My Singing is Not Worship

My Singing Is Not Worship

Christians readily identify with assembling on the first day of the week to worship their God and remember their Savior.  Additionally, familiarity exists for Christians partaking of the Lord’s Supper, giving, praying, hearing preaching, and singing each Sunday.  Few Christians would reject the notion that these practices represent the worship of faithful followers of Christ from today all the way back to the first century with the establishment of the Church.  Throughout the centuries, Christians strove to obey the commands of God regarding worship.  Sadly, the Church also saw its fair share of false teachers, skewed doctrine, and rebellious members over the years. Yet it was not until the 1800’s that wide spread abuses began to assault Christian worship practices.  Today, even churches considered the most “conservative” find themselves letting unauthorized worship practices into their assemblies.  The name on a building’s sign, perhaps once trusted, cannot be trusted any longer to represent proper worship practices inside.  Though it may be argued otherwise, it seems the worship activity of singing stands most abused.  What did God authorize for the Churches in regard to singing in its assemblies?  What specific type of music can be utilized in relation to God?  Do these standards only apply to the first day of the week assembly or do they apply any time music normally associated with God is sung?  For instance, what about V.B.S., WinterFest, L.T.C., Bible camp, youth devotions, “Christian” music on the car radio, at home on the piano, or just anywhere?  What does God expect when it comes to singing and what about those who say “My singing is not worship unless I intend it to be, so I can do whatever I want with songs normally associated with God.”  Elderships, congregations, and individual Christians should be answering these questions with the full authority of scripture before potentially risking their souls and the souls of others with an improper course of action.

What, When, and Where Worship?

A moment should be taken to clearly identify what “worship” means.  Worship displays itself in the honor, reverence, or respect given to a specific target.  Historically, man chose to direct worship toward all sort of animate and inanimate objects, real and imagined, in addition to or excluding Jehovah, the one and only God of all that exists (Isaiah 44).  The Bible provides guidelines for proper worship in John 4:24 stating: “God is Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  Summarily, this verse establishes: a defined target for properly worshiping God (God Himself), an intent to worship Him (spirit), and a pattern of worshiping Him (truth – found in His Word – John 17:17).  Thus, the concept of no worship unless there is intent seems to hold firm.  However, this does not provide a clear framework or answer for determining how singing songs associated with God should be treated whether in or out of worship.  It also does not determine whether or not such songs have authorization to be separated from worship (reverence to God).  Before moving away from a look at worship, one other aspect must be examined.  When does worship occur?  Is the act of purposely showing reverence to God, as He has prescribed, limited to a specific time or location?  Consider prayer in this query.  Prayer for the Christian aims itself at a very specific target – God! (Matthew 6:6-13)  Scripture is very specific about how we approach God.  God must be treated as Holy (I Peter 1:16 – “Be Ye Holy; for I am Holy.)  Seeing a target, an intent, and a pattern for prayer, when and where does it occur?  Paul answers this question in I Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing”.  Worshiping God can occur at anytime and anywhere and this is born out in the practice of prayer (Mat. 26:36, Mk. 1:35, Lk. 5:16, Lk. 18:10, Acts 4:31, Acts 10:30, Acts 16:25…).  Worship is not limited to a specific location or a specific time.

What is the Standard of Authority for Examining Singing?

Turn now your attention to the issue of singing songs associated with God and to the objective of singing without intent to worship.  The analysis of singing will be done with the authority of God’s eternal principles and that of the Law of Christ as seen in the New Testament.  Practices recorded in the Old Testament, which occurred with and without authority under the Law of Moses, will not be considered as that law was nailed to the cross and never had authority (nor was intended to have) over Christians and the Church of our Lord (Jeremiah 31:31, Hebrews 8:10-13, Colossians 2:13-14).

What Do Christians Sing?

Christian songs as seen in the New Testament take three forms: psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16).  Psalms are odes to God as seen in the book of Psalms and a few other books.  Hymns are songs from the mind of man with themes made to praise God or educate man about God.  Indeed, many psalms could be classified as hymns as well.  Hymns also include all songs created today which are associated with God.  Examples would include:  “Jesus Loves Me”, “I’ll Fly Away”, “Sing to Me of Heaven”, “The B.I.B.L.E”, “Hilltops of Glory”, “Alleluia”, “Love One Another”, “My God is an Awesome God”, and others.  Men often find the third type of songs, spiritual songs, confusing.  Some think of these as deep soul songs, however, Greek definitions provides a very telling understanding.  Research the word “spiritual” (pneumatikos) and the following words will be found: “belonging to the Divine Spirit”, “non-carnal”, and “supernatural”.  In fact, a search for this same word in scripture will demonstrate that it is used exclusively for things not of man, but of God.  What does this mean to us?  Consider that spiritual songs were those given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the first century and not coming from the mind of man.  These were part of the gifts as mentioned in I Corinthians 14.  These were needed along with spiritual teaching and spiritual prayer in the newborn Church because folks did not know these things on their own, nor did they have scriptures to guide them as we do today.  Of course, with the complete revelation of scripture, its confirmation, and its spread throughout the world, gifts ceased as foretold in I Corinthians 13 and Ephesians 4.  Thus, today the Christians sing psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs having ceased.

What is the Purpose of Christian Singing?

In I Corinthians 1:18-21, it is established that the communication by proclamation of the cross (gospel) is what saves.  That proclamation includes verbal and non-verbal communication.  Biblical authority by way of command, example, and necessary inference supports this in at least the following forms: Preaching, teaching, singing, writing, illustration, and sign language.  Recall that all scripture is from God (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Thus, the Ephesians and Colossians passages mentioned previously are God providing man information through the Holy Spirit and spoken and written by man exactly as given.  The context of Ephesians and Colossians lays out what God wants from man.  God gives a command through general authority which summarily says “teach and admonish one another through speech and song, and sing and make melody in your hearts to God.”  There are eleven verses which speak of singing in the New Testament (Matthew 26:30, Mark 14:26, Act 16:25, Romans 15:8-9, 1 Corinthians 14:15, Ephesians 5:19, Colossians 3:16, Hebrews 2:10-12, James 5:13, Revelation 5:8-9, Revelation 14:2-3).  In all of these verses, it is clear singing is done with God being targeted.  Of the 11 verses mentioned, five are specific to New Testament Christian usage (Acts 16, I Cor14, Eph. 5, Col. 3, and James 5).  All of these pertain to Christians communicating in song serving the purpose of edification (building up) of others and self – communication which saves.  In a broad focus it can be said the singing of psalms and hymns by Christians in the Bible served one of two purposes: 1. Worship, 2. Edification.

What are the Guidelines for Singing Psalms and Hymns?

Time: Of great importance to the Christian singing psalms and hymns: when are they authorized sing these songs associated with God?  None of the verses demonstrating or directing Christian singing limit singing to a singular time frame.  The guidelines we gather from the five New Testament passages regarding singing by Christians apply at all times.  Christians can sing when they assemble, when they are alone, in their car, in their home, day or night, and in any location.  Paul and Silas sang at midnight in a prison!

Edification: Romans 14:14-19 states the following:

“I know, and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean of itself: save that to him who accounteth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  For if because of meat thy brother is grieved, thou walkest no longer in love. Destroy not with thy meat him for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.” 

Paul speaks here regarding the issue of eating foods once considered unclean.  It violated the conscience of some to eat that food.  Paul’s conclusion is rather than to destroy someone’s faith, they should only engage in what edifies (builds up).  The application is the same with singing, edification is a guideline that must be followed.  God commands we sing psalms and hymns, but, however it is done, it must be done in a manner which builds up those present.  If there is a concern by another that the manner in which you are engaging in singing is sinful, then you certainly are not edifying and must stop.  Paul would go on to classify such actions as stumbling blocks.

Expedience: I Corinthians 10:23-24 carries the same theme as the above verse in that it requires that Christian actions edify.  But it also requires that they be expedient.  Expedient may be translated “profitable” in your Bible text.  This means, there must be an authorized profit or help from our actions.  If somehow the atmosphere or actions engaged in by Christians surrounding singing are not expedient, then they are also not acceptable.

Understanding: I Corinthians 14:15 establishes that singing must be done with understanding.  That is, the words shared must be communication which will be able to be understood by the hearer either by first hand listening or interpretation. Everyone knows what singing is.  Singing comes from the vocal chords.  A guitar cannot sing.  A piano cannot sing.  A harmonica cannot sing.  In fact, no electronic or mechanical instrument can sing.  What they do is respond to human input and play desired sounds.  Playing is not singing.  It is an addition to singing.  Additionally, clapping is not singing.  It is the use of percussion similar to a drum.  Christians are never asked by God to play, they are asked to communicate the salvation of God through singing psalms and hymns as seen in the verses mentioned.  This is what Christians have authority to do – sing.  Thus, this is a very important guideline for the communication of psalms and hymns.  Edifying, expedient psalms and hymns may be sung at anytime, but there is no authorization for adding the unintelligible playing of instruments or clash of clapping with them.  This would include at a V.B.S., WinterFest, on the radio, in the car, at your piano in your home, or anywhere else.  Such action is sin and requires repentance.

Bluntly, there are no commands, examples, or necessary inference for worldly usage of psalms and hymns by Christians of the first century in scripture (and therefore no Biblical authority for such usage).  Since, scripture provides all we need for life and Godliness (2 Pet. 1:2-3), if psalms and hymns were allowed for worldly usage it would be established in the Bible.

Does Intent Matter?

Perhaps you have heard, “Outside of Sunday morning assembly, I have no intent to worship when singing psalms and hymns!  I can add what I want to the songs.” or “We aren’t worshipping, we are celebrating!”  Folks who want to add clapping and playing and other innovations to their singing frequently say things like this.  The nature and creation of psalms and hymns is that they are to be directed toward God at all times and are meant to edify Christians as well.  They are set apart for God and directed by God for Christian usage and are thus holy.  Now, someone might ask what the difference is between “psalms and hymns” and “Unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine”.  God created food for man to eat.  Sometimes God has declared the food have additional purposes, such as the Lord’s Supper.  Psalms and hymns were created for offering to God and edification.  They have no other purpose that one which is holy.  Utilizing them for enjoyment, entertainment, celebration for man, and other reasons is to treat what is holy, profanely.  Treating Holy things in a profane manner is sinful.

When God makes something holy, it is not to be profaned.   Consider the following:

  • Moses was told to remove his shoes when he approached holy Ground. (Exodus 3:5).
  • Mount Sinai was Holy when God descended down upon it.  If the people or any beast came into contact with it, profaning it, they were to be put to death.  (Exodus 19:12-13)
  • Nadab and Abihu did not treat the Lord in a sanctified “holy” manner when approaching him.  By not doing what he specifically said, they treated Him profanely.  (Leviticus 10:1-3).
  • Korah and reputable princes of the people rebelled against Moses saying they were Holy before God.  They were commanded to go before the Lord with the censors of God and see what God would do.  God swallowed up their families in the ground and consumed them with fire.  Then God commanded their censors be picked up because those were Holy.  Those men were profane.  (Numbers 16:1-37)
  • Christian communication is to be Holy, not profane by following after Old wives fables or profane babblings. (I Tim. 6:20;  I Tim. 4:7, 2 Peter 3:11)
  • In Hebrews 12:16, Esau is called profane because he profanely treated his Holy birthright, which would set him apart with the responsibility of spiritually leading His family before God.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:17 – “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”  When Christians, set apart and holy to God, step outside of what God has authorized they are acting profanely.

The bottom line application of these scriptures is this: Whether your intent is to use psalms and hymns for worship or not, they are holy.  Treating them in an unauthorized manner and thus in an unholy manner is to profane them and sin.  Just as using the Lord’s Supper in a vain manner by not focusing on Christ is sinful, singing psalms and hymns without God in mind and reverence toward Him is sinful. Clapping out the song B.I.B.L.E., the word of God – sinful!  Playing the “The Old Rugged Cross” on the piano at home – sinful!  Listening to instrumental psalms and hymns on the radio in your car – sinful!  To use the name of God, the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit in song for non-authorized purposes is to use the name of God in vain – This too is sinful! It is vanity and pride to think one can take something holy to God and use it for themselves in an ordinary worldly way.

What Should We Now Know about Singing?

We know in regard to worship with psalms and hymns, it can be done anywhere and at anytime.  The authority for determining how Christians should treat psalms and hymns in a proper manner comes from God’s eternal principles and the Covenant of Christ as found in the New Testament.  Christians today sing psalms and hymns, but not spiritual songs as sung in the first century.  The purpose of those songs is worship and edification not worldly applications like entertainment, personal enjoyment, or personal celebration. Psalms and hymns can be sung anywhere and at any time, but must edify, be expedient, and understandable.  There is no authorization to sing Psalms and hymns accompanied by clapping or instruments at anytime whether intending to worship or not.  God has presented psalms and hymns as holy.  Their usage is not to be profaned with common treatment in any setting and to do so is sinful.  Psalms and hymns must always be treated reverently.

How is your congregational leadership handling these issues?  How are you handling these issues in your family when they have arisen?  If you are engaged in them, more is needed then just stopping the activity.  Repentance requires seeking forgiveness from God.  If this is something you or the congregation has engaged in publicly, then there needs to be public repentance so all will know not to follow your example causing you to be a stumbling block.  Brothers and sisters, leaders of congregations, let us treat our God and what He has sanctified to Himself as Holy that we might stand before Him in good favor.

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Islam, Pirates, and the Bhagwan

A Christian and a Muslim sit down and talk together. Both state that the other’s religion is a religion of violence. They both challenge one another to “prove it”. The Christian spends about 30 minutes citing news report after news report over the last month chronicling Muslim violence. He then spends another 30 minutes citing verses from the Quran, Muslim clerics, and Sharia law which encourage violence. He then offers to provide videos and books from former Muslim’s and historians about the atrocities formerly and currently committed by the authority of Islam. The Christian then turns the discussion over to the Muslim. The Muslim visibly agitated says something about “immoral, arrogant infidels”. Then going all out in his defense of Islam, he reaches back to the Middle Ages to say the Crusades are proof that Christianity is a religion of violence.

Matthew 10:16 – Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

The words from the Biblical Book of Mathew are those from Jesus Christ as he sent his disciples out to share the truths of God. Jesus knew there were many entities which would desire to cause harm to his disciples. Therefore, the disciples were to be wise about the dangers present and simultaneously offer up no harm to any. This encouragement is characteristic of the teaching of the gospel for all Christians. Christians are certainly in a “battle” for the minds and souls of mankind, however, the conflict is engaged on the field of reasoning with words (I Corinthians 1:21), not of war by weapons (John 18:36). The result allows all men the choice to refuse the Christian banner without physical consequence from the followers of Christ. Any individuals past, present, or future who would employ teachings encouraging Christians to engage in physical harm to others to increase the kingdom of Christ are false teachers indeed (Galatians 1:6-10). A clear example of such false teaching would be the Roman Catholic Papal encouragement resulting in the Crusades which had no authorization in scripture at all. Of course, when a discussion of Christian violence comes up, this is the prime example given. Consider the time of the Crusades was when the scriptures were not widely available to the common man. If teachings were distorted, a man had little ammunition for which to refute the falseness. They were easily deceived. Today, it is hard for anyone to point a finger at Christianity and say it is violent. People know better. Every once in a while a cult will pop up with outlandish actions saying it has some sort of tie to Christianity, but when this happens Christians denounce the actions wholeheartedly. Trying to establish Christianity as a religion of violence laughably falls on its face with a lack of evidence.

The objectives of Islam are, on the other hand, quite related to physical conquest. With Islam, religion and government are not separate, but one. Thus, as Islam spreads in a country, its ultimate goal is to take power of the country in complete. This type of mentality was present in Islam from the beginning. The man Mohammed was a pedophile bandit who spread his religion through fear and violence attempting to gain power in any manner possible. The same techniques are employed by his followers today as they work to bring all “infidels” under Sharia law. These attempts around the world have resulted in violence and war. There are many apologists for Islam attempting to call it a religion of peace, yet the facts speak for themselves. A quick view at national/international news confirms the dangers of Islam. Nearly every day violence and deaths are reported around the world with regard to Muslim attacks on non-muslims. The link to terrorist attacks and Islam is 100% at the time of this writing. The internet has made it impossible for Islam to hide its violent face under a veil. Video posted across the net catalogues women who have escaped the horrors of Islam and lived to tell the story. They tell of beatings, abuse, and murder. Live videos of multi-thousand man Muslim rallies and marches from around the world demonstrate violence and chants for the deaths of non-Muslims. Informational videos such as The Third Jihad and Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West have chronicled the devastation being brought by Islam.

Despite readily available information, Americans are not proving to be as wise as serpents in regard to Islam. Sadly, this has been the case from the early days of America. America was established as a Christian nation; meaning it was founded upon Christian principles of freedom as given by God, not that it mandated Christianity upon its citizenry. It left Christianity and any other religion as a choice for man to make, just as God has done. America did not try to prohibit religion. However, early in its history, America was attacked by Islam. The Barbary Powers (pirates) attacked American boats and killed and enslaved American citizens over the timeframe of America’s first two presidents. They did so stating it was mandated by their religion, Islam (they weren’t on a public relations mission to declare they were peaceful at the time). Their attacks were despite the paying of tribute and a plea for peace by America to stop such activity. Appeasement did not work. When Thomas Jefferson became president, he returned force against the Islamic aggressors. He did so until the aggression stopped. It took awhile, but America learned an early lesson about Islam. Islam is destructive and operates in the name of conquest. It is violent and deceptive. From that point on, America should have been wise in regard to violent religion and kept it away in order to protect its citizenry.

1 Timothy 4:16 – Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Faithful Christians should have listened to Paul’s words to Timothy as stated above. If they would have done so, they would have been hollering from the rooftops during the 20th century when thousands of Muslim immigrants poured into the borders of the United States. They would have been warning the government and public about the history of America and Islam. However, the government and the Christians were not and have not been wise. Due to inaction, a massive unarmed invasion occurred and has been occurring for decades. These Muslims were following the same religious guide as the Barbary pirates and yet, they poured into the country without hindrance. Today, they have made significant progress in establishing themselves in America. They are a Trojan horse. Muslims number some 8 million people in the United States. Michigan alone has approximately 490,000 Muslim residents. Of these, there are some 350,000 living in the Detroit area. Strongly embedded are the terrorist cells of Hezbollah, al-Qaeda, Hamas, and others. Reaching all levels of society, Islam has even become the dominant religion in America’s prison system. In doing so, a violent religion has enlisted a violent force to its cause. America is in danger and it’s not just on a spiritual front from where that danger is coming.

Why did America let its guard down? (I Corinthians 10:12). Was it arrogance via a sense that America was invincible? Perhaps it was naivety/ignorance thinking that the Muslims had changed? These factors certainly played a roll, but even more so is the role Islamic deception has played (2 Corinthians 11:14). This brings to mind the title of this article and the history shared in the next paragraph. Do you remember the Bhagwan? All was supposed to be peace and love. A foreign hippy group from India dressed in red/orange robes with wooden beads.

In 1981, the Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and some of his followers traveled to America from India. Originally a philosophy professor, the Bhagwan had become a cult leader in his home country. After arriving in America, he made the town of Antelope, Oregon, his home. He purchased a 64,000 acre ranch and set up a commune. Antelope Oregon was a very small town of about 43 registered voters. The Bhagwan and his followers swiftly outnumbered the residents, took control of the city offices via election and renamed Antelope, Rajneeshpuram. Next, they bussed in thousands of homeless people from around the country. They plied them with booze and drugs to keep them under control. Their plan was to seize control of county authority next. They were thwarted by election officials, causing the Bhagwan to ditch the homeless into nearby Madras, Oregon. The Bhagwan and his followers still wanted control. How could they do it? The county residents outnumbered their group of about 7000 individuals. To accomplish such a feat, they would need to find a way to keep voters home on Election Day. In preparation to do so, they orchestrated the first biological weapons attack against America. It was a test run for a larger plan and involved spritzing restaurant salad bars with salmonella. 750 Americans fell ill from the poisoning. By 1985, the government had woken up, the Bhagwan was deported and criminal charges were filed against some of his fleeing disciples. Found upon his compound were chemical labs, stashes of automatic weapons, plans to poison the county water system, a plan to run a plane full of dynamite into a county building (sound familiar?), and more. A violent religion had been stopped.

Like Islam, the Bhagwan was deceptive and dangerous, but America did the right thing. In dealing with both the Barbary Pirates and the Bhagwan, America learned about its enemy and ridded itself of their aggression. The answer to eliminating such threats is alert, persistent, and consistent responses. This is what should have occurred to the modern influx of Muslims to America. Unfortunately, this has not occurred in regard to Islam. Islam was stopped the first time. America was made aware. Then, when the Islamic threat appeared again, America was not alert. It did not engage a persistent removal of Islam from its borders. It did not act in a manner consistent with its knowledge and prior response. Now the problem is going to require dramatic solutions. If not, violence on a much greater scale than the Bhagwan, than even 9/11, is going to result. Americans will be the victims.

If Christianity were a violent religion, this would be a call for Christians to take up arms and repel the invader. However, Christianity is not a violent religion. Christians are not to take up the sword of death. They are to be as harmless as doves. Their job is to work with the sword of life, the Bible, and convert and teach and preach. That is the call to Christians. However, Christians should also call upon their government. A government’s job is different from that of a Christian (Romans 13:1-4). A government is to punish evil. It is a tool of God against those that would harm those seeking good. A government that stands by and puts its citizens in danger from Islam or any other foreign invader is a shame to itself. Do not be deceived by Islam. Look at their history. Look at their present. Read their Quran. Listen to those who have escaped and tell of the terror of beatings, beheadings, and other tortures from Islam. See the fear in their eyes. Be wise as serpents! Do not close your eyes to the threat of Islam. The mistake will do more than just come back to bite you, it will come back to kill you.

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Don’t Touch That!

Don’t Touch That

In the beginning, man was warned not to touch a certain food or disastrous consequences would happen:

Genesis 2:16-17 – And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Man defied God and paid the consequences. Now, some 6000+ years later, man starts each new year warning themselves not touch certain foods or there will be disastrous consequences. Of course, the disaster of increasing one’s waistband is not as serious as the physical and spiritual death which resulted from the first poor choice.

Food choices seem to haunt many and there are many solutions. Some individuals who claim we should follow a pre-flood diet, eating only vegetables. However, as part of the New Covenant in Christ, man was given the blessing of being authorized by God to eat bacon and other meats:

Mark 7:18-19 – And he said to them, “Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) [ESV]

I Timothy 4:3-4 – Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

On another extreme, some instruct others to eat whatever and as much as they want, but to counteract the gluttony with diet pills. Gluttony is not smiled upon in scripture.

Deuteronomy 21:20 – And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.

Proverbs 23:21 – For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Proverbs 28:7 – Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.

Titus 1:12 – One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, idle gluttons.

So gluttony countered by diet pills, this too is doomed to fail. Is there a Biblical solution? Why yes, of course, God has given us all we need to tackle the diet dilemma.

2 Peter 1:2-3 – Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that his divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that called us by his own glory and virtue;

The call to action harkens back to the beginning. Where did Adam and Eve fail? They failed to control their behavior. No one forced them to partake of the forbidden fruit. They made the conscious decision to do something which was detrimental to body and soul. Self control is fruit of the spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.

It is not a miraculous gift, but an attribute of man subjecting himself fully to God. Paul spoke of the need for self control and Felix was afraid.

Acts 24:25 – And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.

A lack of self control is what individuals must fear and correct. Embrace self control now and rejoice in God.

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Don’t Let the Sun Go Down

Don’t Let the Sun Go Down

Everyone’s concept of the perfect day is different. My perfect day would likely involve a whole lot of fish, hiking, sports, good food, a campfire, and board games. The surroundings would be a few select friends, the ocean, and the mountains. It would be warm enough not to need a sweater, but cool enough to be completely comfortable! That is the kind of day which should not end. Let the sun just sit on the horizon and never go down. The truth of the matter is the sun does go down each day. It will continue doing so until God puts an end to it by replacing it with something better.

Elton John sings a song “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”. It is a song about being rejected, having a relationship end. The proper understanding of the phrase “Don’t let the sun go down” is presented. It is a time in which there is an ending of an emotion, activity, relationship, process, etc. The sun must go down on certain things and life is one of them (James 4:14). However, such is not the case with all things. According to Isaiah 40:8, “The word of our God stands forever”. There are certain things which are ordained to end and others which are not; yet these do not cover all possible options. Man has control over certain aspects of his life and whether or not the sun goes down on them. Below six such items are mentioned.

Don’t let the sun go down on your growth
Every person born is given life and time. The times vary, but they are indeed a possession of man. He determines what he will do with the time. To think someone would just sit and let the time pass without expanding their knowledge about their God and the world around them is unfathomable. However, many people come really close to doing so. They sit and practically vegetate waiting for the day of their death. The apostle Peter encouraged the Christians to “Grow in the grace and knowledge” of Christ (2 Peter 3:18), something through which he said “all things pertaining to life and godliness” were known (2 Peter 1:3). The answers to a great number of man’s “why’s” cannot be discovered except through growth. Truly knowing yourself cannot be achieved except through growth. Knowledge of one’s own life and surroundings will point the individual to grow in knowledge of God (Romans 1:18-20). To refuse to grow is to go against one’s own conscience thereby darkening the heart. Most importantly, the knowledge of Christ allows us to grow in respect to our salvation (I Peter 2:2) and it enables to mature and be like Christ (Ephesians 4:15). Such a process does not come overnight, not is it achieved by doing nothing. Growth is a never ending action which the sun should never be allowed to go down upon.

Don’t let the sun go down on your love
With growth, comes love (2 Peter 1:5-7). Love can be manifested properly through devotion for God, others, and self. How can man not love God? He has so generously provided all that we have. He allows us the exhilaration of feeling sand between our toes and to hear the first cry of our newborn children. For those who desire to be his, he provides all that is needed (Matthew 6:33). He even sent his son to earth so all who choose to do so can have eternal life (John 3:16). Love for God should consume man (Matthew 22:37). By the example of Christ’s life, He demonstrated his love for others. It is a love which man is commanded to have (Ephesians 5:25, Matthew 5:44). The characteristic love of a Christian’s life (Galatians 5:22-23) is what enables others to see their love for God (I John 5:2). It allows mankind to know whether or not a person is indeed a Christian (John 13:35). If the sun goes down on the love in a Christian’s life, he is no longer a faithful Christian. A man who loves himself, who cares about his own salvation, cannot put aside love in his life. Love is the essence of being like Christ for God is love (I John 4:8).

Don’t let the sun go down on your service
The saying goes, “It is better to give than to receive”. This describes service. Service blesses the recipient and lifts the server’s heart if done in truth. Man was created to glorify God with good works (Ephesians 2:10, Matthew 5:16). Such deeds are service to the Father in heaven. When we do well, we please Him and fulfill our purpose (Genesis 4:7). True satisfaction can result from serving God through serving others. The knowledge someone is better off or happier through your hand is an intangible gift enabled by God. However, there is a great temptation and encouragement from the world to focus on self rather than others. There are so many different ways we can serve ourselves. Helping others logically seems to take time away from pleasing oneself. Therefore, man is prone to stray from serving others. Yet, accomplished by the logic of man, a life focused on self only result in tragedy not satisfaction. The issue of serving self is a drug which we can never get enough. Only serving self does not please God, it does not help others, and it does not prepare us for eternal blessing (Galatians 6:9). Stay strong and do not let the sun go down on your service.

Don’t let the sun go down on your sobriety
The Christian must always be alert, able to make clear decisions with wisdom (2 Timothy 4:5). When a man fails to be accurately aware of himself, he puts himself in danger (2 Corinthians 13:5). A warrior evaluates his armor and skills because he knows his life is on the line (I Peter 5:8). He looks for weak spots, vulnerabilities. He does not go into battle distracted, but with a clear mind. The Christian is always on the battle ground. The land mines of temptation are set everywhere. Snares and pitfalls are at every turn. There are no safe houses. The church has been infiltrated in many locations and in many ways. Study (2 Timothy 2:15), diligence (2 Peter 3:14), and self control (I Corinthians 9:25) are a necessity. God provides an escape for the traps that arise (I Corinthians 10:13), but they are only recognizable to those who endure in sobriety and do not let it end.

Don’t let the sun go down on your anger
Ephesians 4:26 is a verse which is interpreted in opposition to its text by many individuals. Specifically, the verse tells the Christian to be angry. It then tells the Christian to not let the sun go down on his anger. As in this entire discussion about not letting the sun go down on anything, we are talking about not letting it end. The text of the Ephesians 4 is talking about the Christian walk and staying away from sin. Sin is to be hated. As God, man is to be angry with sin. However, man is not to sin. Sinful anger is destructive (Exodus 5-14), jealous (Genesis 4:8), selfish (Jonah 4:9-11), unkind (I Kings 19:2), and ugly (Acts 7:54-60). One should be angry about sin because it destroys lives. It destroys souls. It keeps man from his eternal home and causes him to forsake the loving God who created him. The sun should never set upon man’s anger toward sin.

Don’t let the sun go down on your hope
Peter and Paul encouraged the Christians to keep hope in the return of Christ in I Peter 1:13 and Titus 2:11-15. If we did not have hope in the return of Christ, what would we have? What would a world without hope look like (I Thessalonians 4:13)? Sorrow, grief, and pain would abound. If it weren’t for the hope in Christ, the fall into pure evil would be drastically accelerated. Hope is what caused Paul to stand before governors and kings. Hope is what brought James to be put to death by the sword at Herod’s command. Hope is what enabled Christian after Christian to look to God as they fell at the hands of Roman persecution. Man is saved by hope (Romans 8:24). He looks to the examples of God’s gracious and faithful hand upon past generations to validate his hope (Romans 15:4). It is through the New Testament Gospel of Christ the world has hope of heaven and seeing the crown of his brothers and sisters standing with him (I Thessalonians 2:19). A man who trusts in God has the hope of resurrection (I Corinthians 15) and eternal life (Titus 1:2, 3:7). Such a hope must not end (Hebrews 6:11).

The sun must not go down on growth, love, service, sobriety, anger, and hope. Man has a duty to engage this choice. These are essential to the heart of Christianity. Christ stated, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father, but through me.” Where there is light, the Son has not gone away. He is coming back to take his sheep home. All the characteristics of those striving to be like Christ are alive and well with him. It is there we shall walk in the light for eternity.

Revelation 21:23 – And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

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Hanged

Judge Isaac Parker hanged 79 men for their crimes against humanity in the years  1875 to 1896.  He was a kind and just judge once stating “in the uncertainty of punishment following crime, lies the weakness of our halting justice.”  In his time as judge he oversaw 9,454 cases “resulting in guilty pleas or convictions” (legendsofamerica.com).  Parker came to be known as the “hanging judge” for the manner in which capital punishment was carried out under his juristiction.

Hanging is thought of by many as hanging a body by the neck from a tree, gallows, or outcropping.  However, hanging has historically also been associated with impalement or crucifixion.  The first hanging read about in the Old Testament was that of Pharaoh’s chief baker in (circa 1800 BC).

Genesis 40:18-22 – And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: the three baskets are three days; within yet three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.  And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants.

The nation of Israel was commanded the practice of hanging by the Law of Moses:

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 – And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree;  his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt surely bury him the same day; for he that is hanged is accursed of God; that thou defile not thy land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

 The hanging of the body was as a sign to others for the individual had already been stoned to death for his crimes.  There are numerous accounts of hanging throughout the Old Testament for crimes and in times of battle. One of the more well known hangings is the hanging of Haman, an officer of King Xerxes of the Persian Empire, who had plotted treachery against the Jews:

Esther 9:24-25 – because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them; but when the matter came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he had devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

  Yet, even more famous than the hanging of Haman was that of Judas Iscariot by his own hand in the New Testament after he had betrayed Jesus:

Matthew 27:5 – And he cast down the pieces of silver into the sanctuary, and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.

The most famous hanging in the world, however, was a hanging by crucifixion.  The individual hanged was Jesus who was not a criminal, though He was hanged, alongside two of them.  He was the innocent lamb of God hung for the sins of mankind as seen in I Corinthians 15 and the following:

John 1:29 – On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!

 I Peter 2:21-24 – For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: who his own self bare our sins in his body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.

Details of His crucifixion were spoken of centuries before they occurred (Psalms 22, Isaiah 53).  Though Jesus was hanged until dead, the most important part of His story is what happened afterward.

Acts 5:30 – “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree”. 

In the resurrection of Christ, man was given direction for his life.

2 Corinthians 5:15 – “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

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