PROVERBS 22:6

 

PROVERBS 22:6

          Proverbs 22:6 has been used as a proof text to put false guilt on many parents. What those who quote that passage do not realize is that Proverbs are not unconditional promises to Christians. Proverbs is part of the Wisdom Literature. Therefore, a bible scholar should understand what the wisdom literature is. Wisdom literature is a different genre unlike other genres. Furthermore, parents should realize that every child has his/her own bent. Therefore, you cannot shape the life of your children to be the same. So the first thing every parent should do is to pray for the spirit of discernment as the children are growing.

          Many quote this passage because they do not put everything into context. Many Christians think that they can claim every promise in the Bible for themselves. However, they do not realize that some promises were for the Hebrew people. Also, some do not take into account that some promises are conditional.

                                                    MARK 16:17-20

          You have cited a very controversial passage. This text has given ammunition to higher criticism of the Bible. It is not included in some of the manuscripts. Therefore, even it is excluded in some of the English translations. We believe (I am included) that a scribe added verses 17-20 to the text. The chapter from Mark 16 should end in verse 16. This passage is in harmony with the Great Commission passages in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. Some Bible scholars and preachers do not want to admit that these verses are not in the best manuscripts but they were added by a scribe that should have been emendated.

          Matthew 18:20 continues to be used out of context until preachers and Bible teachers preach and teach the people of God the context and background of that passage. In the Nehemiah's prayer, include the purpose or significance of the broken walls of Jerusalem. Why was Nehemiah concerned about this situation? When you have dealt with this then you can go ahead and deal with the prayer and fasting.

 “Like Fire Shut Up in My Bone

          Many use this verse out of context to teach the necessity of sharing one's faith in Christ. However, Jeremiah did not mean that when he penned the statement or phrase under the inspiration of God. Jeremiah did not have any illusion about his calling by God (Jer. 1). He had a divine compulsion to preach unpopular message to a rebellious and disobedient people. God told him what the reaction of the people would be. Jeremiah loved his people but he hated their sin and rebellion against God. Nevertheless, he knew the consequences of their rejection of his message from God. A time came that he wanted to resign his position as a prophet of God. However, he knew that he could not give up on God and His calling upon his life. In the face of rejection, persecution, and suffering Jeremiah remained faithful to the Lord by proclaiming His word to the people. The people did not obey the Lord and Babylon invaded the land and took them to captivity in Babylon. God vindicated his servant. How many Christians today would have remained faithful like Jeremiah in the face of persecution and suffering?

 

          Jeremiah was under divine compulsion to preach a message of God to a rebellious people who were not willing to repent walk in obedience with God. Any preacher who wants to use this passage should understand the context and the cultural and historical setting of the book in general.

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Thanks.

LOVE AND DISCIPLINE

 

          The culture today teaches people to jettison discipline and only embrace love. However, the society’s understanding of love is flawed. Love without discipline is license, which promotes freedom without restraint. Discipline without love gives birth to legalism and aloofness and detachment from people. The society has become fragmented today because we have detached love from discipline. Therefore, we are to reconcile or combine the two concepts and virtues.

The Sovereignty of God and Human Responsibility

          The sovereignty of God and human responsibility is a thread that runs through biblical revelation beginning with Genesis to Revelation. God is sovereign that means God is in absolute control. There is nothing that happens or occurs without His knowledge. God is sovereign in His power, wisdom, and knowledge. However, God gives humans responsibility to respond to His love and His mission. Therefore, there are certain things that God expect humans to do. For instance, if He wants to save people today, God does not send angels. He sends some of His servants to take the gospel of Christ to them. God gives human responsibility because without that responsibility, we would not know human freedom and love. God did not create robots in the Garden of Eden. He created humans and gave them responsibility (Genesis 1-3). The tension in God’s sovereignty and human responsibility will continue to exist until Christ returns. This tension also helps us to yield our lives to God and seek His help realizing that we cannot do anything with our own strength. However, with His strength we can accomplish everything given to us (Phil. 4:13).

          Your church is being the church that Jesus Christ would be proud of. I assume some people might have left the church because you are inviting "undesirables" into the fold. That is the same problem that Jesus encountered with the Pharisees and the religious leaders of His day. Your church will thrive because the Spirit of God will bless the church. Today many churches that are exclusive are dying, whiles those who open their doors to everyone are thriving. This does not mean that you do not preach about sin or living a disciplined life. It means that you embrace the attitude of Christ in the midst of a broken society.

          First, I would like to find out where the Pastor received his theological education. There is an on-going debate whether Christians are to jettison the Old Testament and embrace only the NT. However, that is just beside the point. The complete canon of Scripture includes the Old Testament. If we neglect the Old Testament, we would not be able to address the cultural, social, and political issues of our day. Many of the events of our day are similar to the events some of the Prophets of God addressed in the Old Testament. My suggestion is that a Pastor should endeavor to preach through the Bible beginning from Genesis 1.

          Is the church still large today? I believe you have put your hand on one of the issues that have made many churches irrelevant and dying today. When a church becomes inward looking it ceases from being the true church of Christ. Authoritarians whose mantra is that we have done it the "same way" and we do not want to change control such churches. Churches saved us to become servers. In fact, He said that He came to serve but not to be served. He used this statement as repudiation to the disciples who were scrambling for positions and status of prominence.

          Your story represents the situation that many Christians encounter in many churches. In fact, I have written about this in response to many articles. I believe that the government has become too intrusive in the lives of people because many churches have neglected their responsibilities to help the poor and needy both in and outside the church. Jesus addressed this in the Gospels. Paul, James, and John address this in their Epistles. It is an unfortunate situation. I believe that is why some churches have become irrelevant and dying today.

LOVING THE SINNER AND HATING SIN

 

          Kapic's treatise here is similar to what Will McRaney, Jr., deals with in his book The Art of Personal Evangelism. Involving in people's life is messy. That is why Jesus used the analogy of farming in many of his teachings especially, the Parables. Not only that, Jesus also demonstrated this principle in His dealings with people. Let me give you at least three examples. The first one is Zacchaeus. Jesus loved Zacchaeus but hated his sin of being a crook and a greedy tax collector. The second example is the Samaritan woman (John 4). The disciples did not want Jesus to waste His time with this woman of bad reputation but Jesus loved the woman and revealed Himself to her. The third illustration is the man born blind from birth (congenital blindness) (John 9). The Pharisees on one hand hated such people but Jesus on the other hand loved them and saved them. The truth is that we are to hate sin as Jesus hates sin but we are to love the sinner as He still loves sinners. A typical example is the woman who was caught in adultery and brought to Jesus for condemnation. Instead of condemnation and imminent death, Jesus offered forgiveness and a reprimand. That is what we need to do as followers of Christ.

          How old was this pastor? I believe that he did not use wisdom and tactfulness. These are some of the mistakes that bring about church splits. These things can be prevented if pastors and spiritual leaders would overcome pride and self-centered attitude.

          Do you think that Jesus, the early church, and the Apostle Paul would make such a statement that this church is not for everybody? On the contrary, Jesus said the Son of Man came to seek and to save those who were lost. Paul said that I have become all things to all men so I may win some.

          I believe that there should be other means of spiritual growth for believers besides the preaching on Sunday. In my local church, we have small group meetings outside the church in various homes.

What I differ with you is that of infants in the main service. I don't think that it is appropriate for infants to be crying during the middle of preaching by the Pastor or a guest preacher. That is child care is provided for mothers with children.

 

          You have identified one of the common dichotomies in the local church today. What you have stated here is similar to salvation by works versus faith alone. However, both should walk hand in hand (Eph. 2:8-10). We should endeavor to avoid both extremes. There should be a balance between good works and faith.

          You are dealing with an important issue that has been the downfall of many young preachers today. Many young preachers in their enthusiasm enter the pastorate with a mind full of new ideas. However, what they don't realize is that it takes time for people to change. There is nothing wrong with tradition. However, what is wrong is traditionalism and there is a difference.

          The knowledge of God that does not lead to a true worship of God becomes idolatry. Seminarians are often warned to be careful that they do not become too focused on the academic side of theology that they forget to worship God. For instance, a seminary student can become too pre-occupied in learning how to parse Greek verbs while he neglects having his quiet time with God in His Word and in prayer. There should be a fine balance between the two.