally perfect place. All will have the same income, food, clothing, health care and home. There will be no hate nor intolerance nor injustice. Utopia is the socialist answer to heaven on earth. It's a man-made Garden of Eden on theory!
To obtain Utopia the foremost doctrine of Marxism is "income redistribution". They know that it takes hard work and capitalism to create wealth, but their objective is to take that wealth and share it equally. That sounds good on the surface, but what about the hard workers who don't like the idea of being forced to give away the fruits of their labor? "Force" is used. Laws are made to take their wealth by taxes and regulation. If they refuse, then incarceration or even death is used! Socialists aren't necessarily evil people. They may have good intentions, but they are deceived! Remember that Satan is the ruler of the world? Socialism is the government of Satan! Those loyal soldiers have not an idea that they are tools of the rebellious one.
While socialism is about total control and regulation of all monetary and economic matters, on social issues it stands for total lawlessness, the law of the devil. Laws will gradually be enacted to confiscate property, collect repressive taxes and the government to control all commerce. While that's happening social and moral laws will be repealed. People will again be allowed to "that which was right in his (their) own eyes" just as before the time of Judges in the Old Testament.
Socialism seeks dissolution of the family unit, it minimizes individualism and propagates the notion of "societal good". Women's rights as workers is emphasized with them having no dependence on men. (They have created a war between men and women which is God's most cherished institution). Children are to be raised in a common manner without the family unit under government control. Without repressive social laws same-sex marriage and free sex are encouraged. On moral issues people are on their own. Liberterianism is a dupe dogma of socialism! Religion interferes with the socialist agenda, especially Christianity. As such the state tells how to worship and even disallow worship at its whim.
You may be thinking, "That's communism!" Socialism IS the initial stage of communism. At first Marxists are lawful in taking control, but as they gain more control, physical force becomes the coercion which brings the billigerent in line with socialism. Physical force is the invisible line where socialism becomes communism. Freedom is not an objective of Marxism. Control is the objective. Those in power become dictators and those who believed they were "free" find themselves slaves to the goverment. That's how Satan works! Socialism is gradual change. It's called "creeping socialism". It mixes just enough "good" with a nefarious agenda so that the uninformed welcome the "change" with open arms! That's the "hope" of socialism: Utopia and freedom. The reality of socialism is poverty and slavery, except for the powerful rulers!
In Paul's letter to the Thessalonians above he says "the lawless one will be revealed". That's the Anti-Christ. He is the civil leader of the government and the religious leader, proclaiming himself as God (just as God foresaw). You may seek a "wall of separation between church and state", but the Anti-Christ, the ruler and god, removes that wall! (That "wall" is a lie of Satan and if Christians don't participate in government, we hurry the advent of the Anti-Christ!) The Anti-Christ will do much "good" in 3-1/2 years. The people will adore him. (They accept him as God). He ends wars and and actually creates a false Utopia here on earth... unless you're a Christian! The Anti-Christ is indeed the leader of a socialist goverment in the first 3-1/2 years.
Then...
As Revelation says "I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands."
Just like Marxism, some will fail to go along with the government. Those who reject the Anti-Christ and the socialist goverment will be beheaded. That's where physical force comes into play. Christians will be decapitated! The Marxist government just went from socialsim to communism and persecution lasts for 3-1/2 more years. That's Marxism in action. That's godless Marxism pure and simple!
Being "free" means being realistic. We need to cherish freedoms with which we are endowed:
From Paragraph 2 of The Declaration of Independence it says "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that
they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among
these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these
rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from
the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes
destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish
it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles
and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to
effect their Safety and Happiness."
"Liberty" spoken of here is "freedom". It's what "being free" means! Like God in Genesis "governments are instituted", meaning that some regulation is necessary. That goverment is to protect freedom! In the event the government fails us: it is the right of the people to altar or abolish it, and to institute a new Goverment". The government isn't meant to control us, but "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed..." We as free men are to control the government! That's what the American Revolution was all about.
The First Amendment is there to protect our freedoms:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The Anti-Christ will establish a religion. It's called the "Great Whore Babylon" and is a church in apostasy, much like the Laodicean Church was in Paul's day. While Christianity will be part of the message of that church, it will be a false Christ. (Like Adam [from Genesis] above he made himself wise, mimicking God).
We are "free", according to the Constitution "to free(ly) exercise thereof (our religion)". The government isn't allowed to tell Christians how or where to worship... but it does! We are in the mid-stages of socialism, the government of the Anti-Christ. Don't be fooled. I'm no Jeremiah, but I do know scripture! Just as Judah foolishly rejected Jeremiah's warning and was destroyed, America will also be; right along with the rest of the world!
Right now I can write this. I still have limited "freedom of speech" as enumerated above. However, just as Canada has abridged freedom of religious speech, America is on the brink of doing the same. Where scripture "judges" the goverment, led by socialists, will label scripture "hate speech". Whereas now Christians are only fired for having an opinion, it will soon be the law of the land.
Monday, January 13, 2014
A Sharp Tongue
A "sharp tongue" is usually associated with prevarication. Those who lie are said to have "a sharp tongue". However, the tongue is a weapon of mass destruction used in other ways as well.
Psalm 52:2 "The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully."
The tongue is a weapon. The Bible likens it to a sword. It's capable of spreading deceit, but the main use of the tongue in wicked people is for "cutting remarks". Some have a critical spirit and their tongue is the medium which takes that criticism from thought to incision.
A person with a "critical spirit" is one who judges adversely, harshly and unfairly. It's a personality trait. Such people are antagonistic and are the provoking parents, wives, husbands, friends and of course enemies. A critical spirit makes enemies of friends. We all must overlook biting criticism, but it's difficult to overlook continual negativism.
As an example, let's say one's daughter makes a fairly neutral statement such as "I wish my bedroom walls were pink.". A normal response would be "Why pink?" A critical person may respond "You're never happy with anything!" It's a short swath of the sword, but it's a provoking statement and is the "first shot" in the new battle just starting! The daughter becomes rightfully defensive and puts up her shield of defense: "I like pink, but am ready for a change!" Mom or Dad replies "You'll have to pay for it yourself!" Although the daughter has yet to ask for anything, the parent just made an unfair supposition. Tempers flare and war ensues! What was once a cranky negative conversation may escalate into screaming and cursing. It's just not worth it, but that's the way some people live their lives. People make sharp statements and start wars wherever they go, most often with those they love!
Many use a critical spirit as a defense mechanism. Those who are speaking to one perceived to be more intelligent or knowledgeable may use biting remarks to conceal their own short-comings. For instance, if person #1 says "The snow is deep!", person #2 may say in a snappy manner "It's not as deep as it was before it packed!" Person #2 has just tried to "one up" person #1. It's a shallow way of putting a person down. Most often Person #2 is insecure with his own education, job, intelligence, position or whatever. Knowing themselves to be less knowledgeable is why they are ill with another. Person #2 sub-consciously wants person #1 to feel badly. Person #1 does in fact feel badly, and in the future, endeavors to avoid person #2 or to avoid conversations with that person.
How do others respond to those with a negative disposition; a critical spirit? Others, after a learning curve, avoid conversation which leads to conflict, oftentimes saying as little to the provocator as possible. Within a family unit, attitudes seeth, conversation ceases and dysfunction is the norm. Everyone just lost the war, but the instigator. This family now acts just like Satan wants them to act. Satan pleasures in seeing people at odds with one another. The critical person doesn't realize it, but they just obeyed a trick of Satan!
Look at Paul's warning about this type of communication:
Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."
Loving "thy neighbour" is loving others! It includes friends, spouses, and even that daughter! A critical tongue provokes. "Ye bite and devour one another!" By warring with those a person must love, people consume each other. One person destroys another with the ready biting tongue until what relationship existed is consumed. Rather than loving one another, at most, the relationship becomes adversarial in nature. All lose! God is forlorn and Satan is ecstatic!
Oh, what are we to do? Tame the tongue? Put a bridle on it? "The tongue no man can tame!" Taming of the tongue is a result of a loving heart. To change negative dispositions one must change from a judgmental person to a loving person. Love can be achieved. That's what the Holy Spirit does. He can change our disposition. We can go from a hateful Christian to one who loves by seeking the will of God! His will is that we have loving relationships, joy-filled marriages and happy families. He wants genuine friendships where we treat others as we desire to be treated.
It takes sorrow, contrition and forgiveness to have a changed heart. Then God will change you! Consider scripture, pray and seek the will of God! Quit putting "self" over others. Getting in the last jab at the other may end the discussion, but the critical person just lost the battle. The critical person with a hateful heart always loses in the end. Joy replaces envy when one empathizes rather than criticizes!
Psalm 52:2 "The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully."
The tongue is a weapon. The Bible likens it to a sword. It's capable of spreading deceit, but the main use of the tongue in wicked people is for "cutting remarks". Some have a critical spirit and their tongue is the medium which takes that criticism from thought to incision.
A person with a "critical spirit" is one who judges adversely, harshly and unfairly. It's a personality trait. Such people are antagonistic and are the provoking parents, wives, husbands, friends and of course enemies. A critical spirit makes enemies of friends. We all must overlook biting criticism, but it's difficult to overlook continual negativism.
As an example, let's say one's daughter makes a fairly neutral statement such as "I wish my bedroom walls were pink.". A normal response would be "Why pink?" A critical person may respond "You're never happy with anything!" It's a short swath of the sword, but it's a provoking statement and is the "first shot" in the new battle just starting! The daughter becomes rightfully defensive and puts up her shield of defense: "I like pink, but am ready for a change!" Mom or Dad replies "You'll have to pay for it yourself!" Although the daughter has yet to ask for anything, the parent just made an unfair supposition. Tempers flare and war ensues! What was once a cranky negative conversation may escalate into screaming and cursing. It's just not worth it, but that's the way some people live their lives. People make sharp statements and start wars wherever they go, most often with those they love!
Many use a critical spirit as a defense mechanism. Those who are speaking to one perceived to be more intelligent or knowledgeable may use biting remarks to conceal their own short-comings. For instance, if person #1 says "The snow is deep!", person #2 may say in a snappy manner "It's not as deep as it was before it packed!" Person #2 has just tried to "one up" person #1. It's a shallow way of putting a person down. Most often Person #2 is insecure with his own education, job, intelligence, position or whatever. Knowing themselves to be less knowledgeable is why they are ill with another. Person #2 sub-consciously wants person #1 to feel badly. Person #1 does in fact feel badly, and in the future, endeavors to avoid person #2 or to avoid conversations with that person.
How do others respond to those with a negative disposition; a critical spirit? Others, after a learning curve, avoid conversation which leads to conflict, oftentimes saying as little to the provocator as possible. Within a family unit, attitudes seeth, conversation ceases and dysfunction is the norm. Everyone just lost the war, but the instigator. This family now acts just like Satan wants them to act. Satan pleasures in seeing people at odds with one another. The critical person doesn't realize it, but they just obeyed a trick of Satan!
Look at Paul's warning about this type of communication:
Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another."
Loving "thy neighbour" is loving others! It includes friends, spouses, and even that daughter! A critical tongue provokes. "Ye bite and devour one another!" By warring with those a person must love, people consume each other. One person destroys another with the ready biting tongue until what relationship existed is consumed. Rather than loving one another, at most, the relationship becomes adversarial in nature. All lose! God is forlorn and Satan is ecstatic!
- James 1:26 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
- James 3:5 "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
- James 3:8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God."
Oh, what are we to do? Tame the tongue? Put a bridle on it? "The tongue no man can tame!" Taming of the tongue is a result of a loving heart. To change negative dispositions one must change from a judgmental person to a loving person. Love can be achieved. That's what the Holy Spirit does. He can change our disposition. We can go from a hateful Christian to one who loves by seeking the will of God! His will is that we have loving relationships, joy-filled marriages and happy families. He wants genuine friendships where we treat others as we desire to be treated.
It takes sorrow, contrition and forgiveness to have a changed heart. Then God will change you! Consider scripture, pray and seek the will of God! Quit putting "self" over others. Getting in the last jab at the other may end the discussion, but the critical person just lost the battle. The critical person with a hateful heart always loses in the end. Joy replaces envy when one empathizes rather than criticizes!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
On war and killing
I'm about to write on the most difficult topic of the ages: What about the Christian and war? Should we participate or be conscientious objectors?
Someone ask me if I had been alive during the Civil War, on whose side would I fight. My answer was "Neither. I'd be in hiding!" The Civil War would not be enough to make me fight. Both sides had good points and bad, and war is not moral when there is an alternative. In the Civil War there was an alternative... the U.S. Federal Court System. I don't consider Lincoln a hero as most people do because his flagrant violation of the Constitution caused the war. Seven-hundred thousand lives were lost in what Lincoln believed was to be an overnight skirmish. No U.S. President has ever been more wrong! The U.S. Civil War was an "immoral war", the war as bad as slavery itself!
What is a just war? It's military action warranted for legal or moral reasons. For me "legal reasons" is not enough to justify a war. Although the United Nations uses "legal reasons" as cause for a justifiable war, I don't. It may be justifiable, but not moral. Diplomacy or non-violent means are often enough. Murder is evil! Killing is different than murder! Killing is putting to death. Murder is breaking the law and killing with premeditated malicious intent. "Murder" is a specific way of "killing". The Bible says much about taking a life:
Exodus 20:13 (KJV) "Thou shalt not kill."
Exodus 20:13 (ESV) "“You shall not murder."
Which is it... murder or killing? The English transliteration for the Hebrew word is ratsach. The Hebrew word means to "murder" or to "kill". Not much help there, but if one looks at the uses of ratsach in the Bible, it is most often used in a "murder" context. Hence, my perception is that "You shall not commit murder."
"What difference does it make?", being a rabid quote from Hillary Clinton. The difference suggests that at times it's okay to kill, but never to murder! The key differences being the legality of the killing and the malicious intent, since even a soldier at war is premeditating to kill another who is trying to kill him!
Romans 13:1-14 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."
We are rightfully subject to governing authorities. While I would never volunteer to fight a war, especially if I had been alive in the 1860s, I am scripturally required to fight if I'm conscripted. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed into law an act "drafting" men into military service. It was the first time a draft was instituted in the U.S. People were excused for health or vocational reasons, but not for moral objection. However, a person could pay another to substitute as did Abraham Lincoln himself, although he was exempt from service because of age. If the government requires Christians to fight, fight they must, unless in a sect which specifically forbids killing of any kind. Then, normally some type of service can be substituted. However, that wasn't always the situation!
Let's take an extreme case. Were Christians "subject to governing authorities" when Hitler was in power? Hitler, according to scripture above, was included in "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." You mean Hitler the Fuehrer was in power because of God? "Yes". If it wasn't God's will for Hitler to be Fuehrer, Hitler would not have been Fuehrer. Why in the world would God allow Hitler to be so powerful? He had his reasons, but if we look at the end result, "good" came of it! People are much less prone to kill others since they've seen the horror of the halocaust! We are now more "loving" since we faced our hatred in the face! Perhaps that's why God allowed Hitler to be Fuehrer!
One might think "Hitler was the most evil man alive! These passages shouldn't apply to him!" Caesar and Herod the Great were as evil as Hitler, and Paul was inspired by God to write that scripture although he was a contemporary of the evil Roman Empire! Yes, those passages applied to Hitler and even with the foresight of being written to the Jews! God knew what was to come!
Regardless of what we think of those in authority, we are subject to them! I don't like that, but that's God's truth! It sickens me to think that I owe allegiance to an anti-Christ, Obama, for if you're not for Him you're against Him. However, I have an obligation to obey his laws, even if it was to go fight!
Let's suppose that my government ordered me to abort a baby. As a doctor (pretending) am I obligated to obey? What do you think given the servitude I owe authorities? I must follow God's law over civil law. That's included too: "there is no authority except from God". God is the highest authority and he told me that I shall not murder! That's where "legality" in the definition of a "just war" is meaningless. Natural Law (God's Law) supersedes civil law. When ordered I cannot commit murder. Killing a baby is murder because of the innocence of the infant. It's against God's moral law!
However, let's suppose that the government (the army) ordered me to shoot an enemy soldier. Is that okay? If there is any malicious intent in our hearts leading to murder! If I'm protecting self, family or country; it's justifiable.
I was speaking to a Mennonite whose belief is that they do not kill for any reason. He told me "I would never kill because God will take care of my family for me!" My response was "What if you are the instrument God chooses to protect your family?" He made no response. We may not like it, but God does use Christians as a means to propagate the "greater good" or the "lesser evil" if you want to look at it that way.
Let's look at justifiable war. Christians were right to disobey Hitler because his murders were in violation of God's Laws. Caesar did it too! Were the Christians of Paul's day to stand idly by? Paul did and "good" became of it. Most of the world today is Christian because of Paul's persecution by the evil Roman Empire. Personally, I believe it was God's intent for Christianity to spread even if it took evil to make it happen. Would Hitler being successful brought more to Christ? I don't see how!
Now for the ultimate war. The war to end all wars. The "War of Armegeddon". That's when Christian nations fight all the evil empires of the world. Is that God's will? Blood will flow to the depth of horses heads. Millions will die. Is that God's will? It's God's will because God is in authority. He will allow that to happen and we're expected to fight for him and to kill for his glory if required! It's not a loving activity, but it's in God's plan!
How about fighting Islamic terrorists? Should we go there to kill or stay here and wait for them to come to us? Is Islam a righteous religion or is it evil? Islam IS a religion of hate. That's the definition of murder. They don't fight in defense, but for control. Their goal is to subjagate the entire world in a Islamic Caliphate. This empire will be in total opposition to Christians principles. Those who seek to destroy (murder us) are justifying a war of defense. It would be stupid to wait until they are at our doors when their intent has been so well-defined. By killing now more lives will be saved! That's the same justification Alvin York got from God when he prayed about the same issue in World War II. He was taught "not to kill", but came to realize it was "not to murder"!
Exodus 21:23 "But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life..."
Yes, for those trying to kill us we are authorized by God to make restitution. Killing is justified in war. Murder is not. The difference is in motivation. We don't desire to kill others because of hate, but we must kill even though scripture tells us to love:
Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..."
Wars are seldom won by doing "good" because "good" doesn't exist in the enemy. After the war Japan was ready for reconstruction and peace. America did "good". As with our help using the "Marshall Plan" in Europe we reconstructed Japan. By doing "good" with Japan our enemy is now our friend. But what did it take to get to that point? A hydrogen bomb! 900,000 died that more shall live! Love is a curious thing.
Someone ask me if I had been alive during the Civil War, on whose side would I fight. My answer was "Neither. I'd be in hiding!" The Civil War would not be enough to make me fight. Both sides had good points and bad, and war is not moral when there is an alternative. In the Civil War there was an alternative... the U.S. Federal Court System. I don't consider Lincoln a hero as most people do because his flagrant violation of the Constitution caused the war. Seven-hundred thousand lives were lost in what Lincoln believed was to be an overnight skirmish. No U.S. President has ever been more wrong! The U.S. Civil War was an "immoral war", the war as bad as slavery itself!
What is a just war? It's military action warranted for legal or moral reasons. For me "legal reasons" is not enough to justify a war. Although the United Nations uses "legal reasons" as cause for a justifiable war, I don't. It may be justifiable, but not moral. Diplomacy or non-violent means are often enough. Murder is evil! Killing is different than murder! Killing is putting to death. Murder is breaking the law and killing with premeditated malicious intent. "Murder" is a specific way of "killing". The Bible says much about taking a life:
Exodus 20:13 (KJV) "Thou shalt not kill."
Exodus 20:13 (ESV) "“You shall not murder."
Which is it... murder or killing? The English transliteration for the Hebrew word is ratsach. The Hebrew word means to "murder" or to "kill". Not much help there, but if one looks at the uses of ratsach in the Bible, it is most often used in a "murder" context. Hence, my perception is that "You shall not commit murder."
"What difference does it make?", being a rabid quote from Hillary Clinton. The difference suggests that at times it's okay to kill, but never to murder! The key differences being the legality of the killing and the malicious intent, since even a soldier at war is premeditating to kill another who is trying to kill him!
Romans 13:1-14 "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience."
We are rightfully subject to governing authorities. While I would never volunteer to fight a war, especially if I had been alive in the 1860s, I am scripturally required to fight if I'm conscripted. In 1863 Abraham Lincoln signed into law an act "drafting" men into military service. It was the first time a draft was instituted in the U.S. People were excused for health or vocational reasons, but not for moral objection. However, a person could pay another to substitute as did Abraham Lincoln himself, although he was exempt from service because of age. If the government requires Christians to fight, fight they must, unless in a sect which specifically forbids killing of any kind. Then, normally some type of service can be substituted. However, that wasn't always the situation!
Let's take an extreme case. Were Christians "subject to governing authorities" when Hitler was in power? Hitler, according to scripture above, was included in "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." You mean Hitler the Fuehrer was in power because of God? "Yes". If it wasn't God's will for Hitler to be Fuehrer, Hitler would not have been Fuehrer. Why in the world would God allow Hitler to be so powerful? He had his reasons, but if we look at the end result, "good" came of it! People are much less prone to kill others since they've seen the horror of the halocaust! We are now more "loving" since we faced our hatred in the face! Perhaps that's why God allowed Hitler to be Fuehrer!
One might think "Hitler was the most evil man alive! These passages shouldn't apply to him!" Caesar and Herod the Great were as evil as Hitler, and Paul was inspired by God to write that scripture although he was a contemporary of the evil Roman Empire! Yes, those passages applied to Hitler and even with the foresight of being written to the Jews! God knew what was to come!
Regardless of what we think of those in authority, we are subject to them! I don't like that, but that's God's truth! It sickens me to think that I owe allegiance to an anti-Christ, Obama, for if you're not for Him you're against Him. However, I have an obligation to obey his laws, even if it was to go fight!
Let's suppose that my government ordered me to abort a baby. As a doctor (pretending) am I obligated to obey? What do you think given the servitude I owe authorities? I must follow God's law over civil law. That's included too: "there is no authority except from God". God is the highest authority and he told me that I shall not murder! That's where "legality" in the definition of a "just war" is meaningless. Natural Law (God's Law) supersedes civil law. When ordered I cannot commit murder. Killing a baby is murder because of the innocence of the infant. It's against God's moral law!
However, let's suppose that the government (the army) ordered me to shoot an enemy soldier. Is that okay? If there is any malicious intent in our hearts leading to murder! If I'm protecting self, family or country; it's justifiable.
I was speaking to a Mennonite whose belief is that they do not kill for any reason. He told me "I would never kill because God will take care of my family for me!" My response was "What if you are the instrument God chooses to protect your family?" He made no response. We may not like it, but God does use Christians as a means to propagate the "greater good" or the "lesser evil" if you want to look at it that way.
Let's look at justifiable war. Christians were right to disobey Hitler because his murders were in violation of God's Laws. Caesar did it too! Were the Christians of Paul's day to stand idly by? Paul did and "good" became of it. Most of the world today is Christian because of Paul's persecution by the evil Roman Empire. Personally, I believe it was God's intent for Christianity to spread even if it took evil to make it happen. Would Hitler being successful brought more to Christ? I don't see how!
Now for the ultimate war. The war to end all wars. The "War of Armegeddon". That's when Christian nations fight all the evil empires of the world. Is that God's will? Blood will flow to the depth of horses heads. Millions will die. Is that God's will? It's God's will because God is in authority. He will allow that to happen and we're expected to fight for him and to kill for his glory if required! It's not a loving activity, but it's in God's plan!
How about fighting Islamic terrorists? Should we go there to kill or stay here and wait for them to come to us? Is Islam a righteous religion or is it evil? Islam IS a religion of hate. That's the definition of murder. They don't fight in defense, but for control. Their goal is to subjagate the entire world in a Islamic Caliphate. This empire will be in total opposition to Christians principles. Those who seek to destroy (murder us) are justifying a war of defense. It would be stupid to wait until they are at our doors when their intent has been so well-defined. By killing now more lives will be saved! That's the same justification Alvin York got from God when he prayed about the same issue in World War II. He was taught "not to kill", but came to realize it was "not to murder"!
Exodus 21:23 "But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life..."
Yes, for those trying to kill us we are authorized by God to make restitution. Killing is justified in war. Murder is not. The difference is in motivation. We don't desire to kill others because of hate, but we must kill even though scripture tells us to love:
Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you..."
Wars are seldom won by doing "good" because "good" doesn't exist in the enemy. After the war Japan was ready for reconstruction and peace. America did "good". As with our help using the "Marshall Plan" in Europe we reconstructed Japan. By doing "good" with Japan our enemy is now our friend. But what did it take to get to that point? A hydrogen bomb! 900,000 died that more shall live! Love is a curious thing.
Friday, January 10, 2014
On Miracles
I'm a miracle! You're a miracle. We're all miracles! No "mechanism" known to man is as complex as are human beings. We're made in the image of God:
Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
No God is not both male and female or either for that matter!. He's above gender specificy. His name is "I AM WHAT I AM". That's neither male nor female, but a Holy Spirit; a divine personality! However, man was created by God in his image! We need to examine God. Exactly how are we as Him?
Man has body, mind and spirit. Our bodies are similar to the other animals. Our minds are different. We are capable of reason. We are much more than instinctual or products of repeated behaviors. We learn from mistakes, gain knowledge, have various degrees of wisdom and we can reason! That's a miracle! Man is capable of harmonizing mind, body and spirit. Although we're born asynchronous, with the knowledge of God, we can develop a unitized system where all our human faculties aid and abet the other! That's a miracle!
The systems of the body are eleven: 1) Skin, connective tissues and the fascia, 2) muslcles, 3) skeleton, tendons and ligamants, 4) respiratory, 5) digestive, 6) cardiovascular, 7) lymphatic, 8) endocrine, 9) urinary, 10) reproductive, 11) and nervous system. (Yahoo Answers).
However, Arnold Gesell added 12) personality, believing and rightfully so, that the personality develops congruously with the other systems , and that all individuals are born with a personality. I submit that there are thirteen, the 13) intelligence or mind! Since the "mind" is the faculty of thought and reason and intelligence is relatively constant, it seems to me that "the mind" is a human system. That's a miracle!
"Chance" is randomness. Chance is based on accidents. According to evolutionists we're freak accidents; based on the random collection of all the right elements, in the right proportions, in the optimal environment. No intelligence was associated with out existence although as products of freak accidents, yet we all have minds! If one thinks of the our systems and their interactions, we're much more than evolved ameba, we're miracles! Mankind is a product of an omniscient mind. It can be said without error, probabilty eliminates the possibility that we "just happened!!
Before we move on to spirit, we need to examine thermodynamics. Don't let the word scare you! It's really simple. Specifically, we're interested in entropy. "Entropy" is a measure of disorder. It's the deterioration of the universe. When a person slams on the brakes of the car, entropy is power lost. The friction causes heat which is lost never to be regained. Likewise, when the air conditioner cools, there is a certain amount of energy lost. It can never be recovered to be put back from whence it came! That's why perpetual motion is an impossibilty; the universe is changing toward a state of uniformity.
What does entropy have to do with evolution? Systems always go in the direction of disorder or randomness. It never, without outside input, moves toward order. That's where God comes in. He is the input which makes all things possible. That is the miracle of existence!
"Creation Fact" (fact because of probability and entropy), can be credited for not only creating the body, but the mind as well! How be it the mind as well? 13) Intelligence in man is another "system" as previously discussed. The body would be incomplete without a mind to govern it. Whereas animals exist on what's natural, man creates what we need! The wolf was given a coat for warmth. Man makes his coat. That's intelligence. Primates hover together in caves. Man discovered and harnessed fire. That's intelligence in action. We must accept that the mind is part of our body. It's referred to separately because animals don't have it!
The third faculty of man is the "spirit". We refer to the spirit as the "soul". We know it's separate from the body because at death, our soul or spirit, leaves our body! It's there as long as our lifeblood flows, but once the body is beyond life, the soul departs.
Luke 8:53 "And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway..."
It's obvious from this passage that the spirit is separate from the body! However, in heaven they will be reunited forever!
The "soul" is the faculty containing the spirit. Our spirit is given freedom. Yes, we're all born "free spirits"! Our mind can make decisions for our spirit and our mind makes the body fulfill the desires of the mind. Our spirit provokes our mind do do what's righeous, but our mind evaluates pleasure versus obedience.
Romans 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
Paul's self-admission is the same for all mankind. Paul mentioned his "will". He has the "free will" to do "good", but the sin within him deceives his mind to accept something less than what his spirit would have him do! We all struggle with the "original sin" with which we're all born (thank Adam and Eve). Hence, we all have a spirit, but sin in-dwells there. It works on our mind and corrupts. Although we have a spirit, it's not in harmony with God. Once we're born again, our spirit is cleansed of in-dwelled sin. We are in harmony, albeit imperfect, with God:
Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them."
No God is not both male and female or either for that matter!. He's above gender specificy. His name is "I AM WHAT I AM". That's neither male nor female, but a Holy Spirit; a divine personality! However, man was created by God in his image! We need to examine God. Exactly how are we as Him?
Man has body, mind and spirit. Our bodies are similar to the other animals. Our minds are different. We are capable of reason. We are much more than instinctual or products of repeated behaviors. We learn from mistakes, gain knowledge, have various degrees of wisdom and we can reason! That's a miracle! Man is capable of harmonizing mind, body and spirit. Although we're born asynchronous, with the knowledge of God, we can develop a unitized system where all our human faculties aid and abet the other! That's a miracle!
The systems of the body are eleven: 1) Skin, connective tissues and the fascia, 2) muslcles, 3) skeleton, tendons and ligamants, 4) respiratory, 5) digestive, 6) cardiovascular, 7) lymphatic, 8) endocrine, 9) urinary, 10) reproductive, 11) and nervous system. (Yahoo Answers).
However, Arnold Gesell added 12) personality, believing and rightfully so, that the personality develops congruously with the other systems , and that all individuals are born with a personality. I submit that there are thirteen, the 13) intelligence or mind! Since the "mind" is the faculty of thought and reason and intelligence is relatively constant, it seems to me that "the mind" is a human system. That's a miracle!
"Chance" is randomness. Chance is based on accidents. According to evolutionists we're freak accidents; based on the random collection of all the right elements, in the right proportions, in the optimal environment. No intelligence was associated with out existence although as products of freak accidents, yet we all have minds! If one thinks of the our systems and their interactions, we're much more than evolved ameba, we're miracles! Mankind is a product of an omniscient mind. It can be said without error, probabilty eliminates the possibility that we "just happened!!
Before we move on to spirit, we need to examine thermodynamics. Don't let the word scare you! It's really simple. Specifically, we're interested in entropy. "Entropy" is a measure of disorder. It's the deterioration of the universe. When a person slams on the brakes of the car, entropy is power lost. The friction causes heat which is lost never to be regained. Likewise, when the air conditioner cools, there is a certain amount of energy lost. It can never be recovered to be put back from whence it came! That's why perpetual motion is an impossibilty; the universe is changing toward a state of uniformity.
What does entropy have to do with evolution? Systems always go in the direction of disorder or randomness. It never, without outside input, moves toward order. That's where God comes in. He is the input which makes all things possible. That is the miracle of existence!
"Creation Fact" (fact because of probability and entropy), can be credited for not only creating the body, but the mind as well! How be it the mind as well? 13) Intelligence in man is another "system" as previously discussed. The body would be incomplete without a mind to govern it. Whereas animals exist on what's natural, man creates what we need! The wolf was given a coat for warmth. Man makes his coat. That's intelligence. Primates hover together in caves. Man discovered and harnessed fire. That's intelligence in action. We must accept that the mind is part of our body. It's referred to separately because animals don't have it!
The third faculty of man is the "spirit". We refer to the spirit as the "soul". We know it's separate from the body because at death, our soul or spirit, leaves our body! It's there as long as our lifeblood flows, but once the body is beyond life, the soul departs.
Luke 8:53 "And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead. 54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise. 55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway..."
It's obvious from this passage that the spirit is separate from the body! However, in heaven they will be reunited forever!
The "soul" is the faculty containing the spirit. Our spirit is given freedom. Yes, we're all born "free spirits"! Our mind can make decisions for our spirit and our mind makes the body fulfill the desires of the mind. Our spirit provokes our mind do do what's righeous, but our mind evaluates pleasure versus obedience.
Romans 7:18 "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me."
Paul's self-admission is the same for all mankind. Paul mentioned his "will". He has the "free will" to do "good", but the sin within him deceives his mind to accept something less than what his spirit would have him do! We all struggle with the "original sin" with which we're all born (thank Adam and Eve). Hence, we all have a spirit, but sin in-dwells there. It works on our mind and corrupts. Although we have a spirit, it's not in harmony with God. Once we're born again, our spirit is cleansed of in-dwelled sin. We are in harmony, albeit imperfect, with God:
2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."
Sin becomes a choice! Before we're saved, we sin without thinking much about it. Once God's spirit is revived within us, lying dormant since Adam, it ministers to us! That's our "conscience"! The conscience is the netwok between the mind and spirit. The conscience can be operationalized. The scale goes from "reprobate to guilt"! Those reprobate have a damned spirit because there is no communication between the mind and spirit. The reprobate worships the body (flesh) and has no concern for the will of God. God does not commune with the reprobate person, that person being eternally lost!
We need a healthy conscience. That's spiritual health. Without spiritual help, our mind and and body are dysfunctional. They fail to work in unity. Since, the spirit is a separate faculty, it's not in scripture, but I believe that the reprobate person's spirit has already fled a sin-filled mind and body! Contempate that! Salvation IS A MIRACLE! The angels sang as the coming of the Savior!
Salvation is "grace". God's grace is a miracle! Most people don't consider Jesus' miracles before his birth as a man, but Jesus was part of those miracles. Jesus was God before he was born! That brings me to being "created in God's image". Jesus wasn't born in the form of a man, but man was created in the image of what Jesus was to be. God, in his knowledge, knew Jesus, the Son of Man, and planned his fleshly existence. We were created in the image of Jesus, not Jesus created in the form of man! That's a miracle!
Jesus is credited with 37 miracles. I've added the miracle of creation and the miracle of salvation. In the Old Testament were many miracles where Jesus was there!
Jesus worked miracles. It's unknown how many:
John 21:25 "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."
Amen: "And that's the truth!"
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Loving a Married Woman
Some have confessions to make. They're in love with married women! As singles they liked single women. Now that they're married, that just doesn't work anymore. If the woman isn't married, the Christian man is just not interested!
Many single women are "rounders". Hopefully, married women are not. Married women are serious about relationships and are more dedicated. The thought of a married woman is exciting! Hearts palpitate wildly just knowing the woman is married!
1 Corinthians 7:2 "... let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
That's what scripture says about marriage! "But", you say "let every man have his OWN wife!" The popular mantra "That's what I'm talking about!" is what is being talked about. Yes, a man can be in love with a married woman. His own wife!!! What's more, time doesn't change things. When men get married it is their wife for life. That's what the wedding vowels say!
Having power over each other is erotic. That's part of marriage, but a tiny part! The most important part comes from here:
Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Have you "cleaved" recently? It's harder than it sounds! "Cleave" in this context, means to be faithful! Faithful is fidelity. Just like a good sound system, a great marriage has fidelity, being true to the relationship. There's certain obligations, duties and things to observe in marriage. Things to which the married person must be true.
Our "obligation" is exclusivity. We are to focus on the one to which we're married. It may not be easy at times! That's where "for better or for worse comes in". That's to make the "difficult" surmountable. Our "obligation" of exclusivity is what's meant by "and they shall be one flesh". Marriage is unity. It's when a man and a woman put the good of the family before the interests of the self. When a couple get married I call that "when world's collide"!
After the excitement and lust have subsided, a newly married couple get down to brass tacks. Now they must be friends and become a functioning unit. That's the hard part!
Serial dating is an obstacle to a committed marriage. Most people date one person after another through high school and maybe college. When friction causes conflict, the solution is simple. You break up! In marriage that's not the way it's meant to be, but that's the way it is. People are so accustomed to splitting when things go awry that it becomes the natural thing to do. Hence, a couple should have a lengthy engagement before marriage. It helps to break the serial dating cycle. "Lengthy" is different for different people. The engagement should last long enough to be sure a person is "committed", but not so long as to get too comfortable being single "partners".
Many single couples have evolved into "married singles". They are still single, likely live in separate homes, but quit dating. They get into a married routine and, thus, have no reason to get married! I propose that single's go on a date once a week and no more. Neither should there be any hanky panky. What a man doesn't get is a good reason why he gets married. Likewise, for a woman:
1 Corinthians 7:9 "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
"Burn" in the transliterated Greek is "pyro" (to set on fire). There are several ways to be on fire: 1) lust, 2) to be incensed or 3) eternal torment. People get married to extinquish sin. What they can't have outside marriage is blessed in the context of marriage. Those married are to multiply and the casual reader knows the mechanics of multiplying.
It's disrespectful for a man to "use" a woman, by not committing! Women who're used are tools for satisfying a man's libido (and for women too). That's just not right. It's called fornication.
1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind..."
Those who fornicate are unrighteous in the sight of God. However, those who have fornicated are subject to God's grace just as all the other sinners! However, forgiveness is contingent on contrition and those sorry are to whom grace is available. Thinking "Lord, forgive me for what I'm about to do!" isn't sorrow!
From a personal aspect I prefer marriage. When I was scouting unknown territories for a wife, I had certain metrics that interested me. Some are trivial, but others crucial:
1) A born-again Christian.
2) Accept that God comes first in marriage.
3) Attend church regularly with me.
4) Fellowship with Christians, not the worldly.
5) A conservative. (Alike politically).
6) Dark hair (I was being selfish!)
7) Slim (selfish again!)
8) Hard worker.
9) Good ethics.
10) Non-curser, non-drinker, non-smoker
11) Someone who did not use drugs nor ever did.
12) Pro-life.
13) Simularities in families/upbringing.
14) Common interests.
15) Not a nagger nor a jealous person.
16) Not a manipulator.
17) A woman who doesn't overvalue money or things.
18) Woman who loves my children.
19) Woman who loves me dearly.
20) Woman who ignites heated fire in me! (Very selfish!)
21) Not a "rounder" (Someone not promiscuous)
I gave an acquaintance a list of what I was looking for in a wife. She said "The virgin Mary is dead!" I stuck to my guns awaiting the Lord to provide. God did good when I least expected it!
Were my criteria too high? Was I deserving? No! I was looking for what I wanted. We both looked not at the past, but at the present. We didn't care about previous relationships because we're to live in the present. We all are what we ARE, not what we WERE. That's important.
Single life in celibacy is the ideal if one's focus is solely on God. Otherwise, marriage is what makes people happy! We can do and feel things which before were taboo. However, friendship and commaraderie in marriage will eventually be more important than anything sexual because marriage is much more than "putting out the fire". Marriage is a picture of the church's relationship to Christ. It's a commitment that God honors and as a result, we have hope! Rule No. 1: We weren't meant to be alone. That's why man has wo-man; to be our help-mate!
Gen 2:20 "...but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Marriage is God's plan. Marriage is one woman and one man. Anything else is an abomination! That unity is why couples are to marry. You can't date and live apart for years because that's not unity. You can't cohabitate because that's not unity and is a dire sin! Obedience is the result of salvation. By living outside God's will is disobedience. Not married, but burning? Get married! Release guilt, please the preacher and parents and please God!
Many single women are "rounders". Hopefully, married women are not. Married women are serious about relationships and are more dedicated. The thought of a married woman is exciting! Hearts palpitate wildly just knowing the woman is married!
1 Corinthians 7:2 "... let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
That's what scripture says about marriage! "But", you say "let every man have his OWN wife!" The popular mantra "That's what I'm talking about!" is what is being talked about. Yes, a man can be in love with a married woman. His own wife!!! What's more, time doesn't change things. When men get married it is their wife for life. That's what the wedding vowels say!
Having power over each other is erotic. That's part of marriage, but a tiny part! The most important part comes from here:
Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Have you "cleaved" recently? It's harder than it sounds! "Cleave" in this context, means to be faithful! Faithful is fidelity. Just like a good sound system, a great marriage has fidelity, being true to the relationship. There's certain obligations, duties and things to observe in marriage. Things to which the married person must be true.
Our "obligation" is exclusivity. We are to focus on the one to which we're married. It may not be easy at times! That's where "for better or for worse comes in". That's to make the "difficult" surmountable. Our "obligation" of exclusivity is what's meant by "and they shall be one flesh". Marriage is unity. It's when a man and a woman put the good of the family before the interests of the self. When a couple get married I call that "when world's collide"!
After the excitement and lust have subsided, a newly married couple get down to brass tacks. Now they must be friends and become a functioning unit. That's the hard part!
Serial dating is an obstacle to a committed marriage. Most people date one person after another through high school and maybe college. When friction causes conflict, the solution is simple. You break up! In marriage that's not the way it's meant to be, but that's the way it is. People are so accustomed to splitting when things go awry that it becomes the natural thing to do. Hence, a couple should have a lengthy engagement before marriage. It helps to break the serial dating cycle. "Lengthy" is different for different people. The engagement should last long enough to be sure a person is "committed", but not so long as to get too comfortable being single "partners".
Many single couples have evolved into "married singles". They are still single, likely live in separate homes, but quit dating. They get into a married routine and, thus, have no reason to get married! I propose that single's go on a date once a week and no more. Neither should there be any hanky panky. What a man doesn't get is a good reason why he gets married. Likewise, for a woman:
1 Corinthians 7:9 "But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn."
"Burn" in the transliterated Greek is "pyro" (to set on fire). There are several ways to be on fire: 1) lust, 2) to be incensed or 3) eternal torment. People get married to extinquish sin. What they can't have outside marriage is blessed in the context of marriage. Those married are to multiply and the casual reader knows the mechanics of multiplying.
It's disrespectful for a man to "use" a woman, by not committing! Women who're used are tools for satisfying a man's libido (and for women too). That's just not right. It's called fornication.
1 Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind..."
Those who fornicate are unrighteous in the sight of God. However, those who have fornicated are subject to God's grace just as all the other sinners! However, forgiveness is contingent on contrition and those sorry are to whom grace is available. Thinking "Lord, forgive me for what I'm about to do!" isn't sorrow!
From a personal aspect I prefer marriage. When I was scouting unknown territories for a wife, I had certain metrics that interested me. Some are trivial, but others crucial:
1) A born-again Christian.
2) Accept that God comes first in marriage.
3) Attend church regularly with me.
4) Fellowship with Christians, not the worldly.
5) A conservative. (Alike politically).
6) Dark hair (I was being selfish!)
7) Slim (selfish again!)
8) Hard worker.
9) Good ethics.
10) Non-curser, non-drinker, non-smoker
11) Someone who did not use drugs nor ever did.
12) Pro-life.
13) Simularities in families/upbringing.
14) Common interests.
15) Not a nagger nor a jealous person.
16) Not a manipulator.
17) A woman who doesn't overvalue money or things.
18) Woman who loves my children.
19) Woman who loves me dearly.
20) Woman who ignites heated fire in me! (Very selfish!)
21) Not a "rounder" (Someone not promiscuous)
I gave an acquaintance a list of what I was looking for in a wife. She said "The virgin Mary is dead!" I stuck to my guns awaiting the Lord to provide. God did good when I least expected it!
Were my criteria too high? Was I deserving? No! I was looking for what I wanted. We both looked not at the past, but at the present. We didn't care about previous relationships because we're to live in the present. We all are what we ARE, not what we WERE. That's important.
Single life in celibacy is the ideal if one's focus is solely on God. Otherwise, marriage is what makes people happy! We can do and feel things which before were taboo. However, friendship and commaraderie in marriage will eventually be more important than anything sexual because marriage is much more than "putting out the fire". Marriage is a picture of the church's relationship to Christ. It's a commitment that God honors and as a result, we have hope! Rule No. 1: We weren't meant to be alone. That's why man has wo-man; to be our help-mate!
Gen 2:20 "...but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."
Marriage is God's plan. Marriage is one woman and one man. Anything else is an abomination! That unity is why couples are to marry. You can't date and live apart for years because that's not unity. You can't cohabitate because that's not unity and is a dire sin! Obedience is the result of salvation. By living outside God's will is disobedience. Not married, but burning? Get married! Release guilt, please the preacher and parents and please God!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Cranky and Grumpy: Children of Anger and Rebellion
Some people are just "cranky". Any little thing said by another is responded to as if it's a challenge to a duel. I've said "Good morning!" and my response I get may be "What's good about it?" That's happened to about all of us. You know the situation.
One person I know is a Christian and his disposition is much like that. By "coincidence" (You think?) his nicknmae is "Grumpy". Being a Christian with that nickname is an oxymoron to be sure. How does a grumpy Christian live with himself?
Cranky and Grumpy are children of "Anger" and her husband "Rebellion"! Those who are negative in their life fail to brighten the lives of others.
Some people just can't seem to be content unless they are hostile to another! It doesn't take an argument to get the disagreeable person going. They just may not be pleased with a factual statement. They may even snarl at the other "You're being hurtful!". They accuse others of being what they themselves are. It's a defense mechanism for their own negative behavior.
Some people are just moody. Others even take pride in being disgruntled. A woman with whom I worked had a sign which said "Zero to Bitch in 60 Seconds!" That's nothing to brag about!
A form of torture is dripping water. Although one or a few drops in the face is forgettable, even pleasant, continuous drops of water for hours or days will drive a person insane! Although this passage speaks of a woman, it works both ways:
Proverbs 27:15 "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."
That's torture! A "contentious" individual is a quarrelsome person. They are disagreeable and confrontational. It's as if their modus operandi is to make others unhappy! If that's not their goal, then they're over-achievers!
Some are married to that type of personality:
Proverbs 21:19 "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman."
That pithy remark applies to men too! Some men are angry by nature. Women tend to respond to anger with cutting remarks; men with outbursts of violent words or physical emotion. Sometimes cutting remarks hurt the most! An unknown philosopher once said "The tongue is like a sharp knife, it kills without drawing blood.". Many are bleeding. It's emotional blood! The dripping of emotional blood can be felt in the pit of the stomach. It burns as each drop plunges against weakened membrane. Finally, emotional blood creates an open wound and ulcerates.
A Christian person with whom I was working had previously built an object. It was for use by others and due to his sloppy workmanship, it was dangerous to the lady using it. She asked me to help her with the safety problem. I made do with what I had and temporarily made it useable, but not safe. The grumpy person beside me said "If you can't do something right the first time don't do it at all. If she gets injured the fault is on you!" I was astounded! Grumpy had built the unsafe object and he hadn't done it right the first time! How can a rational person argue with such irrational behavior? It can't be done!
There's another "tool" in the toolbox of the contentious. It's slick, even magical, how it's done! "Sane- One" will say something factual and without emotion. Cranky person will respond with an opposing argument. When the Sane-One moots the point of Cranky, then Cranky shifts the argument ever so slightly. As the disagreement ensues, Cranky keeps moving the argument. When Cranky's argument is the same as Sane-Ones, Cranky says "See I was right all along!", although Cranky was never right, and was unyielding to fact! Cranky's and Grump's are never wrong although highly opinionated. Since they're never wrong, they never say "I'm sorry!"
We all know people who either don't know what "sorry" means or can't use it in a sentence. Kids can at least yell derisively "Sorry!", but that's the extent of their sorrow. Sorrow is an emotional condition. Contentious people have but one emotion... anger! They appear to be angry at the world, but most often they are angry with people they're supposed to love: spouses, children, parents, friends, and even pets! Contentious people often get along with acquaintances because no envy nor sources of irritation have yet to be manifested. "Love" IS "Having to say you're sorry!"
Contentious people have a spiritual problem.
Romans 2:9 "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil...
Grumpy and Cranky are contentious. Scripture says that they "do not obey truth". They are unrighteous! Why are Grumpy and Cranky unrighteous? Can we all agree that Cranky and Grumpy, children of Anger and Rebellion, were brought up in an environment of hate? Their attitudes witness to their heart:
One person I know is a Christian and his disposition is much like that. By "coincidence" (You think?) his nicknmae is "Grumpy". Being a Christian with that nickname is an oxymoron to be sure. How does a grumpy Christian live with himself?
Cranky and Grumpy are children of "Anger" and her husband "Rebellion"! Those who are negative in their life fail to brighten the lives of others.
Some people just can't seem to be content unless they are hostile to another! It doesn't take an argument to get the disagreeable person going. They just may not be pleased with a factual statement. They may even snarl at the other "You're being hurtful!". They accuse others of being what they themselves are. It's a defense mechanism for their own negative behavior.
Some people are just moody. Others even take pride in being disgruntled. A woman with whom I worked had a sign which said "Zero to Bitch in 60 Seconds!" That's nothing to brag about!
A form of torture is dripping water. Although one or a few drops in the face is forgettable, even pleasant, continuous drops of water for hours or days will drive a person insane! Although this passage speaks of a woman, it works both ways:
Proverbs 27:15 "A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike."
That's torture! A "contentious" individual is a quarrelsome person. They are disagreeable and confrontational. It's as if their modus operandi is to make others unhappy! If that's not their goal, then they're over-achievers!
Some are married to that type of personality:
Proverbs 21:19 "It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman."
That pithy remark applies to men too! Some men are angry by nature. Women tend to respond to anger with cutting remarks; men with outbursts of violent words or physical emotion. Sometimes cutting remarks hurt the most! An unknown philosopher once said "The tongue is like a sharp knife, it kills without drawing blood.". Many are bleeding. It's emotional blood! The dripping of emotional blood can be felt in the pit of the stomach. It burns as each drop plunges against weakened membrane. Finally, emotional blood creates an open wound and ulcerates.
A Christian person with whom I was working had previously built an object. It was for use by others and due to his sloppy workmanship, it was dangerous to the lady using it. She asked me to help her with the safety problem. I made do with what I had and temporarily made it useable, but not safe. The grumpy person beside me said "If you can't do something right the first time don't do it at all. If she gets injured the fault is on you!" I was astounded! Grumpy had built the unsafe object and he hadn't done it right the first time! How can a rational person argue with such irrational behavior? It can't be done!
There's another "tool" in the toolbox of the contentious. It's slick, even magical, how it's done! "Sane- One" will say something factual and without emotion. Cranky person will respond with an opposing argument. When the Sane-One moots the point of Cranky, then Cranky shifts the argument ever so slightly. As the disagreement ensues, Cranky keeps moving the argument. When Cranky's argument is the same as Sane-Ones, Cranky says "See I was right all along!", although Cranky was never right, and was unyielding to fact! Cranky's and Grump's are never wrong although highly opinionated. Since they're never wrong, they never say "I'm sorry!"
We all know people who either don't know what "sorry" means or can't use it in a sentence. Kids can at least yell derisively "Sorry!", but that's the extent of their sorrow. Sorrow is an emotional condition. Contentious people have but one emotion... anger! They appear to be angry at the world, but most often they are angry with people they're supposed to love: spouses, children, parents, friends, and even pets! Contentious people often get along with acquaintances because no envy nor sources of irritation have yet to be manifested. "Love" IS "Having to say you're sorry!"
Contentious people have a spiritual problem.
Romans 2:9 "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil...
Grumpy and Cranky are contentious. Scripture says that they "do not obey truth". They are unrighteous! Why are Grumpy and Cranky unrighteous? Can we all agree that Cranky and Grumpy, children of Anger and Rebellion, were brought up in an environment of hate? Their attitudes witness to their heart:
1 John 4:8 :He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love."
Contentious people are not loving people! Ameliorating people love others. Loving people do not antagonize and provoke those they love. Anger's blood has passed into the bloodstream of Cranky and Grumpy. Rebellion taught Cranky and Grumpy provocation. I believe that those who love God can't hate others so badly they try to make their neigbors miserable.
Along with loving God, we're told in (Mark 12:31 "...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." "Neighbour" is a general term for "others". The truth is that we are to love others. By not loving others and treating them how we each desire to be treated, is unrighteous. Loving people demonstrates righteousness.
Some people's disposition is to be contentious. As a "new person" in Christ, they need to bury that "old person". The first thing a born-again person should do is love God and love others. Grumpy Christians are uncharacteristic of saved persons!
Other people may have hormonal inbalances for some reason or another. Bi-polar people are contentious at times, as well as menopausal women and those who have undergone certain surgical procedures. People get contentious when they continually fail in life. Others because love-lifes are less than desirable. Others were just dealt a bad hand when they were born.
Regardless of why people are contentious, it's not God's will. They are to seek change. Change may be spiritual renewal, biblical counseling or at times hormonal or medicinal treatment.
Many who are of a contentious disposition often fail to recognize their own emotional state, but if others are alienated from you, the shoe fits. Most rational people avoid those irrational. We all seek people with whom we're comfortable. Contentious people make others not only uncomfortable, but really stressed.
As in all things, God is the answer! We are to humble ourselves and call on God:
Micah 6:8 "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
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