Pierce My Ear

Pierce My Ear

In Exodus 19 we read about the preparations made before Moses goes up to Mt. Sinai to receive to Ten Commandments. In chapter 20 the commandments and in chapter 21 we have some explicit ordinances commanded by God. Particularly, in 21:1–11 there are restrictions given about owning a Hebrew male slave. No one could own a Hebrew male slave for more than six years. At the end of the six years the slave was to be set free, including his wife and children. But only if he was already married and had children prior to his servitude. If the master gave the slave a wife during his service, the wife and any children born to the union belonged to the master. At the end of his six-year service he had a decision to make. He could leave and be a free man without his wife and children, or he could choose to remain a servant, keep his wife and children, and serve the master for the rest of his life. “‘I love my master, my wife and my children; I will not go out as a free man,’ then his master shall bring him to God, then he shall bring him to the door or the doorpost. And his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him permanently” (Exodus 21:5–6).

As Americans we like the idea of freedom, yet we often take our freedom for granted. Many Christians likewise take their freedom in Christ for granted or fail to understand the what true freedom is because we like to attach to it our own definitions and concepts. We are to be permeant slaves for Christ (Romans 6:17). We were once slaves to sin but Jesus bought us and we are to have had our ear (heart) pierced in eternal devotion to Him. Romans 6:18 says, “and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of right-eousness.” We make a choice, we can either become a slave to righteousness or a slave to sin.

The law of Moses was not about vengeance, but justice. God protects the helpless, provides for the needy, and blesses the righteous. He gave the children of Israel a pattern to follow in all things. He too gives us a pat-tern and a law. Indeed, if we love the Master, and our families, we will allow Him to pierce our ear, and we will serve Him forever (21:5–6). Be faithful!

Posted in Tim Dooley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Pierce My Ear

Transgender Ideology

Do We Have the Guts to Flush The President’s Bathroom Policy and Actually Sacrifice?

Is America willing to put its children at risk for Transgender Ideology?

Is America willing to put its children at risk for Transgender Ideology?

Two weeks ago, box-store retailer Target announced a transgender bathroom policy that caused many concerned Americans to boycott the store. Husbands spoke out about privacy and safety concerns for their wives and children after Target announced individuals would be allowed in whatever bathroom they “identified” with. Over 1.2 million people have already signed the American Family Association’s petition to boycott the stores. Target’s dangerous decision is coming with a high price. According to Breitbart news the store has lost $4.5 billion in value since they instigated their new policy and sales continue to go down (http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/05/12/target-ceo-says-reaction-bathroom-policy-just-like-first-used-blacks-ads-2/).

When I first reported on this story I pointed out the lunacy of this policy, given the small number of people who identify as transgender today. According to 2011 findings from the Williams Institute, the transgender population represents about 0.3% of American adults. To put this number in perspective consider that since the Social Security Administration started in 1936, only 135,367 people have changed their name to one of the opposite gender, and in those 80 years, only 30,006 changed their sex accordingly. (Bear in mind the population in America is currently sitting around 318 million.) If one calculates the number of Target shoppers and stores, then on average each store averages about 1.5 transgender people visiting each store per day! And yet, this retailer is making bathroom policies that threaten the safety of the overwhelming majority.

Logic reveals this is a dangerous policy and it makes sense to boycott an institution that elevates an ideology over the safety of women and young girls. After all, money is the one common language that everyone speaks.

Now enter the President of the United States—who has, in effect, decreed the same policy is now in effect for every public school bathroom in our nation (see http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-administration-directs-public-schools-on-transgender-bathroom-rights-1463112023). Acting on his own, the President sent out a letter to every public school (yes, even yours!) that was endorsed by the Department of Education and Department of Justice decrying that bathrooms be open to all, in order to prevent any type of “discrimination.” In other words, the President just advanced Target’s bathroom policy to every public school in the nation. According to the report in the Wall Street Journal,

Public schools must permit transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their chosen gender identity, according to an Obama administration directive issued amid a court fight between the federal government and North Carolina.

The guidance from leaders at the departments of Education and Justice says public schools are obligated to treat transgender students in a way that matches their gender identity, even if their education records or identity documents indicate a different sex (see http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-administration-directs-public-schools-on-transgender-bathroom-rights-1463112023).

Have we lost all ability to reason? What happened to common sense? For that matter, what happened to the way in which we pass laws in our country? Furthermore, is the president more worried about his ideology than he is the welfare of young people?

Earlier this year the American College of Pediatricians went on record to call transgender ideology “child abuse.” The ACP warned educators and legislators that “a life of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex” is dangerous for children (see http://www.acpeds.org/the-college-speaks/position-statements/gender-ideology-harms-children). In their strongly worded statement they continued by declaring, “a person’s belief that he or she is something they are not is, at best, a sign of confused thinking.” It describes such thinking as problem that exists in the mind and not the body and “it should be treated as such.”

Add to this that suicide represents the third leading cause of death in young people—and yet researchers have shown suicide increases among transgenders who are using cross-sex hormones or undergo sexual reassignment surgery “twenty times greater” than the rest of the population. The American College of Pediatricians concluded, “Conditioning children into believing a lifetime of chemical and surgical impersonation of the opposite sex is normal and healthful is child abuse” (emp. added).

And yet, our president is threatening school systems if they don’t support this ideology and his new bathroom policy. This new decree—made in the late night hours without any input from Congress—is not law, but the President is making it clear that those who do not abide may lose federal funding.

If you honestly think this will be the last assault on decency and common-sense in our school systems think again. There is already a movement underway to get rid of pronouns like “he” and “she” in public schools because they are deemed discriminatory.

Our current society no longer wants little boys to be told they are boys. And we certainly don’t want our little girls to act like little girls. No, everyone has to be looked upon as “equal”—even though this is a biological fallacy and utterly ridiculous.

So one wonders, will Christians once again step up and boycott? Will Christian parents march to schools and demand they get rid of this dangerous policy? Will we continue to allow superintendents and principals to hide behind the excuse that their hands are tied? Will we collectively say we have had enough? While millions chose to boycott Target, I suspect many Christian parents will continue to send their children to public schools. After all, consider for a moment the sacrifice it would require to pull our children out. Boycotting schools would require parents look into some alternative like private schools, church schools, or home schools. (And let’s be honest, many Christian parents are unwilling to sacrifice things like sports, band, theater, and art in order to make a statement to the world that we will no longer support dangerous bathroom policies.)

Far too many Christians believe they can live certain parts of their lives “neutral” to the concept of God. Sure, we will keep God in a worship service, but during the week—at school or at work—we will put Him in a little box out of sight and remain neutral. After all, we don’t want to ruffle any feathers. Friends, the very act of trying to be neutral is antithetical to all that Jesus died for. When will Christians set aside their neutrality and truly make sacrifices for Him? When will we stand up and let the voice of God be heard across our nation?

When God called Abraham to leave his home country Abraham was not sure what the end result would be. He was a man who made a huge sacrifice to follow God (see Genesis 12). Rather than offering up excuses Abraham did as God commanded. We saw this same attitude in Noah as he was preparing the ark (Genesis 6:22). Likewise, when Jesus came to this earth for mankind He sacrificed everything—all to reconcile man to God. The Bible is replete with people who made sacrifices—major sacrifices—in order to follow after God.

Fast forward to 2016, when the President of our country is espousing that biology has nothing to do with a person’s gender and that people ought to have the right to marry whoever they want or go to whatever bathroom they want. Some would argue that boycotting schools would not work. However, let me remind you that our children represent dollars to every school system. According to a June 29, 2015 study, America spends over $550 billion a year on public elementary and secondary education in the United States. On average, school districts spend $10,658 for each individual student. Imagine the impact that could be made if next fall 2-3 million young people did not show up for class.

The problem is many parents have comfortably donned a pair of blinders and they see no other option. They are unwilling to consider or do “the hard things.” Instead, they continue to complain about the problems of evolution, atheism, humanism, and Islam being taught in the classroom—only to continue to allow their children to be indoctrinated.

Logic reveals Target’s policy is dangerous and deserves to be boycotted. Logic also demands a similar approach be considered for public schools that adopt this dangerous policy that elevates an ideology over the safety of women and young girls. One wonders if this new bathroom policy will finally cause Christians to engage in the battle for the souls of their children and grandchildren? One wonders if we will find the courage to boycott this immoral decision. One wonders when we will start sacrificing? One wonders what it will take to turn our nation back?

Posted in Brad Harrub | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Transgender Ideology

Heaven in the Assembly

In the “Foyer” of Heaven While in the Assembly

Last week, we studied the words of Solomon who described himself as “…on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation” (Prov. 5:14). What caused this? Because he hated instruction, despised correction, chose disobedience and refused to listen.  Every Christian needs to be aware of how this could happen to them in the assembly.

On the other hand, in that same assembly of Christians, there are those who understand that in so many respects the assembly of the saints is like entering the foyer of heaven. A foyer is a space near the entrance of a building, hotel or theater. We are not yet in heaven but are in the adjoining foyer!

Worship is a “foyer” because of the praise and adoration of God. Almost every picture of heaven shows it is filled with praise and adoration.  Hundreds of years before Jesus came, Isaiah saw heavenly beings above the throne praising God and saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isa. 6:3), and in the last book of the Bible those words are still being said (Rev. 4:8).

The same book then looks at all the creation, and John hears the voices of myriads of angels praising God. He then says, “And every creature which is in heaven and in the earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea…” were all praising our Lord (Rev. 5:12-13). The same happens in our assemblies! Being in worship is like being in heaven’s “foyer.”

Worship is a “foyer” because of the association with the saints. Since the beginning there have been godly people, sanctified by the blood of Jesus, who will be in heaven. Imagine being around all those who have loved God with all their being and loved their neighbors as they loved themselves. That is who is in that heavenly assembly, and that is the nature of many who worship with us every week. We associate with the godliest people on earth, with whom we will worship eternally with all the godly people who have ever lived. Worship is truly a “foyer” of heaven.

Worship is a “foyer” because of the association with our Lord. Someday, we will be with the Lord forever and ever, but that association with Him begins on this earth. In the assembly, we pray in His name, give our gifts to Him, listen to Him speak, eat around His table and sing with Him (John 16:24; 2 Cor. 9:7; 1 Thess. 2:13; Matt. 26:29; Heb. 2:12). The association does not begin after the resurrection. It is here now—in the “foyer” of heaven!

Our attitude of heart in the assembly determines whether we, like Solomon, are on the verge of ruin in the assembly or are sitting in the “foyer” of heaven while we are experiencing that which we sing about, “Blessed assurance…Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!” It’s up to us.

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged | Comments Off on Heaven in the Assembly

COMUNION ¿CON TODOS?

COMUNION ¿CON TODOS?

La palabra comunión tiene un sentido profundo en el Nuevo Testamento, es utilizada explícitamente unas 20 ocaciones, aunque hay más referencias a el mismo concepto de una manera implícita. Es trascendentalmente importante definir la palabra comunión para saber exactamente con que estamos tratando y como debe ser empleada.

“Koinonos”; tener en común, es en comunión con, estar asociado con alguien en algo.

“Koinonos”; tener en común, es en comunión con, estar asociado con alguien en algo.

W.E Vine define la palabra comunión de la siguiente manera: tener algo en común(koinos),compartir con alguien en todo, ser participe, tener una union y disfrutarla etc… La otra definición que presenta Vine es del abjetivo, “Koinonos”; tener en común, es en comunión con, estar asociado con alguien en algo.  El explica que este abjetivo es usado en 1Corintios 10:20 “…y no quiero que vosotros os hagáis participes con los demonios”. El asunto de la comunión es muy importante para todos pero más importante es comprenderlo desde la lupa de Dios, así que le invitamos a considerar:

CORRIENDO POR LA CUERDA FLOJA

  Al igual que correr por una cuerda floja a 90 metros de altura, resultará en una inevitable caída, sucede lo mismo con la asociación con falsos maestros o hermanos con doctrinas diferentes.  La comunión de la que habla la Biblia y por la que oró Cristo en Juan 17 no es con todos. Amigo mío Cristo NO oró porque sus discípulos tuvieran comunión y fueran uno en mente y espíritu con el mundo. El oró para que sus discípulos fueran uno entre sí. Triste y dolorosamente hay hermanos que actúan en la otra dirección y no existe en ellos ni el más mínimo respeto por lo que la palabra de Dios enseña. Dios no quiere que nosotros nos asociemos para tener “Koinonia” (comunión) con hermanos o gente que practican y enseñan falsa doctrina ( 2Cor 6:14-18; Rom 16:17; Gal 1:8-9; Filip 1:28; 2Timo 3:7-10; Tito 3:10; 2 Juan 8-10, etc), esto es lo que Dios piensa e interesantemente algunos rechazan la instrucción de Dios bajo la cobija rota de, hay que “ayudar y amar solamente, trabajar por la unidad de todos”. La ayuda que se le puede dar a un falso maestro es la de mostrarle su error de una manera muy paciente pero si por muchos años no ha cambiado y al contrario ha empeorado la pregunta es ¿Cual ayuda? Dios dijo que hay que alejarse de estas personas. Tarde o temprano eso nos pasará la factura, no es asunto de odio para con otros al contrario es asunto de amor eterno, amor a la única verdad dada una sola vez a los santos(Judas 3).

DOCTRINA VRS OPINION 

Me parece que es muy apropiado mencionar el hecho que algunos no han aprendido en lo absoluto a dividir lo que es opinión de Doctrina. Podemos en estar en desacuerdo con asuntos como el que color se debe pintar el edificio de la Iglesia, si hacemos los escaños de madera o de mármol, si cantamos con himnarios o de memoria  pero en cosas en las que Dios fue ya especifico NO podemos “jugarnosla”. El usar instrumentos de música en la adoración, el incluir payasos en los sermones o sustituir una enseñanza de la palabra de Dios por una obra de teatro, el colocar mujeres en un tipo de liderazgo  o incluso incluirlas en la dirección de la adoración a Dios, dentro o fuera del domingo, la presentación de bebés, el tomar la cena del Señor cualquier otro día o incluso la ofrenda, aparte del día domingo… y la lista sigue y sigue , en esto no podemos estar divididos. Dios ha sido especifico en sus instrucciones, la Iglesia debe adorar en base a esas instrucciones, hacer algo diferente es desobedecer y quienes lo han hecho así pero deciden transitar por la nueva ruta del cambio han apostatado de la fe. El hermano William Woodson magnifico predicador del evangelio comenta lo siguiente sobre este tema:

    “Quienes enseñan y predican deben estar comprometidos de alma y corazón en el entendimiento correcto y la presentación de esos grandes pensamientos de Dios conocidos como doctrina. Bendita sea cualquier iglesia cuya membresía ha sido enseñada y entrenada en apreciar tal entendimiento de la doctrina revelada en la Escritura. Una iglesia que no ha visto sino muy poco de semejante majestad es vulnerable en su médula. Grandes multitudes y magníficos cantos, sermones de “entretenimiento” y “dramas religiosos”, contribuciones generosas, etc., no pueden ocupar el lugar del conocimiento de la verdad.” (William Woodson, Espada Espiritual, Crisis en el púlpito V40 N.1 Octubre de 2008; Memphis TN)

Aborrezco “hacer cambios” sólo por el mero hecho de hacer cambios. Esto no es de ahora. Hace más de cuarenta años que algunos hablaban de que “tenemos mucha competencia con el entretenimiento allá afuera”. Esto de tener tres cantos, una oración y un sermón o clase bíblica es demasiado aburrido. ¡Hay que hacerlo más interesante para competir con el mundo y las sectas! ¡Nada nuevo! Los judíos querían un rey para ser como los demás. Y, ¿qué pasó? Hermanos que últimamente han salido de las sectas y ven a estos hemanos dicen, “Éstos van de donde yo vine”.Y, tienen razón. Dónde están las “Biblias ambulantes”, como antes nos decían los sectarios? Hoy entre nosotros las palabras de Isaías son ciertísimas, “Por tanto, mi pueblo fue llevado cautivo, porque no tuvo conocimiento” (Isaías 5:13). También Oseas: “Mi pueblo fue destruido porque le faltó conocimiento” (4: 6). Rotundamente la comunión de la que habla la Biblia es una comunión selectiva hacer algo contrario sería contradecir a la Biblia y por ende a Dios.  Me asusta el hecho de que algunos sobreponen la unidad por encima de la doctrina de Cristo. Recuerde debemos separar lo que es opinión de la doctrina, y la verdad de Dios no se vende ni cambia por nada ni por nadie (Proverbios 23:23).

PROPOSITO

Al terminar de leer 2 Juan 9-10 “…Porque el que le dice ¡bienvenido! participa de sus malas obras…”  nos queda bien en claro el porqué Dios desea que nos alejemos de hermanos que no andan conforme a doctrina de los apóstoles. Desde el Antiguo Testamento aprendemos que los transgresores de la ley debían pagar sus culpas fuera del campamento la intención siempre fue enseñarnos la limpieza y la pureza. La Iglesia de Cristo deberá usar de pureza (Efe 5:27) y de obediencia para poder agradar a Dios (Hebreos 11:7). El Señor, juntamente con sus discípulos, ya habían amonestado sobre los malos obreros (Mateo 7:15; Hechos 20:29-30; Romanos 16:17; 1 Timoteo 1:19-20; 6: 2-3; 2 Timoteo 2: 16-19; 2 Pedro 2:1- 3). Estos son hombres que asaltaron la doctrina inmutable de Dios. Pues, así como lo hubo en aquel entonces, hoy día, de la misma manera, éstos existen. Así que, no nos queda más que estar firmes y contender ardientemente (1 Corintios 16:13; Judas 3).

Definitivamente no Debemos permitir que la Unidad sea confundida con la unión. Necesitamos desarrollar una unidad de pensamiento en el acuerdo con la palabra de Dios. La unidad del Espíritu demanda que logremos el ser uno en todas las cosas en que el Espíritu es el autor. Tanto como cualquier otro hermano el apóstol Pablo enseñó y deseó paz y amor entre los hermanos. Pero no a toda costa de la verdad y lo que es correcto. Hay un gran deseo por la unidad, que aplaudimos; no obstante, la unidad debe de ser buscada y basada en la enseñanza de la Palabra de Dios.

Pero, ¿qué debemos de hacer en tiempos como estos? Debemos con oración estudiar la palabra de Dios y poner todo lo que está de nuestra parte para seguirla. No hay que preocuparse por la multitud y lo que es popular. Que la verdad sea la meta más importante en nuestra vida. Es la verdad que verdaderamente nos hará libres (Juan 8: 32), únicamente el amor a ella nos llevará al cielo que es el propósito principal.  Que la Biblia sea nuestra guía, nuestro estándar siempre y que Dios nos ayude a respetar estos estándares hasta para determinar, con quién se debe tener comunión.

Posted in Heiner Montealto | Tagged , | Comments Off on COMUNION ¿CON TODOS?

Lord’s Supper, Not Ours

Lord’s Supper, Not Ours

Each week, those called by the gospel into God’s kingdom (1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 2:14) gather together to partake of communion (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 11:23-28).  We do this each Sunday because our Lord, while instituting his Supper, spoke of not partaking of it with his disciples again “until that day” when the kingdom of God comes (Matt. 26:29; Mark 14:25; Luke 22:18; cf. Matt. 18:20; Heb. 2:11-12).  The kingdom – the church (Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 2:12; Rev. 1:4, 6, 9) – came on the day of Pentecost, a Sunday (Acts 2:1-42; Lev. 23:15-16), which is why the early Christians observed communion and gave of their means on that day (Acts 20:7; cf. 1 Cor. 10:16-17; 16:1-2).

The Lord's Supper, is by definition, His, not ours.

The Lord’s Supper, is by definition, His, not ours.

As with anything that is done with regularity, it can be very easy for “familiarity” to “breed contempt” with some, and more likely the thoughtless apathy of neglect with others.  Each Sunday, thousands of Christians will break off a piece of unleavened bread and drink a small amount of fruit of the vine…just like last week.  For some, there is not much time between their sip of the cup and the time when they know the offering plate will be passed around…and so now’s a great time to get that check ready.  Everything’s usually very quiet during this time…what better time to get the kid’s snacks and coloring books ready before the sermon starts?  Plus, that cute baby in the row right in front of you is grinning at you…surely it would be harmless fun for you to play “Peek-a-Boo” with her for a bit before the next prayer!

Most or all of us – myself included – have been guilty of offering to God the meaningless worship which consists of doing what he requires of us in praise to him on the surface while our hearts and minds are thousands of miles away (Matt. 15:7-9).  We need to remember that God requires and is looking for spiritual worship based in truth (John 4:23-24).  Are we really any different from the one who habitually forsakes the assembly (Heb. 10:25) when we are present in body and action but absent in mind and spirit?

For this reason, the abuse of the Lord’s Supper by the church of Corinth (1 Cor. 11:17-33) is a worthy topic for our consideration and study.  Paul’s rhetorical question about them having houses to eat and drink in if they were hungry (vs. 22, 34) implies that they were looking at communion in the same way as they would an ordinary meal, something easy to start doing when partaking of it on a weekly basis.  Thus, they were “digging in” without even waiting for all of their brethren to assemble (vs. 20-21, 33), leaving nothing…save humiliation…for those who came afterwards (v. 22).  In this way there were despising God’s church for which his Son died (v. 22; cf. Acts 20:28) and were not worthy of Paul’s commendation (v. 22).

There was another reason they were despising the church and worship of God, the same reason they had started treating communion like a common meal.  They had forgotten the true purpose and meaning behind it.  This is why God inspired Paul to remind them by talking first of the circumstances surrounding its institution by Christ, that it had begun on the night Christ was betrayed, the night before he died (v. 23).  He then reminded them that the bread represents his body “which is for you”  (v. 24), given to go through the horrendous pain and humiliation of scourging and crucifixion so that we would not have to pay the penalty for our sins (Rom. 5:6-11; 6:23; 1 John 2:1-2).  The cup represents “the new covenant in my blood” (v. 25), the new covenant which does what the first could not: grant us forgiveness of our sins through the blood Christ freely shed on that cross (Heb. 8:7-12; 9:11-15; Eph. 1:7; cf. Acts 22:16; 1 John 1:7-9).

We are to remember these things – all that Christ accomplished for us by his death – when we partake of communion (v. 25).  By doing so, we “proclaim”  the great significance of the Lord’s death until he comes again (v. 26).  Of course, a failure to remember the eternal significance of the Lord’s sacrifice shows that one considers that sacrifice to be “a common thing” (Heb. 10:27), a mindset that leads to willful sin that makes that sacrifice of no benefit to you (Heb. 10:26-31).  This is why God considers those who partake of communion “in an unworthy manner” – i.e., without remembering his death and the significance of it – to be guilty of basically crucifying his Son again (v. 27; cf. Heb. 6:4-6).  This is why we are to examine ourselves when we partake (v. 28; cf. 2 Cor. 13:5), in order to discipline ourselves to put our focus where it needs to be (1 Cor. 9:25-27).

Communion is the Lord’s supper, not ours (v. 20).  Literally, it “belongs to the Lord.”  When we forget that, we forget to discern the sacrifice of his body which that bread represents…and as a result we become spiritually weaker and sicker until God brings the judgment of the second death upon us (vs. 29-30; cf. Rom. 6:23; Rev. 21:8).  We need to be reminded of this, because oftentimes we do not look at what we do the way God does (v. 31; cf. Is. 59:2).  I hope that my comments on these Scriptures will give us the proper discipline and motivation we need in order to no longer neglect the Lord’s Supper so that we will not be among those whom God condemns in the end (v. 32).

Posted in Jon Mitchell | Tagged , | Comments Off on Lord’s Supper, Not Ours