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MORALITY AND MORONS

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MORALITY AND MORONS

monkeysBy Ken Blue

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.” 2 Timothy 2:14.

Words have no meaning without a context, and the context is determined by the culture, or the text under discussion. This rule must be followed when reading any article or the Bible. There are standards in the Old Testament, and in Middle East today that would be abhorred in other cultures. The possession of multiple wives was practiced from the beginning of time, and still practiced in some parts of the world. We, in western society today, would abhor such practices. The same may be said of slavery. Our greatest error may be our interpretation based, not on Scripture, but on our own culture.

In Islam, the only acceptable dress to be worn in public is the hijab. Women of the Old Testament may have worn something similar. One could not be accused of immodesty who adhered to that custom. They were modest in dress.

Every person should be modest in appearance, and moral in behavior. We have no argument about that.  However, the only acceptable rule for this is the Bible, rightly divided.  It ought to be evident to the reader that one can make the Bible teach anything he or she likes, or dislikes, when right divisions are ignored.

It is such a weariness of the mind when we see how men ignore right division. Such words as modesty, morality, godly, standards, glorify, dress, hair, etc. must be interpreted within the context of right divisions, and the culture in question.

Every Christian makes divisions in Scripture when it suits his purpose. Right divisions may be the KEY to right understanding of Scripture, and we are commanded to do so. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15.  “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:”
1 Corinthians 10:32.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Such words as modesty, morality, godly, standards, glorify, dress, hair, etc. must be interpreted within the context of right divisions, and the culture in question.[/pullquote]

We must know what is written to/for the Jew, to the Gentile, and to the Church. Some will quote, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11. True, all the Bible is written for our learning. But, not all is an ensample for us to follow. The context is about Jews in the wilderness.

The word “ashamed” in 2 Timothy 2:15 is clarified in verse 18.   Hymenaeus and Philetus were teaching that the resurrection of the Saints had past. This was an example of wrong division. If these two were saved, they, along with  all they had deceived will be ashamed at the judgment. Right division would correct this error.

One can see that the Bible is not chronological, but divided by subject matter. For example, the first five books are Law.  The next 12 are history.  The next five are poetry. The next five are major prophecy. The last 12 are Minor Prophets. The division is 5-12-5-5-12=39. In the Gospels through Acts, the five books are history in transition. They are Jewish, with the exception of the last half of Acts. Following these, you have the writings of the Apostle Paul. Paul was called and commissioned like no other man. He also wrote all the church epistles. It is from these the church receives all doctrine for itself. Doctrine from any other scripture must agree with these epistles, when we make application.

This bring us to another truth; Paul never put one day above another, neither did he dictate any dress specifics, nor any diet for the Gentiles. Paul was the Apostle of the administration of grace. This is not a license to sin, but it is liberty from the laws and commandments.

Many pastors are on a “power trip.” They act as if an infallible Bible makes them infallible. They have this need to have followers and to control of others. This is best illustrated through their mishandling of the Word of God. That is, by ignoring right divisions.

This brings us to our last point, the matter of using Scripture under the Law to tell women how to dress, while ignoring what it says in the context to men. God has made the husband the head of the wife. Thus, the husband and father should deal with these issues. It is these wrong divisions that has, and is creating division and animosity among the brethren. I have found that those with whom you don’t agree on Deut. 22:5 can’t practice 1 John 4:20. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” 1 John 4:20. I am aware that I have taken 1 John out of context, but no one will notice.

Morality and modesty is right and expected. But, we need to stop pretending that the West is the standard. God said, concerning days and diets, “For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans 14:2-5 . Our misuse of Scripture, and inability to make right divisions, makes us look like morons now, and will make us ashamed at the judgment.

CULTURE COUNTS

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culture Here I Am Lord

By Ken Blue

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.

North America consists of many diverse cultures and ethnic groups. Churches that ignore this truth do so to their own peril. This fact is made more evident by Chinatown, Little Italy and other community groups within most large cities.

Churches that attempt to force a culture into their church, foreign to the surrounding community, will find it like trying to drive a square peg into a round hole. It is practically impossible. Paul never attempted to bring Jewish culture or customs into Gentile churches. The gospel and the Pauline epistles easily fit any culture.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]A pastor should make every effort to see that his church is not foreign to the area where he serves.[/pullquote]

I see some pastors attempting to force southern culture into their churches in the northern states. There is a world of difference, not only within large cities, but within the various states. Of course the gospel is the same, but the cultures may not be the same. That is why a pastor should make every effort to see that his church is not foreign to the area where he serves. Paul was able and willing to adapt, but Some pastors are not. It is easier to let people go to hell, than it is to adjust.

We must ask ourselves; are we trying to get men and women transformed into the image of Christ, or are we trying to force a culture that is foreign to them? Every foreign missionary knows what I am talking about. Do you?

DO YOU HAVE ENOUGH HATE TO BE JESUS’ DISCIPLE?

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Am I Supposed to Hate My Family?

hateBy Ken Blue

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:26.

If I can convince myself that God hates people and I too am to hate them; it will give me a sense of power and entitlement. Many of the brethren are being led down the path to stupidity, ruin, and obnoxious behavior because they are being influenced to believe that God hates the lost, and therefore, they too must have contempt for them.

Well, we call upon these brethren to read the above verse and then tell the world that they hate their father, mother, wife, children, brethren, and sisters. Can they say with a straight face that they hate their family, or will they need to modify the word “hate” somewhat?

One of their problems is the refusal to accept that word usage in one place, time and culture, does not have the same meaning in another. Dake says the word is, “An idiom of preference (Mt. 6:24; 10:37; Rom. 9:13; Mal. 1:2-3; Gen. 29:30-31; Dt. 21:15-17). One must prefer God or love Him more than all else to be saved (Mt. 22:37). “God first” is the motto of the Bible.” —Dake’s Study Notes.

This truth is also illustrated in the different affection Jacob had for his two wives. “ And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. And when the LORD saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.” Genesis 29:30-31.

The Merriam Webster Dictionary says an Idiom means, 1 a : the language peculiar to a people or to a district, community, or class
: DIALECT b : the syntactical, grammatical, or structural form peculiar to a language.2 : an expression in the usage of a language that is peculiar to itself either grammatically (as no, it wasn’t me) or in having a meaning that cannot be derived from the conjoined meanings of its elements (as Monday week for *the Monday a week after next Monday*).3 : a style or form of artistic expression that is characteristic of an individual, a period…”

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Hatred” as used in the time and culture of the Bible does not carry the same meaning we attach to it today in our culture.[/pullquote]

Therefore, the word “hate” as used in the time and culture of the Bible does not carry the same meaning we attach to it today in our culture; and your interpretation of Luke 14:26 will confirm that truth.

The same interpretation is to be give to the statement, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Romans 9:13. The context deals with the choice of God to give the family blessing to Jacob; which included the priestly and prophetic head of his house and give him all the birthright signified. Although Esau was the firstborn, God, in His sovereignty chooses Jacob and gave Esau the second position in the family. However, that second position included manifold blessings of God. “And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.” Genesis 27:39-40.

Thus, the word must be seen in the context of the time and culture in which it was used and intended. Dake’s comments are correct when he says its use is, “An idiom of preference.” It is not to be thought of as we use it in our culture and time. Now, let me ask you again, do you hate your family, or will you cut them some slack?