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The Devastation of the Patriarchal Movement-pt.4

“He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),”

1 Timothy 3:4-5

Paul’s clear teaching here is this: the demonstration of a man’s leadership of the church is demonstrated in his home. Here are some key words:

  1. Manage
  2. Well
  3. Control
  4. How
  5. Church

I want to look at each one carefully. In so doing, we can understand what Paul is saying and how to obey it.

First, the word “manage” is a word that has a wide range of meanings. As usual, only the context can really help determine which meaning to use. In this context, Paul is referring to the leadership that a man exhibits in the care of his household. But, in the further examination there is a participle following it which modified the main verb “manage.” The aspect of his management is that of how he relates to his children. The dignified manner of leading children must lead to the church being in subjection to the man.

I know what that sounds like. It sounds like Patriarchy. But, it can’t be that because notice the descriptions of the manner in which the man manages his household: “well.” Those two words indicate that the elder is to have his children come to a place of submission, not by domination, but by a method that exemplifies dignity and nobility. This is not speaking to the waywardness of a child, but the capability of the leader in his leading. His leading should result in the subordinate children. But leading the children to submission is to be done with “dignity.” He is not harsh, manipulative, ignorant of the Word of God, nor is he there to be served by his children. He is there to lead the children towards obedience to Christ and His Law. The work of an elder is to know how to do that.

Third, “control” does not mean that the children are not allowed to speak, think, enjoy life. It means that they are not identified with an out-of-control behavior. These are children who are known for their respect for their parents and their love of Christ. His leadership must be one that can lead to having the children in his home leading a life of self-control as a result of the teaching of Christ’s Word and dignified behavior. Anger, hate-filled lashing out, malice, and obviously, abuse of any kind, disqualifies this man from leadership.

Fourth, “how” is a word that means that there is a method that comes with all of this. He needs to know this. If he does not, he needs to find out. Leading his home by instincts might be all that he has, but it is not enough. That is not to say that he needs to be beat up by others because he is not omniscient about leading a family because the writer of Hebrews wrote:

“Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.”

Hebrews 12:9-10

What it means is that this man worked hard to lead his family according to the Word of Christ, even with failures and learning curves. Yet, with all of that, there is a method that is to be followed and that is the method of training in the Law of Christ.

Fifth, “church” indicates that the method that a man learns and exemplifies with dignity is to be implemented in the church as well. Working with the hearts and minds of God’s people is no different from working with the minds and hearts of a man’s own household. The Law of Christ rules over both. Leading in submission to Christ and working hard to be a pattern to follow is what the church needs. If a man cannot do this, and refuses to learn from mistakes and do it right, he cannot lead the church.

Patriarchy comes along and demands, from a skewed perspective of the Mosaic Law, absolute allegiance, not to Christ, but to themselves in place of Christ. Thus the man becomes the idol that the family is expected to worship. If they don’t, he will then accuse them maliciously of disobeying Christ, rebellion, and even not being believers. This is vile and is condemned by God. It crushes the heart of the child, and leads to a rejection of Christ.

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The Devastation of the Patriarchal Movement-part 3

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.” (Ephesians 5:25–30)

Ephesians 5:25-30

In contrast to the Patriarch, the godly man loves his wife. Even if he does not always love her perfectly, at least he does not enjoy seeing her harmed. The above passage is a section of Scripture that explains why, innate within a true Christian man, a husband desires to love his wife and do good to her. He knows that Jesus would do that. In fact, Jesus DID do that to His bride, the church.

The contradiction of a Patriarch is that he loves himself. The law of Christ is to love the disciples of Christ and extend love to the world. There is never a place for a man to love himself. In fact, self-love is contradictory to the love of God. This is because love is meant to extend to someone else, never back to yourself. Even in the godhead, the Father loves the Son (John 3:35; 5:20; 10:17; 15:9-10; 17:24). The Son loves the Father (John 14:31). And, although I cannot find a direct passage as I did above, we can safely assume that the Holy Spirit loves the Father and the Son since God is love (1 John 4:8).

Therefore, honestly, a man who loves himself is in sin for this very reason. Paul writes so that men can obey this passage and defy self-love and express love toward the most intimate disciple, his wife. She must be the target of his affection, interest, friendship, and allegiance.

The illustration of Christ loving the church is summed up in John 13:1.

“Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He would depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”

John 13;1

Jesus knew that His time was about to come. It would be the time for Him to leave His beloved disciples, and the others around Him, and return to the Father. His return would be through the most horrendous circumstances, but He would indeed return to His beloved Father. He looked forward to that.

But notice how He loved His disciples: He loved them “to the end.” Up until the time when He breathed His last, Jesus is seen loving His disciples. Even after they scatter, He loved them. The most exquisite and tender picture we have of that is the way that Jesus ensured that His mother, Mary, would have her needs met via the disciple John.

“Therefore the soldiers did these things. But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” From that hour the disciple took her into his own household.” (

John 19:25-27

Jesus’ love for Mary was only appropriate for, as we noted in the previous post, to disregard a widow is to be worse than an unbeliever (1 Timothy 5:8). But Jesus loved His disciples up until the end. In reality, He knew all was finished when He knew that love for all His disciples was fully expressed. Once Mary was cared for, and her future secured, He would go to be with the Father. This is love. This is love.

For a man to love his wife, it means that he must be most concerned with her holiness. Her sanctification is his greatest concern. Although she will need food, clothes, healthcare, etc…, above all of these is his deep concern for her sanctification. Paul’s reasoning is clear. She will have to stand before Jesus Chris some day and the husband will have to give an answer for her to some extent. Although she certainly has a responsibly to pursue Jesus Christ of her own love for Him (Luke 10:38-42), the husband also has a clear expectation from God for His responsibility for her spiritually as well.

The Patriarchal Movement does not know this. Although the movement espouses a commitment to wives and children, in reality, since it has convoluted the gospel to a form of pseudo-Israelitism, the Patriarch sees his only requirement as civil and social. In his mind, and his theology, the extent of his responsibility comes down to provision, so-called leadership, and legal matters of duty. He does not see the need for sanctification from sins as much more than this. Rather, he sees getting all of these other things “right” externally as the extent of sanctification. My, how wrong he is.

Paul wrote:

“Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (which all refer to things destined to perish with use)—in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence.“

Colossians 2:18-23

Abstinence from the externals of life does not sanctify. Even though bad company corrupts good morals, the close proximity of a person to handling, tasting, and touching things does not defile. Defilement comes from the heart.

“After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.”

Mark 7:14-15

And

“When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.””

Mark 7:17-23

The Patriarch does not understand that the source of his wife’s defilement is her heart, and the source of his own defilement is his heart. However, he does not understand this because he does not know the language of the New Covenant, which is the language of the heart.

“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

2 Corinthians 3:2-3

He does not understand how to edify the heart of his wife. Therefore, when she simply does not know what he expects from her because she is wanting relationship and not ritual, he thinks that she is defying him, questioning him, or trying “usurp” his authority. He does not realize that she is only crying out to him for help. A man can live in the hard world of productivity, demand, and external pressures. A woman cannot. He does not know this, does not want to know this, and devastates her everyday because of it. He is hard and does not understand why she does not simply “buck-up” and get with it. In short, he expects her to be like him in this fashion. In the end, he disobeys this simple command to love his wife and sanctify her heart and body till his dying hour.

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The Devastation of the Patriarchal Movement-part 2

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8

I wrote yesterday’s post trying to lay down 5 truths that need to be understood in order to combat Patriarchal Theology. It is man’s depraved nature to think that he is king, ruler, and essentially a Demi-god of his home. In the worst of cases, he rapes, kills, and destroys as long as he can get away with it. In the best of cases, he is a sheepish, benign dictator whom no one would suspect is inwardly a ravenous wolf. In either case, a man who loves the doctrine of Patriarchy, as described in the previous post, is a man to be guarded against. He is a dangerous man. He is capable of rationalizing anything as long as his lusts are satisfied. All sense of normalcy, decency, and social etiquette is lost and the result is a man who rules in his own little world. In his mind, he is the best of all men. In the mind of the sane, he is a small package all wrapped up in himself.

One thing I have noticed of these kinds of men, is that they love money. That only makes sense because it is money that allows him to buy people, possessions, and pleasure. Without money, he cannot afford to express himself. And, without money, few would take him seriously. After all, who doesn’t regard the wealthy, or pseudo-wealthy, as important?

Men like this take their money and spend it upon themselves. They privately hoard their pleasures and hide from accountability. They would rather use money to buy influence than eat regularly. If they had to choose, they would spend all their money on the most expensive items that will bring them regard than they would the care of others. And that brings us to our passage.

Paul wrote to Timothy to be on guard against the elders win the church (1 Timothy 1:3-7). Timothy will have to enter Ephesus and clean up the church after the destruction of the leadership who, Paul had warned years earlier, wanted to draw away disciples after themselves (Acts 20:29-30). Over time, these rulers would feel the surge of leadership in that all eyes are on them. They feel important before the people, never mind if they are unqualified to actually be there. These men love this preeminence.

3 John 9 (NASB95)

I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.

3 John 9

Paul, then, writes to Timothy to watch out for guys in the church who refuse to support their households. Thus, Paul’s strong language makes sense. Timothy will need to hit these men hard in their dereliction of duty to care for their homes.

The Greek text reads like this:

“But, if a certain man does not show regard for his own ones, even especially (those) of his own household, he denies the faith and he is worse/more severe than an unbeliever/unfaithful (man).”

1 Timothy 5:8 (my translation)

Most people read that verse and think, “A man who does not make enough money for his home is an unbeliever.” That is not what it says. Paul does not say that a man has to make a lot of money. In fact, money has nothing to do with the point of this injunction. Further, Jesus Himself became poor in order to make many rich, but not monetarily (2 Corinthians 8:9).

What this says is that a man who neglects, doesn’t care about, the needs of his household, even the widows of his home, is rejecting the very tenet of being a Christian, while affirming his faith in Jesus which is to love one another (John 13:34). A man who takes the money, and possessions, meant for the well-being and needs of his widows and family is rejecting love for his most intimate of relationships, something that even unbelievers don’t do. Most people in the world provide for their own, although many don’t. However, especially in leadership, a man should never be found to reject the needs of the people in his care for the sake of satisfying himself.

I know of a number of women who married a man only to find out later he had run up an exorbitant credit card bill on pornographic material, immoral behaviors, even reaching into the drug world. These men are drunks and bums, although they have a day job. The wife then inherits that debt and is forced to work. The man subsequently divorces her and leaves her to pay everything back. Him, being the main wage-earner, is not afraid of the debt. He is blinded by his lust and continues his pursuit. But she, the one who trusted him and gave her life to him, is destroyed and the needs of the children now rest on her shoulders. This is in the church. This is even in leadership.

Men like these behave worse than unbelievers. Their behavior, fueled by their lust hidden behind Patriarchy, is justifiable in their minds. In the world, he is celebrated. In the church, the place where men are supposed to die trying to support their families if need be, he is putting up a front and behind the scenes doing this…he behaves worse than an unbeliever who makes no pretense of righteousness.

Again, men have authority. They have a right to rule. You had better try to hold back the tide as to hold back a man’s sense of authority. However, this authority has, from creation, been for the good of others and not for the good of himself. Men, THAT is what authority is for.

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The Devastation of the Patriarchal Movement

Over the years, I have come into contact with many who are part of the Patriarchal Movement. The Patriarchal Movement is a movement meant to restore some level of sanity to the home by means of restoring the authority and leadership of a father to the home. A general summary is found here. The short of it is that the father of a home is the supreme authority over that home in the manner of absolute unquestioned will, unbiblical preferences of behavior and supreme freedom of personal desires. These are the components, in my opinion, that get to the heart of the movement.

However, what has been my experience in this movement is this: the father has the right to abuse and damage his family at his discretion and the family is in rebellion if they retaliate, respond, or otherwise, rebel. From the view of the patriarch, retaliation, response, and rebellion are such because there is little to no submission to him. If a wife disagrees, she is in rebellion. If a son, retaliates, he is in rebellion. If a daughter responds questioning him, she is in rebellion. That is his perspective.

The very sad reality that this creates absolves the father from any culpability for his own sin against the Father God. But he does not see that since, in his own darkened mind, he is obviously on good terms with God because he is the father. This movement sees an unquestionably symbiotic relationship between God as Father and the man as father. By that fact alone, never mind personal sin or transgression that distances a man from God, the man and God are in unbroken fellowship. This is believed to such an extent that the man actually believes that his words are the words of God.

This kind of perspective is nothing short of a Christian cult that seeks to call something made up by selfish, and even demonic, men a true representation of the Bible. It is not.

Allow me to set some guidelines for a father’s proper authority. I will cover these one by one over the next few days in separate posts.

  1. “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:3)
  2. “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” (1 Timothy 5:8)
  3. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.” (Ephesians 5:25–30)
  4. “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),” (1 Timothy 3:4–5)
  5. ““Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31–33)

Let’s look at the first one: “But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:3)

A man does bear authority. That is unquestionable and clear from passages such as above. If a man does not have authority, then a woman does. And, if that is the case, what makes the woman have authority and the man submit? A Matriarchal rule will not improve upon an improper Patriarchal leadership. The fact remains that a man is the head of a woman and thus he is responsible for her care. How he expresses that authority is one of the most difficult things that a man has to learn to do. Some days, he is an ogre. Somedays he is a docile and amiable. Somedays he would die for his wife. Somedays he will make horrible demands of her. What is being observed by this ambivalence is not a failed leadership structure, but a failing leader.

A man’s authority is natural to his gender:

“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.””

Genesis 1:26

The original design of God is that a man would rule over the birds, cattle, the earth and every creeping things on the earth. By virtue of union with the man, the woman would compliment him, but by no means take over his position. The original statement was that God would make “a man” to be the image of God, as Paul also said:

“For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.”

1 Corinthians 11:7

The principle that drove Paul’s leadership concerning the cultural practice of head coverings was that a man is the glory of God and that the woman is the glory of man. That defined creational reality is the basis of the entire complex of relationships between man and woman. It is, however, limited to this creation:

“But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God. “For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.”

Matthew 22:29–30

The resurrection condition, which continues into eternity, ends the creational processes. In this life, some pursue marry (the man) and some are given over to marry (the woman). But in the life to come, which has some bearing on the Christian’s life today, marriage and the ordained processes of creation, are ended. The number of the elect is in, the completion of redemption has occurred, the glorification of the saints is activated. Marriage is no longer needed to complete the plan of God.

Until then, however, men are called to rule, and women are called to recognize that authority and submit to it in the proper way. Although that statement sounds chauvinistic, it is supported by the Scripture in every passage that addresses the roles of men and women.

But again, the rulership that is called for is not what we see in the Patriarchal Movement. Having been to Islamic countries, I see no difference in the way men behave in Islam, having domination over wives and children, even to the point of beating them, and the way that I have known men to behave in the Patriarchal Movement. This is not male leadership. This is fleshly indulgence that seeks to destroy and not build up.

Not every expression of leadership is an expression of Patriarchy dominance. In fact, Paul makes is clear that Jesus’ authority is the pattern of the man’s authority. In that passage in 1 Corinthians 11, Jesus is the head of every man. What if a man was treated by Jesus the way that the man treats women and children? Would he like it? Would he wish for more of that kind of treatment? Or, would he fight back and “rebel”? Jesus’ authority is absolute, but it is also perfect. Jesus’ authority is complete (Matthew 28:18-20), but it is also meant for freedom (Galatians 2:4; 5:1).

A good illustration of how a man can express that kind of authority, the kind that Jesus Himself expresses, is found in the section of Scripture wherein Paul is instructing the Corinthians regarding marriage. Listen.

“I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.” (1 Corinthians 7:26)

“But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.” (1 Corinthians 7:28)

“But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;” (1 Corinthians 7:32)

Ultimately, he wrote:

“This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint (literally, ‘a noose’) upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 7:35)

And,

“But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.” (1 Corinthians 7:40)

Now that is a proper use of authority! He is not trying to put a “noose” around the necks of the single, or divorced, or widowed, men and women. He even instructs the fathers to permit marriage for their daughters if they would be happy to marry a man (vv.36-38). However, there is a kind of authority that the father has and is recognized by Paul. Paul does not try to discredit the father’s authority, but instruct it and direct it to its appropriate use.

The Patriarchal Movement, although a reaction to Feminism, is even more harmful because the ones who are supposed to be cared for are harmed and the ones who are supposed to sacrifice themselves for the care of women and children are selfish. Unfortunately, this is normal in the world. But, when it is present in the church and is raised to the place of a virtue or a kind of righteousness, that is when we have a major problem.

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Jesus Christ Comforts His Own.

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.”

Revelation 1:17–18

While studying for Sunday’s introductory message in the book of Revelation, the above passage, among many, caught my eye. Notice what it says. Jesus is speaking to John, the Apostle. John has turned to see what the sound was that was speaking to him from behind, and he saw the glorified Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of Man (v.13).

Once taking in and trying to comprehend what he saw, from his rock perch on Patmos, he is immediately overcome with fear and is about to faint. Had Jesus relished the fear, He would have let John faint. But He didn’t. Notice His message to John: “Do not be afraid…”

Now, why wouldn’t John be afraid? He is catching a full view of the resurrected Jesus in all of His ascended glory. There is unspeakable power there, and infinite glory. Why wouldn’t he be afraid? John is only a man, and in exile no less. I certainly would have fainted like a dead man too.

But notice why Jesus said to not be afraid. There are three categories of ultimate authority:

“I am the first and the last.”

When we summarize many other passages that guide us in this title Jesus uses of Himself, we come up with the following:

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

Romans 11:33–36

“For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”

1 Corinthians 8:5–6

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

Colossians 1:16

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”

Hebrews 2:10

In short, Jesus is reminding John of the very thing that John wrote some years earlier:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”

John 1:1–4

It was for Jesus Christ that the Father mandated the creation of the world. It was for Him that He would ordain the fall, the cross, and the re-creation. It is for Jesus and His glory and He will give glory back to the father because of His love for Him:

“The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.”

1 Corinthians 15:26–28

“…and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore…”

The Man Christ Jesus was executed on a cross for no cause. He was judged by men and found innocent. However, in the plan of God, He died and suffered the wrath of the Father. God spent His wrath on Him, and as a result of His righteousness He raised Him from the dead. He is alive, at the right hand of the Father, and ruling over His own creation from there:

“And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

Hebrews 1:3

He will never die again. No man, or devil, will ever concoct a means by which He can be tried and executed. He is alive forevermore, the Man Christ Jesus.

“…and I have the keys of death and Hades…”

At the end of the book of Revelation, John tells us that death and Hades will be cast into the Lake of Fire, along with the false prophet, the beast, Satan, and all of the tares, the non-elect. Whoever’s name was not written in the book of life will suffer in the Lake of Fire:

“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 20:14–15

Jesus Christ controls life and death, in other words.

Stay tuned as we continue in this book together.

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Pastoral Duty In The End Times

The pastor’s work is a not a job. A job is a vocation that pays you to perform. I know many pastors who are dirt poor and still work tirelessly. Unfortunately, I know many pastors who are far wealthier than they deserve and work very little comparatively. However, the point is that a shepherd of the flock has an objective in mind with all of his prayers, preaching, counseling, admonishing, and working. His goal, at least it should be, is summed up by Paul here:

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Essentially, the Christian walk with Christ is a walk that is dominated with the pursuit of holiness in fear of God. Our work is to “cleanse ourselves” from the things that defile. The question is, what defiles? The earlier context tells you: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers” (V.14). Paul then explains what he means and ends on the passage quoted above about the work of perfecting holiness out of fear of God.

One of the most powerful assets the Christian has in order to accomplish this is the work of the faithful shepherd. A shepherd is an elder in the church of God who works hard to wean the child of God off of the world. He or she has the privilege, really, of learning to trust the faithful man of God to work for the benefit of their own soul:

“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.”

Hebrews 13:17

What this means is, whether by prayer, writing, preaching, or conversation, a pastor/elder has work to do. He must fulfill his ministry so that the church of Jesus Christ is ready for His imminent return via the Rapture.

What does the Coronavirus have to do with this? Nothing and everything. The Coronavirus does not present an unknown threat to your position in God’s household. However, it does present a threat to your sanctification. To summarize my point consider: the world is in full anxiety mode because of the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 virus which is all over the globe and spreading as we speak (here is the official CDC map showing affected regions of the world). The world is in a panic and many voices are crying for temperament.

But, what I find interesting is that the church is behaving the same way. Some are panicking, and some are trying not to panic. Some, to their credit, are sober-minded and waiting on the Lord, faithfully carrying out their lives as always. But, for the most part, many in the church are responding to this problem in a very non-distinctly Christian way.

If I could encourage you personally, I would tell you this: “What did you expect out of the world?” They know that God has found them guilty, they will die, and once their life is a used up, they will be judged by Him. The fear of death is not the fear of death for the world, it is the fear of God’s judgment after death that makes men afraid (but not afraid enough to repent). If we are to not behave as the world, that would mean that must not fear like world. Also, understand, when you and I behave as the world, we are behaving in a manner consistent with those who are enemies of God.

“You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.””

James 4:4-6

Haven’t you read that the world is being told to repent from their transgressions against God?

““Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.””

Acts 17:30-31

Haven’t you read that there must be birth pains prior to the actual delivery?

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.”

Matthew 24:4-8 (emphasis mine)

Haven’t you read that God ordains natural catastrophes, even at the hands of man, in order to call this world to repentance?

“Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate? “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem? “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’ ””

Luke 13:1-9

Don’t waste this time of world-wide panic and anxiety on acting like the world. We have hope. They do not. Rather, use this time to announce to the world a much worse famine and disease that is coming, unless they repent.

“And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war. His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself. He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying to all the birds which fly in midheaven, “Come, assemble for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of commanders and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them and the flesh of all men, both free men and slaves, and small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies assembled to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.”

Revelation 19:11-19

So, please church, come out from her and be clean and do not fear as the rest who have not hope (2 Thessalonians 4:13).

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The Kingdom of God Belongs To The Poor

Jesus said, “And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20). The emphasis of Jesus seems to be that poverty is commendable, which indicates that wealth is not. It is impossible to be a wealthy poor man. A man with a million dollars is a wealthy man. He may choose to live like he has nothing, but his net worth is a million dollars.

However, Jesus said, as recorded in Luke, “Blessed are you who are poor…” Why? Luke references the poor of society more than any other gospel writer, with John almost ignoring the impoverished altogether. That is not to say that Luke made up stories of the poor for social reasons. His reasons are Jesus’ reasons, and Jesus and a social gospel are incompatible. No, the reason Jesus taught so much about the poor is because of the pitfalls of being wealthy in relation to the kingdom of God.

“And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God! “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.””

Luke 18:24–25

It wasn’t that there is meritorious virtue in being without wealth. It is that there is no virtue in being wealthy when it comes to trying to convince a person that they are in desperate need of a richness of soul that they do not possess, and cannot buy.

You see, the wealthy essentially believe that their soul is fine. After all, with all their assets, what could be lacking? Luke wrote:

“And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. “And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. ‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.” ’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.””

Luke 12:16–21

This rich man spoke to his soul thinking that his abundance of crops actually was eternal and that his soul had all the goods that it needed. Thus, since this man’s soul had many goods, there were no needs. The problem came when he was called into account during the judgment before God. God did not recognize the goods in relation to the man’s soul and the man, by implication, was cast into eternal hell. Thus Jesus said, “So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

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Why Did Jesus Reference The Ten Commandments To The Rich Young Ruler?

While studying for Sunday’s message in Luke 18:18-27, I was researching v. 20 and came to, what I believe to be, a startling understanding. It has to do with the reason why Jesus quoted a portion of the OT Decalogue, the Ten Commandments. He quoted, in scrambled order, the last half of the Decalogue involving an Israelite’s relationship with others Israelites including their parents. This seems simple enough. However, a few questions come up: 1) why didn’t He quote all the Law? 2) why did He quote the Law at all?

First, He did not quote the whole Decalogue, I think, because He did not need to given the fact that the rich ruler was confused about God to begin with. Remember, he just confessed that others are as good as God (v. 18). Jesus corrects him and moves on. The OT is ample in evidence that only God is good and that many is only evil continually (Genesis 6:5). The fact that this man was so confused and dark on such a fundamental basic level tells me that asserting the “God-portion” of the Decalogue would not be beneficial.

Second, given the fact of point one, we can now understand point two. Why did Jesus assert the Decalogue at all when He could have asserted the usual, “Take up your cross and follow Me” from the beginning? I believe the reason takes us back to the original purpose of the Law. Paul tells us,

“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Romans 5:20-21

And again,

“Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.”

Galatians 3:19

Jesus was only asserting the actual original purpose of the Law: to expose the condition of sin that constitutes the very nature and fabric of our core. This religious ruler would know the commandments. In his delusion, he thought he had kept them from his younger days until the moment he was speaking with Christ. However, the fact is, the Decalogue, which was meant to expose his sin has, because of the perversion of Judaism of the time, compounded his sin as he thought that his self-righteousness was God’s actual righteousness (low understanding of God; high estimation of himself). When it came time for this man to display absolute devotion and love to God, which is the great commandment (Deuteronomy 6:4ff), he failed. The Decalogue did not do its job in the man because the Decalogue was not read in faith.

“What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written, “Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.””

Romans 9:30-33

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The Godly Man

Hopefully this title caught your attention. It should have. The reason that it should have is that this subject affects every person on this planet. The measure of a godly man is in the leadership he provides. And the leadership he provides is measured by the quality of leadership he provides. And, the quality of leadership he provides is measured by its resemblance to the marks of the Holy Spirit producing likeness to Jesus Christ.

What needs to be said is that there are men who, naturally, are willing to fight the battle of leadership and they are equipped uniquely for that role. However, in the end, the resemblance of the leadership he provided was likeness to himself. That will not do.

A godly man does not want people to resemble himself. The godly man demands, expects, prays for, resemblance to Jesus Christ. The godly man does not think to himself, “I hope that people will follow me.” The godly man thinks to himself, “O, I wish that God would give them a heart to follow Jesus Christ!” The result and the methodology are very different.

The result of the second one is that Jesus is glorified in all His glory. His humanity is seen replicated in the godly man and in the leadership he provides. The direction that a godly leader takes those who know Christ is the direction of obedience to the Father by means of knowledge of the Word of God.

The methodology of the one who leads people towards Jesus Christ is that of hearing the Word of Christ in order that faith will be produced. It is the Word of Christ that produces faith in the heart of those who are His. The means, then, of glorifying Jesus Christ is to display Him through proper handling of His Word.

The overarching affect, then, is that Jesus is exalted in deed and in truth.

The effect of those who are not doing this, is a devastation of lives attempting to be dependent upon the man.

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How Do We Help Young Christians In A Relationship?

Christians have always been a little odd to the world. God’s people are often identified by what they abstain from and their peculiar perspective on what life is about. One particular area that could use more peculiarity is that arena of “dating,” or as some might suggest, “courting.” Neither word really does this wonderful experience justice. So, I will try not to use either of them.

That time frame when a young(older) Christian man meets and becomes interested in a young(older) woman in the church is a wonderful time. How else is it supposed to happen? However, oftentimes, there is a bit of a confusion as to what should be the next step(s). As a father, I have a few suggestions. As a pastor, I have a few suggestions. As a somewhat older man in the church, I have a few suggestions. Here they are:

  1. Enjoy! There are few things as strong as the enjoyment of something. Shouldn’t you enjoy being around that other person you are hoping to establish your life with? Shouldn’t you find yourself willing to extend yourself for her/him unlike you would for others in your life? Of course, you should. Enjoy each other’s company, conversation. Share in experiences. Find out who they are.
  2. Refrain! You are not your own. Paul wrote:“Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18–20). This command is not because of Paul’s contemporary disdain for pleasure. It is because it is true. If the man and woman profess Jesus Christ, then follow Him in this relationship. On the basis of the holy nature of God, until you are joined in marriage, in the interest of being above reproach within the church and among the godly men and women in your life, you are not your own, nor are you each other’s. Your redemption by the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ is far more valuable than the feelings you have about the other person. And, further, if that other person loves Christ, and really loves you, they will seek your sanctification and holiness leading to your eternal reward more than they will desire to defraud and use you. I wish I didn’t have to say this, however, I have learned that it is necessary.
  3. Submit! Find godly, mature, men and women you can go to for questions. Hopefully, this is the parents of each individual. They are in a unique position to see your life come to a point that they have wondered about, planned for, hoped for, prayed about, and now they need the privilege of being part of that season of your precious life. Don’t deprive your godly parents of this privilege of being part of that process. However, if you don’t have godly parents who will steer you towards Christ and away from selfish behavior, find another in your local church who can be that to you. Surely there is a godly man or woman who would jump at the chance to help you.
  4. Serve! Serve the church in your relationship. The command to love one another (John 13:34) does not stop all because you are in a relationship. Your relationship, in all honesty, is not about you. It is another component in the body of Christ meant to strengthen the other disciples. You will do more together in that way than you can individually. Serve the saints. Love the brethren. Obey the Lord. Find ways that you can publicly demonstrate the love of Christ towards the saints together and raise the standard of expectation for couples in a budding relationship. There are few things as ugly as a young couple off in a corner cuddling up to each other, whispering and giggling, while the church body is fighting its’ war, running its’ race, and plowing its’ field. You say, “But what about our time together?!” Well, see point 2-you are not your own. The call to follow Jesus Christ is a call to carry a cross, even during this wonderful phase of your life as the two of you get to know each other. Let everything be done for the edification of believers. Use your relationship to contribute to the body of Christ. Be an example to others. Be above reproach. Start your relationship being built on the principles and commands that the Lord expects from His people. A selfish relationship will only change into a sacrificial relationship through deep hardship. Why go through that? Start now by sacrificing yourself together for the good of the body. Jesus did.

I can promise on the basis of Scripture, from which these guidelines are taken, if you obey these you will have no regrets and you will do more for your marriage than you can even imagine.

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What Does It Mean To Be Happy?

I touched on this in a previous post, but I want to expand upon it here. To be happy is a very personal thing. It is somewhat relative to the person. For example, what makes me happy may not make my neighbor happy. What makes me happy may not make my wife happy, and vice versa.

But, I think there is a non-relative happiness that is the only true happiness that exists. To be happy is, in my opinion, being in a state of satisfaction about life. It is a superficial condition that, in this world, was not created to be permanent nor unbroken. I would not want to be happy all the time because there are times I need to cry, or feel anger, or remorse. But, I do enjoy being happy. It is a good, and refreshing emotion. But, by no means do I want to be happy all the time.

However, in the world to come, the kingdom of God, happiness is eternal, perpetual, and unbroken. That contentment that is produced from conditions around you, which is what happiness is and is different from joy in that manner, will be absolutely perfect and infinite.

Why?

Because, as Jesus taught, happiness is the desire of God for His people:

““Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.”

Matthew 5:3–11

The teaching of Jesus here is that happiness is a condition of: being in the kingdom of heaven, comforted, inheriting the earth, satisfaction with righteousness, mercy, seeing God, being a son of God, being persecuted and then relieved of that persecution by means of entering the kingdom of God, and suffering in Jesus’ place.

The word for “blessed” means a condition of happiness. It is the effect that God has on those who are His. They are happy. Somewhat like my daughter is happiest with me by her side, so also is the Christian happiest when they are close to God. The strength, protection, security, affection, and mutual relationship, makes us happy.

Now, compare that with what makes the world happy: lawlessness, selfish indulgence, godlessness, career-chasing, sexual deviance, alcohol, drugs, etc… None of these things will follow them into eternal life, nor are they the product of eternal life. Further, they are not related to God in any way. None of these things produce likeness to, nor closeness to, the God who alone is blessed:

“…He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”

1 Timothy 6:15b–16

Beloved, those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, be happy! Be poor in spirit, mourn, be gentle, hunger and thirst for righteousness, be merciful, be pure in heart, be a peacemaker, be persecuted, and be insulted for Christ’s sake and His name’s sake. If you do this, or it is done to you, looking to the kingdom, you will be happy.

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What Does It Mean To Be Holy?

We know that God is holy:

“And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.””

Isaiah 6:3

And, we know that He expects us to be as holy in the same manner that He is holy:

“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

1 Peter 1:14–16

However, what does holiness look like? Many would say that holiness is sinning less. Others might say that holiness is speaking in tongues. Most would have to admit, however, that holiness is elusive and almost abstract as a concept. But that does not have to be so.

Come, let’s reason together. God is holy, right? Right. Therefore, God at His very nature is holy, right? Right. Therefore, whatever God does, He does in holiness, right? Right. Further, when He saves an individual, He saves them to share in His holiness, right? Right. So, then, it would seem to me that being holy is not a negative, “Don’t sin anymore,” but a postitive, “Walk and talk like God.” Here is a passage of Scripture that summarizes what I mean:

“The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” (emphasis mine)

1 John 2:4–6

Did you notice that last sentence? The person who affirms their Christianity is obligated to “walk” in the same manner as He “walked.” In other words, the way Jesus lived, as recorded in Scripture, is the way that a Christian is supposed to live. And, since Jesus is God, my assumption, then, is that the result of walking as He walked is that you will walk in the holiness that God desires, loves, and expects.

So, study His life. Study His teaching. Believe Him. Submit to Him faithfully until He returns for you. He is our life in every way. And the fruit of that submission of faith will be what Paul recorded as the “fruit of the Spirit:”

“…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Galatians 5:22–23

THIS is holiness.

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What Does It Mean To Be Humble?

It might seem strange to write about humility. But, if someone doesn’t, we will never entertain the idea because this is a part of righteousness that is as foreign to our nature as it can get. Humility is from God. Pride is from us. If we think that we have finally mastered humility, then we have lost it and must start all over. With such an ethereal consideration, almost metaphysical, we would think that humility is for the spiritual elite, the perfect saint, the Christian who has it all together. That is exactly what humility is NOT. In fact, the very essence of humility is not the well-ordered Christian who is better than the normal Christian. Not at all. It is very different.

Consider what Jesus is quoted as saying in Luke 18:14-

““I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.””

Luke 18:14

This is in the context of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee and the tax-collector simultaneously ascend up to the Temple in order to pray. It is the time of public prayer, a function begun at the time of the exile decades before Jesus’ time. That form of public prayer would, naturally, engender a kind of comparison of prayers. That is, true to human nature, one person would size up the other person based upon how he prays. That is what is going on here.

The Pharisee, a member of an insanely strict sect of Judaism known for their deep sense of self-righteousness, prays to God. Jesus tells us that he even stood before God and, assumedly, lifted his eyes to God in typical fashion of the day. His prayer was a prayer of gratitude that he was unique, superior to other men, especially the riff-raff of society.

When he rehearses his righteousness to God, praying within himself (v.11), he said,

“‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’”

Luke 18:12

“I,” “I.” His “religion” is whittled down to his fasting and payment of tithes; reliquishing food and money as tokens of his devotion. Of course, his sense of pride and self-satisfaction should be beaming, and it is. After all, what swindler, or unjust person, or adulterer, or even the tax collector near to him, could even come close to that? They can’t. Do you understand what I am saying?

The tax collector is different, however. Unlike the Pharisee, he is unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven. He can’t conceive of even looking God’s way, because he knows his innate unrighteousness. And, unlike the Pharisee, the only rehearsel of righteousness before God and man is his unrighteousness. He knows that he is “the sinner.” His posture, unlike the Pharisee, is “far off” from the place to meet with God. Also, unlike the Pharisee, this man despised himself and is trapped within himself. He “beats his breast” as a sign of extreme self loathing. This tax collector’s prayer, in comparison to the Pharisee, was laughable. The inane way that this man has depreciated himself publicly is shameful, sad, and the epitome of self degredation.

And that is the point: the Pharisee, based upon his own achievments, albeit while using strains of God’s Law to do it, elevated himself above other men. In fact, it seems that he was elevating himself to the place of the righteousness of God Himself. He, in his own mind, was in a class all his own. That can only be said of God alone. But he, in his smug, blind, self pleasure, felt that he deserves the honor. He is an audience of one and an actor in his own theatre.

The tax collector was not even close to this kind of thinking. In Jesus’ parable, this man knows who he really is. This self knowledge is not in his own sight, but in God’s sight. That is, this man does not compare himself with man. That would be foolish.

“For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”

2 Corinthians 10:12

Rather, this man feels the stark difference between himself and the God with Whom he must have dealings with some day. This is humility.

Humility, then, is the lowering of yourself before God and man. Jesus said to “humble yourself” often in His preaching. How do we make ourselves humble? By pretending to be soft, gentle, kind, having an air of self mastery and no reputation for vice? No. That is pride and self exaltation. Self humility is knowing who you really are, in God’s eyes, and despising the applause and comparison fellow men. Humility is lowering yourself in man’s eyes because of your unrighteousness before God’s all-seeing eyes. In other words, who cares what another man, woman, organization, group of people, thinks. What God thinks is what matters in the final judgment, the place and time in which you “will be humbled,” or “you will be elevated.”

Humble yourself now before men and God and be elevated before men and God later.

Elevate yourself now before men and God and be humbled before men and God later.

You do have a say in your own humility and there it is.

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Man of Sorrows

“He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; And like one from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, And our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, Smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.”

Isaiah 53:3–7

“Man of sorrows, what a name…” goes the hymn by Philip Bliss (1875). This name is not a fitting one for the Lord Jesus Christ, otherwise known in the Psalms as “The King of Glory” (Psalm 24). As I consider the kind of atmospher in which God exists, as detailed in Ezekiel 1, for example, I can only imagine that intense, immeasurable glory, power, and brilliance surrounding Him and are the only appropriate conditions in which God can exist.

However, Isaiah says that He is the Man of Sorrows and He is “acquainted with grief.” Was He depressed, unhappy, melancholy? Did He not understand the beauty of a sunset, or the enjoyment of luxury? What was to be so sad about all the time, even to the point that you are called by this title as if it was Who You were? Why not be happy and smile? Why couldn’t He have been called the “Man of Joy?” What was His problem?

I think I know the problem? I think the problem was that He cared. Notice that it says in v. 4 that He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Further, He was pierced through for our transgressions. The immensity of bearing the weight of the sins of others, even for the King of Glory, made for a heavy, sad, even depressed countenance. I don’t think, for a moment, that Jesus would have be diagnosed with clinical depression. He was looking forward to joy! (Hebrews 12:2). He anticipated the pleasure of God and loved Him infinitely. However, the reality is that sin is heavy. And, for Him who had to carry the sins and the weight of the transgressions of others, there was no way for Him to be giddy, silly, nor even jovial. It was not “all good” for Him.

Rather, our sins of faithlessness, unbelief, rebellion, and a lack of love for the true God was heavy. The sins of unbelief and the rejection and betrayal that shadowed Him His whole life was immensely concerning to Him. It was the reality of the weight of concern and concentration that made Him a Man of Sorrows.

In contrast to a “happy-go-lucky” Christianity, Jesus was a man acquainted with grief. In contrast to the self-styled, tagline depth approach to ministry, Jesus was a man of sorrows. In contrast to the vanity of selfish love for God, Jesus offered Himself as a Lamb that would die. The cross of the Man of Sorrows was always in front of Him.

Beloved, you who profess to know Him, your cross must always be in front of you as well. You must put up with and deal with and even confront the sins in yourself and in those who say they love Christ. Your cross must shadow you daily such that you can feel the weight of the concern for sin in others and what it is doing to the heart of God.

“And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself? “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

Luke 9:23–26
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Prayer

Prayer is a topic that generates a tremendous amount of guilt for most Christians. Admittedly, this is an admission. I love to pray. I am desperate for prayer. The act of prayer is satisfying and generally fulfilling. But, I want to do better.

I wonder how much of my praying is generated from faith? I have wondered, and have been convicted by, the fact that praying is an act of faith. I pray because I believe in the true God, as revealed in Scripture. I pray because I believe that that God is hearing me, loving me, and desiring to answer my requests at some level.

But, how often is my praying done while my mind is elsewhere? Sometimes, I admit. I will also admit that I stop and work hard, in faith, to get my mind back to God at those times.

But, from Luke 18:1-8 it is evident that prayer, while an act in itself that is commendable, not accompanied by desperate faith, is condemnable. The question Jesus asks at the end of this section is, “Will (I) find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). What Jesus Christ is asking is, will He, when He returns, which is the context of much of chapter 17, find a group of people faithfully praying because they believe in Him and have no love of possessions in this world (also a major portion of chapter 17)?

Well, that IS a real question, isn’t it? Doesn’t this revolutionize our thinking about prayer? I mean, how often are our prayers dealing with possessions? We ask for health, we ask for wealth, we ask for open doors into promotions, relationships, and favor from man. None of these things, essentially, join us in heaven. What if we prayed about the things in heaven? It seems to me that Jesus said something about this.

9 “Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 ‘Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 ‘Give us this day our daily bread.
12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Do you see a difference? Prayer about God’s holy name, His kingdom, will to be done (on earth even!), our daily bread (which, being asked of God, is an act of looking to heaven for help with our food needs), forgiveness, and temptation. Nothing about a new car, job promotion, nor even a spouse. Whether or not those things are part of God’s eternal will is absolutely up to God, not us.

Pray, folks. Pray desperately. But, stop praying for your own will. Pray for and about those things that are a concern to God and He will establish your faith.

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Should Women Wear Jewelry?

Yes.

I could end the post there, and we would be good to go. However, I would like to take some time to explain why I said “Yes.”

In 1 Timothy 2:9-15 Paul wrote concerning the work and role of women. His goal was to explain to women their proper presence in the church, both in the worship times and out of the worship times. Just as for men, a woman’s godliness is not a display only for the times the church meets. In fact, the daily display of a woman is exactly what Paul is concerned about and is the topic he is dealing with directly

It would seem that in the church in Ephesus there were women who had weaseled their way in to leadership, which is why Paul brings up the issue of teaching (v.12). Women in the church of Ephesus were teaching the church collectively and were teaching men. In that capacity, they were acting in the place of men as well. That is a transgression of what the Lord has created women for in creation and in the church.

However, he begins the section with a consideration of how a woman should dress. Again, this is not simply how to dress up for church. Rather, Paul meant it to give a woman instruction, guidelines, principles, for her understanding of how she should see herself and what godliness looks like in reference to this matter. In other words, these are direct instructions meant to be obeyed, but the instructions are also meant to direct her mind and heart so that she would agree with the instructions and become wise concerning her apparel.

Paul clearly wrote that he desires a woman to “adorn” herself (v.9). This word, “adorn,” is the word that we get “cosmetics” from. It is the word “cosmos” in verb form (actually it is an infinitive of purpose). He is encouraging, indeed commanding, the women to take the time necessary to look beautiful as the word indicates an orderly arrangement of dress and clothing. The assumption is that it is an orderly arrangement that enhances beauty and appearance. It cannot refer to something that is bland, or a command for women to do what they can to avoid beauty. The natural beauty of a woman, enhanced by proper arrangement of clothing and apparel, including jewelry, is absolutely appropriate. The instruction is to be sure to arrange your appearance properly.

In addition to that command, instruction, Paul gives to Timothy what “proper” looks likely. The first word the Spirit of God wrote here is the word “modestly.” This Greek word has the idea of reverence, dignity, and is the demeanor of one who is in the presence of God. The level of dignity that should accompany a woman’s arrangement of herself is in view where. For a woman to be sloppy, disarranged, dirty, disheveled, or improper, is a lack of dignity and, therefore, beauty. To spend time finding the right attire, and the right necklace, earring set, etc… is the idea here. It takes effort. It requires attention. You should not over do it, which is obvious in this section. But, you should not “under-do it” either. It is altogether appropriate for the church to appreciate beauty (Philippians 1:9-11; 4:8) and that would include how a woman dresses. The church should also appreciate the handsomeness of a man, but that is a difference blog post.

The next word is “discreetly.” This word means “self control, sound thinking,” or “having your ideas of right and wrong unaffected by passion or sensual, emotional, desire.” The last is a bit of an implication to this context, but is certainly appropriate. A godly woman does not arrange herself in order to be noticed, certainly sensually, by a man, or by the church in general. She is not governed in her dress by the flashy, prominent, nor the expensive. She is wanting to be beautiful for the display of the glory of God (Exodus 28:2, 40). She is not illicit, sensual, nor is she simply foolish and unaware of how her dress affects men, and women, around her. She is alert to the dangers of immodesty and carefully crafts her attire in such a way as to put effort and thought into her arrangement. She is smart, thoughtful, and seeks to hide herself behind God’s glory in appropriate beauty. She also dresses in such a way as to be able to perform good works (v.10).

Her jewelry must follows these guidelines. She needs to think this way. A woman’s beauty is a powerful tool, or weapon, needs to be handled carefully. It is an asset to the church as much as beautiful tapestry and woven gold in the Tabernacle. She must not be overly bland and drab, as that is not pleasing to the eye. However, neither should she be loud, outrageous, and provocative such that people are allured, or disgusted. The arrangement of a man or woman in the church creates a wonderful atmosphere in which God can be praised and given glory so that beauty is appreciated and maintained in the church.

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Faithful

In reading the teaching of the Lord in Matthew 25 there is a very striking and serious portion that catches our attention. It is the parable of the talents in vv. 14-30. In this parable, Jesus is teaching concerning His next coming and He is instructing the men who will be left to instruct the church concerning remaining faithful until He returns.

The portion that is the desire of every true Christian is the following:

Matthew 25:19–21 (NAS): 19 “Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
20 “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’
21 “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’

That moment, that time, when each child of God is commended by Jesus Christ for being faithful as He was faithful when faced with responsibility is to live for and to die for. There is tremendous hope in the fact that even though many around us simply don’t understand why we believe in Jesus Christ and why we live our lives under His lordship, we are reminded that He understands. Indeed, He is the Author of that faith and hope (Hebrews 2:10; 12:2).

The sense that we would abandon that hope, the hope of the praise that Christ gives His faithful servants, is not in the mind of the faithful servant. That surely does not mean that he is perfectly faithful and is never distracted. However, his habit and behavior consistently is that of remaining faithful to his Master Who entrusted His resources, and His will, to him.

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Neither Your “bios” Nor Your “psuche” Are Worth Striving After.

Both of the above words are used for “life” in the Bible. The first one you will recognize as the root of the word “biology.” The second one you might recognize as “psyche.” The first word would refer to the life outside the body, the second would refer to life inside the body. We see this distinction in Luke 17:15 and 22-23.

Luke 12:15 (NAS): 15 Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life (“bios”) consist of his possessions.”

Luke 12:22–23 (NAS): 22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life (“psuche”) as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 “For life (“psuche”) is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”

The point Jesus is making is that your life inside your body, often referred to as “soul,” is not to be worried about. The food that goes into your body must not be your preoccupation. Life is more than your own soul. The possessions that prop up your life outside your body is also not worthy of your preoccupation. Your life is more than your possessions.

Your soul and body are both meant to be used for the kingdom of God. This is why Jesus says, “Don’t seek to keep your soul, but strive for the kingdom of God” (a conflation of Luke 17:33; Matthew 10:39; Matthew 6:33).

There is nothing that food or clothing, or any temporal, earthly material, can contribute to a soul or even a body. The most expensive dress cannot improve the body. The most exquisite dinner cannot improve the soul. The soul and body are improved by faith in Jesus Christ and the timing of their advancement is when He rewards you at His coming.

A good test to see if you are attempting to improve your soul and body is to look around you and see if you will find yourself missing something at the Rapture. For example, do you think that you will miss your car, or your house, or your bank account, or your hunting equipment? Do you think you will wish you could take it with you to heaven? If so, you are covetous and are not ready for His return.

It is better to spend your life improving your soul by abandoning its improvement and simply working for the kingdom of God; being preoccupied with the kingdom of God., which, I I the end, advances the soul and body into glory!

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Tell Your Body What To Do

When our children are young, we tell them, “Tell your body what to do, or it will tell you what to do.” The years following will tell us whether or not they listened to us. But, this reality of the pervasiveness of sin and depravity, which most often shows up in impulses of the body, will become prominent in their lives. They must be prepared.

Children were created by God to learn. You can teach a child almost anything and they will learn it. They are incredible in that way. However, what children of Christian parents need to learn is that they are sinners in God’s eyes and their transgressions are from a dead heart that does not beat spiritually. They desire nothing that is good. They love what is unlovely and are drawn to what is dark. As they get more introduced to that part of life, they will grow to love it, unless God is working in them for His own glory.

But, in order for God to work in them, they need to learn the Bible. They need to read, recite, memorize, and scour the written Word of God so that they can see the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness. They need to see God, and they cannot see Him in nature, their hearts, the television screen, or on the internet. They must see Him where He is-the Bible.

Start your day, and your kid’s day, with reading the Bible. Make it a habit, discipline, expectation each morning before leaving for school, or getting ready for the day. This in itself is not righteousness, but will introduce them to righteousness, which they cannot get anywhere else.

This is all part of making them discipline themselves. Parents, remember. The children are not in charge. God did not make them to rule over parents. Don’t let them. If given opportunity, they will take it. Don’t give them that opportunity. And yet, they are children. Lead them, rule over them, instruct them, discipline them in the teaching and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:1-4), expecting obedience to you for Scripture’s sake, not your sake. But, you cannot even have this discussion and speak this language if neither of you read the Bible.

So, take their cell phones away (and put yours away) and read. Remove the distractions. Work to have their hearts set on learning the Word of God. And, parents, this begins with you-do you love the Word of God?

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Sovereignty and Pleasure Go Together

One of the verses I remember and learned as a young believer was Psalm 115:3 which says:

But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.

I remember that because of the death of Dawson Trotman, the founder of the Christian University ministry Navigators. He died while attempting to rescue a young girl who was drowning. The girl made it out alive, but Mr. Trotman drowned. His then widow is quoted as saying, “Our God is in the heavens, He does whatever He pleases.” I thought that was an incredible thing to say at the news of your husband’s death.

The verse is part of a Psalm which praises the God of Israel over the heathen gods of wood and stone. And what is it that makes the God of Israel distinct? It is that this God has joyous sovereignty.

The verb “He pleases” means that which gives Him pleasure, or is delightful to Him. This may be related to the passage in the NT wherein Paul wrote, “All things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28ff). The death of a husband, or child, or the cancer that takes a wife, or the Leukemia that plagues an infant are horrible tragedies, if it were not for the pleasure of God to perform His ultimate end-His own glory. And, His glory is good.

Only God, the God of Israel, has absolute ability to perform anything He wants to do. And that which He performs is governed by what pleases Him. Imagine doing what pleases you without restraint. Well, for us, it would immediately degenerate into self-indulgence or sinful pleasures like drinking, drugs, immorality, or self-fulfillment at the expense of this God. However, God is eternal and His eternal glory has been His pleasure for all that eternity. For us, anything that purports to be joyful and does not include God, the source of pleasure, is not truly joyful. Everything that we enjoy in life, if we receive joy from it, is a gift from God meant to cause us to give praise to the Giver of all that is good (Acts 14:17; 1 Timothy 6:17; James 1:17).

What are we doing that pleases God? What are we doing that puts Him on display in His great glory? What are we doing that gives Him joy?

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It Will Be Business As Usual Until The Lord Returns.

Jesus’ teaching Luke 17:26-30 is that the world will continue as it has always continued. The normal courses of life will not be unbroken in the future, leading all the way until the Son of Man returns. The examples that Jesus used in Luke 17 are examples from pre-flood and post-flood. They are examples during the times of the greatest judgements that this world has seen and there are commonalities in both.

The passage is:

Luke 17:26–30 (NAS): 26 “And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 “It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;
29 but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 “It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

In this passage notice that the people were busy about their lives until the very day of judgment. Before the flood, Noah was build the ark of Gopher wood and pitch (Genesis 6:14). It was a huge boat that would have been very evident to all around. For 120 years, Noah and his sons built this boat. During that time, Noah preached that God was going to judge the world. He was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). The world then mocked him and derided him. Peter tells us that they said, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3:3-4). However, Peter says that it escapes their notice that it was not long after the ark was completed that God boarded the family and sent a flood and destroyed the earth (2 Peter 3:6). Potentially millions died.

In the days of Lot, the people were busy about their lives as well. This included gross sin, the sin of homosexuality. When God sent the angels to rescue Lot, He then rained fire and brimstone upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:24-25). The Lord destroyed those two cities. However, prior to that destruction, it was life as usual.

Jesus said that it will be the same when He returns. People will preoccupy themselves with marrying, being given in marriage, buying, selling, planting, building, and regular affairs of life on the planet. That means that during the Tribulation man will continue to work hard at keeping the equilibrium that they once knew prior to the Rapture. After that, even in the midst of various signs from heaven and miracles of judgment on the earth, man will continue to worship his god, money, possessions, and self.

The beast will promise continued commerce, only a person must have his mark (Revelation 13:16-18). But he will continue to equalize the world while God is judging it. The darkness of lust, greed, power, false religion, and godlessness will continue in the same way that it did with Noah’s day and Lot’s day.

In the end, the world will blaspheme God for what He is doing in crescendo and they will refuse to glorify Him by repenting of their sins which were listed above (Revelation 16:11).

The destruction of worldwide commerce will finalize God’s wrath against the nations. That is what Revelation 18:11-20 says. Apostate Jerusalem, the home of the beast, false prophet, and Satan and his demons, the harlot herself, who becomes the head of the worldwide worship of the beast and the head of all immorality and sins, as well as the head of all commerce, will be destroyed with one final decree from God on the basis of the vindication of the saints who suffered because of her (Revelation 18:20).

Therefore, our Lord warned us. Seek the kingdom and leave the needs of the world to Him (Matthew 6:33). Let Him provide for you and care for you. You, Christian, seek the kingdom that is coming and busy yourself with its’ concerns. Do not concern yourself with the affairs of the world or you, like Lot, might be swept up in its destruction (Genesis 19:15-17).

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We Are Sons of God, Not Children of The Law

We are studying the book of Galatians at our church and working through chapter 3 has been very exhilarating. To think that the God of the Bible, the Father of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of Israel, and, most importantly, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, loves me is devastating. Why is it devastating? Because, I understand what loving me means. It isn’t about me, but rather it is about God.

What I mean to say is, when God loves someone, it is not static and unproductive. It is active. To say that God loves someone is to say that God is working to draw that person to Himself in love. The particular love I am referring to is the electing love of God, in Christ Jesus. It is not election in the sense that God looked down on my life and decided to choose me as I was alive. It is electing in that before Genesis 1:1 God made the unilateral decision to create me for His Son. That is election. Election is not God choosing someone after creation. It is God creating someone for Himself.

God created me to be His son. Certainly, I am not His son because of my nature. I don’t act like a son should act all the time, obedient to his Father. My sonship has nothing to do with my ability or merit. It is simply, totally, utterly, God’s unilateral choice (Romans 9:15-18; 11:5). The council for election was with the Father alone in His own heart (Ephesians 1:3-6).

If that is true, and it is, then why would I want to go back to the Law, as a son of the Law? I want to be a son of the Father! I don’t want to be under a “tutor” (Galatians 3:25) but under God. And, that is exactly what happened when I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ once I heard the gospel. That work of God made me a son of God in real time since God in eternity created me to be one by His will in Christ Jesus.

Are you a son of God? Or, are you still under a tutor, a disciplinarian? Are you near the Father or closer to the tutor than to Him? For me, I will serve the Lord. I refuse to serve the Law.

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The Seige of Jerusalem

Jerusalem is the city of the Great King, Jesus Christ (Psalm 48:2; Matthew 5:35). Its splendor is promised to God forever (Psalm 87:3; cf. 132:13). Further, it is the Zion of the OT (Psalm 132:13-18).

However, greater than Mt. Zion is God’s own righteousness. And, as the Jews continue to reject God, especially in light of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the Messiah of the OT, having come in the flesh as promised, God will continue to reject them. He will reject them until it is time to restore them, which He will do as a demonstration of His great power over sin and the human heart.

But, historically, God has punished Jerusalem in significant ways. Some of the most atrocious expressions of God’s wrath on sin and rebellion were during the sieges of Babylon and Rome. Babylon assaulted Jerusalem three times: 605 B.C., 597 B.C., and finally took the city in 586 B.C. During that affliction, Jeremiah wrote in his long book of the siege (esp. Jeremiah 52) and dedicated an entire book to that very event, the book of Lamentations.

In Leviticus 26:29 and, written years later, Deuteronomy 28:53-59 is a promise to punish Jerusalem, and Israel, for her rebellion and disobedience. What was the punishment? In these specific verses, the punishment would be cannibalism. That is, mothers and fathers would be famished and being deranged would boil their own infants and eat them because of the lack of food.

What kind of a God would do this? What kind of a God would allow for, and prophesy, such a grotesque and horrific act? What kind of God would make such a big deal of disobedience that He would permit the cannibalism of children? What kind of God? I will tell you: a holy God.

The seriousness of sins manifests in the punishment that comes upon the sinner. For example, a serial murderer would surely get a worse punishment for his crimes than a petty thief. In God’s estimation, Israel’s crimes were reprehensible and against His great glory to such a degree and for such a long time-frame, that the expression of their own waywardness would be allowed to manifest itself.

It is not different than Romans 1 in which God said that He gave the nations over to indulge in the desire of the flesh. What was the result? Homosexuality. The worst of all perversions of the natural, created, order. He further is letting rampant unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil, etc… run full. Why? Because this is in OUR HEARTS!

The siege of Jerusalem and the resultant cannibalism, which was also recorded historically in Jeremiah 2:20; 4:10, and illustrated in Samaria in 2 Kings 6:26-29, is not simply God making these men and women commit a grotesque act. It is God withholding His restraint and allowing them to do what they wished. He warned them. He left them to themselves.

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Discernment: The Tool of All Trades…Except One.

I cannot think of a single job or occupation that does not attempt to tell the difference between one thing or another. For instance, a doctor must discern constantly between the levels of severity of a cough, or a pain, or an x-ray, etc… He must be able to tell the difference between one thing or another with precision. A police officer must learn the difference between the times to use lethal force or not. He has to learn to discern between a man with bad intentions or a man with good intentions. A housewife needs to learn the difference between one child who is telling the truth and the other who is not.

To learn the difference between one thing or another is necessary to everyday life: when to stop driving, when to go; when to keep talking, when to stop and listen; who to trust and who not to trust. The list can go on, and on.

However, when it comes to righteousness, we don’t want to make those distinctions. The church seems to be resenting the men who, as elders, leaders, pastors of local churches, have it as their “occupation” to make constant distinctions between levels of righteousness and how to react to them. For some reason, the church has come to resent an elder who brings up the harm that a certain behavior can do to a person if he/she continues going a certain direction. Or, there is self-protecting disagreement when a pastor brings out a passage of Scripture meant to instruct a brother or sister in Christ against wrong and towards right.

Well, you get the point.

Paul wrote:

Philippians 1:9–11 (NAS): 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;
11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s prayer is that the believers of Philippi, believers who are going a good direction and are receiving praise from the apostle to the Gentiles, are encouraged to grow in their love. To that end, he prays for them.

But, notice: love must include discernment. The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (Kittel, Friedrich, Grand Rapids; Eerdmans, 1964, Logos electronic edition, αἰσθάνομαι, vol.1, p.188.), writes that the word carries the idea of “(that) which constitute the psychological point at which moral decisions becomes actual.” There is a point at which the shot has to be fired, so to speak. The timing of the shot is decided upon by the “organ of the soul” that is discernment.

The other uses of the word include: the Septuagint in Proverbs 1:7 for wisdom; Luke 9:45 for the ignorance of the disciples; Hebrews 5:14 for the inability of the spiritually immature to tell the difference between solid food and spiritual milk.

For a Christian to reject the exercise (literally, “gymnastics” of Hebrews 5:14) of the faculty of discernment is for the Christian to remain a child-undiscerning, tending towards foolish decisions, and little-to-no sense of right and wrong (or, as the OT puts it, “(the unbelieving Ninevites) don’t know the difference between their right and left hand…” Jonah 4:11). This kind of mind that is simple, non-discerning, giving validity to any kind of emotion, behavior, or ideaology, is a mind that is like a child and like an unbeliever who remains in darkness and can’t see for lack of light.

May I encourage you? Don’t resent discernment and those who impose that kind of thing on you. Receive the verdicts and wise counsel of those who have had their senses trained by the Word of God enough to know, very acutely, the distinction between right and wrong.

They Shut You Out

Paul’s writing to the Galatian church, or churches, is a substantial piece of rhetoric that is almost unmatched, except by the letter to the Romans. The argument against keeping Mosaic Law and for submitting to the grace of God is magnificent and foundational. This particular letter has in it the most condensed and substantial teaching concerning these things found anywhere.

One particularly helpful passage in this letter is the two-passage section in chapter 4. The reason it is helpful is because it sheds light upon the reason why it is so dangerous to give any attention to the ramblings of false teachers.

Paul wrote:

17 They eagerly seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will seek them.
18 But it is good always to be eagerly sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you.

Notice what he says. The Jewish religious leaders, who were part of the church in Jerusalem but came up to Galatia in order to contradict Paul, were “seeking” the Galatian believers. That is, they were approaching these people and beginning to influence their thinking and understanding of Paul, the gospel, and Jesus Christ Himself.

Why did they do this? What was their motive? Paul tells us what their motive was. These false brethren (2:4) entered into the church by means of false brethren in the church and were wishing to draw the disciples away by means of false teaching because they were attempting to “shut [them] out.”

What does that mean? It means that by teaching these believers false doctrine, they will be “shut out” from the true doctrine and, further, shut out from Pau’s leadership and teaching. In that way, these evil imposters can adhere disciples to themselves and put a feather in their cap.

This is evil. Pure evil.

This is why Paul said that he did not yield even and “hour” to these men.

Galatians 2:5 But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.

The effect of these kinds of men is that they not only start filling your mind with error incrementally, but they, by means of subtly challenging the truth, begin to alienate you from the truth and those to teach it. Do not entertain them for even a moment.

Read, listen to, study, the Word of God and stick close to those who teach it accurately. That will ensure you know the truth, and that you will be able to serve God faithfully until His Son, Jesus Christ, comes for you from heaven.

What Is The Measure of a Man?

This will be short. What is the measure of a man? The measure of a man, Christian or not, is Christ Himself. All that Jesus Christ did in His life and ministry, not to mention all that occurred because of His death, is the display of what a true man is. He was the Man, Christ Jesus. This is a statement of His humanity, but it was also a statement of his heart.

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

1 Timothy 2:5

He’s a Man. When you examine His words, His actions and reactions, His behavior, His feelings, to both men and women, young and old, what you see, if you live long enough to complete your examination, is a true Man. He is not masculine if your view of masculinity is an insensitive, uncaring, dunce who simply is clueless about the world around him because of his self-absorption. He is masculine if your view of masculinity is a Man who pleased the Father in every word and action.

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