Divorce

First of all, it is so important, for those who are not married, to make sure that you know whom you are marrying.  These Pharisees Jesus is addressing, they were neither honest nor sincere and they were not seeking information.  They had divorced for just about any reason and it was their aim and determination to entangle the Lord in serious difficulties, inconsistencies, and/or contradiction.  Their question grew out of the current controversy between two schools of thought over what constituted proper grounds for divorce based on Deut. 24:1-2.  One side believed that man could not release his wife unless he had found something indecent in her.  Another side taught that a man could divorce for any cause.  But, it was the Pharisees who wanted to create a conflict between the two schools.

Now, further compounding the situation was the fact that at least under some circumstances Moses permitted a man to divorce his wife.  If Christ had said that there were no proper grounds for divorce, he would have placed himself in contradiction to the Law.  Furthermore, Herod Antipas, the man who had murdered John the Baptizer, governed the area where he was now working.  Herod had taken his brother’s wife and had been rebuked by John on this account.

And so, in Matt. 19:4-6, the Lord replied in a way they did not expect by taking them back to the garden of Eden.  God made one man and one woman to merge for life.  It was only after man departed from God’s will that multiple wives and divorce came into human experience.  Because God had made them male and female, a man shall leave his parents’ home and cleave to his wife.  This means that they bind or glue themselves close to each other than to his father or mother.  And, what God joined, let not man put asunder meaning, since God did the joining, it is only God who can disjoin the marriage.  Man’s laws cannot change this fact.

In Vs. 7, we learn that Moses merely granted (by inspiration) the privilege to the Jewish man the right to give his wife a writing of divorcement provided he found in her some uncleanness (Deut. 24:1-2).  This freed the woman to seek another marriage and gave the man the right to remarry.  But, the Pharisees had worded their question in a devious manner, implying that Moses had required them to put away their wives.  Well, the Law had required was the provision of a bill of divorcement if the man found some uncleanness in his wife, but the law did not force a divorce.  The Pharisees had been guilty of careless study.  Brethren also have made the same error in regards to Romans 14 and Matt. 19:9 implying that if there is fornication that they have no choice but to divorce, but that is not true.

In vs. 8, we find that Moses only permitted divorce, he did not command it.  Because of their hardness of heart this breakup of the home was permitted for the protection of the wives.  Keep in mind that this permission was not a command from God, but something that Moses had allowed.

In vs. 9, the Lord states perfectly the Father’s will on divorce.  The word “whosoever” applies universally to everyone whether saint or sinner and does not matter if one is baptized or not.  Anyone that puts away his wife or set her free except for fornication is living in sin.  The word fornication is a generic term for any kind of unlawful sexual intercourse.  This does not mean kissing or any other act, which one could think of.  Divorce is solely for sexual intercourse whether is be with a male, female, homosexuality or bestiality because it destroys there being one flesh.

So, if one divorces for any other cause and marries another, they commit adultery.  It does not matter if one has been baptized, if they are still in the adultery relationship, they are continuing in adultery while in that relationship.  They will not inherit heaven because of it (1 Cor. 6:9).

Marriage is to be for a lifetime and I believe some have misunderstood “what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”  There is no such thing as a no fault divorce.  Anytime divorce happens, someone sins.  I mean, you consider he husband and wife and how they are bound to each other and neither the husband or wife has the right for divorce if fornication is not the reason for divorce.  In Eccl. 5:4-5, God had penned, “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed.  Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.”  When one gets married, they made a public vow to God and man.  Now, can they divorce for any reason and just live unmarried.  Answer this: Can they do it with God’s blessing?  In 1 Cor. 7:1-5, we learn that God made each of us sexual beings and in a marriage, if fornication has not happened, the married couple still have sexual obligations to each other and to deny them due to a divorce, it is sin.

Now, if fornication happens (Matt. 19:9), no man can state that they must be forced to stay together.  God gave a possible reason for divorce and man cannot bind where God has not bound.  Some show that there is no mention of divorce outside the Gospel accounts and therefore, divorce is impossible.  Well, it is true that the new law did not start until Christ died on the Cross.  But, Christ was not teaching an old Law in the Gospel accounts.  In addition, the Gospel accounts are most certainly part of the New Law.

When dealing with this situation, it is always best to do two things: First, never back down from the truth because a soul is at stake.  Secondly, learn to be very sensitive to others feelings because this is a flesh ripping, delicate situation and whopping someone over the head with the truth does more harm than good.  Paul told us in Col. 4:6 to let our speech by always with grace, seasoned with salt.

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Family Values (Part 1)

I know of no institution of society that has undergone such drastic changes in the past 50 years as the American family. The family unit that existed 50 years ago was normally thought to consist of a man, a woman, and children. The extended family of 50 years ago normally was thought to be made up of parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, and nieces. A great deal has changed in the family and in the attitudes of society toward the family unit described in the Bible. In this study we want to examine some of the changes and compare them with the God sanctioned definition of the family, please stay with us as we develop this study.

Today, there are several groups of very militant people that have successfully altered the concept of the American family. The homosexual/lesbian alliance have insisted that two women or two men make a family unit and this living arrangement has been blessed by the court system in America so that they are today entitled to adopt children and raise them according to this perverted lifestyle. There is also a lifestyle today that consists of a man and a woman who agree to live together without benefit of marriage (i.e. two people involved in continuous fornication). This lifestyle exists because such individuals consider marriage and submitting to God’s ordinances of marriage as irrelevant. The two lifestyles discussed in this paragraph are not acceptable to God. God condemns these two humanly devised substitutes for marriage; we will discuss God’s law regarding the family unit and family values later on in this study.

No list of lifestyles is complete without giving some space to the single Parent family unit. Now, the single parent family unit may occur in society due to at least three causes – perhaps there may be more reasons that I will list here.

1.         Because of unlawful deed – (i.e. rape)

2.         Because of Divorce.

3.         Because of the death of one of the married partners.

I do not see that this particular family situation can be avoided.  Although I do not see how these kinds of families can be avoided I suggest that if the individual that is widowed scripturally divorced seek to remarry, they try to find a Christian partner. Indeed,, sometimes a Christian (i.e. one that seems to be so), is no better than an unbeliever, but the chances for a successful second marriage is still greater if the person you marry is a true Christian.

THE BIBLE ON GOD’S FAMILY AND FAMILY VALUES

In the beginning God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden – cf.,

Genesis 1:27, “And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (ASV)

Genesis 2:21-25, “21 And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof:22 and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” (ASV)

God did not create anyone else at this time but equipped Adam and Eve in such a fashion that they could procreate together – cf., Genesis 1:27-28, “27 And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28 And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (ASV)

The Bible further shows that Adam and Eve did began to multiply – cf. Genesis 4:1-2, “1 And the man knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man with (the help of) Jehovah. 2 And again she bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.” (ASV)

Since God created the man and then created the woman for the man, any departure from this divine plan (i.e. homosexual, lesbian, or lying with beasts) is unacceptable to God. For man to assume that any other family arrangement is acceptable to God is sinful and will eternally condemn the perpetuator of the unnatural act. – cf. Revelation 22:18-19, “18 I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto them, God shall add unto him the plagues which are written in this book: 19 and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the tree of life, and out of the holy city, which are written in this book.” (ASV)

NOTE:  God has always condemned sexual relationships between men and men and between women and women as is stated in – cf. Romans 1:26-32, “26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions: for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. 28 And even as they refused to have God in (their) knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: 32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them.” (ASV)

GOD’S ATTITUDE TOWARD FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

In God’s plan for the family unit the plan in perfection includes a man, a woman, and children. Such a family unit may be found in Genesis as we look at the very first family unit that came into existence, God apparently approved the Genesis family for nothing is said that would indicate otherwise. The Biblical concept described above does not exclude other God approved family situations.

1.         The man or woman who desires to remain single

2.         The one parent family unit – where one parent is no longer included in the family due to legitimate (i.e. God acceptable) reasons.

DUTIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS

There is a great responsibility placed upon the husband and wife as parents in God’s family values system. The Bible teaches that the parents have several joint responsibilities in the family unit; they are:

1.     Provide materially for their children – 2 Corinthians 12:14, “Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” (ASV)

A.                 Schooling (i.e. a reasonable education)

B.                 Food

C.                 Clothing

D.                 Shelter

E.                 Peace, contentment, safety, freedom from fear, etc.

F.                  Spiritual example (i.e. father & mother give the children spiritual guidance)

2.      Provide a nurturing environment for the children – Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.” (ASV)

3.    Provide love and affection for the children – Matthew 7:9-11, “9 Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; 10 or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (ASV)

RESPONSIBILITIES THAT FATHER, MOTHER, AND CHILDREN SHARE; JOINTLY

1.      Jointly work together to provide a happy home

2.      Jointly work together to cooperate in family activities

3.      Jointly look out for one another’s well being

4.      Jointly work together to help each other get to heaven

FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY

1.   Provide for the family (i.e. primary provider) – Genesis 3:19, “in the sweat of thy face shall thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it was thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return.” (ASV)

2.    Be a good husband and father by example – encourage spirituality in the family unit.

The father that is a Christian will be an example of spirituality to everyone in the community and surely he is also to be an example to his own family, note the following Bible references that establish   this point:

Matthew 5:13, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.” (ASV)

Matthew 5:14, “Ye are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid.” (ASV)

Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (ASV)

Ephesians 6:4, “And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord.” (ASV)

MOTHER’S RESPONSIBILITY

There is an old adage about mothers that is not used very much today but it is still the truth if applied as God instructs – “The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world.” From this adage, one understands that even nations and kings are influenced by their mother while young and in the development stages. This tells mothers to be conscious of the great role that they still play in God’s family value system.

1.  Mothers ought to honored and respected – Ephesians 6:2, “Honor thy father and mother (which is the    first commandment with promise),” (ASV)

2.   Mothers (i.e. wives) are to be loved and cherished by their husbands – Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands,       love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;” (ASV)

3.   Mothers have some of the same responsibilities as the father in God’s system of family values –

See father’s responsibilities previously studied.

4.  Mothers and grand-mothers ought to teach their children about God and the things of God –

2 Timothy 1:5, “having been reminded of the unfeigned faith that is in thee; which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and, I am persuaded, in thee also.” (ASV)

CHILDREN’S RESPONSIBILITIES

1.  Children should obey their parents – Ephesians 6:1-3, “1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2 Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), 3 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (ASV)

Colossians 3:2, “Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth.” (ASV)

2.         Children ought to be in subjection (i.e. obedient to) to their parents –

1 Timothy 3:4, “one that ruleth well his own house, having (his) children in subjection with all gravity;” (ASV)

1 Timothy 3:12, “Let deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling (their) children and their own houses well.” (ASV)

Titus 1:6, “if any man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children that believe, who are not accused of riot or unruly.” (ASV)

3.   Children ought to provide for their needy parents, etc. –

1 Timothy 5:4, “But if any widow hath children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety  towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is acceptable in the sight of God.” (ASV)

4.   Children ought to become Christians when they reach accountable age – Children that are Christians are a joy unto their parents and their Heavenly Father; they are also examples to the community in which they live.

5.    Children should honor their parents – Ephesians 6:2-3, “2 Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise), 3 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.” (ASV)

THE FAMILY UNIT and RESPONSIBILITY TO GOD

There is a great failure on the part of many families today in the relationship that they sustain to God. Many families today are regular in their attendance at some place of worship but fail to put God and the things of God first in their priorities of day to day living, Note the statement in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (ASV) – It is not difficult to understand this passage of Scripture but it seems difficult for many families to put this concept into action in their lives. I do not believe that we really give serious attention to this instruction because we think that we do not have time to stop and consider the things that we are involved with as distractions from serving and obeying God’s instructions here in Matthew 6:33. It is possible that we never stop and consider that we have erred in some phase of everyday life so we do nothing about it. We do not consider the Lord’s pleadings with us as in 1 John 2:1-4, “1 My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 3 And hereby we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;” (ASV) Some advice about strengthening the bond in the family unit:

1.  Have family prayer at meals – at home or at a restaurant.

2. Have family together Bible study about some subject of interest to everyone in the family.

3.  Make it a practice to invite friends and guests to worship with you if they plan to be in your home during times for worship with the church.

4.  As a family prepare cards and notes to mail out to the sick and shut-in in the church at home as a family.

5.   Invite neighbors to attend worship and gospel meetings with you.

6. Make sure that you always set a good example for your neighbors.

7.  Always make a special effort to attend services when the whole church comes together.

CONSIDER THIS:  Ultimately, everything that the family ought to be is attainable through a knowledge of the Written Word (i.e. the BIBLE). The family that practices true Christian lifestyles will be a shining light in the community not only as Christians but as representatives of Christ’s church. Just as the church that is approved of by God ourselves the Divine Pattern found in the Bible, also the family unit that pleases God follows the Divine Pattern found in the Bible.

Genesis 2:22-24, “22 and the rib, which Jehovah God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23 And the man said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (ASV)

Mark 10:6-9, “6 But from the beginning of the creation, Male and female made he them. 7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; 8 and the two shall become one flesh: so that they are no more two, but one flesh. 9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (ASV)

The family unit is designed by God to last until the children are grown and continue until the parents pass on to be with the Lord. Make it a good adventure through life!

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Milk

Milkshakes, Milk Duds, Milky Way, Chocolate Milk, Milk and Cookies, Ice Milk, Milk and Pepsi…  How does the Bible relate to milk?

1 Peter 2:2 – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:”

Hebrews 5:12 – “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”

Above are two scriptures concerning milk.  Milk is figuratively used as the nutrition of the Word of God.  Milk is the building block of young life.  The young Christian takes in the milk of the word to develop his body.  In doing so, he grows into an individual who is mature.  The following verse, gives an appropriate description of one who is mature:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness.  That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.”

Have you ever drank bad milk?  Bleh!  Ick!  It tastes bad!  It smells bad!

2 Peter 2:1-2 – “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.”

Matthew 24:11 – “And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.”

1 John 3:7-8 – “My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

Enjoy the sweet pleasures of milk.  Strengthen the body with its nutritional value.  Prize the spiritual milk above all.  Take care to inspect milk before you drink it (Acts 17:11).  Throw the spoiled milk out!

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The Reconcilatory Power of Unity

The Psalmist declared, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps. 133:1). Nowhere can we see this more than in the church of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Consider the preparation for such in Jesus choosing His apostles (Matt. 10:1-4; Luke 6:13-16). From His disciples, He chose two among the twelve that were politically and ideologically on polar-opposite extremes. Matthew (Levi) was a publican (tax collector), as we see Jesus calling him to discipleship in Matthew 9:9-13. As the text unfolds, the Jewish leaders hated publicans, considering them to be traitors of the highest sort, and loathing them for their corruptness (cf. Luke 18:11; 19:1-8). On the other hand, we have Simon (not to be confused with Cephas, or Peter), who was a Zealot, which historians say was one of the strictest sects of Judaism. Thus, these individuals would have little to nothing in common. Yet, Jesus brought them together with a common purpose. They worked together for three years in preparation for the coming kingdom. Nevertheless, in noting the pairings together as we have Matthew and Luke record, we note that Matthew went with Thomas. Thus, Jesus did not treat them cruelly by throwing them together and forcing them to work closely so soon. Yet, the times that they were together with Jesus were times wherein they would bond.

When Jesus established His church as we have recorded in Acts 2, we have an interesting statement of fact regarding the work of the Holy Spirit through the miraculous abilities the early church would gain. On that particular Pentecost Day, Peter quoted from Joel when he declared,

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18)

Thus, implicit within this prophecy and its fulfillment is the fact that the Holy Spirit would enable miraculous abilities both to male and female, both to young and old, both to masters and servants. Thus, the early worship assemblies would see a vivid portrait of unity in equality (cf. Gal. 3:28).

I recently read a quote of DA Carson from his book, “Love in Hard Places.” While I may not necessarily agree with everything that he says in his book, I do agree with this statement:

The church is…made up of natural enemies. What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs or anything else of that sort. Christians come together…because they have all been saved by Jesus Christ and owe him a common allegiance…. They are a band of natural enemies who love one another for Jesus’ sake.

Therefore, when I consider the impact that Jesus has on us in His church, I realize that I ought to be able to get along with my brethren. When difficulties arise (as they always will), then I should seek immediate reconciliation (cf. Matt. 5:23-26; 18:15-20). In this way, I understand that while we in the church of our Lord may be quite different in many different ways, we are united in Christ with a common bond. Thus, our hearts are able to sing, “Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken!”

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Do the Signs Show the End is at Hand?

There are those signs Jesus gave when His disciples asked for how they could know when the time of the end was approaching. Every generation has looked at those signs and said the end must be near. With all that is happening in the world today, so many, especially television preachers, have persuaded their followers that the world is about to end.

He gave several signs so that men could know that the end was approaching. Look at the signs He gave in Matthew 24 and Luke 21: (1) False Christs would arise; (2) There would be wars among nations; (3) There would be famine and pestilences; (4) There would be earthquakes in various places; (5) Christians would be put on trial and martyred; (6) Some Christians would lose their faith and grow cold; (7) Desolation would come to the Holy Place; (8) Disciples were to flee from Jerusalem for the worst tribulation of all times would occur; (9) Jerusalem was to be surrounded by armies.

So what is the truth about these signs? Do they show that the end of the world is approaching us? Before looking at this question, we should remember that for hundreds of years these signs have been often used to warn people that the end was at hand. In America, they were seen happening during the time of the War Between the States. Then, they were used to say the end was about to come during the first World War, then World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Viet Nam War and more recently the Iraqi War.

So where do these signs belong? What did Jesus have in mind when He gave these signs? Let the Bible answer as you read the following and note the words I have emphasized to help us see the answer. Remember His words were spoken to Peter, Andrew, James and John (Mark 13:3-4)!

Jesus told these men, “Take heed that YOU not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,‘ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore, do not go after them.  But when YOU hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately. Nation will arise against nation…great earthquakes, famines and pestilences…sights and signs from heaven…YOU will be brought before kings…YOU will be betrayed…When YOU see Jerusalem surrounded by armies” (Luke 21:11-20).  Then, look at the words in Matthew 24. “Pray that YOUR flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath for THEN will be great tribulation…When YOU see ALL THESE THINGS…THIS generation will by no means pass away until ALL THESE THINGS are fulfilled” (Matt. 24:20-34).

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