Exact Essentials

Exact Essentials

That which is essential is that which is fundamentally necessary and indispensable. Cereal boxes talk about essential vitamins and minerals. These are things the FDA says are necessary and indispensable for our physical well being. There are other things that are essential as well, such as a drivers license for legal driving, flour in a recipe for pancakes, or a car seat for a new born. Essentials are things that must be.

There are some things on which we must be right!

There are some things on which we must be right!

The charge has been leveled against us “that the Church of Christ is the one and only church in human history that is 100% correct on everything, and everyone single other person, every single other church that has ever existed, is wrong and hellbound.” Such an assertion is misrepresentative and misleading concerning what many churches of Christ truly believe.

Consider first of all that there has never been any mere mortal in human history that has been 100% correct on everything. We can all say with absolute certitude, “I am correct about some things,” however, we would be wrong to say, “I am correct about everything” because some things are beyond our knowledge and hence our ability to be either correct or incorrect. The assertion that the “Church of Christ is 100% correct on everything” is exaggerative and factually incorrect.

On what, then, must we be correct? There are things that are essential and there are things that are optional. In things that God has made essential, we must be right and cannot be wrong. In things that God has made optional, we are allowed to be either right or wrong. So the question becomes: what things has God made essential? This is where the discussion ought to begin. If God tells us something is essential, then it is my obligation to get it right. How does God tell us? He does that in His word, the Bible (2 Timothy 3:15-17). How can I know that what God says is essential? The Scriptures will tell us of its essentiality. A good example is Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.” Repentance is something that is essential. Therefore, we must be correct on that point; we don’t have the prerogative to be wrong.

Second, the churches of Christ today don’t claim to be the only church in human history that is correct. The church that the apostles established in the New Testament was correct. Other churches that have existed throughout the ages have been correct also. So, what is the “beef” that the churches of Christ today have with other churches? It is that many are incorrect in matters that God has made essential. In that regard, failure to be correct is to place one’s soul in jeopardy and because we love our fellow man and want him to be saved, we feel the obligation to warn him regarding his error.

Yes, there are some things on which we must be right! God has told us what is essential and what is optional in His word. Let us read it, study it, learn from it, and know it so that we can be right where we must be right and so that others may know wherein they must be right as well.

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DIVORCIO

DIVORCIO 

Realmente reconocemos la confusión que existe alrededor de este tema o más bien estos 3 temas que se encuentran entrelazados el uno con el otro; matrimonio, divorcio y segundas nupcias. A causa de esa confusión muchos han adoptado posiciones que no tienen el respaldo de la palabra de Dios y como tal es nuestro deseo y nuestra única intención presentar este material para su consideración. Siempre animamos a cada lector u oyente a comparar, a revisar con sus Biblias si nuestra exposición es correcta. Si no lo es, rogamos por favor hacérnoslo saber con la evidencia contundente, pero sí lo es entonces nuestra exhortación a usted es a abandonar cualquier doctrina que esté en una clara contradicción con la Biblia. Jeremías dijo: “¿Acaso se avergüenzan cuando cometen abominaciones? ¡No!, ciertamente de nada se avergüenzan, Ni aun saben ruborizarse. Por tanto caerán entre los que caen, Al tiempo en que Yo los visite, Serán derribados, dice YHVH.” (Jer. 6:15 LBT).

El asunto del divorcio realmente se soluciona tan fácilmente como regresando a Génesis 2.

El asunto del divorcio realmente se soluciona tan fácilmente como regresando a Génesis 2.

ASPECTO LEGAL

Tal y como lo hemos mencionado anteriormente cuando tratamos el asunto del matrimonio, algunas personas quieren hacer una separación entre matrimonio de Dios (por la iglesia) y el civil, con el divorcio sucede lo mismo pero al revés, cientos de individuos creen que pueden divorciarse legalmente y estar bien con Dios hasta volver a contraer nupcias. El aspecto legal del divorcio es algo simple de determinar; la el divorciarse ante la ley o de la manera legal de hecho no constituye un divorcio correcto ante Dios. En este aspecto la parte legal esta en segundo plano y esta regla aplica a todos sean o no cristianos.

CUASA O ¿CAUSAS?

El asunto del divorcio realmente se soluciona tan fácilmente como regresando a Génesis 2. Dios creó un hombre para una mujer para toda la vida. Realmente esto es lo que originalmente estaba en la mente de Dios desde el inicio para el hombre. Cristo lo afirma con autoridad en Mateo 19:4-6 en el matrimonio la pareja pasa a ser una sola carne y así unidos para toda la vida excepto por causa de fornicación. Es decir cuando una parte le es infiel a la otra parte entonces ahí sí puede ocurrir un divorcio Bíblico en conformidad al versículo 9 mientras que la parte agravada queda libre para volverse a casar. Así de claro así de fácil. Varias nuevas versiones en inglés han causado más confusión para aquellos que están buscando razones ajenas a las que dio el Señor. ESV traduce en vez de “fornicación”, “inmoralidad sexual”.  En español algunas versiones han hecho un pésimo trabajo en la traducción de este versículo, por ejemplo: TAC( Traducción al leguaje actual) “pecado sexual”, BDHH( Dios habla hoy) traduce “unión ilegal”, NVI (Nueva versión internacional) “infidelidad conyugal”, aunque quizá estos términos se asemejan al concepto o la idea principal ,la palabra en el original griego es πορνείᾳ= porneia= fornicación. De acuerdo a Vine él dice que este pecado incluye adulterio y lo define como; intercambio sexual ilícito. Bueno y ¿ y cual es la diferencia?.  El pecado de la fornicación de la que menciona Jesús en el Mateo 19:9 siendo la única causa de divorcio, amigo “porneia” implica contacto sexual y el problema grave con las traducciones modernas es que abren la puerta donde la Biblia  NO lo hace. Por ejemplo suponga usted que una pareja decide divorciase porque el esposo fue sorprendido mientras miraba pornografia, eso es un su definición correcta “inmoralidad sexual, pecado sexual”…etc y ciertamente lo es pero NO ES la causa por la cual Cristo autorizó el divorcio. A esto puede sumarse maltrato físico o asuntos menores tal como que la esposa no cocina bien o que el esposo deja los zapatos tirados por toda sala todo el tiempo por tanto …. ¡DIVORCIO!. Absolutamente no es correcto ante Dios, el fue claro en acentuar una causa y se llama fornicación. Ahora bien que no está correcto, ciertamente no lo está pero hay otros pasos a seguir sin llegar a la disolución de la unión. Hay un pasaje que me gustaría mencionarlo en este escrito que está dando problemas de interpretación a muchos predicadores e incluso han llegado a pensar y enseñar que este pasaje enseña una segunda causa de divorcio veamos:

1Corintios 7:10-11 “Y a los que se han casado, ordeno, no yo, sino el Señor, que la mujer no se separe del marido; 11. y si llega a separarse, que permanezca sin casarse o se reconcilie con el marido; y al marido, que no abandone a la mujer.” (LBT énfasis nuestro añadido). Observe por favor las dos palabras subrayadas, mi pregunta es: Sí el pasaje se está refiriendo a divorcio (separase) ¿Entonces porque dice al final que se reconcilie con su marido? desearía escuchar una buena explicación de aquellos que abogan por el “privilegio paulino” del uso de la palabra marido en el mismo contexto. El hermano Roy H. Lanier Sr. excelente predicador del pasado dice lo siguiente sobre este pasaje: 

“Pablo nunca violó, ni añadió a la enseñanza de Jesús acerca del divorcio y segundas nupcias entonces él nunca cedió la licencia de casarse de nuevo fuera de la fornicación o la muerte de la otra parte.” ( Espada espiritual Vol 6, Num 2. Enero 1975, matrimonio-divorcio-segundas nupcias, pg 34.)

En el pasaje Pablo está tratando de la unión entre un cristiano y un no cristiano, y el dice que el hermano o hermana no está sujeto  a servidumbre (dedoulotai) de la raíz  de “esclavo”. No está el hermano o la hermana en la obligación de servir como esclavo pero no está disolviendo la idea del matrimonio , por eso dice reconciliase con su marido. El hermano Roy C. Deaver primer director de la escuela de predicación Brown Trail  señala lo siguiente: 

“No existe ninguna otra causa para el divorcio más que la que Cristo señaló, sí eso es el caso entonces la Bíblica contiene una contracción ya que el dijo “excepto” este imperativo saca y elimina automáticamente todas las demás causas dejándonos una y solo una… a saber fornicación.” ( ibid. pg 14)

Tambien el hermano Willie Alvarenga puntualiza lo siguiente para este pasaje, note:

            En este pasaje el apóstol Pablo esta discutiendo un caso en el cual el cristiano es forzado a dejar a Cristo por que el no cristiano se lo esta pidiendo. Si este es el caso, el cristiano tiene una responsabilidad de permanecer fiel al Señor. El cristiano no debe de separarse, pero si no hay más solución al problema, entonces el cristiano debe dejar que el no cristiano se separe. Pero, nuevamente, si el no cristiano se separa, ambos tienen la responsabilidad de no casarse, basado en la enseñanza de los versos 10-11. Cristo enseñó muy claramente que la única razón por la cual las personas pueden divorciarse y el inocente volver a casarse es por motivo de fornicación y no otra razón. Pablo no esta enseñando algo diferente a lo que Jesús enseñó. Pablo tampoco esta contradiciendo lo que Jesús presentó en Mateo 19:9.

             Muchos argumentan que Pablo esta dando otra razón por la cual la persona puede divorciarse y volver a casarse. Llegar a la conclusión de que Pablo esta enseñando esto es enseñar algo para lo cual no hay apoyo bíblico. No debe de haber conflicto entre estas dos enseñanzas.

         Algunos argumentan que la palabra “obligados” (douloo) denota que la esposa no esta obligada a seguir con su esposo y que esto significa que la relación de matrimonio se ha acabado y que ambos pueden volver a casarse. Este no es el significado. Esta interpretación no esta apoyada por la palabra “obligados”. Esta palabra básicamente denota que el hermano o la hermana no son esclavos del no creyente. El tiempo presente pasivo en esta palabra 31“obligados” denota que el hermano o la hermana nunca han estado ni estarán obligados o en esclavitud al no creyente. La relación del matrimonio no es considerada una esclavitud. Por lo tanto, el apóstol Pablo no esta proveyendo otra razón (el privilegio paulino) por la cual la persona puede divorciarse y volver a casarse. Tenga mucho cuidado de que nadie lo engañe en creer algo diferente a lo que nuestro Señor Jesucristo enseñó en Mateo 19:9. Muchos vendrán y tratarán de engañarlo y confundirlo en cuanto a este tema, sin embargo, tenga mucho cuidado de no caer en su confusión. 

Definitivamente deja asolada la falsa idea de una segunda causa, que tanto afirman algunos de nuestros hermanos, y varias de nuestras escuelas e institutos. Es el mismo caso con Romanos 7, en el contexto de ese capitulo Pablo está lidiando con el asunto de la ley y que ésta ya no está en vigencia desde la muerte de Cristo (Rom 10:4). Y así pueden haber muchos otros pasajes pero la clave es Mateo 19:9 y concluimos con tal declaración: la única causa de divorcio es la fornicación. Necesitamos con urgencia respetar la autoridad del Señor (Mateo 28:18-20) y no intentar pasar por encima a su enseñanza únicamente para justificar en algunos y muchos casos el apetito sexual que es el problema de todo. Dios no pensó en el divorcio en el inicio, nosotros tampoco deberíamos. 

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The Command of Love

How Great is Your Love

We hear a lot about the greatest command. We sing about it, pray about it, preach about it, but it seems that few Christians really practice it. Selfishness, envy, pride, arrogance, anger, hatred, vengeance, laziness, and indifference abound…sadly, even in the Lord’s church!

Do you show the commands of God in your life?

Do you show the commands of God in your life?

Paul warns those who have been grafted into the vine to not be high minded and think that they can’t also be removed (Romans 11). The Spirit also reminds us that we need to not think of our-selves more highly than we ought to think, but to be living sacrifices. This takes a transformation of our minds from worldliness to godliness (Romans 12:1–3).

Paul wanted all men to be saved and if that meant he would be lost so they all would be saved, then so be it (Romans 9:3). Shouldn’t we love each other that much? Thanks be to God that he loved us that much! Thanks be to God that Christ paid the price for our sins so that all could be saved. What a sobering thought to behold “the goodness and severity of God” (Romans 11:22).

Let each of us love good, hate evil, be kind, be busy, be joyful, be patient, pray, give, be hospitable, bless, and overcome evil with good. Humble yourself and be a servant to God and others, no matter who they are! Being a Christian and going to heaven is not a passive pursuit. Be active, be loving, and be faithful!

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Why Sheep Leave the Fold

Why Sheep Leave the Fold

God’s people were destined for the Babylonian captivity, and the prophet Ezekiel continually reminded them of the consequences of all they were doing. In Ezekiel 34, he shows why some sheep leave the fold.

Why do some sheep leave the fold of the shepherd.

Why do some sheep leave the fold of the shepherd.

Many people think of the twenty-third psalm as the “Shepherd’s psalm.” There is another chapter we could rightly think of as the “shepherds’ chapter.” Ezekiel 34:1-6 addresses the responsibility of Israel’s shepherds—if I were an elder I would read this chapter every month—but it helps us all see why some Christians (sheep) leave the church (fold).

Some sheep leave the fold because they are sick. The cause of the sickness is not given, but people leave the Lord because of personal problems which makes it so hard to grow spiritually. It can so easily happen to new Christians, but it also impacts those who have been in the church for years. That’s the nature of sin. It brings sickness and ends with death.

Some leave the fold because they are broken. This is much like those who leave because of sickness, but the word “broken” may indicate a more sudden onset of the “sickness.” Jesus described the seed on the stony ground as the person who “…hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet…when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles” (Matt. 13:20-21). Sin is powerful, and it can easily break the spirit of any of us.

Some leave the fold because they are driven away. Every sheep in His flock has a responsibility toward every other sheep. It is so tragic when older Christians’ words and actions actually drive people away from the church. Ezekiel described them as those who “…have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns and scattered them abroad” (34:21). While thinking their actions are justified, many Christians come under the judgment of Christ who said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea” (Mark 9:42).

Some leave because they love goats. While this is not specifically mentioned by Ezekiel, this truth is shown simply by seeing the attraction sin has to those who have returned to the sinful world after their salvation (2 Pet. 2:20). Paul speaks of how evil companions (goats) corrupt the godly. Some are not willing to seek new friends in His fold.

Each of us has a God-given responsibility to the rest of us. Whenever you see a brother or sister beginning to stumble, you cannot sit idly by and watch it happen. We have the great Shepherd who leads us and watches over us, but we must each feel a personal obligation to all of those in His fold.

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Evolution vs. Black Lives Matter

Evolution vs. Black Lives Matter

What does it take to pull the trigger and shoot fellow human beings? Physically, pulling the trigger requires only about 5 pounds of pressure. That is the easy part. A few hours at a shooting range can train someone how to sight a gun, pull the trigger, and reload. But what about the mental training needed to shoot someone? What type of mental training is required to reach the point where you view a total stranger as the “enemy” just because of his/her skin color or ethnic background? Obviously, hate, racism, and prejudice play an important role. But where does this training come from?

God created man such that all lives matter.

God created man such that all lives matter.

While I was greatly troubled with the recent shooting of police officers in Dallas, I can honestly say I was not all that surprised. We’ve been mentally training young people racism for decades through the teaching of Charles Darwin. It should not be a surprise to anyone that we are now reaping the fruits of this godless theory.

To all the politicians posturing over every gunshot—you can’t have it both ways. You can’t legislate that we must teach the godless theory of evolution and then turn around and decry the evil of racism. Evolution is the foundation for that racism—and yet politicians demand we teach it in the classroom. You also can’t get behind a podium and say black lives or police lives matter while demanding we remove God from every classroom or town square. Without God life has no meaning or purpose! Plainly put, the evolution you legislated in the 1960s is responsible for what we are seeing in the streets of Dallas today.

Charles Darwin referred to black people as “savages.” He described this term as an intermediate state between people and apes. He used the word savages many times in his second book The Descent of Man. Darwin clearly believed the “negro” race was closer to apes than Caucasians. He believed white Europeans to be intellectually superior to Africans. He believed the “negros” in the African bush were living closer to apes and this “similarity” proved his beloved evolutionary theory.

Charles Darwin wrote, “At some future period not very distant as measured by centuries, the civilised races of man will almost certainly exterminate and replace the savage races throughout the world. At the same time the anthropomorphous apes…will no doubt be exterminated. The break between man and his nearest Allies will then be wider, for it will intervene between man in a more civilised state, as we may hope, even than the Caucasian, and some ape as low as the baboon, instead of as now between the Negro or Australian and the gorilla” (The Descent of Man, 1874, p. 178).

If the evolutionary theory of “survival of the fittest” is correct, then the animals living today are “the fittest.” In essence, this godless theory teaches we get better over time. Now apply this theory to mankind. According to evolutionists, mankind evolved out of Africa and eventually migrated to Europe and Asia. And yet, how does every single form of media portray early “Neanderthal” like creature? Has National Geographic ever depicted an “early man” or ape-like creature with fair skin? The common theory being taught in classrooms today is that dark skinned people evolved out of Africa and eventually gave rise to fair skinned populations in Europe and Asia. A cursory glance will quickly reveal that early man is always depicted with dark skin. Mankind supposedly got “fitter” and lost that color. Allegedly, Caucasians evolved from the Negroid race—thus, fair skinned people are allegedly a more evolved, and thus, superior race.

On college campuses all across this country Charles Darwin’s infamous Origin of Species has become a staple of required reading. But how many people are aware of the full title of Charles Darwin’s book? While new editions have deleted the subtitle, Darwin’s original work was titled: The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection—or The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life.

Evolutionist Thomas Huxley, Darwin’s famous “bulldog” observed:

No rational man, cognizant of the facts, believes that the average Negro is the equal, still less the superior, of the white man. And if this be true, it is simply incredible that, when all his disabilities are removed, and our prognathous relative has a fair field and no favor, as well as no oppressor, he will be able to compete successfully with his bigger-brained and smaller-jawed rival, in a contest which is to be carried out on by thoughts and not by bites  (Lay Sermans, Addresses and Reviews, New York:  Appleton, 1871, p. 20).

More than fifty years after Darwin released The Origin of Species, Henry Fairfield Osborn remarked:

The Negroid stock is even more ancient than the Caucasian and Mongolian, as may be proved by an examination not only of the brain, of the hair, of the bodily characters…. The standard of intelligence of the average Negro is similar to that of the eleven-year-old youth of the species Homo sapiens (“The Evolution of the Human Races,” Natural History, 1980, April 89:129; reprinted from Natural History, 1926).

While modern day Darwinians would argue that this belief reflects an ancient philosophy, the tenets remain steadfast today. Consider a book released in 2004, titled Race: The Reality of Human Differences, in which the authors categorized people according to race, thereby reinforcing the contemporary ideas of racial hierarchy. There can be no doubt, public schools are teaching our children that there is a dark skinned inferior race, as well as a fair skinned superior race. By mandating evolution in the classroom, we are reinforcing the ideals of racism in the hearts and minds of young people.

Ask yourself: Why do black lives matter? More to the point, why do any lives matter? If we are here just as the result of some cosmological accident then why do any lives matter? The reality is that God gives your life meaning. Without God there is no purpose or meaning to life. Evolution boldly removes God from the classroom and teaches instead, “We are the fortunate mistakes of countless biochemical morons. They say that is evolution. It is humbling but somehow comforting” (Discover, 2006, March, pg. 31). At the end of the day evolution does not support “Black Lives Matter.” This theory is all about survival of the fittest.

Friends, there are those who desire we become angry and more divided when gunshots ring out. However, followers of Christ must “think no evil” and remind our friends and neighbors that the Bible teaches there is only one race—the human race. God created mankind in His image and in His likeness. We were the pinnacle of His creative activities. The Bible clearly states that all of the lineage of humanity came through one woman, Eve. She is defined as the “mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20).

But we must do more than that. We must also start demonstrating this “one race” concept through our actions. While congregations would argue that they are not racist, the fact remains most congregations remain segregated. While we preach about diversity and everyone having a special role in the body of Christ, we do not promote or celebrate diversity—because for many it is not comfortable. Pulpits herald messages about loving all people, but dark hallways echo the sounds of racial slurs and jokes. We use terms like “brothers and sisters in the faith,” but many treat individuals of different color like “step-families.”

How many times have conversations been started in which a Christians says, “I’m not racist, but…” But what?! How many times have “faithful Christians” of one color uttered hateful generalizations against people of a different color? Do we secretly believe (or hope) that there will be a heaven for each individual race? As sad as it is, I think an honest evaluation of the church reveals we are still struggling with race relations. I am afraid many have forgotten that God is the Creator of Jews and Gentiles. Christ is the Savior of blacks and whites. If we are going to purify the hearts of our children and grandchildren we need to stop playing the blame game and start actively teaching them the biblical perspective that there really is only one race. Soberly ask yourself: If your child could marry a very faithful Christian of a different color or a very rich non-Christian of the same color which would you prefer? Yes, there might be some added difficulties in rearing “mixed” children in a society that does not truly embrace diversity. But ultimately which is more important—making it to heaven or buying a beautiful earthly haven?

Yes, black lives matter. And police lives matter. And white lives matter. And all people matter because we were all made in the image of God.

In 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I have a dream” speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in our nation’s capital. Thanks to his non-violent approach and his gift for oration, King—along with hundreds of others—led this country toward the American Civil Rights Movement and away from racism and desegregation. It’s time to put away the guns. It’s time to see souls instead of color. It’s time to stop teaching racism through evolution. And it’s time to bring God back into our classrooms and country!

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