You are here: Home / Archives for Standards

PRINCIPLES AND ASSUMPTIONS

by

principles

 

By Ken Blue
The American Heritage Dictionary gives the following definition of the word principle. I have also added a list of synonyms. 1. A basic truth, law, or assumption. 2. A rule or standard, especially of good behavior. b. The collectivity of moral or ethical standards or judgments. 3. A fixed or predetermined policy or mode of action. 4. A basic or essential quality or element determining intrinsic nature or characteristic behavior. 5. A rule or law concerning the functioning of natural phenomena or mechanical processes.” Synonyms: • standard • benchmark • criterion • gauge • measure • touchstone • yardstick • guideline • requirement • prototype • guide • canon.

Since many principles (standards) are manmade and misapplied, the believer must distinguish between those of God and those of men. The Old Testament Law had one set of principles and the Pharisees had another by distortion of the Law. We need only to read the Gospels and the book of Acts to see Israel’s departure from Old Testament principles. Jesus rebuked this self-righteous crowd. Certainly, the religious leaders had their principles, and they expected everyone to live by them.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]We must have principles to live by, but they must never become legalistic mandates to control others.[/pullquote]

Things have not changed. There are some Christians who think they have God’s principles, and all who do not follow them are apostate and liberal. They are confident they have found the Bible verse which assures them that their principles are established by God. However, where that verse is found in Scripture is of no consequence to them. They have developed a set of standards, and now they must search from Genesis to Revelation to find support for them.

The problem with these men is that they have never learned how to rightly divide the Word of God. They either reach back under the Law or forward into the millennial kingdom for their principles, and then they seek to impose them on everyone else. We must have principles to live by, but we also need to know what part of the Bible to find them. They must match this dispensation of grace.

The principles or standards of dress, hair, days, musical instruments, background music, power point, boots, glasses, etc. have not Scriptural mandates for this dispensation. They are the legalistic mandates of men to control others.

INTERPRETATION VS APPLICATION

by

INTERPRETATION VS APPLICATION
Application

“… nor handling the word of God deceitfully…” 2 Corinthians 4:2.

Interpretation is the explanation of exactly what the text meant when it was written. It must include the historical, doctrinal, dispensational and prophetical meaning of the text. One cannot be loose and opinionated when seeking the true interpretation of a passage. He must be guided by the rules of biblical hermeneutics, rightly dividing the Scriptures, knowing what is literal, and what is symbolic. Interpretation is one thing; application is something altogether different.

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Application is imperative, but it must conform to the doctrine of the dispensation we are in today.[/pullquote]

There is no way to measure the damage done to believers through faulty application. The above picture illustrates this. This slight-of-hand is done when the preacher chooses a text and then preaches a topic or subject that has absolutely nothing to do with the chosen text. This art is so cleverly done that the average Christian thinks the text actually teaches what is being taught. No doubt, in some cases, the preacher thinks so himself.

Examples of this are seen when a text is read and then the preacher preaches his own preferences, church tradition or denominational views. You can identify this when he veers off to subjects like, how Christians should dress, what music they can listen to, what music and musical instruments can be used in the church and the sin of using Power Point. They think the Bible is opposed to promotions and special events to reach the lost. There is no end to the “do not’s” from this crowd. They think the Scriptures actually support their teaching on these and other like subjects. It does not!

Application is imperative when preaching, but all application must conform to the doctrines of the dispensation we are in today, and to the Scriptures. To do otherwise, is to handle the Word of God deceitfully for one’s own ends.

My advice is that one listen intently and test all preaching by this dispensation of grace to ensure that he or she is not being controlled or misinformed by a pastor who uses the Bible for his own ends rather than teaching exactly what it says. Remember, the marks of a cult are to use the Bible to control his followers.

WHY THE WOMEN IN MY CHURCH DON’T WEAR PANTS

by

WHY THE WOMEN IN MY CHURCH DON’T WEAR PANTS

pants

The following are five of the most absurd reasons that I have heard during my ministry:

  1. MOST OF MY PASTOR FRIENDS HAVE THIS STANDARD, AND I DON’T WANT TO LOSE THEIR FRIENDSHIP.

 

  1. I NEEDED A BIBLE VERSE TO JUSTIFY THIS STANDARD, SO I PULLED ONE OUT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. (“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5. We hope no one sees “Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.” Deuteronomy 22:11. We would look like hypocrites, and we could not explain why we don’t obey it.)

 

  1. THUS, OUR WOMEN WEAR DRESSES, EVEN THOUGH THE CLEAVAGE IS TO THE BELLY BUTTON, THE LENGTH IS UP TO THE THIGH, AND IT IS SO TIGHT THEY HAD TO USE VASELINE TO SLIP ONTO IT. THANK GOD, AT LEAST THEY AREN’T WEARING PANTS!

 

  1. I’VE BEEN TOLD THAT WOMEN WHO WEAR PANTS ARE “HUSSIES, WORLDLY, IMMODEST, AND VIOLATING SCRIPTURE.” WE DON’T WANT ANY OF THOSE WOMEN IN OUR CHURCH. THEY WILL CORRUPT THE GOOD GODLY WOMEN.

 

  1. CHURCHES MUST SET STANDARDS ON HOW PEOPLE DRESS.

COLOR BLIND

by

COLOR BLIND OR GREY AREA?

By Ken Blue

“Most color vision problems are inherited. People usually have three types of cone cells in the eye. Each type senses either red, green, or blue light. You see color when your cone cells sense different amounts of these three basic colors. Inherited color blindness happens when you don’t have one of these types of cone cells or they don’t work right. You may not see one of these three basic colors, or you may see a different shade of that color or a different color.” (http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/tc/color-blindness-topic-overview.)

Years ago I purchased a 1947 Lincoln sedan. It had velvet interior, power windows, power seats, push button doors, and twelve cylinders! It was a collectors dream. One day I was telling a friend all about it, and that it’s color was black. My wife overheard the conversation and quickly came in to correct me. “The car in not black, it is maroon,” The full impact of my color blindness hit me when I applied for a job that required a color test. I am as color blind as a bat. I know there is a number in the circle, but I cannot see it!

However, when it comes to the ministry, there is another area where we are to assume no real color exists; that is called the “gray” area. The idea is, since the Bible is silent on this issue, we will call it “gray.” The problem is, before any pastor gets through the gray area, he has found the issue to be black and white.

There are several of these areas in Scripture. They usually fall in the area of music, instruments, methods, hair, and entertainment. For example, I heard an evangelist say, “There’s nothing in the Bible about music being used to reach the lost.” Then he went to the piano and led us in “There’s Room At The Cross For You.” Another preacher chimed in, saying the same thing in another meeting, and then gave the invitation, having us sing, “Just As I Am.” Why would a pastor or evangelist use music to get sinners down the aisle, and then in the same sermon make negative comments about reaching the lost with music? Usually, we give little thought to what we are saying. We just quote others because we think it is true. Isn’t it amazing that some preachers think Bluegrass gospel is ok, and that classical music that people dance to is acceptable, and yet they can clearly see the music that is wrong, while in their “gray” area?

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There is no such area as a “gray” zone for the preacher.[/perfectpullquote]

Our predecessors did not see any musical instrument as a gray area. To them, it was black and white. Note: Spurgeon said, “… What a degradation to supplant the intelligent … by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by …strings and pipes… We do not need them. That would hinder rather than help our praise…” (Charles Spurgeon, Commentary on Psalm 42.)

Wesley said, “I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 685)

Luther said, “The organ in the worship Is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.” (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)

Adam Clarke said, “… Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”

Pastors have criticized us for years because we make much of special days in order to attract the lost. They would rather let a kid go to hell than give him a piece of bubblegum.

The Bible College I attended would not allow sideburns below the ear. A coat and tie must be worn to all classes. Most colleges maintain those standards today. I have no issue with that. However, many Christians have decided that if a man has a beard, mustache, or long sideburns, he must be unsaved, or backslidden at least. Did you know that in the Bible you could not mar your beard or have a rounded haircut? “Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.” Leviticus 19:27. “But,” you say, “Pastor Blue, that is Old Testament and for the Jews.” Well, I am so glad you noticed that. Perhaps others will notice that same truth when they try to impose other Old Testament teachings on the church.

No, there is no such area as a “gray” zone for the preacher. He only wants you to think there is, so he can lead you into it, through it and bring you out seeing things black and white, as he sees them.

My color blindness was inherited and I can do nothing about it, but watch out for those who want to help you through the “gray” zone. The very idea of saying music should not be used to reach the lost is the epitome of stupidity and is violated by every Baptist church, every Sunday. If you really believe that, you should be a man and cut all the songs from your hymnal written to reach sinners. These birds need to will their brain to the canary farm.

HEAD AND SHOULDERS

by

IS YOUR CHRISTIANITY TO YOUR HEAD?

By Ken Blue

“And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people”1 Samuel 9:2.

After working with men and women for years, I have discovered that what you see isn’t always what you get. Beauty may attract us, but it will not keep us attached. The pretty people live in Hollywood, but it seems that none of them can remain faithful. No wonder God say, “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. “Proverbs 31:30. 

Saul was every woman’s dream and every man’s envy. From all outward appearances, he had it all. But the little man inside him had never grown up. It does not require an x-ray to reveal this little fellow. All one must do is open his mouth and the little brat will take over. The evidence is obvious to all who see.

Today, all attention is on outward appearance, personality, and talent. There seems to be the idea, if we can get the attention of others, we will be validated. Thus, the attention is on the outward man while the inward man is ignored.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Today, all attention is on outward appearance …[/perfectpullquote]

What is missing in these pretty people? Why can’t commitments last? What is missing? The problem is that the inward man is neglected and ignored. What needs to be seen from the inward man is patience, obedience to Scripture, humility, transparency, and genuine love for others, personal knowledge of God, spiritual wisdom, understanding, and a moral compass. The behavior of people tells you more about them than the shoes they are wearing.

There are many like Saul, who are head and shoulders above others but are still little inside. Their Christianity has never gotten to the head or the heart. Every thought and action are self-serving; two people live in one body. Circumstances will determine which voice speaks. If every professing Christian really believed the following verse, it would make a great difference in the world. “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7.

Just because you have the chief seat, doesn’t make you chief. Just because others recognize you, doesn’t mean God recognizes you; and just because you are head and shoulders above others, doesn’t mean a little man isn’t living inside. God looks on the heart, so should we.