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LOOKING THROUGH COLORED GLASSES

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GLASSES OF LIMITED VISION

GLASSES

By Ken Blue

“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.

I saw a sign on a nursery door in some church which read, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed…” A father was seen picking up toys from his front yard. He said, “Now I know what Paul meant when he said, ‘when I became a man I put away childish things.’”

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The older we get and the more we study God’s Word, the more aware we become of just how little we know.[/perfectpullquote]

The supernatural gifts of the early church have ceased, and we are left with incomplete knowledge of this life and the life to follow. God has revealed to us all we need to know to trust Him. But, what has been revealed is childlike compared to what we are to know and experience in the next life.

The older we get and the more we study God’s Word, the more aware we become of just how little we know. Paul says our understanding at present is like that of a small child.

We are so limited on what heaven is like. What will we do throughout eternity? Where will the church be located and what will be its function? What will be our age in heaven and will we retain our features? Will we know each other as we knew them in this life? As we seek to see the answers to these and other questions, we find ourselves looking through a dark glass.

The glasses are dark, but we have enough light to know that faith, hope and charity abide, and we can trust Him who is saving the good wine for a future day. We know that to depart and be with Christ is far better than this present life. One day soon, we will be translated from this childlike understanding to the full knowledge of adulthood. What a great day that will be!

Islam’s Wife Beating Etiquette

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Egyptian Cleric Sa’d Arafat: Islam Permits Wife Beating Only When She Refuses to Have Sex with Her Husband

Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian cleric Sa’d Arafat, which aired on Al-Nas TV on February 4, 2010:
Interviewer: Would you believe that the European women in our times yearns for a husband who would be like a guardian to her. I would like to provide the viewers with some statistics. Ninety percent of British women do not want to marry a weak man, who sits down and cries the moment there is a problem. They say: No, such a man looks more like a woman. We want a manly man. […]
Wife beating is a serious accusation [leveled against Islam]. Let us examine this matter bit by bit.
Sa’d Arafat: Allah honored wives by instating the punishment of beatings.
Interviewer: Honored them with beatings? How is this possible?!
Sa’d Arafat: The prophet Muhammad said: “Don’t beat her in the face, and do not make her ugly.” See how she is honored. If the husband beats his wife, he must not beat her in the face. Even when he beats her, he must not curse her. This is incredible! He beats her in order to discipline her.
In addition, there must not be more than ten beatings, and he must not break her bones, injure her, break her teeth, or poke her in the eye. There is a beating etiquette. If he beats to discipline her, he must not raise his hand high. He must beat her from chest level. All these things honor the woman.
She is in need of discipline. How should the husband discipline her? Through admonishment. If she is not deterred, he should refuse to share the bed with her. If she is not repentant, he should beat her, but there are rules to the beating. It is forbidden to beat her in the face or make her ugly. When you beat her, you must not curse her. Islam forbids this.
Interviewer: With what should be beat her? With his bare hand? With a rod?
Sa’d Arafat: If he beats her, the beatings should not be hard, so that they do not leave a mark. He can beat her with a short rod. He must avoid beating her in the face or in places in the head where it hurts. The beatings should be on the body and should not come one right after the other. These are all choices made during the process, but beatings are allowed only as a last resort. […]
The honoring of the wife in Islam is also evident in the fact that the punishment of beating is permissible in one case only: when she refuses to sleep with him.
Interviewer: When she refuses to sleep with him?
Sa’d Arafat: Yes, because where else could the husband go? He wants her, but she refuses. He should begin with admonishment and threats…
Interviewer: Allow me to repeat this. A man cannot beat his wife…
Interviewer: …over food or drink. Beatings are permitted only in this case, which the husband cannot do without. […]

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“BIBLE BELIEVER,” ARE YOU IN STEP WITH MR. HAMER?

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Have some “Bible believers” joined Mr. Hamer? It appears that they have become part of his team of hating sinners. This novel doctrine has infected many who claim to be Bible believers. I believe they are mistaken and have created one more heresy for us to deal with. Caleb Hamer says that he prays for the death of the lost because God hates them. “Every time I pray, I ask God to destroy all sinners, all evil doers and all the wicked. If you aren’t saved you are all three. So, yep, I ask God to destroy YOU. Praise God!” He says, “There are plenty more verses in the Bible about how God HATES THE SINNER.”

If what he says is true, wouldn’t it be Godlike for us to hate the sinner also? Do you know Evangelist and Pastors who are preaching this perverted doctrine? Mr. Hamer continues, “People aren’t saved because of God’s love. People get saved because they want to escape God’s wrath and don’t want to be destroyed. We should, therefore, ask God to judge and destroy the wicked and evil-doers because their destructions is definitely a form of God’s grace.” He continues, “We need to stop separating sin from the sinner. God judges the sinner! If you believe that God is just and true, then you must believe that He hates the sin and the sinner. God is a just judge and God is angry with the wicked every day. (Psalms 7:11) Here are some things which are sinful: Women preaching in church. Women in church buildings without a head covering. Pornography. Lying. Stealing. Abortion. Having sex before you are married. Homosexuality. Masturbation. Impure Thoughts. Drinking alcohol. Using drugs. Smoking cigarettes . Used Car Salesmen. Mormons. Atheists. Agnostics.” http://www.angelfire.com/on4/calebhamer/

Now, If Mr. Hamer is correct in his premise, he must be correct in his conclusions as well. Let me ask, if God hates all sinners, shouldn’t we hate them? Do you know preachers who are sinners? If God hates these sinners, why preach for them and protect them? Are we selective about the sinners we think God hates? Personally, I think the argument is reversed. It is not that they hate what God hates; they think God hates those they hate and disagree with.

Notice that Jesus loved the rich young ruler. “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Mark 10:21. And what about Jacob? God said, “Jacob have I loved..”  Why,  Jacob was as mean as the devil!  If the Lord hates the sinner, why have Hosea marry a whore, why not follow the Law and have her killed? Then what of the woman taken in adultery, why not have her stoned, if He hated her? It would be easy for me to prove that God hates sin, but loves the sinner. For every verse one can show that God hates sinners, I can show 20 that says He loves them.

There is no conflict between the two. Until those who espouse the doctrine that God hates sinners, practice what they preach, we will not take them too seriously. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. “I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob, Malachi 1:2. Jesus told His disciples to love their enemies. What? Are we to love them and pray that God will kill them? The brethren will need to do a little more Scripture twisting to prove that God hates the sinner.

DON’T FOLLOW THE AUTHORITY OF ABUSIVE PASTORS; BUY MY BOOKS

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DOES YOUR PASTOR HAVE AUTHORITY?

authorityBy Ken Blue

There is a popular teaching that if you are unhappy with your pastor, you are probably being abused and should leave your church. Granted, if a leader is immoral, dishonest, or teaches false doctrine, he should be removed from leadership or you should remove yourself.

However, many Christians are being led to believe that the pastor has no authority, and if he exercises authority he is being abusive. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is impossible to have responsibility without authority.

The Pauline Epistles are doctrine for the church of this dispensation; and the Pastoral Epistles are written for pastors regarding their character and duties. These are 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. In the first four verses of I Timothy, Paul instructs Timothy to “charge” preachers to teach no other doctrines than that which he had received. The word “charge” is the same as to command. You cannot command without authority. This same “command” is given again in verse 18. The reader will also see the impossibility of obeying the Bible without some pastoral authority.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Christians are being led to believe that the pastor has no authority, and if he exercises authority he is being abusive or controlling.[/perfectpullquote]

Chapter three gives the moral requirements for pastors and deacons. Without pastoral authority, it would be impossible to make any decisions on these matters. In chapter 4:11, he says, “These things command and teach.” 1 Timothy 4:11. This command cannot be obeyed if the pastor is stripped of his pastoral authority.

In chapter five Paul tells Timothy who should not be cared for by the church. The young women should not become dependent on the church for material needs. See verses 3-16. Concerning elders, and their salaries, Timothy must exercise discernment.

“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.” 1 Timothy 5:21. The pastor must exercise authority to do his ministry. The Devil would love to strip him of it, and make you believe you are being abused. Your real problem may be that you are simply rebellious against the Scriptures, and justifying it by calling it abuse.

Some people are so thin-skinned that when they are rebuked, they think you are abusing them. Thus, these writers and speakers who attack pastoral authority and responsibility want you to believe you are a victim. That way they can rescue you from these mean old pastors. Something is rotten in Denmark.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]…writers and speakers who attack pastoral authority and responsibility want you to believe you are a victim.[/perfectpullquote]

We need not continue through the Pastoral Epistles; they only confirm what has already been established. You expect your pastor to be responsible for the direction, teaching, and leadership of the church. He cannot do this without authority.

Some writers seek to exclude you from your pastor and church that you might court and follow them. They seek your support through the sale of books. The goal is to remove you from your church so you will become their followers. Unless your pastor is in the category mentioned in the first paragraph, you should settle down, go to work, follow, and support your pastor. If you cannot take correction or rebuke from the Word of God, you will never mature as a Christian.

GOD’S TWO PROGRAMS

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THE PROGRAMS OF PROPHECY AND THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

PROGRAMSBy Ken Blue

“ These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 10:5-7.

“But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matthew 15:24.

“Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:” Romans 15:8.

“ Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:” Colossians 1:25-27.

“And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” Ephesians 3:9.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The church is never the subject of prophecy.[/perfectpullquote]

These are just a few of the many passages that explain that there are two programs in the Word of God. One is the program of prophecy and concerns Israel, and the other is the program of the mystery and concerns the church, the body of Christ. The church is never the subject of prophecy. Prophecy concerning Israel, their King, their land, and their kingdom; the subject of prophecy is from the very beginning.

But, the fact that there would be a body consisting of Jew and Gentile; where each is saved by grace alone, without Israel or the Law, was unknown until revealed to and by the Apostle Paul. This mystery church was unknown in every dispensation. This is why it is called a “mystery.”

The ministry of Peter and the Twelve concerned the fulfillment of prophecy and is called the gospel of the circumcision. “But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;” Galatians 2:7. The gospel preached by Paul was all grace and is the gospel of the un-circumcision. Some assume that Paul and Peter had the same gospel message, but that is not what the text says. It does not say to the circumcision; that would be contrary to the commissions in the gospels and early Acts.

Peter made it clear that Israel was living in the last days of prophecy for them, if they would repent. “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 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: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come: Acts 2:16-20. Since they did not repent, the finalization of Joel’s last days of prophecy will be after the rapture of the body of Christ.

The two programs are crystal clear once we understand the purpose of Paul’s ministry. The two programs of God concern prophecy and the mystery. The unseen and unrevealed mystery of the church, the body of Christ, was hid from the foundation of the world until made known to and through Paul.