Parents and Children

Children: Parents Blessings, not Burdens

Children are drops of innocence to blessed parents!

Children are drops of innocence to blessed parents!

The difference is palpable—and tragic. Watch a visiting family with two young children enter a church building and the response you witness is overwhelming. People go out of their way (literally) to meet these new visitors and share with them what their congregation has to offer children.

But consider for a moment the response to a family who has more than five children. The response is not as overwhelming. In fact, they are is often viewed as odd, irresponsible, not financially wise, lower class, or socially ignorant. More often than not, Christians steer very clear of extremely large families. After all, society has successfully convinced us that “two” is the magic number for children.

Even from the pulpit we hear a preacher joking about “narrow escape” of he and his wife thinking they might be pregnant. The fact of the matter is, this is not a joking subject. How sad is it to hear a preacher teach a powerful lesson on children and the home only to realize that his actions are teaching a totally different lesson? I have listened firsthand to a preacher give counsel about the “wisdom” of only having one or two children—and that anything more than that is “foolish.” This same preacher would then mount the pulpit and preach a tear-jerking lesson on Psalm 127 and children. While his voice spoke one message, his life and his actions spoke an entirely different message.

There are some Christians who need to really re-evaluate their view of children in the light of God’s Word.

Here’s what I intend on teaching my children about the blessings of children.

Not a morning passes by in our house when your mom and I are not thankful for the sounds of little feet and tender young voices. We feel incredibly blessed by God to have children, and we pray that you will be able to experience the same joys of parenthood.

I’m not exactly sure of the precise date of when children went from being considered a blessing to being considered baggage, but unfortunately I have witnessed it countless times. Parents oftentimes view the existence of their children as competition for their own personal desires and wishes. At some point along the way, parents began to value prosperity more than posterity.  I hope that you will boldly reject society’s view  of children. Never look upon children as a burden or an expense. Sure, we need to be financially responsible—but children are not a tally mark we put under the “expense” column.

Sadly, some parents today do not even like their children. The responsibility for rearing these children is given to anyone and everyone—except their own parents (see Deuteronomy 6:4-9—a passage directed toward parents). In some homes, children are treated as just another piece of property, a commodity, or a showpiece to be trotted out when guests visit. Parents have forgotten that they are responsible to return the souls of their children to God, and that every soul is precious (Matthew 16:24-26).

Every time you see a child’s face, I hope that the first thought that enters your mind will be “a blessing from God.” The inspired psalmist observed, “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward” (Psalm 127:3). It then continues by saying, “Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them.” When you see a family enter a church building with many children, I hope you will remind yourself and that mother how blessed she truly is. Solomon wrote, “Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father” (Proverbs 17:6). I’m looking forward to that crown!

While I don’t know God’s plan for each one of you, I do pray you enjoy parenthood— whether it be you physically having children or adopting little ones into your family. I wish for you a full quiver so that you too can experience the love, joys, and happiness that you have brought your mother and me.

Love,

Dad

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Moses, Marriage & Divorce

Did Moses give the rules for divorce without God’s authority or did God give this authority?

Easy divorce enables weak commitment in marriage.

Easy divorce enables weak commitment in marriage.

We read in Deuteronomy 24:1, “When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.” The simple answer to this question is that when God gave Moses the rules for divorce under the Law of Moses, it was authorized by God at that time and for those people. The question, no doubt, arose in the questioner’s mind as a result of studying Matthew 19:7, 8 . In this passage the Pharisees were questioning Jesus regarding marriage and divorce. After Jesus clearly taught that man has no right to sever what God has joined together (Matthew 19:6), the Pharisees ask, “Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?” Jesus replied, “He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” The questioner asked whether what Moses wrote was authorized by God, and it was. However, what was authorized under the Old Law was not always necessarily that which pleased God.

Under the Old Covenant and prior to the Law of Christ, there is a fine distinction to be made between that which God authorizes and that which is satisfying or pleasing to God. For example, under the Old Law, God authorized animal sacrifices. However, from the New Testament we read, “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure” (Hebrews 10:6). While animal sacrifices were authorized by God, these sacrifices did not please God in respect to sin. They could not take away the sin of man. What was the sacrifice that was made with which God was satisfied in this respect? It was the sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 10:12-14). So while God authorized animal sacrifices for a time, they were not the final authority in dealing with sin. The sacrifice of Jesus is the final authority in dealing with sin. So, under the Old Law, God authorized some things that were not pleasing to Him. But why did He do that? Why would God authorize something that was not pleasing to Him?

We read in Acts 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.” We also read in Acts 14:16 “Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.” Why would God allow the people of the past to be ignorant? Why would he allow them to “walk in their own ways?” Well, I am not sure that I understand everything that is involved in this, but part of the answer is that God had not completely revealed His will to man. The Old Law that was revealed was a shadow of that which was to come; it was, therefore, incomplete in that it could not make the worshipper perfect (Hebrews 10:1). In Romans 16:25, Paul said that the full revelation of God’s will was kept secret since the world began until the time of the gospel. In 1 Peter 1:10-12 we read that even the Old Testament prophets and the angels didn’t understand what the plan of God was in the past. However, it has now been revealed to us. So due to the incompleteness of the revelation of God’s will to man, God tolerated some practices, and even authorized some, with which He was not completely and fully satisfied. Among such practices was the writing of divorcement under the Old Law. Another such practice was the marrying of multiple wives which even pre-dates the Old Law. Another such practice would be the siring of children by your dead brother’s wife (Deut.25:5). Such things God tolerated, and even authorized, but we must not mistake this for something that is necessarily pleasing to God. They were allowances made by God due to the ignorance and hard heartedness in which man was in prior to the gospel.

Today, we have the gospel and all men are under the authority of Christ. John 17:2 says that God has given Christ authority over all flesh. Matthew 28:18 says that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. We can be assured that today the authority under which we act is pleasing to God because it was purchased by the perfect sacrifice of Christ and made perfect by His blood. God no longer tolerates these practices as He once did under the Old Law and prior to the Old Law. Acts 17:30 says that all men are now commanded to repent. We must then submit ourselves to the authority of Christ by which we will be judged (John 12:48). Today, Christ’s law regarding marriage and divorce is simple. This law goes back to the foundations of marriage as God originally intended it to be as exemplified by Adam and Eve in Genesis 2. This pattern is, one man, one woman, for life and the only exception given is when one spouse commits fornication and then the innocent party may remarry. This is exactly what Jesus states in Matthew 19:9 and it is what we, as Christians–followers of Christ, must respect as well.

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Temptation, Modesty, & the Church

Modesty? When the Church Building Becomes a Place of Temptation

He pulled into the church parking lot with a big smile on his face, looking forward to worshipping with his Christian family. Minutes after his alarm clock went off he began singing familiar hymns and was still singing as he pulled into the church parking lot. But as he placed his car in “park” his smile took a downward turn. Instantly, he realized today would not be the joyful worship he had been anticipating.

It was just a curve. But, oh that curve…

She had no way of knowing the parking place she selected would force her to walk right beside his car on her way into the church building. She also did not realize that her selection of tight jeans earlier that morning would spawn an internal battle in the mind of a Christian man who longed to be faithful. As he placed his car in park, he looked up just in time to have his entire field of vision filled with a sensual sight of this young lady’s thighs. Oh, her legs were covered with fabric, but the fabric was so tight that it might as well have been non-existent. He couldn’t take his eyes away from those form-fitting curves.

She had no idea of the war that was raging in this man—in fact, she didn’t even notice him sitting in his car as she walked by. As she strolled past his window the battle in his mind escalated and he found himself glancing up in his rearview mirror to catch a glance of her backside. Again, those tight fitting jeans hid nothing. He watched her walk all the way into the building while his mind raged—the hymns he sang only minutes earlier had long been forgotten. Now his mind could only concentrate on those curves.

The young lady had no idea that on this particular day she would cause a similar internal battle in over 25 males, aged 11-87, all of whom had gathered to worship and honor God. She never realized that some of the men in the congregation had purposefully selected a pew or angled themselves with a clear line of sight to her backside. Or did she? She didn’t realize that 2-3 of the men sitting behind her would later go home and feed their porn addiction while substituting mental images of her for the actress on the screen. Did she have any inkling that she was being devoured in the minds of men who were supposed to be worshipping God? Did she care? Or did she realize that other men were forced to stare awkwardly at the floor as they waged war on the temptation.   

Had this young lady known the thoughts that were going through the minds of some of the men in the auditorium, surely she would have never put those jeans on. But tight/skinny jeans are in style, and her friends have reassured her she looks really good in them. After all, it is not like she’s showing off a bunch of skin right? How could jeans be immodest?!

I realize the above scenario is horrifying and maybe even repulsive to some who are reading this, but Christians it is way past time we address the reality of the situation.  We have a problem in the church! This year alone I have had several men share similar “battles” they have experienced in their church buildings. (The example above, while fictitious, was based on conversations I have had with Christian men.) Week after week we have men, who instead of worshiping God, find themselves internally wrestling lust and temptation. It’s time we address specifics without fear—motivated by love, honest concern for souls, and the desire to help others move toward being more Christ-like. Our congregations should be places where women are dressed not to impress or to look sensual, but rather to glorify God.

This is a call to fathers to lead their daughters, and a call for mothers to set a proper example. Fathers you are essential in cultivating an atmosphere of modesty both in your home, but also in the church building. It is way past time for fathers to take responsibility for their daughter’s clothing. After all, you are the spiritual leader. Fathers, don’t you care enough to protect your daughter from the lustful eyes of all the men who are devouring her in their minds on a daily basis? But the responsibility does not just rest on the parents.

Isn’t it time we raise our daughters to joyfully submit to their father and mother and choose to dress modestly for the glory of God? Daughters, what is more important to you, catching the eye of some young man or catching the eye of God? The reality is many of our children fear wearing the wrong label on their backside more than they fear the Lord. This is an indictment on the home and the church today.

I share this information not to shame or “judge” anyone. Instead, this information is shared so that fathers will step up and protect their daughters. I share this information so that hearts will be convicted and turned back to God. I share this information so that congregations will take healthy steps to address modesty. I share this information so that preachers and elders will discuss it with their congregations. I share this information so that humble women who have witnessed immodest dress in other Christian sisters will have the courage to actually reach out with love and compassion for their souls. (Stop avoiding it and stop excusing yourself—be a true Christian sister! Modesty should be the responsibility of the entire church family.) Paul wrote, “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control (1 Timothy 2:9, ESV). And finally, I share this information so that our Christian light will not be diminished and the Gospel will not be tainted.

There are many areas of immodesty that need to be addressed in the church. I have purposefully decided to focus on just one subject—tight jeans/leggings—in hopes that maybe these words will cause someone to truly consider the battle that is raging in the minds of men, and prayerfully reconsider their jeans. They go by many names—skinny jeans, stovepipes, pencil pants, gas pipes, etc. And while the fashion statement of tight jeans is most often made by younger ladies, its not uncommon to see these extremely tight pants/leggings on mothers (and grandmothers). Does anyone honestly believe tight jeans are glorifying to God?

The problem with skinny jeans does not begin at the mall, but rather it begins in the heart. Many will argue that they can’t find loose fitting jeans or that stores no longer sell that style. Again, before we address that point we should examine the heart. Is this a submissive heart that honestly wants to please the Lord? Modesty starts with attitude and then moves on to appearance. Once we have the proper attitude then finding proper clothing becomes much easier. If you search for clothing either online or in a mall with the attitude that you will not give up until you find something pleasing to God then chances are very high that you will find modest pants.

For those who currently wear tight jeans, here are a couple of questions to consider: First, ask yourself why you wear tight jeans—and be honest. (And please don’t say comfort, because I’ve never known anyone who puts on tight jeans to lounge around the house when they are by themselves.) Also, do you think it is Christ-like to wear sensual clothing to worship (or anywhere else for that matter)? Do you honestly think clothes that look “painted on” are modest? Are you aware that your selection of tight jeans/leggings causes men (young and old alike) to lust? Are you aware that your clothing may cause men to have trouble worshipping Almighty God?

If your jeans are accentuating the curves of your body then you need to reconsider what you are wearing. If boys can tell what type of cell phone is in your back pocket because your jeans are so tight, then you might need to reconsider what you are wearing. If you find yourself hopping around like a madman on one foot while trying to get your jeans pulled down over your knees when you change clothes, then it might be time to reconsider.

I realize many females will read this article and have someone else in mind. I plead with you to also go into your closet and honestly evaluate your wardrobe. Others will get angry or upset with me focusing this article on a piece of their wardrobe they wear on a regular basis. They will call me judgmental or instead look down on me as perverted. To these individuals I pray God will soften your hearts. All I’m asking is that you honestly consider your Christian brothers (and God) when you go into your closet to select your clothing.

Young ladies (and older ladies too!), I could spend hours detailing what tight jeans do to the neurochemistry of males—and how the battle in the mind mentioned above is a very real battle. Or we could talk about the “mental pictures” that many men take while staring at an immodestly dressed woman—images that will later be called up in lustful fantasies. But at the end of the day it comes down to whom do we love more—Christ or the world? What I pray you will see is that modesty is not about your clothes. It’s about drawing closer to Christ. It’s about reflecting Him through our actions, speech, and dress so that others will be drawn to Him—not ourselves. It’s about loving God more than loving the latest New York fashion trends. Because once you get the right attitude, your appearance will soon follow.

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Blessed by an Awesome God

Our God is an Awesome God

God's awesome power demonstrates how we are blessed.

God’s awesome power demonstrates how we are blessed.

Far too often we fail to realize just how blessed we are and how awesome and wonderful God really is to us. In Psalm 66:16 the writer pens, “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul.” Why is it that we do not hear many Christians loudly and proudly proclaiming what God has done for them in this life? Is it perhaps because we haven’t truly given ourselves over to his will so that we could truly experience how awesome God really is? If any of us would truly obey God, and live faithfully in him, we would sing his praises and humble ourselves before Him every day of our lives.

Paul proudly exclaims, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). It is important to remember here that the spiritual blessings of God are reserved for those who are “in Christ.” While God blesses all men physically, and gives all me the opportunity to hear, know, and obey his word (1 Timothy 2:4; Acts 17:30), only the faithful obedient Christ can receive and understand the great spiritual blessings that are reserved for his children. So again, why are more Christians extolling the wonderful gifts of God.

How has God blessed you today? Has he given you a place to belong (Ephesians 2:19–22)? A peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)? A divine and holy purpose (Matthew 5:13–16)? A hope that those who are apart from Christ don’t know (Colossians 1:23; Ephesians 2:12)? Rest from the burdened conscience of sin (Matthew 11:28–30)? Joy (1 John 1:4)? Salvation (1 John 1:9)?

If God has blessed you spiritually, because of your obedience and faithfulness to him, then live joyful lives that exalt his awesomeness with your lives and with your lips. Thank him and live thankful, faithful lives. If you cannot praise his name because you haven’t yet experienced his loving-kindness, or you have left the table of your father, then please obey him today. Repent of your sins, confess his name, be buried with Christ in baptism. Or confess your sins and turn if you are an unfaithful Christian. Our awesome God will make it worth your while!

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AD 70 The End of the World?

AD 70 The End of the World?

The AD 70 Doctrine corrupts scripture and harms souls.

The AD 70 Doctrine corrupts scripture and harms souls.

With the coming of the AD 70 doctrine, there has been a considerable amount of confusion and heresy associated with the teachings of scripture regarding the end of the world.     The 70 AD doctrine basically holds to the belief that Jesus returned in AD 70 and judged the world at that time.  This belief entirely depends on the redefinition of words and their meaning within scripture.

The first and foremost issue which must be dealt with regarding this belief is that scripture which was written before 70 AD emphatically states that the present Christian age at the time is the last one.  In 1 John 2:18, the inspired apostle wrote regarding the then present dispensation, “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”  The Hebrew writer wrote in Hebrews 1:2, “…Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds“.  Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:20, “…Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you“.  Other references to this can be found in 2 Timothy 3:1, 1 Peter 1:5, 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 18.  Taken as a whole, these scriptures teach that there is only one Christian age and they were presently in it.  This age was referred to the “last time” or the “last days”.  There is not a single scripture when taken in context and understood without redefining the terms that support more than one Christian age.  The AD 70 doctrine teaches that there are two Christian ages, or Christian times, or Christian days.  It teaches a pre AD 70 Christian age and a post AD 70 Christian age.

The day of the Lord, the end of the age, the last day, the end of the world and the close of this present age are terms that refer to the same event as seen in the passages of this study.

The Earth and the Material Heavens Shall Be Destroyed

Psalms 102:25-26
25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.
26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:

Isaiah 34:4
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.

Isaiah 51:6
“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.”

In Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33, Jesus declared:
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Hebrews 1:10-11
10 “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment”

2 Peter 3:10-12
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

Revelation 20:11
“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.”

All of these verses speak to the entire earth with the heavens being destroyed.  The inspired record used word like Perish, dissolved, pass away, fled away and burned up.  Proponents of the AD70 theory claim that the entire earth and everything in the universe/heavens passed away in AD70 with the destruction of Jerusalem.  The problem with is that the destruction of Jerusalem was a localized event while the inspired language of the scriptures related to this topic speak of a universal event.  If this were true, one would have to ask why we still have so much archeological evidence of civilizations predating AD 70?  If the earth and all that in it is were destroyed, then why do we still have this evidence with us?   In order to make their doctrine fit, they must change the meaning of the text.  In other words, the earth and the heavens in these contexts don’t really mean the earth and the heavens.

The earth and the heavens were not destroyed at the destruction of Jerusalem.  Not only do we still have archaeological evidence of earth’s existence prior to AD 70, there is not one word in the writings of Christians after AD 70 which supports the idea that Christ’s second coming happened in AD 70.  There is no evidence from history which supports such an event.  One would have to think that if Christ did indeed return in AD 70 there would be some evidence of that in the historical writings of Christians living after that event.

The resurrection of the dead is said to happen with the destruction of the heavens and the earth.

In scripture the end of the earth and the resurrection and judgment of all mankind is said to happen at the same time.

MATTHEW 13:40-50: Here Jesus declares that both the righteous and the wicked will be together until the end when the wicked will be separated from the just.

JOHN 6:39,40,44,54: According to Jesus the resurrection will be on the last day.

JOHN 5:28,29: Here Jesus says that ALL who are in the grave shall come forth, some to the resurrection of life and some to the resurrection of judgment. There are still people in their graves.  There are still people who have not been judged.

MATTHEW 25:31-46: When Jesus returns all the nations will be before Him and He will separate the just and the unjust. The unjust will be sent into eternal punishment and the just to eternal life. We see the same happening in Revelation 20:11-15. All the nations of the earth were not gathered at the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

The universal resurrection of the just and the unjust, the judgment of all nations and the destruction of the heavens and the earth are all things that happen with one single event.

The Lord’s Supper was commanded to continue until Christ came again.

1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.”  Christians were commanded to show the Lord’s death through the Lord’s supper until he comes again.  This implies that the Observance of the Lord’s supper would cease upon Christ’s return.  This certainly works in perfectly with the idea of the end of the heavens and earth and the resurrection of the dead occurring at the same time.  Why would Christians today be any less obligated to remember the Lord’s death than Christians living before AD 70?

Justin Martyr, a Jewish historian that lived from 110 – 165 AD wrote of the Christians partaking of the Lord’s supper:  “Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability”.  One must ask, if the Lord’s supper was to end at the second coming of Christ, then why do we have evidence of Christians partaking of this after AD 70?  Paul said to do it till Christ came, so if Christ came in AD 70, why are Christians living after AD 70 still observing the Lord’s supper?

There are only two advents of Christ mentioned in scripture.

HEBREWS 9:25-28: Here we see the two advents of Christ; He came the first time to die for our sins, and when he comes again it will be to bring salvation to all who wait His return. If He did this in AD70 then what about all the Christians living since then who are waiting?  What are they waiting for?

LUKE 19:11-27: In this parable we see again His two appearances. He came the first time to give gifts and instructions to His servants, then He leaves to receive ‘kingly’ authority. When He returns it will be to reward and punish. Compare Daniel 7:13,14 and Acts 1:9-11.  The rewards and punishment described in these verses are universal in nature.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-58: In these verses and in 1 John 3:2 , we learn that at the resurrection we shall all be changed, in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye … for everything material will be gone. What we shall be like has not yet been revealed, but we do learn that flesh and blood can have no part in the Christian’s final victory over death!! We shall be like HIM!!

There are people who have not been changed.  There are things which have not been revealed.  There are people still in their graves.  The heavens and earth are still here.  All nations have not been judged.  Christians still partake of the Lord’s supper.  all of these things mentioned are inseparably connected with the second coming of Christ.  All of these things which are said to happen when Christ comes again have not happened.  The only logical conclusion that can be reached is that Christ has not come again to judge the nations, destroy the heavens and the earth and take the faithful home to heaven.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN CHRIST DOES RETURN?

Suddenly, and without warning, the Lord will descend from heaven with His angels and the dead and the living will rise to meet Him in the air, their bodies transformed. The present material creation will be destroyed by fire, replaced by a new heaven and earth of a spiritual nature. All nations will appear before Him. There will be a separation between those who loved truth and followed in the light of Christ’s message and example, and between those who rebelled and rejected His words of love and mercy. Those who hid themselves behind the sacrifice of Christ will live eternally with the Lord and the redeemed. The rebellious and impenitent, along with Satan and his followers, will go into the lake of fire, the second death.

 

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