Not Racist....... Not Violent....... Not Silent!
Politics, God's Word and Humor!
In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case
gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves
examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from others!
~~ Mark Twain
TOPIC INDEX LINKS:
Foreword
Some say one shouldn't mix God's Word with Politics! I say the two can't be separated!
This country was founded with God as its cornerstone! Our rights come from God, not government! We give government what rights we the people want them to have, but sadly government politifecals (political feces) have suckered us into giving bureaucrats too many of our rights!
God's Word and politics are two subjects of genuine interest to me, and accordingly I spend time studying both. They fit together like biscuits and gravy!
My desire is to share with you what I have learned, am learning and will learn. And, as is my nature, with a little humor! Seeing humor in almost everything is just part of my personality! Can't help it! Got it from my mother!
Also I'll be adding political sub-topics such as immigration, enviromental, unions, etc.
In Christ running the race for salvation of my soul!
Pat
PS I present God's Word as best I can, and leave the results to God!
Aside
I'm a trichotomist [tripartite viewpoint] which I define as a Christian who believes the number three is God's number meaning divine perfection and therefore believes there are not just two aspects of salvation -- spirit and body -- but three -- spirit, soul and body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 is taken as one biblical support my the trichotomist position:
"May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (NIV)
If interested in a list of biblical trichotomies I've gathered so far, you can click on the following link to my word document, thirty six pages to date!
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Biblical Trichotomies.doc Size : 529.5 Kb Type : doc |
Note: If you should desire to print any of the documents within this website, it's best to copy into a Word document, reformat to your liking and then print! Or click on the link to my Word document at the bottom of the website document, where available, and copy/print the Word document!
My Testimony regarding Soul Salvation!
Having been saved, since I believed, I was publicly baptized in the church at the age of 17 years. I considered myself a moral person and tried to abide by God's Commandments.
Attending church was not enjoyable for me. It seemed my pastor was always condemning me for sins I had committed. He repeatedly seemed to reference my sins and said just don't commit them. I always sat in the far back pew so I could exit the church during the invitation. There was no need to hear the invitation since I was already saved. On TV all I ever heard about sinning was just 'don't sin.'
I had faith I would go to heaven regardless of my level of sin. Sins would only determine whether I would be placed in the first pew, the back pew, or somewhere in between. Heaven was a done deal!
At the age of 21 years, lacking 6 days, I married. We were both virgins. No thought of being unfaithful until the age of 25 when I was put in an uncompromising situation and was unfaithful. It was enjoyable and I was hooked. Then came the booze and unsavory places. Enough of my earthly "cavorting" least it sound boisterous – for it's something I regret and confess for forgiveness often! I know God has forgiven me, but I still find it hard to believe how sinful I was for so many years.
In 1997, after three marriages, my Main Squeeze, Marsha, and I married. Marsha, a genuine blessing from God, who has not a bad bone or thought in her, upon our moving to Sulphur Springs, began immediately to fit in. She's a people person, while I'm not comfortable around groups of people. Marsha became a student of Dr. Mark and Carol Miller's Key of Three Bible study. During that study Marsha, Carol and Dr. Miller saw an opportunity for Dr. Miller to do his trickster thing!
Dr. Miller, my doctor for whom I have great respect, offered to discuss with me in the privacy of his home a medical problem. I felt that act, in itself, humbling! While discussing the problem Dr. Miller became, unknown to me, The Trickster. He made me an offer that I couldn't justify refusing! He knew much of my time was that of leisure and a valid excuse to decline his offer was not likely. There I was, out on a limb. Dr. Miller would be making a sacrifice, not me! A sacrifice of his limited leisure time for a peon like me! The Trickster had struck! I was overwhelmed and bound! I learned that Marsha and Carol were in on the trickery. They were together awaiting the outcome.
Time for the first Saturday morning session arrived and the "creeks didn't rise," so I had no excuse not to show! I didn't want Bible lessons, but here was this prominent doctor and his consort queen, a lovely consort queen, who were willing to give me some of their precious private time – on a Saturday much less – and I had nothing to give in return other than hearing their teachings. That made me even more obligated to meet and listen! (Marsha was also applying her typical subtle pressure and planned to go with me!)
Every nerve in my body stirred that Saturday morning, before and during that first lesson. I had to truly concentrate to override my nerves. (A shrink diagnosed one of my problems to be caused by perfectionism! That was laughable because the only things I ever came close to perfecting were sins!)
Their teachings were much different from what I anticipated, nothing like my Bible course in college. A full understanding of what they were teaching escaped me at first, but I recognized a contrast with the prevailing philosophy of "just don't sin!" Their approach to overcoming sin was of interest! Knowing how to overcome sin I truly needed!
After a few sessions things started to fit in place. Their lessons became easier to understand. I began to "get it." For the first time I could envision possibly living according to God's Word! I understood how to be proactive! Get in the Word! I became filled with hope!
Understanding the septenary arrangement of the Bible and that all scripture not only reveals Gods plans and purposes for the ages, but also moves toward one age -- the Messianic Era – was the beginning of seeing the overall big picture. Voila, that's when the soul aspect of salvation became relatively clear to me and God gave me the burning desire to study His Word in earnest.
Now aware of three aspects of salvation, not just Spirit and Body, but also Soul, filled a void in my relationship with God. My Spirit was saved and my Body would be saved at the rapture, so I then desired to learn what was needed to win the Soul aspect of my salvation and my awaiting inheritance, not a given, but by works.
These are some of the ministries of the Spirit which are realized in a person the moment one is spiritually saved: the baptism by the Holy Spirit, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the anointing, and the earnest and the seal. These were in me, but never put to a meaningful use.
I learned that it is the old man in me who sins, not the new man in Christ. So for me to sin less, I must continually be filling myself with the Holy Spirit and allowing the Holy Spirit to work though me to produce righteous fruit, necessary for receiving the Soul aspect of salvation at the Judgment Seat. I recognized actions (works) that I could take and consequently sin less – not rely on "just don't sin." All those years I had been passively trying to obey the Law, that most preachers preach, and it hadn't worked. Works aren't part of the Spirit or Body aspects of salvation, but works are definitely necessary for the Soul aspect of salvation! But the works must be by the Holy Spirit working through a spiritually saved person, not works of self.
How would I continually fill myself with the Holy Spirit as commanded in God's Word and cause part of the old sin man in me die in direct proportion to the amount of filling? God's Word says we must confess and put away all know sin in our lives, yield ourselves completely to His control, let the Word of God dwell in us richly, and be emptied of self. I find confessing of my known sins and dwelling richly in Christ's Word the easiest for me. And it has worked, according to others, but I'm not aware of the Holy Spirit working through me.
What is the inheritance awaiting those who allow the Holy Spirit to produce the righteous fruit necessary to receive the Soul aspect of salvation at the Judgment Seat? When standing in front of Christ at the Judgment Seat my hope is He will reward me with His Glory by calling me a good and faithful servant, where I will experience my second death and be out-resurrected into His Millennial Kingdom to rule and reign with Him as a coheir during the Messianic Age – the last 1,000 years of this earth as it exists now.
Those spiritually saved who will not have allowed the Holy Spirit to produce righteous fruit through them will not receive the Soul aspect of salvation where one is out-resurrected at the Judgment Seat, but will be cast into outer darkness during the Messianic Age. Being in outer darkness is likened onto Moses looking down upon the Promised Land but not being allowed to enter.
The following prayer is sort of a summary of what I have learned about the of Soul aspect of salvation:
Lord, thank You for humbling Yourself and coming to this earth as God's Living Word, bringing with You Your gift of spiritual salvation. I understand this gift not only assures us who believe in Your incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection will spend eternity with You in heaven, but also positions each of us who believe with the opportunity to enter the standing grace gate and run the race for an inheritance from You at the Judgment Seat.
Lord, I'm running this race with the hope of surrendering to Your Holy Spirit so He may produce righteous fruit through me, so when standing in front of You at the Judgment Seat, You will reward me with Your Glory of calling me good and faithful servant, where I will experience my second death and You will out-resurrect me into Your Millennial Kingdom where I will rule and reign with You as a coheir during the Messianic Age.
Dear Lord, I understand that Your God breathed Word not only reveals Your plans and purposes for the ages, but can also build me up to receive an inheritance from You. To attain this inheritance, Lord, I understand that I must believe, have faith in God and be governed by His Word. I understand, Lord, that faith comes from hearing and hearing comes from Your Word. There is no limit to the heights I may attain in the realm of faith, for there is no limit to the depths of your revelation to me.
As the Holy Spirit's Anointing dwelling in me interprets Your Word for me, please also empower my mind to remember and be able to recall what I have learned.
Lord, the more I'm in Your Word, the more I realize what a vile sinner I am. But I know, Lord, that if I confess my sins, which I do, You are faithful and just to forgive me my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
In Your name, Lord Jesus Christ, I pray! Amen!
I'm so blessed to be chosen from the called to receive the desire and epignosis necessary to recognize the Soul aspect of salvation!
Christians' Voter Diligence!
Excerpted from eNews from Koinonia House
In Romans 13, Paul urges us to obey the legal authorities.
And again in Hebrews 13:17, we are told to submit to the rulers,who will have to give an account to God.
In America, however, the Constitution is the law, and according to the Constitution,
the people are ultimately the leaders [rulers*].
We hire our elected officials at the local, state and national levels!
We should not think we won't answer for our diligence [or lack of*] in managing the responsibilities that God has given us.
*Added
Should Christians Disengage from Politics?
The Godfather
Every political year, religion becomes an issue. It’s always been that way. There’s no escaping it. Everybody is religious. Every law on the books is an application of someone’s view of morality. What is the basis of that morality? It’s got to come from somewhere. Foundationally, it’s the basis of someone’s religion.
Who determines the limits of civil government? Based on what?
Atheists are just as religious as the most devoted believer in God. They put their faith in their ability to reason. But reason to what based on what? Whose view of reason do we follow? Not all atheists agree on what’s reasonable. They’ll say “facts” trump religious beliefs. If facts were the key to right reason, then why do people looking at the same facts come to different interpretations of the facts? Facts don’t have a voice.
Most of the attacks on religion are directed at Christians because they believe in moral absolutes. In reality, there are very few things that Christians want the government to do in the name of religion. Truth be told, most Christians want the government to stop doing things.
The abortion issue is about what’s, or better, who’s being aborted, something abortionists don’t want to talk about. For them, it’s about “choice.” Choice to do what?
On the homosexual issue, Christians have little interest in what takes place behind closed doors. It’s when the government starts enforcing so-called hate crime laws and anti-discrimination laws directed at people who believe homosexuality is immoral that spurs religious folk like me to political action.
There are Christians who are calling on their fellow-Christians to disengage from politics. The so-called Culture War is obscuring the Gospel. Tell that to the prophets and to Jesus. Tell it to Paul and John.
No doubt Christians prefer to live a quiet life, as the apostle Paul wrote. They would prefer not to have to expend time, energy, and money fighting laws that one day could end up limiting their freedoms:
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).
These instructions to the young pastor Timothy did not stop Paul from challenging political reprisals against him (Acts 22:23–30). He even appealed to Caesar in a time when Jews had no political standing (Acts 25:11–12). Paul’s trump card was that he was a Roman citizen (Acts 22:28), and he took advantage of it, as we should today. Of course, we don’t live under Caesar. We live under the Constitution of the United States that gives us the right to speak, write, and assemble to petition the government “for a redress of grievances.”
There used to be a time when we did live a quiet and tranquil life because there was a time when Christians engaged their world culturally and politically. The goal has never been to save the world through politics but to put politics in its proper place. Our false sense of quietude and tranquility have gotten us to the place where we are losing what many fought so hard to gain.
What if a government starts molesting people for their beliefs or even their mere existence? What should a Christian do? The slave trade, the holocaust, and racial discrimination come to mind. The anti-slave trade was headed up by Christians. Study the life of William Wilberforce (1759-1833) if you don’t believe me. So was the civil rights movement.
When the allied troops liberated the death camps and saw the atrocities, the soldiers went into the surrounding towns and forced the citizenry to walk among the corpses. It was happening right under their noses and they did nothing. That wasn’t the “tranquil and quiet life” Paul was talking about.
http://godfatherpolitics.com/5748/should-christians-disengage-politics/
Cherish the freedoms
established by the Judeo-Christian founding principles of our Nation's Fathers,
which are embedded within our Nation's founding documents!
Faith in America!
The Heritage Foundation
By Matt Spalding
December 26, 2011
“The God who gave us life, gave us liberty at the same time,” Thomas Jefferson once wrote. “The hand of force may destroy, but cannot disjoin them.” Among the American Founders, there was a profound sense that faith and freedom were deeply intertwined.
Nowadays, we are often told that religion is divisive and ought to kept away from politics for the sake of liberty. Religion somehow is opposed to liberty, and so liberty requires a diminution of religion in the public square.
The view long consistent with our historical practice, though, is that of America’s Founders, who advanced religious liberty so as to strengthen religious faith and its influence on American self-government. All had a natural right to worship God as they chose, according to the dictates of their consciences. At the same time, the Founders upheld religion and morality–to paraphrase Washington’s Farewell Address [1]–as indispensable supports of good habits, the firmest props of the duties of citizens, and the great pillars of human happiness.
Religious liberty neither settles nor dismisses the claims of reason and revelation to teach the most important things for human beings to know. But it does create a practical solution–after thousands of years of failed attempts–at the level of politics and political morality. It established a form of government that is sanctioned by human nature and open to moral reasoning, the legitimacy of which does not depend on the truth of any particular religious denomination.
This solution is possible because the American Founders recognized general moral precepts that are understandable by human reason and no less agreeable to faith in the form of a general revelation of creation. This morality common to both natural reason and divine revelation, usually termed natural law, is the philosophical ground of the American Founding.
We can see this agreement of reason and revelation in the Declaration of Independence [2]. The liberties recognized in it are deduced from a higher law to which all human laws are answerable and by which they are limited. This higher law can be understood by man’s practical reason–the truths of the Declaration are held to be “self-evident”–but also by the revealed word of God. There are four references to God in the document: to “the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God”; to all men being “created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights”; to “the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions”; and to “the protection of divine Providence.” The first term suggests a deity that is knowable by human reason, but the others–God as creator, as judge, and as providence–are more biblical, and add (and were assuredly intended to add) a theological context to the document.
From the perspective of religious faith, the basic principles of the Founding, at the level of political principles, were understood to be in essential agreement with the core precepts of the Bible. That this is the case can be seen throughout the many church sermons published from the founding era. While we have never been and should not try to become a nation defined by a particular or official religious denomination, we must never forget that, as the Supreme Court said in 1952 (and reiterated in 1963, and again in 1984), “We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being.”
The health and strength of liberty depend on the principles, standards, and morals shared by nearly all religions. What the “separation of church and state” does is liberate America’s religions–in respect to their moral forms and teachings–to exercise unprecedented influence over private and public opinion by shaping citizens’ mores, cultivating their virtues, and in general, providing a pure and independent source of moral reasoning and authority. This is what Alexis de Tocqueville meant when he observed that even though religion “never mixes directly in the government of society,” it nevertheless determines the “habits of the heart” and is “the first of their political institutions.”
Let us remember that our greatest blessing as Americans is the freedom to pursue our eternal duties to God and of religion to pursue freely its divine mission among men on earth.
As George Washington wrote to the Hebrew Congregation at Newport [3] in 1790, so all of us at The Heritage Foundation proclaim to our friends and fellow citizens: “May the father of all mercies scatter light, and not darkness, upon our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in His own due time and way everlastingly happy.”
Matthew Spalding, Ph.D. [4], is Vice President of American Studies and Director, B. Kenneth Simon Center for Principles and Politics
Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org
URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/12/26/morning-bell-faith-in-america/
URLs in this post:
[1] Washington’s Farewell Address: http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/washingtons-farewell-address
[2] Declaration of Independence: http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/the-declaration-of-independence
[3] Hebrew Congregation at Newport: http://www.heritage.org/initiatives/first-principles/primary-sources/washington-s-letter-to-the-hebrew-congregation-of-newport-rhode-island
[4] Matthew Spalding, Ph.D.: http://www.heritage.org/about/staff/s/matthew-spalding
[5] was infused with politics at every level: http://www.washingtonpost.com/solyndra-politics-infused-obama-energy-programs/2011/12/14/gIQA4HllHP_story.html?hpid=z1
[6] Islamist militants in Nigeria bombed three churches: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/26/us-nigeria-blast-idUSTRE7BO03020111226
[7] Justice Department officials objected: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/201307-report-former-atf-director-blamed-aides-for-not-informing-him-of-fast-and-furious
[8] killed at least 13 more people: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Activists-Syrian-Violence-Kills-13-in-Homs-Region-136219873.html
[9] arriving in the country to ensure Syria’s compliance: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57348385/clashes-as-arab-league-observers-head-to-syria/
[10] The plastic bag police scored a victory in Seattle last week: http://blog.heritage.org/2011/12/23/seattle-succumbs-to-latest-eco-fad-bans-plastic-bags/
The Home Church!
By Charles Strong of BibleOne
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus . . . Likewise greet the church that is in their house. . . . (Romans 16:3, 5)
The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19)
Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that is in his house. (Colossians 4:15)
to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house. (Philemon 2)
The initial Christian local churches were home churches, which is to say that they were assemblies of believers in Christ who met in home residences for instruction and fellowship. And although the apostles taught and preached “Jesus as the Christ” daily in the temple, they also taught and preached Him in “every house” (Acts 2:46; 5:42). It was the apostle Paul who said the following:
“. . . You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you . . . how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house.” (Acts 20:18, 20)
The word for “house” in the above Scripture references and in many other references within the New Testament is the Greek word oikos, a term usually designating a local “dwelling” or “home.” And although the Greek word ekklesia, translated “church” is used at various times within the New Testament to designate all believers (i.e., the “body of Christ” [Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:27, 29; Colossians 1:24]), often, and specifically in the above Scripture references, it refers to a local “assembly” of believers.
But over time, as the various home assemblies increased in number, many of them deemed it advantageous to unite and meet outside such homes in larger accommodations, much like what today are considered local churches. And over time due to individual interpretations over points of biblical doctrine, many of these now larger “local churches” split, a process that has led to the various “denominations” existing today.
Most Christian denominations believe the Divine Record consisting of both the Old Testament and the New Testament (the Holy Bible) was given over a period of time through holy men who were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). They believe the Bible to be consistent, not contradictory; but then, generally only in accord with the established doctrine of their own unique denomination, and that only after their “approved” theological authorities have signed off on the doctrine. Regrettably, over time, this way of thinking has somewhat, if not greatly, encouraged the prevention of lay-Christians from personally arriving at the truth taught in Scripture.
One only needs to attend many of the various local churches throughout the land, evangelical and otherwise, to find that very little on-going and systematic doctrinal instruction is being taught from the pulpits. Rather, attending Christians are subject to messages most likely consisting of three points in support of an intended superficial theme and often followed by an invitation to come to Christ in faith. This is particularly true on the evangelical side of the Church (all Christians), and the shame of it is that the primary responsibility of pastors is to be a teacher of God’s Word, i.e., biblical doctrine.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastor-teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting . . . . (Ephesians 4:11-14a)
(The words “pastors and teachers” in Ephesians 4:11 refer to one group of individuals, not two groups. They are pastor-teachers, not “pastors and teachers,” as translated in many English versions.
This is seen in the structure of the Greek text. There are two nouns in the same case form, connected by kai [and], with a definite article preceding the first noun but not repeated before the second noun. In a structure of this nature, the second noun [didaskalos, “teacher”] is seen as simply a further description of the first noun [poimen, “pastor,” “shepherd”].
The pastor [shepherd of the flock] is to be a teacher [teacher of the flock]. He is to lead the flock through the proclaimed Word.)
Christ declared that “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4); and, indeed, the apostle Paul made certain to teach the “whole counsel of God,” instruction regarding “the gospel of the grace of God” and “the kingdom of God,” from “house to house” (Acts 20:20, 24, 25, 27). And to Timothy the apostle Paul clearly stated,
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2 Timothy 3:16-4:1-4)
But then the deterioration and degradation of the Church, represented by the diverse number of Christian denominations and their local churches, over the past two thousand years, should not be surprising to a dedicated student of God’s Word, particularly one who is a student of biblical prophecy. In addition to prophecies contained in the Old Testament and various warnings throughout the New Testament, the book of Revelation in chapters two and three also presents a history of the Church throughout the dispensation, beginning with Ephesus that had left its “first love” and ending with Laodicea that is described as “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (2:4, 3:17).
The absence of in-depth doctrinal instruction from the pulpits of Christianity today is one of the primary results of the growth of larger populated churches, some even designated “mega-churches,” throughout this dispensation. Now it is customary for these types of local churches to relegate “bible instruction” to what many call Sunday School, usually a limited-time (less than an hour) meeting of various classes of individuals that takes place prior to the main service on Sunday mornings. And the instruction is closely directed by periodicals and individuals of each church’s particular denomination.
Then there is the problem of the Nicolaitans (Revelation 2:15), a development that formed early in Church history and is prevalent in most local churches today. An accurate description of this particular aspect within local churches throughout the dispensation is given by Arlen L. Chitwood in his book, Judgment Seat of Christ, as follows:
Following the warning to the church in Ephesus, reference is made to the “Nicolaitans” (an Anglicized form of the compound Greek word, nikolaites [from nike, “a victor,” “a conqueror”; and laos, “people”]). Thus, the word “Nicolaitans” means, “to conquer [be victorious over] the people.”
Within Church history, there is no record of a group of individuals known by the name, “Nicolaitans” — in the church in Ephesus [Rev. 2:6], or in any other first-century church (note that a reference to the “Nicolaitans” is also repeated in the epistle to the church in Pergamos [Rev. 2:15]). And, when coming across a reference of this nature, there is only one thing that can be done in order to understand that which the Lord meant by using this word (whether by Christians during the first century, or by Christians today). The use of “Nicolaitans” would have to be understood as a reference to the actions of a group of individuals, described by the meaning of the word itself.
From the meaning of the word, a reference to the “Nicolaitans” could only be understood as a reference to individuals forming a hierarchy within the Church, ruling over the people. And these individuals were undoubtedly responsible, at least in part, for the existing conditions in Ephesus near the end of the first century, as well as the conditions subsequently seen existing in Pergamos (and possibly in one or more of the other five churches, though this is not mentioned).
Sadly, the “doctrine of the Nicolaitans” is seen in the clearly established and ornate hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, a hierarchy somewhat mirrored by certain liberal (in their theology) Protestant denominations; but, unfortunately, is also followed to some degree in many evangelical denominations and their local churches. It is not uncommon for certain bishops, pastors, elders, deacons, and others to establish a “chain-of-command,” which requires a degree of inordinate “veneration” and “submission” from the “lay” congregation.
That is why, particularly in these last days, it is indeed advantageous for Christians who thirst after the solid food (meat) of God’s Word, which alone leads to righteousness (faithfully believing all of the Word and living for Christ), to endeavor to contact other like-minded Christians and set up a “home church” in one of their residences. To do this will often provide them the following benefits:
1. An environment free of hierarchical rule.
2. An environment promoting increased communication, fellowship, personal attention, and love among the participants.
3. An environment that promotes serious study of God’s Word at a pace conducive to efficacious assimilation of truth.
4. An environment that will promote spiritual growth and eventual maturity.
Many pastors of evangelical local churches, with which this writer is best acquainted, attempt to deliver a pulpit primary message (sermon) emphasizing the plan of salvation in an effort to reach any lost person (anyone who has never been eternally saved) in the congregation. The sermon is then most often followed by a call (an invitation) for any who will place their faith in Christ for their personal eternal salvation to so indicate their decision by coming forward (or by some other means). This is accomplished due to the pastor’s sincere belief that this order of events is the principal aim or purpose of a local church service. And although this writer finds no fault with presenting the means of eternal salvation at the end of a church service (in fact it is recommended should there be any doubt as to the spiritual make-up of the congregation), for a pastor to believe this is the primary reason for the service can only mean he is misguided.
The primary purpose of a local church service, be it on Sundays (morning or evening) or any other day of the week, is to systematically teach those who have been saved the entire Word of God, with the ultimate goal of allowing immature Christians to become mature Christians and increasing the growth of mature Christians to ever higher levels of spiritual maturity.
As for “winning the lost” to Christ, this is the responsibility (ministry) of all Christians, not just pastors during their participation in local church services. And according to the whole of Scripture, this is to be accomplished by word and deed. In fact, without deeds (a righteous lifestyle — a life lived in accordance with the Word [Colossians 2:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; 4:1; Philippians 1:27; Ephesians 4:1-3]), words are ineffective. And frankly, this is a ministry to be conducted outside and away from the local church, an ongoing activity that should be an essential part throughout every aspect of a believer’s life.
But to be effective in this ministry a Christian must grow spiritually, which is the only way the Christian will then be able live a Spirit-filled life — the only way God is able to effectively use one of His children. Now every Christian has been sealed by the Spirit of God and has the Spirit permanently within (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13, 14; James 4:5), but to be filled with the Spirit is another matter. To be filled with the Spirit is to have the ability to be so spiritually yielded to God that He (Holy Spirit) then is able to divinely work through the Christian in order to accomplish that which is pleasing to Him. And this state of being is required of all Christians in accordance with what the apostle Paul states in the book of Ephesians.
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20)
The question then is “How does one achieve this state of being? The answer is seen in a companion passage of Scripture, also given through the apostle Paul, as follows:
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:16, 17)
The parallel is clear. To be filled with the Spirit is to have the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. And this may only be achieved if a Christian continually avails himself to the teaching of the Word.
Another key word used in Scripture to convey the process of growing from spiritual immaturity to spiritual maturity (i.e., being filled with the Spirit) is the word “sanctify.” The Greek word translated sanctify is hagiazo, and it literally means “to set apart” or “to make holy.” Essentially it is used to represent a process (sanctification) required of Christians, which is the will of God (1 Thessalonians 4:3a). It is the process that represents a growth from babyhood to adulthood, from spiritual immaturity (the state of a Christian upon his “birth from above”) to ever increasing levels of spiritual maturity.
And the only way for a Christian to experience sanctification is to immerse himself in the Word of God, as is clearly seen in the following passages of Scripture. The first passage is part of Christ’s prayer for His disciples.
I have given them Your Word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. . . . Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth. (John 17:14, 17)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors-teachers, for the equipping [lit. perfecting] of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying [lit. building] of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge [lit. full or mature knowledge] of the Son of God, to a perfect [lit. full grown or mature] man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. (Ephesians 4:11-14)
For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge [lit. full or mature knowledge] of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge [lit. full or mature knowledge] of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. (Colossians 1:9-11)
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. . . . Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (1 Timothy 4:12, 13, 15, 16)
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
But you must continue in the things that you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God [lit. God-breathed], and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete [lit. mature], thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:14-17)
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless . . . but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:14, 18a)
Every Christian should realize that Scripture (the Holy Bible [Old Testament and the New Testament]) is primarily a book for the believer in Christ, given to be studied and absorbed so that the Christian may please God through continual spiritual growth. And then it is the Christians who are given for those without Christ, to bring them to Him.
And again, it the pastor of the local church who has the primary responsibility of bringing the Christian to a mature position in Christ. To this end, Arlen L. Chitwood in his book, Salvation of the Soul, provided the following cogent remarks:
Thus, a minister with a congregation placed under his care has been charged with a tremendous responsibility. His central ministry is among the saved, among those capable of grasping spiritual truth; and he is to disseminate spiritual truth to these individuals as it relates to things surrounding present and future aspects of salvation, not to things surrounding the past aspect of salvation. He, in this manner, is to “feed the flock of God,” looking ahead to Christ’s appearance in all His glory (1 Peter 5:2-4).
This individual is responsible, under the leadership of the Spirit of God, to provide proper spiritual nourishment to and for those Christians placed under his care. And the only thing that God has provided for him to use as he feeds the flock of God is the Word of God.
As a minister in charge of a flock, he is to expound this Word under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. And Christians placed under his care are to receive this proclaimed Word into their saved human spirits. Then the Spirit of God can take this “implanted Word” and effect spiritual growth to maturity, with the end result being the salvation of their souls (James 1:21).
The tragedy in Christian circles today is the light regard that pastors of churches have for fulfilling the very purpose of their ministry. And, the end result of pastors failing to properly “feed the flock” entrusted to their care will be the entrance of innumerable carnal, immature Christians into the Lord’s presence at the end of the present dispensation with redeemed spirits, changed bodies, but wasted and thus unredeemed souls — forfeited lives. Their eternal salvation will remain unaffected; but, with the forfeiture or loss of their souls, they will be unable to realize the inheritance presently “reserved in heaven” for the faithful (1 Peter 1:4). Consequently, they will occupy no position among the “many sons” who will be brought to glory (Hebrews 2:10).
But since most pastors of local churches fail in this primary responsibility, this writer strongly recommends that Christians establish a home church, and then to deeply indulge in the Word of God.
Bible One - Charles Strong's The Home Church
Random Thoughts!
By Thomas Sowell
December 27, 2011
Random thoughts on the passing scene:
Talk show host Dennis Miller said, "I don't dig polo. It's like miniature golf meets the Kentucky Derby."
Nothing illustrates the superficiality of our times better than the enthusiasm for electric cars, because they are supposed to greatly reduce air pollution. But the electricity that ultimately powers these cars has to be generated somewhere -- and nearly half the electricity generated in this country is generated by burning coal.
The 2012 Republican primaries may be a rerun of the 2008 primaries, where the various conservative candidates split the conservative vote so many ways that the candidate of the mushy middle got the nomination -- and then lost the election.
Because morality does not always prevail, by any means, too many of the intelligentsia act as if it has no effect. But, even in Nazi Germany, thousands of Germans hid Jews during the war, at the risk of their own lives, because it was the right thing to do.
In recent times, Christmas has brought not only holiday cheer but also attacks on the very word "Christmas," chasing it from the vocabulary of institutions and even from most "holiday cards." Like many other social crusades, this one is based on a lie -- namely that the Constitution puts a wall of separation between church and state. It also shows how easily intimidated we are by strident zealots.
If you don't like growing older, don't worry about it. You may not be growing older much longer.
What do you call it when someone steals someone else's money secretly? Theft. What do you call it when someone takes someone else's money openly by force? Robbery. What do you call it when a politician takes someone else's money in taxes and gives it to someone who is more likely to vote for him? Social Justice.
When an organization has more of its decisions made by committees, that gives more influence to those who have more time available to attend committee meetings and to drag out each meeting longer. In other words, it reduces the influence of those who have work to do, and are doing it, while making those who are less productive more influential.
Anyone who studies the history of ideas should notice how much more often people on the political left, more so than others, denigrate and demonize those who disagree with them -- instead of answering their arguments.
The wisest and most knowledgeable human being on the planet is utterly incompetent to make even 10 percent of the consequential decisions that have to be made in a modern nation. Yet all sorts of people want to decide how much money other people can make or keep, and to micro-manage how other people live their lives.
The real egalitarians are not the people who want to redistribute wealth to the poor, but those who want to extend to the poor the ability to create their own wealth, to lift themselves up, instead of trying to tear others down. Earning respect, including self-respect, is better than being a parasite.
Of all the arguments for giving amnesty to illegal immigrants, the most foolish is the argument that we can't find and expel all of them. There is not a law on the books that someone has not violated, including laws against murder, and we certainly have not found and prosecuted all the violators -- whether murderers or traffic law violators. But do we then legalize all the illegalities we haven't been able to detect and prosecute?
In the 1920s, Congressman Thomas S. Adams referred to "the ease with which the income tax may be legally avoided" but also said some Congressmen "so fervently believe that the rich ought to pay 40 or 50 per cent of their incomes" in taxes that they would rather make this a law, even if the government would get more revenue from a lower tax rate that people actually pay. Some also prefer class warfare politics that brings in votes, if not revenue.
Can you imagine a man who had never run any kind of organization, large or small, taking it upon himself to fundamentally change all kinds of organizations in a huge and complex economy? Yet that is what Barack Obama did when he said, "We are going to change the United States of America!" This was not "The Audacity of Hope." It was the audacity of hype.
Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com. To find out more about Thomas Sowell visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at
www.creators.com. or the following:
http://www.creators.com/opinion/thomas-sowell.html
http://townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/2011/12/27/random_thoughts/page/full/
Urologists!
