The Center

When we think of the word center we think middle or mean. In politics, the center is the middle point between radicals on the left and right; we call them moderates. When we think of an object such as an apple, the center is the core or middle, the part of the apple that contains the seeds. In religion, however, the center involves religious dogma or teaching. It is that teaching that most influences the whole of the religion. What ought we to put at the center of our theology? The answer to such a question would surely influence how we, as believers, behave.

Some have suggested that we put grace at the center of our theology. Grace is God’s unmerited favor toward man. God has demonstrated this favor in sending His Son, Jesus, to the earth for the purpose of dying on the cross for the sins of man. Through Jesus sacrifice, God made it possible for man’s sins to be forgiven. There’s no doubt that grace is a very important part of theology, but is it the center? Ephesians 2:5 says that we are saved by grace through faith which puts faith in an equal position with grace. So, grace, by itself, can’t be the center of our theology.

Some have suggested that we put the Bible at the center of our theology. The Bible is definitely important. Without it we would have no knowledge about God, salvation, Jesus, faith, and just about any other subject in the Christian religion; after all, faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). However, the Bible is a tool for learning. It, in and of itself, isn’t the object or center of our theology. The Bible (God’s word) points back toward the giver of that word, God Himself.

Some have suggested that we put Jesus at the center of our theology. Certainly this comes closer in our efforts to define what is at the center of our theology. Jesus is our Savior; He is our King; He is our Lord. He is the one to whom we give allegiance as Christians and there’s no doubt that He ought to be constantly in our thinking. However, even Jesus acknowledged that He was here to do the Father’s will. Jesus said, I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. (John 5:30). Jesus certainly comes closer than any particular doctrine or teaching and He points the way to what is at the center or heart of our theology (John 1:17).

So what ought to be the center of our theology? I would suggest that the word theology answers that question itself. God, with all of His attributes, is the center of our theology. Grace comes from God; faith comes from God; obedience comes from God as exemplified in the life of Jesus; the Bible comes from God as it is inspired by the Holy Spirit; love comes from God for God is love. Simply taking one aspect of God and putting it at the center of our theology really misses the point. God is at the center and His characteristics the subject of theology. The more we learn about God, the more we will be able to imitate His attributes and be like Him. Ephesians 5:1 says, Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

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Practical Principles for Unity

Paul exhorted the church at Ephesus to walk worthy of their calling, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. An endeavor is an exerted effort undertaken to reach a desired result. In the case that Paul sets forth, maintaining unity is that effort that we undertake that requires exertion! Unity doesn’t just happen; we must work at it in order to have it, and it is worth having. Our efforts unity must not compromise doctrinal truth, but be based upon it. Hence, we have the seven great ones of Ephesians 4:4-6. In such matters we cannot compromise truth for unity. However, in matters upon which one’s salvation doesn’t hinge, there are some principles for maintaining harmonious unity among the brethren. Let’s discuss a few of these things.

First, there is always the safe thing to do. Let’s suppose that we are discussing a doctrinal issue and there are two equally possible ways to understand a scripture. Take for example the qualification of elders to be the husband of one wife (1 Timothy 3:2). It is clear that a man that has never been married would not meet this qualification. It is also clear that a woman would not meet this qualification. However, what about the man whose spouse has died and he now has a second wife? Some say that he is qualified. Some say that the qualification means one wife for life. How ought we to resolve the matter? We ought to be willing to go with what we know can’t be wrong. In this case, a person who has only had one wife his entire life no doubt meets this qualification. The path of unity, then, is clear. We choose the path that has no doubts and cannot be wrong.

Second, we do not necessarily need to insist upon our way of things even if we know we are right. There is a principle in scripture that Paul sets down in 1 Corinthians 6:7 that sometimes we ought to accept being wrong in order to maintain unity in the body. The example that Paul uses is a brother taking another brother to court. There may definitely be someone in the right and someone who is wrong in such a situation. However, Paul teaches that it would be better to be defrauded than to engage in such shameful behavior. This principle can be applied to other situations as well. Unity trumps our right to be right in such matters. Sometimes it is better to suffer wrong than to demand satisfaction.

Third, we need to exercise plenty of patience with those who are in error on matters that would not be the source of division (James 5:10). There are some sins that individuals commit that don’t threaten the unity of the church and there are some that do. In those sins that don’t threaten our unity, we need to be patient and allow people to grow. Every Christian has an obligation to grow (2 Peter 3:18) and the fact of the matter is that we don’t learn everything about being a Christian all at once. Moreover, some learn through teaching and others through personal experience. Each of these avenues requires patience in those who are spiritually mature to allow the learning Christian to absorb the material as well as apply practical experience to the information. Patience goes a long way toward unity.

These certainly aren’t the only practical principles for unity, but a generous application of each of these principles in our lives will help us to be united. Of course, in all of our Christian life we need to coat everything with a strong layer of love. Love goes a long way toward resolving differences before they get started. Love doesn’t solve everything, but we are definitely worse off without it than with it. So on top of everything else, we need to maintain an attitude of love toward one another. With love as our attitude and a willingness to practice patience, suffer wrong, and choose the safe path, along with our efforts to base unity on truth, we can maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

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Will There Be Instrumental Music In Heaven?

Revelation 5:8 and other passages in the book of Revelation talk about there being harps in heaven. If there are instruments of music in heaven, why can we not use them here on the earth in worship to God?

Frequently those who defend the use of instrumental music in the worship of the church appeal to the book of Revelation for justification of their worship practices. The following passages are cited and the instrument devotee will then say, See, there are instruments used in worship to God in heaven. Therefore, one may use instruments in worship to God on earth. The passages are:

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

Revelation 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:

Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

The argument stated in classical form would be as follows:

Major Premise: Anything that is permitted in worship in heaven is permitted in worship on earth in the church.

Minor Premise: Instruments of music are permitted in worship in heaven.

Conclusion: Instruments of music are permitted in worship on earth in the church.

The first thing that ought to be noted is that the major premise of the argument itself is flawed. The major premise of the argument is that anything that is permitted in worship in heaven is permitted in worship on earth. We ought to note that in the same context of Revelation 5:8 John speaks of golden vials full of incense. Are we thus allowed to burn incense in worship to God? According to the argument set forth by those who believe in instrumental music, we are. But where, other than in the highly symbolic book of Revelation, do we find in the New Testament the church offering incense in worship to God? We do not. There is simply no authority for it.

The second thing that ought to be noted is that the minor premise of the argument is flawed. The idea that instruments of music are permitted in worship in heaven is suspect because of the highly figurative context of the book of Revelation. In fact, in Revelation 5:8 John explains that the golden vials full of incense are in fact symbolic of the prayers of the saints. Why would instruments of music not by symbolic of the songs of the saints and not the literal instrument itself. Given the context, that ought to be the conclusion one should draw. In addition, it ought to be questioned whether or not these allegedly literal harps are literally in heaven as physical things. Heaven is a spiritual place (1 Corinthians 15:42-50), not a physical one and we know that all material things on the earth are going to be burned up at the end of time (2 Peter 3:10), but those who argue for the instrument must say, They will all be burned up, EXCEPT for instruments of music! They will be preserved so that we may worship with them in heaven! The very idea that in heaven, a spiritual place, we will be reduced to worshipping God with physical harps of wood and string is contradictory to everything the Bible teaches about the spiritual nature of heaven (see 2 Corinthians 4:18 and 2 Corinthians 5:1).

Finally, it is often overlooked by those arguing that in Revelation 14:2 John doesn’t hear harpers, he hears the sound of harpers. The ASV translates the verse as follows: And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and the voice which I heard was as the voice of harpers harping with their harps: The ESV translates it like this: And I heard a voice from heaven like the roar of many waters and like the sound of loud thunder. The voice I heard was like the sound of harpists playing on their harps.” This passage gives no support to the USE of instruments of music in worship whatsoever. The Greek clearly includes the word hWS, which means that the description of harpers harping with their harps is a simile to describe the sound that John heard. Just as the sound he heard was AS the voice of many waters and was AS the voice of great thunder, so also it was AS the voice of harpers harping with their harps. The figure of the water emphasizes the unity of what John heard; the figure of the thunder emphasizes the volume of what John heard, and the figure of the harps emphasizes the beauty of what John heard. But the fact of the matter is that what John heard was singing! That is what verse 3 tells us plainly; and they sing as it were a new song before the throne. Those who argue for the use of instruments of music in the worship of the church based upon these passages do nothing but show their biblical ignorance of God’s word. The book of Revelation is stated at the outset to be a book of things that were put in signs, or signified (Revelation 1:1). To use such signs literally completely ignores the context of the book.

The real question that needs to be answered from those who defend the instrument is where, in the New Testament, is it authorized? There is not one single passage of New Testament scripture that authorizes the use of mechanical instruments of music in the worship of the church, and that is the bottom line.

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The Sin of Procrastination

“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring” (Proverbs 27:1 ESV).

When I was learning the Spanish language, I was told a joke. Seems that there were some workers who were asked to do a certain task and they would always answer “manana” (which is assumed to mean, tomorrow). Each day such a conversation would take place until finally one asked, “I thought “manana” meant “tomorrow.” To which the individual replied, “No, it simply means ‘not today.'” Sadly, such is the attitude of many.

Procrastination is the act of putting something off until a later time. There is an old proverb, “Never put off ’til tomorrow what you can do today.” The procrastinator turns that saying on its head in a weak effort to be amusing and says, “Never do today what you can put off ’til tomorrow.” People in our society procrastinate often. We may put off appointments with our physician. We may put off meetings at work to a later day or time. We may opt for exercising a day later or put off going to the store until tomorrow. Certainly we’ve all done such things at one time or another in our life, and so much as such things have no eternal significance on the state of our souls, it is more or less unimportant. Let us be clear, however, that while it is one thing to procrastinate with the business of this world which may be eternally inconsequential, it is quite another thing to procrastinate with the business of the Lord where there are eternal consequences.

It is funny (in a sad way), however, how many will get priorities confused. Many understand the importance of not procrastinating when it comes to matters of money. They will get their bills paid on time and in the mail. They will not be negligent to transfer money out of stocks and into bonds before the market changes. They will go to the gas station at midnight if it will save a few cents on the gallon before the price increases the next day. Funny (!?) how we see the importance of not procrastinating when it affects our pocketbooks! How much more important are our souls and the souls of those around us? Such actions expose our true priorities and will leave us without excuse in the judgment.

In the scriptures we find several procrastinators. There was a young man who told Jesus he would follow Him, only he first needed to tend to family matters (Matthew 8:21, Luke 9:59-62). There are those who will procrastinate doing good because of their lack of faith in the second coming (Matthew 24:48-51). Perhaps the quintessential example, however, is that of Felix, who said in response to Paul’s preaching, “Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me” (Acts 24:25). J.W. McGarvey, in his Original Commentary on Acts said regarding Felix indecision, “It is a sad warning to all who thus procrastinate, that to neither Felix nor Drusilla did the season ever come which they thought convenient to listen to such preaching. Felix was soon dismissed in disgrace from his office; and Drusilla, with a son by Felix, perished in that eruption of Mount Vesuvius which engulfed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.”

Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 6:2 “now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Putting off the Lord’s work to some future day may temporarily resolve whatever problem we think we have, but it will not resolve that problem eternally, it will only create greater, insurmountable problems.

When business of the Lord comes ’round, yes, needing to be done,
And eager souls around desire the work to have begun,
Some say just for the present time that we procrastinate,
And put that business off until some more “convenient” date.
How sad that such an attitude prevents the work of God,
Discouraging those eager hands to hang their heads and nod.
For time will come when work is done and no clock can be turned,
To days when opportunity and willing hands were spurned.
To judgment such will go in grief; the past won’t be interred,
For in that day no longer will decisions be deferred.
Oh let us not deceive ourselves and this day’s deeds erase,
And so dismiss the Lord’s business to other time or place.
The accepted time is now, my friend, to do the Lord’s good work.
So let us do so cheerfully, our charge no longer shirk.

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The Wrath of God

In our politically correct society it is not accepted to talk about a God that will destroy people for the sins that they commit. The world frowns on the idea of anger, vengeance, and righteous indignation. Yet, while the world doesn’t like these concepts, the Bible makes it clear that God has been, can be, and will be to some a God of wrath and anger. Not too long ago the ABC Corporation released a new version of “The Ten Commandments” in which sinners were killed for the sins that they committed. The movie drew the picture that God’s wrath was unjust. In a society that values inclusiveness and tolerance, that picture doesn’t go over too well. However, the truth is that we don’t need to be ashamed of God’s wrath, but warn people that indeed God will be vindicated one day.

The American Heritage dictionary defines the term “wrath” as follows: “1. Forceful, often vindictive anger. 2. a. Punishment or vengeance as a manifestation of anger. b. Divine retribution for sin.” The word wrath occurs 194 times in the King James Version of the Bible. The word “anger” is mentioned 228 times. There are times when men with such attitudes are condemned within the scripture, no doubt. However, in many of these instances, it is God who is angry or wrathful with man. Such descriptions of God need not be overlooked as we seek to understand who God is, but rather, examined. Why would God be angry or wrathful? Finding the answer to that question will help us understand the reason for God’s anger.

First, sin is what kindles God’s wrath. Genesis 6:5-6 states, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” Because of man’s sin, God destroyed the earth with a great flood. God’s wrath was present in the beginning of the Bible and it is present at its end as well. Again, in response to man’s sinfulness, the book of Revelation says of Christ, the executor of God’s vengeance, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15). The bottom line is that God’s wrath isn’t God’s fault; it is the fault of those who sin.

Second, God’s wrath will fall on some men because man’s sin offends God. God doesn’t punish sin simply because He gets some kind of “kick” out of doing it as some cartoonists have tried to convey. Sin is offensive to God. God’s character is such that He is holy, righteous, and pure (1 Peter 1:15-16). Because sin is unholy, unrighteous, and corrupt, it is offensive to the very nature of God. Consider Psalm 106:40. The Psalmist writes, “Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.” God had already explained to Israel that idolatry was offensive to Him (Exodus 20:3-5). So, it was due to Israel’s sin (idolatry) that God was offended and therefore angry with them. If we become angry when we are offended, and rightly so, why ought God not to be angry when He is offended?

Finally, God will ultimately execute his wrath upon sinful man because the wicked cannot go unpunished. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 states, “Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” In this passage we see that God’s wrath flows directly from the fact of His righteousness and justice. Justice demands that some penalty be paid for those who commit wickedness. And for those who will not accept God’s generous offer of payment via the death of Jesus on the cross, some other form of payment must be made. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Yes, God’s wrath is something of which we all need to be aware. Paul wrote, “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God.” (Romans 11:22). If we are in the love of God, then we need not be concerned about God’s wrath. However, if we are not, then we need to beware lest it is God’s wrath we experience at the Day of Judgment. Hebrews 10:31 tells us, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

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