And They Shall Be One Flesh

"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed." (Genesis 2:18-25)

This story is the basis for all scriptural teaching about marriage. In it we find that the woman was created specifically to meet the needs of the man. She was to be an help meet for him. The Hebrew word translated help meet means an aide or assistant. She is not an inferior.

The choice of terminology here is very much like a team of surgeons. One is the team leader, skilled in certain aspects of the surgery, while the assisting surgeon, who may be just as skilled, or even more so, focuses on other aspects of the surgery. Respect for one anothers skills enables them to work together and be far more effective than either would be separately. The leader is dependent on the assisting surgeon to help spot problems, take care of his or her specialty, and should the need arise, take over his position and complete the surgery. The assistant, is freed to focus on developing problems, and performing his or her specialty, always prepared to take over if needed, yet not interfering inappropriately with the lead surgeon's decisions or work. Both must have the patients best interest in mind rather than their own pride. The best surgeons are those most effectively utilize each others skills.

This was God's plan for marriage, and he created woman for the express purpose of accomplishing that plan. She was made from man's rib, making her man's equal in every way. Women are at least as intelligent as men, although their focus tends to be on different subjects.

This makes them especially valuable, as they specialize in areas men tend to neglect. Working together, they complement each other, producing much better results than they could accomplish working separately.

Adam says that a man is to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and they shall be one flesh. The word translated cleave means to cling or adhere to, to be joined together. Eve was literally part of Adams flesh. The husband and wife relationship is to be just as strong as their connection, and modern day divorce actions show that loosing a spouse is just as devastating as loosing a physical limb.

I Corinthians 6:16 makes it clear that the sex act produces this joining. "What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh." Traditionally a marriage was not considered consumated until the sexual act was completed. Sex was frequently referred to as the marriage act. This is true even if the sexual act was with a prostitute. Unfortunately, for those who have been promiscous, the joining effect is contaminated and weakened by the joining to the others.

Jesus quotes Genesis, stating that the joining is Gods work in Mark 10:6-9. "But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." This is also recorded in Matthew 19:4-6. The marriage is not an act of man, but of God.

A Double Standard

"And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." (John 8:3-11)

Notice the hypocrisy of the Pharisees who brought the woman to Jesus? If they were concerned about the law, what Jesus said was irrelevant. The law was to be enforced. If we lok at the law, however, we find that they were only rying to enforce a part of it. Leviticus 20:10 is very clear. "And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. "

Clearly, if they caught the woman in the very act, they also caught the man. The law demanded that both be killed. They were using a double standard. The woman was at fault in their minds, but the man was not. So often in todays world, we see the same type of double standard among so called Christians. The pastor of one of the larger local churches, in speaking about sex outside marriage, told the girls that they must keep themselves pure, but "after all, we can't expect those old rough boys to."

When Jesus said to let the man without sin cast the first stone, everyone of them knew they were guilty in this as well as other areas. We are to obey God, without playing favorites. "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" (I Timothy 5:21).

Galatians 3: 28 states "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." This is reinforced by Colossians 3:11, "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all." There is no basis for preferential treatment, whether sexual, social, financial, or racial, and it is forbidden.

A Conscience Seared With a Hot Iron

A young woman was found, naked and battered. She told police an almost unbelievable story of abduction, rape and torture by a man and woman, and how she had managed to escape. When police found the place she had described, they discovered the implements of torture and her blood, they also found evidence of several other women having been tortured. Several bodies were discovered and some missing person cases were resolved.

While this took place only about 100 miles from where I live, it is not an isolated incident. W read of them constantly, and Tv shows portray them as a steady diet. How could anyone be so depraved as to treat other human beings that way? How could a system such as the Nazi concentration camps develop? Reading of the acts depicted on pornographic movies is nauseating. What could lead to such monstrous behaviour?

Paul answers the question, and advises us how to avoid falling into the same kind of wickedness in Ephesians 4:17-24. "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

People who immerse themselves in wickedness begin to loose natural emotions. Titus 1:15 tells us, "unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." If continued longer, even those who profess to know God can become that evil as we are told in I Timothy 4:1-2. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"

Psychologists tell us that men who regularly read and watch pornography become unable to enjoy the natural sex act, and turn to ever escalating homosexuality, bestiallity, sadism, and masochism in an effort to feel something. I used to wonder how the man accused of the Black Magnolia murder in Los Angeles could assist in gang raping his own daughter, but he had become so desensitized that it no longer affected him. He was fully given over to lasciviousness, so that his own children believe him guilty, even though he was never brought to trial.

Human efforts to stop such behaviour have resulted in huge jail populations, registering sex offenders, and clogged courts and treatment facilities, with ever increasing problems.

Paul warns us that we need, as Christians, to replace that old nature with the new man who is made after the nature of God. The atrocities commited by so called "Christians" are the result of not allowing God to replace the old man with a new one. You cannot serve God living in such a manner. We are, as natural humans no different than anyone else. It is only that new man controling us that makes us truly different. Who controls you?

What is footwashing about?

I just saw a photo that was taken of the only foot washing ceremony I have ever attended, although I know that several churches practice them regularly. What is it all about? To understand, we need to look at the subject first from a historical perspective.

In Jesus day, most people wore sandals. They did not have cars and so rarely rode anywhere. Their feet got dirty as a result. It was common courtesy to wash your guests feet, indicating an interest in their wellbeing, and that they were welcome to stay. Failure to do so indicated the opposite.

Luke 7: 36-47 tells of one instance, in which the person who invited him home was disrespectful and did not exercise this common courtesy, but judged one who did. "And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little."

The woman who was so looked down upon, demonstrated more respec for Christ than the person who invited him to lunch. She went beyond the standard, even though it was not her responsibility. Normally a minor servant would have been assigned to do the job. The Pharisee didn't wash Jesus' feet himself, nor did he have one of his servants do so. It implies he had little regard for Jesus, but wanted people to notice that he had Jesus to lunch.

John 13:1-17 gives the Christ's teaching on foot washing. "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

The teaching here is not of a ceremonial action, put of a respect and concern for others that is willing to humble itself for their benefit. Jesus says his action is an example thet we are not to be unwilling to serve just as he did. We ought to be willing to do the most humiliating of jobs if that is what is needed. We hear a great deal about having a servant's heart today, but see few examples. Jesus did not ritually wash their feet as an indication of his spirituality, but as an indication of his concern for their comfort even though it meant he had to give up some of his.

We are instructed to have that same attitude. Most ritual footwashing ceremonies are about a show of religious behaviour, and make a mockery of what Christ was teaching. That is what the one I attended appeared to be as well.

Charity God's Way.

Every few days, during the summer months, at our local Walmart, there is a man standing on the corner holding up a sign saying he will work for food. Car after car stops and gives him donations. Right behind him is a sign offering $7.00 an hour for inexperienced people and more if you have experience at Burger King. Across the street is a similar sign at Taco Bell. Walmart has now hiring signs out, as does every business within sight.

$7.00 would be more than food, and having in some of those businesses and heard them asking people if they want a job, I am pretty sure the guys sign is a lie. A friend of mine offered $10.00 and a meal if the guy would just sit in his fleamarket stand for 30 minutes while he went to get something to eat and the guy refused. When the offer was raised to $20, the guy still refused. Obviously, he expected to make more staying where he was. He is defrauding every person who stops to help him.

I am a firm believer that God tells us to help the poor. As a Christian, it is our obligation. Nevertheless, I am to follow God,s instruction in how I give. Paul instructed tha church in Thessalonica, "For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread," (II Thessalonians 3:10-12).

To give such a person money merely rewards him for his sin and encourages him to continue. I have a responsibility not to encourage him to cheat and lie. I am going against God in giving to him. Charitable organisations such as rescue missions and homeless shelters can be very valuable, or they can encourage wickedness, and it only takes very small changes in how they run to make the difference.

God established a welfare program in Israel. It did not encourage laziness, but it did enable destitute people to have food and drink. We ought to use a similar model in our charitable efforts. Leviticus 19:9-10describes it, "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God."

The food was available, but the recipients had to go and gather it for themselves. if they were not willing to do that much, they deserved to starve. To be seen gleaning another man's field might be embarassing, but a genuinely hungry person would not allow that to stop him. On the other hand, if he had nothing because of mis management or laziness, the embarassment might cause him to change his ways.

What would happen if our charitable organizations worked in a similar manner?

Created in the Image of God

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." (Genesis 1:27)

What does this mean, that we were created in the image of God? What color is his skin? Is his face a composite of all humans? The Bible uses many anthropomorphisms or human characteristics to describe God and his actions, as the hand of God, or his eye. How big are his hands?

We are told that he has the power to be everywhere at once, and to keep the universe together. A physical body like ours does not have such capabilities. With only 2 hands, just 3 basketballs become a jugling act. How can God juggle the planets, not to mention the moon and all the stars? Paul, speaking of the ressurection of the dead, in I Corinthians 15:35-55, stresses that there are differences between plant materials, between different animal, and between earthly and heavenly things. Our human bodies of flesh and blood cannot exist in God's kingdom. Therefore, Gods body must of necessity be different from ours.

Romans 1:21-25 describes human beings a trying to reduce God to their level. "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

While anthropomorphisms allow us to describe God and his actions in terms we can understand, we need to be careful that in so doing, we do not loose sight of the fact that he is in many respects very unlike us. We run the risk of defining him as merely a grlorified human. Joseph Smith exemplified this tendency saying, "As God was, we are; as God is, we shall be".

Romans 8:29 tells us, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." He also tells us that Christ is the image of the invisible God in Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3.

Apparently part of that image was lost as a result of sin. II Corinthians 5: 17 tells us "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." At least part of the image is in knowledge according to Colossias 3:9-10, "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:", and is renewed at salvation. this should change our actions.

A second part is described in Ephesians 4:22-24. "That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Righteousness and true holiness were part of our original state and in recieving Christ are renewed in us. We need to conciously put away the old actions, and live as the new person.

II Corinthians 3:18 informs us that we will be conformed to the image of Christ by getting to know him more fully, from study of his word. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

There is a lot I do not fully understand about the image of God, but if I can be transformed into the image of Christ, who is the express (exact) image of God by getting to know him, it is worth the effort.

Modesty, The Biblical Standard of Dress

Many have set standards of dress, especially for women. Some have forbidden slacks, others forbid bright colors, or bare arms. Several groups have restricted the wearing of jewelry or makeup. Timothy 2:9-10 gives the following instruction. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

The key word in the passage is 'modest'. Strongs Concordance defines the Greek word used as meaning 'orderly, or decorus'. it is translated as of good behaviour or modest. Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary defines modest as, "Restrained by a sense of propriety; not forward or bold; unpretending; bashful; diffident; free from anything suggestive of sexual impurity; pure; moderate; not excessive, extreme, or extravagant." A simple working definition is not calling attention to oneself.

These definitions cause us to understand that Paul is not forbidding the use of any jewelry, or demanding long skirts, etc., but is advocating resraint in all these things. Sexually revealing attire is not modest, but neither is dress which emphasizes ones religious beliefs. To dress in a long plain dress, with long sleeves, no makeup and no jewelry, as some advocate is immodest. It calls attention to you.

To say it is dressing so everyone will know that that you are a Christian is like the Pharisees Jesus described in Matthew 23;5, "But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments." He accuses them of hypocrisy and pretense, a contradiction to the definition of modesty. In Mark 12:38-40 warns, "Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces, And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation."

By the same standard, the woman that told pastors wives that they should never buy a dress costing less than $300 and must go to the beautician at least once a week is equally wrong and immodest. She is also advocating rejection of God's standard as described in the verse in I Timothy, as well a I Peter 3:1-4, which says, "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

Quite simply, emphasis on dress, whatever the purpose, implies a fleshly, worldly perspective. As I Samuel 16:7 says' "for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." The focus needs to be on God, not our appearance. It is the world that says "appearance is everything."

Women Should not Wear Pants,or Should They?

Godly women don't wear pants! Have you heard that statement? This has been an issue for many years. A new pastor is pastoring one of the churches my dad started, and he will not allow their church to attend our youth camp because we allow the girls to wear pants.

Nearly always, those who hold this view start with Deuteronomy 22:5, "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." They then assume that pants are mens apparel. Such an assumption ignores the fact that throughout most of history, neither men nor women wore pants, both wearing robes.

To bolster their argument, many will refer to Exodus 28:42. I will include verse 43, as it is part of the context, and modifies how the verse is to be understood. "And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him."

Notice that verse 43 stresses that these are for the priests, and are to be worn any time they are ministering about the tabernacle or altar, implying that they were not common for otherpeople. Looking back to verses 40 and 41. we find that they also were to wear coats and bonnets. The breeches were to be worn that their nakedness not be seen.

From the description, the breeches were to reach from the waist to the thigh. In todays language, that is a pair of shorts. They were to be worn under the coats and girdle. They were underwear. If this is men's apparel, would it not be an equally valid interpretation to forbid women to wear underwear, or perhaps forbid them to cover their nakedness? These garments were specifically for the priests, and provide no insight to what is or isn't mens clothing.

Deuteronomy 22:5 clearly teaches the women are not to dress as men, and that men are not to dress as women. We are repeatedly told that homosexual behavior is repugnant to God. Cross dressing is definitely off limits. That is not the same as women wearing pants designed for women. If one believes it is wrong for a woman to wear pants, he has the right to his belief and should practice them. However, since there is uncertainty, he should listen to Romans 141, "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations." The rest of the chapter is focused on the idea that we ought not make issues of these type of things, nor allow them to cause division. As Paul tells us in verse 14, "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."

In verses 17-19 Paul points out that it is not these kinds of things which make us pleasing to God, and we need to focus on those instead. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. These controversies ar counterproductive.

Regardless of ones position, he should avoid hypocrisy on his stance. For example, if it is wrong for a woman to wear pants, then idon't tell her it is okay for her to put on shorts under her dress so she can engage in activities where they will be seen, such as jumping on a trampoline. It is not right to forbid women to dress as men, then have pastors dress as women for a skit at youth camp. They are still disobeying God. Just be consistent.

Lessons to be Learned From Controversy

Years ago, hair length got to be a really big issue in many churches. Some even specified a maximun length that a Christian man could wear, and a minimum for a woman. It got to be quite a controversy in many churches as a result. Studying what the Bible says about the subject can be very rewarding, not just about hair length, but about how we are to deal with other things as well.

There are a few references in the Old testament. The Nazarites were instructed by God never to cut their hair during the course of their commitment as proof of their dedication to God. This did not apply to others. Leviticus 19:29 tells Israel "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." This sounds almost as if God were forbidding them to trim their hair or beard.

Some of those who set maximum and minimum lengths used Ezekiel 44:20 as their basis. Notice that the verse specifies "Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads." This verse, and the one in Leviticus together forbid shaving the head, and deliberate attempts to modify ones appearance by how they cut their hair, but do not specify any length except that it is not to be long. Verse 15, however, specifies that this verse refers specifically to priests who are ministering in the temple.

The only passage in the New Testament is I Corinthians 11:3-19. "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."

Paul, writing by the inspiration of God, states in verse 16, if there is contention over the matter, the Apostles did not set such a standard, nor did churches controlled by God. This standard is not from God, but of the flesh. That all the claims are true does not make it right for us to set the standard.

Paul rebukes the Corinthians for setting up such conflicts, and warns that the very conflict(herisy) identifies those who are not pleasing to God. Conflicts in the church are proof of an unspiritual church according to I Corinthians 3:3. "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" Romans 16:17 warns us to identify those who cause such division, and avoid them.

What is the Source of Our Standards?

A recent magasine article listed several reasons for having a dress code. One of the reasons given was to honor the pastors convictions. This called to mind a visit I made to a church in Texas several years ago. The pastor had only been there a few months, although the church had been there for over 30 years.

The pastor was convinced that it was wrong for anyone to participate in the actual service,( as usher, musician, etc.) who was not wearing a suit and tie. The town he was in was a small farming and ranching community, while he was from a large city. He was really upset that none of the men in the church wore suits and ties to church, although as he admitted they wore neatly pressed Levis and shirts. He had removed several of them from positions of leadership as teachers, ushers, and even the songleader. Needless to say, the church was rebelling.

Being from a some what similar background as the people, I could understand their dilema. In much of the Texas panhandle, even bankers do not wear suits on a regular basis. People wearing suits are viewed as crooks, as they are probably a salesman trying to get them to buy something they don't want or a government bureaucrat trying to dictate how things are to be done who has no experience outside his office. In their view, wearing such fancy clothes is an attempt to decieve others as to ones importance and identifies one as untrustworthy. Their experience has borne this belief out in many cases, and the pastor did not helping himself by his position.

James 2:1-9 deals with this very situation. "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. "

The pastor, though it was his conviction, was committing sin. He had no authority from God to impose his convictions on the church, and infact his convictions were ungodly. To follow them would cause the church to sin as well. Too often we've been told to follow our convictions, our conscience, or our heart. Titus 1:15 states "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled." Many times our standards are not from God, but reflect the evil in our own heart, as the pastor who preached that it was wrong for a woman to wear open toed shoes because they were such a sexual turn on to men. Obviously, he was showing his own wickedness, as most guys I know have never indicated such a problem. In Jesus' day most people wore open toed sandals, and neither Jesus nor the apostles condemned them.

Quite simply, the conscience of the leader or pastor is not a sound basis for our standards. Who knows how badly his mind and conscience is defiled. A well known pastor here in our area was caught soliciting homosexual favors, and numerous others around the country have been guilty of other sexual and financial sins. Standards need to be wholly based on the Word of God.

Guilty before God

A man walked into a restaraunt in Farmington one day and placed his order. I don't remember what he ordered to eat, but I'll probably never forget his demand that they bring him two alkaseltzers and a glass of water before his meal, and two more afterward. Either he had a serious heartburn problem, or he thougt the food was going to be awful. I think if I were the cook, I'd feel insulted. If I thought the food would be that bad, I'd not eat there.

While that is the most extreme case I've ever seen, There are a great many people who live expecting everything they eat to cause heartburn. As a result they carry packages of Tums or a similar product with them, or they take Prilosec every day.

While unpleasant, heart burn itself is not a serious problem. It is a signal that something is wrong. One of the most common causes of heatrburn, and the easiest to fix is over eating or drinking. The stomach is unable to contain and process all the food and some is pushed back into the esophogus, where the stomach acid begins to burn the lining. If this occurs often, the valve at the top of the stomach may be damaged, allowing leakage more often, a condition known as acid reflux. Ulcers, stomach cancers and parasites can also cause heartburn.

The use of antacids or Prilosec work by neutralizing part of the stomach acid or lessening the amount. This tends to stop the pain, but does nothing for the underlying cause. Left untreated, ulcers, cancer, acid reflux, and parasites continue to get worse until they become serious problems. The over eating causes obesity and leads to other serious health problems, including diabetes and heart contitions.

Because the antacids and Prilosec ease the pain, people assume the problem is gone and do not act on the symptom, allowing the problem to grow. In addition, they tend to become habituted to the problem and accept it as normal. Thus they advise everyone around to try their particular remedy.

Like heartburn, feelings of guilt are an indicator of a more serious problem. Unless the underlying problem is corrected, efforts to aleve the guilt will only be temporary. Romans 3:19 explains it thus. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be guilty before God." The purpose of the law was to cause awareness of guilt, by making us aware of our sin.

Romans 5:12 tells us, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Death, both physical and spiritual is the result of sin. We all die because all have sinned. After physical death, comes judgement for ones life. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement."(Hebrews 9:27)

This judgement is described in Revelation 20:11-15. "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it ; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Guilt is a warning of our sin. It causes a great deal of discomfort, but it is not the main problem, and unless the sin is dealt with, the guilt will return. Even worse, we will not only die physically, but spiritually as well. This is not ceasing to exist, but rather an eternal state of dying, without completing the process. The best example is of a burn victim, living day after day in agony, but not dying or recovering. Death is infinitely preferable. Matthew tells us that death is unattainable for those who are there.

I John 1:9-10 advises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." God not only forgives, but takes away the sin. There is no longer guilt for past sin. Jesus died for our sin, and "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. " (Hebrews 10:14)

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:" (Romans 5:1). The guilt is gone, and so is the effect of sin. "For Gos so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the through him might be saved.

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)

Confessing our sin and believing in him removes the guilt, and eliminates the underlying cause of the guilt. There is an old saying that there is nothing harder to live with than a guilty conscience. Is preserving our pride worth living with a guilty conscience and then spending eternity in Hell?

Homosexuality: How Should I Deal With It?

"They just can't help themselves. There is something in their genetic makeup that causes them to be that way." We've heard this excuse for alcoholism, obesity, and recently, for homosexuals.

One reason "gays" hate those who stop the practice of homosexuality is that it implies that it is a choice, and thus they are responsible for their actions. Drunks love the idea drinking is genetic for the same reason. If it is true, they can't be blamed for what they do since it is beyond their control.

A basic principle of Genetics is that the ratio of genetic traits will remain essentially equal unless some circumstance occurs to cause a change in the ratio. In the case of homosexuality, whether male or female, the practice is incapable of producing offspring, and thus would quickly cause the loss of those who carried the genes, unless they hid the tendency, and practiced heterosexual sex as well.

The percentage of homosexuals would remain stable or decline slowly in a hostile cultural environment if it were genetic. In a society where homosexuality was viewed as acceptable, Heterosexual behaviour would not be neccessary to obtain sexual gratification, or for hiding such an orientation. As a result, the percentage of homosexuals would decline rapidly, due to the sterile mating practices. The fredom to practice homosexuality has resulted in an increase, clearly revealing that it cannot be genetic.

The increase of homosexuality is a result of several factors. The focus in recent years of reducing or eliminating eating of meat has led to an increased use of soy products. Soy contains compounds closely resembling the female hormone estrogen, which has been shown to cause sexual disorientation for males which ingest those compounds. Herbivores have a somewhat different digestive system than that of humans. As a result. their body does not absorb the compounds and thus do not experience this effect, but omnivores do.

Orientals have used soy for centuries without experiencing these effects because they use fermented soy, rather than the raw soy. The fermentation process. used in producing tofu, or soy sauce, eliminates these compounds.

The unfermented soy is frequently substituted for meat as a cheaper alternative, and is prevalent in free lunch programs and among those who are short of money, making those on the poor end of the spectrum more suceptible to sexual disorientation, and thus to easily being led into homosexuality.

Sexual confusion also results from children being raised in situations where they do not have strong close relationships with both male and female role models. Studies have shown that children from single parent homes, especially when they are not close to other family are 5 times as likely to be involved in homosexual behaviour as those raised in traditional families. Both boys and girls are affected. They are also more likely to remain in abusive situations.

Sexual abuse, media coverage, pop culture, and educational programs encourage experimentation, and develop the practicing of homosexual behaviour. As a result, children are frequently involved before they are equipped to make a concious choice.

Knowing these things, and that the old Testament required the execution of those who are involved with such behaviour, how should a Christian deal with the situation? Some believe that we should kill all homosexuals. Others believe we should simply ignore such behaviour.

As Christians, our standard needs to be based on what the Bible teaches, not on our own ideas. Asking "what would Jesus do?" is only productive when we search the scripture to se what he would have done.

I Corinthians 5:9-13 gives a lot of information on this as well as other types of sin. Let's look at the passage.

"I wrote unto you in an epistle not to keep company with fornicators: yet not altogether with fornicators of this world, or with the coveteous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.

But now have I written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or coveteous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person."

Clearly, it is not our place to judge or try to change the unsaved world. Avoidance will be impossible as long as we live in this world. On the other hand, We are not to ignore the problem. When a man who claims to be a christian is involved in these sins, and the word translated fornication in this passage refers particularly to homosexual sin, we are to disassociate ourselves from that person if they refuse to stop. By doing so, we emphasize that this is unacceptable behaviour.

Paul then directs us to follow up and if the disassociation results in turning from the sin, we need to forgive, and restore our relationship to help the person grow. II Corinthians 2:6-8 advises, "Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him."

Showing Love by Gentleness

An injured dog will nearly always find a cave or hole and crawl in, staying until healed or hunger forces them out. Attempts to get them out are usually unsuccessful because he is not as well equipped to defend himself, and he doesn't want to be killed. He will fight desparately to prevent being dragged from his lair.

In nature, injured animals are the target of predators, because of their injuries. Other dogs often take advantage of weakness and attack or kill. The only defense is to withdraw to a place where the others cannot attack until strength is regained.

By making it obvious that one has no intention of causing further injury, and showing concern, one may gain the injured dog's confidence and coax him out so that one may minister to his wounds. It will not happen easily or quickly, however, and the person who caused the injury may find it almost impossible.

As the dog learns that one is only interested in helping, he becomes far more willing to allow you to see his hurt, and when fully convinced, will even allow you to do things that hurt because he trusts you to try to help.

Trying to force the dog out by prodding him with sticks, or grabbing and attempting to drag him out, on the other hand, merely reinforces his sense of vulnerability, increasing his determination to protect himself. He may well lash out at the one who is trying to help him.

Human beings exhibit similar behaviour, withdrawing from others when they are hurt. Emotional injuries result in an emotional withdrawing, and physical injuriesw result in physical avoidance. Trying to force them out tends to make them withdraw even more. Counselors and apparent friends who try to rush things increase anxiety, resulting in further withdrawal, and occasionally attacks on or injury even to those who are trying top help.

In my years as a pastor and husband, I have seen this happen many times. One of the most frequent areas is in the marriage. Most men appear to instinctively defend themselves physically. As a result, they tend to fight physically first. They also know how to respond to physical injury. In recent years, this instinctive behaviour has become increassingly frowned upon, leaving the male more and more defenceless.

Women on the other hand, are more likely to use verbal attacks initially, resorting to physical actions only if the verbal attack is unsuccessful. As a result, the woman is better equipped, in most cases, to deal with verbal injuries than the man is. Unfortunately, verbal attacks are held as acceptable, and in some cases even encouraged. After all the old saying is, "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me".

In a marriage, disagreements arise. Love always desires to put the other person above ones own interests. Most people have seen little or no example of love and the common idea of love is they give me what I want. Both sides want things their way. A fight results, and one is hurt.

Some men physically assault their wives, and some women physically attack their husbands. In these cases it is most often the wife who gets hurt, and begins to withdraw. The uninjured, the winner, becomes progressively more aggressive, as it gives him the advantage. Because physical abuse is taken very seriously, he will frequently apologise, and promise to not do it again, to overcome the withdrawal. If that is not successful, he may become more abusive to force the other out. He then adds insult to injury by blaming her for her injury. If she had just done as he told her, it wouldn't have happened. Now she is both physically and emotionally injured.

Some people attack their mate verbally. The horrible things that may be said are shocking. Unfortunately, society rarely views these verbal attacks as seriously as the physical attacks. The person making the attack thus may view themselves as not ahving done anything wrong. When their mate suddenly refuses to talk further, or walks out, they become quite angry and press the attack, accusing the other of not caring or lacking courage, or refusing to face the problem. They fail to understand or care that the withdrawal indicates that the other person is hurt.

It is easy to ignore the statement about the tongue in James 3:5-9. "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents and of things in the sea is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."

Hurts caused by the tongue are often more harmful than physical blows. A better version of the old saying would be "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words may kill my spirit." They are actually more dangerous than the blows of a physically abusive person. To let them go is more wicked than ignoring physical damage we have caused.

When the person we are in conflict with suddenly withdraws, it implies that we have inflicted serious injury. We need to stop inflicting more pain and begin to make it clear that the injury was unintentional. We also need to recognize that the conflict is an indication of an unspiritual condition according to I Corinthians 3:3 and repent of our sin. We have allowed Satan to control our tongue. We need to stop attacking and begin immediately to reduce the hurt persons stress.

Our human nature will encourage us to take advantage of the injury, but a spiritual nature will, as a result of the love the spirit produces, be more concerned with the others welfare than our victory. Frequently, we will not even understand how they were hurt by our comments.

If we are sincerely seeking what is best for them, we will be genuinely sorry for hurting them, and try to correct the hurt. Fake love will not admit doing wrong, trying to place the blame on the victim. The hurt indicates that we have gone too far. To continue to accuse or attack implies we do not really care. We need to heal the damage already done.

A charge that is frequently made against Christians is that we are the only army that shoots its wounded. All to often it is true, in direct contradiction to Gods command. Part of the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness, or a deliberate effort not to do harm. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit. Our point can be made without hurting others if we are led by the Spirit.

His, Hers, and Ours

"The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

And he answered and said unto them, Have you not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, and said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wive and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder." (Matthew 19:3-6)

On a farm in Kansas, a man had a serious heart attack. His coworkers carried him to the house to wait for the ambulance. His wife refused to allow them to bring him in, demanding that they take him to the barn and bathe him first. The man nearly died as a result.

The coworkers were upset and followed up after the ambulance arrived. They learned that the wife refused to allow the man to enter her house until he had taken a shower and changed clothes. After all it was her house, and she didn't want to have to clean up after him.

How many times have you heard similar possessive comments by those you know. A man or woman who speaks of their money and refuses to use theirs to help pay bills. The wife who doesn't allow her husband to have his friends in the home, or the husband who refuses to allow his wife to do the shopping all fail to live in accord with the description of marriage Jesus has given.

The term one flesh is the same as saying both your arms are one flesh. Most people use one hand to do certain things, and the other for others. For example, the right may be used to write, and the left holds the paper still. The right may be used for throwing and the left for catching.

Such specialization makes the body more adept at many jobs. Fortunately, the body doesn't separate itself. It continues to function as a unit. Rarely does a person leavew one hand outside while the other goes into the house. What belongs to one belongs to the other.

People rarely chop one hand off or put out one eye deliberately, simply because the hand or eye does not have any right to what the other hand has.

A marriage based on God's standard connot focus on individual desires to the exclusion of those of the other person. Such a focus definitely reveals an ungodly selfishness. It also indicates a rejection of God's plan. The house belongs to both of them. The money and otherbelongings also belong to both.

Just as chopping a hand off to prevent it sharing the other hands belongings would hurt the body, rejection of the mate hurts the one doing the rejection. As Ephesians 5:28 tells us, "... He that loveth his wife loveth himself." Verse 33 commands "Nevertheless let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband."

That selfishness is clearly in direct disobedience to God, and as such, is sin. It is a major factor in many marriage problems, frequently resulting in divorce. As Matthew tells us, divorce is deliberately destroying what God has done. Divorce is not pleasing to God.

Pie Melon Spirituality

When I was a child, my Grandad grew a kind of melon he called a Pie Melon. It looked like a large watermelon, but the skin was much tougher. The flesh was white and had almost no flavor of its own. He planted them closer to the road than his watermelons, and one day a bunch of guys stopped and stole several melons.

Several weeks later, a man asked what kind of melons those by the road were. Since they looked like regular melons, only the thieves could know that they were not. Confronted, he admitted to having heled steal the melons, and said they had had a difficult time breaking the melon open, then were shocked to realize it didn't taste very good.

Fruit was scarce in the area, and pie melons were used to extend fruit in pies. Its texture and lack of flavor made it a very good filler. chopped in apple slice sized pieced, and baked in an apple pie, it would absorb the spices and apple flavor, and taste almost like an apple.

Chopping it more finely, and mixed with pineapple, it tasted almost like piuneapple and could be used to extend pineapple in pies or cakes. Boiled a little before being mixed with peaches, it would make a fair extender for peaches. It could also be used for making pickles.

While the taste was only slightly different thatn that of the fruit it replaced. the food value was very different. In fact, almost all the value came from the fruit and spices just as the taste did.

People who had never had a genuine apple pie would accept the pie melon as actual apples, and never realize it was a fake. The same is true of people who have never experienced or seen genuine spirituallity. Several years ago, on the tv program "Survivor", the show was set in Africa. A woman on the show made the statement thet just being there was such a Spiritual experience. Like many others, she had been decieved into believing that intense emotional experiences are spiritual.

In the same way, I have heard religious leaders advise people to go to Israel because it would benefit them so much Spiritually. This is exactly why many religions believe a pilgrimage to some holy site is neccessary. II Timothy 2:15 Makes it clear that simply studying the scripture is sufficient.

Such incorrect beliefs cause people to accept many things that, according to the scriptures, are in fact evidence of unspirituallity, and in some cases, even Satanic. The following are some examples Paul mentions in the book of I Corinthians. Unlike mistaking pie melon for apples, the consequences are severe for mistaking unspirituality for spirituality.

It is not uncommon for those who have been trained by one program or person to believe they ar esuperior to those who have not gone therough the same program, or been taught by the same teacher, reulting in conflicts in the church. I Corinthians 1:10-12 describes this very situation, instructing us not to get involved. I Corinthians 3:3 tells us that divisions between Christians are evidence of a carnal condition.

I Corinthians 5:1-2 teaches us that ignoring overt sin is not spiritual, but rather proves a prideful attitude. Many believe that toleration of such sin is evidence of spiritual maturity. Dealing with it in any way other than as the Bible instructs is also evidence of an unspiritual attitude.

I Corinthians 11: 1-15 discusses the subject of a man wearing long hair, or a woman wearing short hair. This issue became a standard that many used as indicating a spiritual or un spiritual condition. Verse 16 says " but if any man be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God. The verse makes it clear that the Apostles did not demand such a standard, nor do God's churches. Those who hold such standards are not under God's control. Paul goes on to condemn the church for their stance in verse 17.

Many believe that speaking in tongues is evidence of spirituallity. Paul gives guidelines for speaking in tongues in the church in ! Corinthians 14:26-28. Everything done in the Church is to be for the purpose of building up others. Thus, no more than 2 or 3 are to speak in tongues during a single service. They are to speak one at a time, and if no interpreter is available, they are not to speak at all. I Corinthians 14:37 tells us that a spiritual person will recognize these commands as coming from God. One who does not is ignorant of spiritual matters.

Mistaking these or other imitations for spirituality exposes the church, and the individual to serious risks. "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: ..." (John 6:63). Without the spirit, there is no life, no power. Defeat is inevitable.

This is probably the primary reason the church has such a small impact in today's world. Learn to identify true spirituality. Jesus tells us "by their fruit ye shall know them." Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the spirit. "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." The Spirit will produce all of these if he is in control.

The passages dealing with qualifications for bishops in I Timothy 3:1-9 and Titus 1:5-9 are written to help the church determine who are spiritual men and who are not. It is critical, if the church is to please God, that leaders be spiritual. It is impossible to teach othere what one does not know himself.

Dealing With Those Who Do Wrong

"Brethern, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Galatians 6:1

Paul leaves no doubt that some Christians will get caught up in sin with this verse. Truly spiritual men will recognize their susceptibility to temptation themselves. As a result, their method of dealing with him will not be from a position of superiority, but in humility.

He instructs Timothy about the same thing in II Timothy 2:24-26. "And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

The previous verses deal with both doctrinal error and physical sin. As a servant of God, we are not to be pugnacious. I remember those who used to brag of being fighting fundamentalists. Paul specifically forbids such an attitude.

When I was in High School, Dad bought an old donkey named Jenny. Jenny was some what slow moving, but amazingly careful to protect us kids. Other mounts would charge through gates and around corners and I had had my knee banged very badly by a horse cutting too close to a tree at a run. The knee still causes me trouble.

Whenever she thought there was danger of a leg or pack hitting something, Jenny would stop and very carefully work her way through, making sure that no contact was made, even when it caused her pain.

This is the meaning of the word gentle when Paul says a man of God must be gentle unto all men. We must go out of our way to prevent hurt to others, even if it causes ourselves to suffer distress to do so. To thrust them out of the church immediately, or publicly rebuke or humiliate them, rather than trying to restore them is deliberate disobedience to God's command. Many times those who err are hotly condemned, even though God forbids such an approach.

The goal is to teach them the proper way, patiently and meekly instructing them. Not in pride attacking them or offending them by our way of handling the situation. Many times Church discipline is used as a way of getting rid of those who have done wrong either as a way to prove our adherence to the scripture, or to demonstrate our power. It is wrong in either case.

To obey God in this matter is to give a possibility that they may repent, and escape Satans trap.
To disobey will almost certainly drive them more deeply into his power, as I have observed on several occasions.

This is exactly what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 18:15-17. "Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not heart thee, then take with tee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican."

The goal is not to get the person out, but rather to bring him more closely in. If the person refuses to listen then it is deliberate sin and I Timothy 5:20 tells us, "Them that sin rebuke before all that others also may fear."

Scripturally, The authority to put a person out rests in the church, not in the pastor, and in I Corinthians 5:4-5, this is clearly expressed. "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus."

Thanksgiving

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus conerning you." (I Thessalonians 5:18)

It is fairly easy to give thanks when things we think are good happen. It is more difficult when things we percieve as bad happen. In fact, we usually find ourselves complaining instead. Nevertheless, the verse commands us to give thanks in everything, good or bad.

Remembering Romans 8:28 makes it far easier. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Though the things may be bad, they will result in good things. God will cause them to do so for his children.

For example. I couldn't see the good when my wife left, but it resulted in a much closer relationship with God, and a much stronger level of confidence, in myself, and in God. When one loses a job, it is difficult to give thanks, but the result was better hours, and more money when it happened to me.

There are a couple of conditions in Romans 8:28. "To them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. This clearly indicates that the promise does not apply to those who do not love God, or those who are not called of him.

Obedience to God indicates our love and disobedience demonstrates a lack of love according to John 14:23-24. "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'if a man love me, he will keep my words: ... He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings:' ..."

Romans 8:29-30 makes it clear that God knew who would recieve him and predestinated and called them. Those who have not recieved Christ have no claim on this promise.

An unthankful attitude is typical of those who rebel against God as Romans 1:21 tells us, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful." Unthankfulnes is an attribute of the wicked as II Timothy 3:2 makes very clear.

If you wish to please God you must learn to give thanks.

Subject as the Church is to Christ

"Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, even as Christ is head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing." (Ephesians 5:22-24)

"Shes my wife and she has to do what I say." I wonder how many times I've heard comments like this, often accompanied with a quote of the first sentence above. "She is to treat me as her Lord, because verse 33 says she is to reverence her husband."

It is not hard to understand why many women rebel against such an attitude. Even many who appear to go along are frustrated with the way they are treated. we ought to look more closely at this passage to understand what it actually says.

The husband's relationship to his wife is be the same as Christ's is to the Church. He is the saviour of the body. Christ died for us, (the Church), while we were his enemies. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life,"(Romans 5:10).

Husbands are to love their wives the same way. Ephesians 5:24 instructs "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church and gave himself for it;" Most husbands do not appear to be willing to go that far in todays society.

Many husbands accuse their wife of not submitting because she doesn't do everything he says. Note that the wife is to be in subjection to her husband like the Church is to Christ. Many times, even a rebellious wife is still more in subjection than the husband is to Christ.

Hebrews 10:25 tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. A husband who does not go to church has no right to complain of a wife who doesn't do what he tells her, because she is bing subject to him in the same way he is to the Lord. That is what the verse says. If he expects her to obey him, he needs to obey God.

Christ is the example. How often is he bossy, or abusive when we do not do his will? Every demanding husband is stepping beyond his authority, and is in sin.

Some teach that the woman is to worship her husband, using Ephesians 5:33 as their basis. The Bible is very clear that we are to worsip no one but God. That idea is idolatry. The Greek word translated reverence, 'phobeo', is a form of the word we get phobia from and means 'to fear, to be in awe of', i.e. to have respect for. It does not imply worship.

As verses 32 and 33 tell us, Paul is primarily teaching about the Church's relationship to Christ, but we are to apply these things in our daily life as well.

Dead or Alive?

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Death is the proper reward for sin. That is not a pleasant thought, especially when Romans 3:23 tells us, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." All of us deserve death.

Adam sinned, in Genesis 3, opening the door for sin to enter the world, and thus giving death power in the world. Romans 5;12 describes it thus, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." While Adam made us susceptible, we die because of our sin, not because of his sin.

Many people believe that death is the end of all things. Hebrews 9:27 warns us, "And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement." We are all subject to death, and we all will be judged after that death.

II Corinthians 5:10 states, "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ; that every one may recieve the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." Not only death, but judgement is based on what we have done.

Fortunately, Romans 6:23 doesn't stop with death, or there would be no hope for any of us. It continues "...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." A gift is something you recieve without any cost to yourself. You do not have to earn a gift.

Nearly everyone is familiar with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perrish, but have everlasting life. Romans 5:8 explains it. "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

Christ did not die for us when we got our lives straightened out, but while we were still sinners. We were given it as a gift. It is true that there is no free lunch. Sin still costs death, but Christ paid our penalty for us.

I John 5:13 tells us "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. We can be certain about our destination!

Are you eternally alive? Have you recieved that Gift?

Where's Your Treasure?

Are you shocked by the sudden decline in the Economy?

I was interested by an article in Money and Markets. Larry Edelson Speaks of the G-20 possibly Considering a program to redo the entire world currency. It would be an extension of what FDR did when he took office after the great Depression.

It is exciting to me because it is another step toward the one world gocvernment described in Daniel and Revelation. What is described, while not the actual world government, is significant as it is the first time that this has been seriouslly discussed that I am aware of.

Coupled with another article on the efforts of radical Moslems to take control of the Mideast, It is easy to see how things could easily turn into the Government described in the Bible. I will make no predictions, but intend to watch very closely what happens in the next few months.

I can only imagine the stress those who do not know the Lord experience in a time like this. If your future depends on your savings and investments, you find yourself much like the very wealthy relative I had. Everytime the stock market moved against his position, he would get violently ill.

The Stock Market has dropped more than 40% in the last year. Those who have made their wealth their security, have laid up their treasures on earth where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.

Matthew 6:19-21 instructs "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through and steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Procuring and keeping money is the primary focus of many people today, and they are missing the greatest rewards possible in the pursuit of the dollar. "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch." (Proverbs 11:28) The current economy emphasizes the transitory nature of riches. The efforts to make every possible penny is the primary cause of our present crisis, and as Proverbs 11:24 tells us. "there is that scattereth and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty."

Charity giving is down by a large percentage because people do not understand that 'He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given willhe repay him again." (Proverbs 19:17) You better lend it to the Lord, its a better investment than anything else, especially right now.

This is the ideal time to follow the advice in Matthew 6:31-34. "Therefore take no thought,saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?, or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these thinggs shall be added unto you. Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."