Ignorance is bliss?

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1 Corinthians 8:1
We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
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This passage has been taken by some to justify ignorance or lack of formal training because “knowledge puffs up”. Obviously the Lord’s intent here is not to bash “knowledge” or training. Elsewhere, particularly in Proverbs, the Bible speaks so highly of knowledge and wisdom as a treasure. Proverbs 8:10 – “Choose … knowledge rather than choice gold.”  Paul even laments those who have a zeal without knowledge (Romans 10:2) and encourages study (2 Timothy 2:15). Yes, Jesus used “unlearned and ignorant men” (Acts 4:13) but he also chose Paul, one of the sharpest minds perhaps of all time and Dr Luke, a gentile, to write the vast majority of the New Testament.

Yes, God will use any available vessel, even a donkey, but Ecclesiastes tells us that education sharpens the tool and you can cut down a bigger tree with less effort if you take time to sharpen the ax.

Don’t minimize the importance of study and knowledge. It will not replace relationship but the more I know about my wife, the better my understanding of who she really is and not just who I think she is, the deeper our relationship can grow. Proper knowledge with a proper heart attitude can increase the depth of my relationship with the Lord just as it does in human relationships.

So what was Paul talking about here? The answer, as usual, is found in carefully reading the entire passage and putting this phrase in its proper context. But I’ll have to save that for my next post.
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2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Ecclesiastes 10:10
Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade.That’s the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.

Christians and Homosexuality

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I recently posted this video on Facebook and it brought so much response that I thought it worthwhile to also share on this blog.  Ravi Zacharias answers a young man’s question, “Is it possible for a man or woman to lead a sincere Christian life as a homosexual?” I believe Ravi’s answer not only reflects the truth of God’s Word but also the heart of the Father.  If I were as eloquent as he, this would be my answer.

What are your thoughts?

Get outta there!

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1 Corinthians 6:18
Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.
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There is a time to flee and a time to stand. If you confuse the two you are bound to fail. Scripture speaks of standing up against Satan (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9). He will try to put thoughts into our head, to instill fear, distrust and evil ideas. We must resist those thoughts by replacing them with those that pass the filter of Philippians 4:8.

But when dealing with sins of our flesh, those things that are not from an outside influece but just part of our fallen nature, we are told to flee. For example, “flee from sexual immorality” 1 Corinthians 6:18, “flee idolatry” 1 Corinthians 10:14-15,”flee the love of money” 1 Timothy 6:11, “flee the evil desires of youth” 2 Timothy 2:22.

I have seen believers who will try to stand up under temptations of the flesh thinking God will not allow them to be tempted beyond what they are able to stand, a misunderstanding of 1 Corinthians 10:13.

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

This passage clearly says the way you will be able to “bear” the temptation is by taking the way out God provides. In other words, “flee!” (For more on this click here)

When we try to “stand up” under temptations of the flesh we often end up negotiating, compromising, deciding “it won’t be so bad”, “just this once” or other reasoning that make sense before the fall but seems so silly afterwards.

Ever notice how Satan minimizes the impact of our sin before we sin and maximizes it afterward?

So, like the example of Joseph when tempted by Potiphar’s wife, flee! Get out of there! Take the way of escape God provides.
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Genesis 39:12 (NLT)
She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Was Paul Married or Opposed to Marriage?

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1 Corinthians 7:7
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
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It appears Paul is opposed to marriage. Actually he was combating a common thought of his day (and ours) that being single is a second class status. He is saying that each person needs to live according to the “gift” they have received. Marriage is honorable (Hebrews 13:4) but singles have more liberty to give themselves fully to the Lord. “So then, he who marries … does right, but he who does not marry … does even better.” (1 Corinthians 7:38)

A bit of trivia today, there is reason to believe the apostle Paul was married but a widower when he wrote this. First of all, it fits well into the context here as he specifically addresses widows suggesting they “stay unmarried, as I am” (7:8). Secondly, there are indications Paul was a member of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council, because in Acts 26:10 he says he cast his vote for the death of the believers. If he is not speaking figuratively and he was a member of the Sanhedrin, he was married as that was a requirement for membership.

Also, in 1 Corinthians 9:5 he mentions that he and Barnabas should have the “right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles”. Of course, he could just be speaking in defense of Barnabas.

Finally, in his book, “Ecclesiastical History”, written around the year 300AD, Eusebius claims Paul was married based on Philippians 4 where Paul mentions, but does not name, a “yokemate”. The Greek word, “syzygos”, can refer to a person with whom one shares a common burden or to a spouse.

All are rather wispy evidence but there is at least a possibility that Paul was married and his wife died leaving him free to remarry. But he decided in his case and calling it was better for him to stay single.
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Matthew 19:10-12
The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. … The one who can accept this should accept it.”

1 Timothy 4:2-4
Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, …

Where did that verse come from?

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1 Corinthians 6:7
The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
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This is a passage I would like to forget exists, just skip over it, and it seems I am not alone. Whenever I hear folks talk about lawsuits the standard in the church seems to be “Don’t sue Christians. Instead, take it to other Christians to mediate the matter.” That is what the “really spiritual” folks do – “sue” in church not in the courts.

But this passage presents even a higher standard.
1. If you sue at all, you lose already (you are completely defeated).
2. Take the hit. Absorb the wrong and move on.

Where would Paul get such a whacked idea? That isn’t justice! That isn’t fair! If I do that then I end up getting burned when someone else did the wrong. They go totally free with no punishment. Who would ever do such a thing?

Hmmmm. I think I see where Paul, or should I say the Holy Spirit, who wrote this through Paul, got such a whacked idea. That is just what Jesus did for us. We offended a holy God but He didn’t drag us before the court. He took the offense, absorbed the penalty. So the Lord is saying that if we want to really win, not be “defeated already”, we should follow His example.

I gotta admit, I like the way we have translated this passage better, “Don’t sue in court.  Instead, drag ’em before the church but make sure, one way or another, you get what is coming to you.  Don’t let those scoundrels get away without paying for their wrong against you.”

Lord, when I face such a situation, please give me grace to follow Your example of forgiveness and entrust the ultimate outcome to a God who judges justly.
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NOTE: Some might be thinking, ” But God will one day judge men for their sin” so He didn’t do what it says here, forgive them without them have to pay for their sin. Think carefully with me.  It is a fine line but men will not be judged for their sin as much as they will be judged for their response to what Jesus did for them. For example, when we stand before God the question is not, “Did you sin or do good in life?” The question will be, “What did you do with the Son? Did you accept or reject Him?”. Make sense?

Your Flight is Cancelled

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WEEKEND THOUGHTS: A little departure from the normal comments on Scripture:

With a big pleasant smile the agent said, “Your flight is cancelled.”   What?!  She was so cheery I thought I misunderstood.

A volcano in Iceland was spewing ash so Jana and I weren’t going to be able to get from Athens to Berlin.  Being stuck in Athens is a pretty good way to “suffer for Jesus” but we did have missionaries waiting for us in Berlin.  I couldn’t help but think how tiny our world is and how very microscopic we humans are.  One little mound of dirt and rock in Iceland was affecting an untold number of lives thousands of miles away.  All our magnificent technology was disabled, grounded, till an unseen mountain decided to release it.

We don’t often get reminded of our frailty as humans.  We usually avoid situations that remind us of it.  It is easy to marvel at the great accomplishments of man. It is easy to think we are powerful, evolving into some super race of invincible creatures.

Then the earth “burps” and cities crumble in seconds due to the earthquake.  A resulting tsunami rushes across the globe washing lives into eternity.  A mountain erupts and air traffic is halted around the world.  How tiny and frail we truly are in this vast universe of ours.
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Job 14:1-2
“Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He springs up like a flower and withers away; like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.


Jesus and Paul disagree?

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1 Corinthians 5:3
For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this.
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It seems one Scripture many people know and enjoy quoting is Jesus saying “judge not that you be not judged”. This is a handy one to bring up when confronted with sin in our lives. So is Paul disobeying this command of Jesus when he says “I have already passed judgment” on this man?

Most who quote Matthew 7:1, “judge not”, aren’t aware that 14 verses later Jesus says, “Watch out for false prophets”. How can I do that if I do not make some judgment about who is speaking truth and who is speaking lies? Clearly Jesus was not saying close your eyes to all evil, all false teaching, swallow whatever comes your way with no discernment. So what was He referring to?

In short, there are things I can know and things I cannot know. I can know a man who is openly engaged in immorality is living in sin because God’s Word tells me such behavior is sin. I can know a man teaching things contrary to Scripture is a false prophet. What I cannot know, and therefore am not to judge, are the motives of his heart.

To point out evil and call it evil is not judging. In fact, it is following the example of Jesus, Paul, Peter and others. In fact, it is following what we are often commanded to do in Scripture – “overcome evil with good”. It is “good” to warn someone of something in their life that will destroy them. It would be unloving and evil to see symptoms of a deadly disease in someone’s life and not warn them. The disease would only kill the body. How much more unloving to not warn them of a disease that will destroy their soul?
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Just a few of many passages that command us to judge actions: Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17,18; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Galatians 6:1; Titus 3:10,11; Leviticus 19:17

I Did It My Way!

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1 Corinthians 4:7
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
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Ever hear anyone claim they are a “self made man”, that no one helped them get where they are today, that they accomplished their success all on their own? What a silly, self centered idea. Their mother, even if she was a horrid one who abandoned them at birth, certainly could tell you she put some hard work, some “labor”, into their existence. After that someone fed them, changed their dirty diapers, tried to educate them. All along the way there have been those who have made their success possible.

And then there is God who gave them life, breath, a functioning body and brain. Without His gifts, which we so casually take for granted, this “self made man” would not, could not even exist.

This passage reminds us that though we certainly had to use what was given to us, the fact that we have anything is a gift from God. The fact that we could work, could think, could eat, could breathe, even that we were formed in our mother’s womb in the first place and were given life, it is all a gift from God and if our abilities and talents are a gift, then what room do we have to boast about what we were given?

What a great passage to kindle humility in each of us but also to develop a heart of gratitude.

Thank you Lord for allowing me to see the light of day, for giving me the health and life I have. We all have struggles and things aren’t always the way we would like them to be but we do have the presence of mind to at least think about it. Some have not even been given that gift to be able to recognize who or what or where they are. We have much to be grateful for. Let’s make this a day of gratitude … and humility.
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Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

How to Measure Church Growth

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1 Corinthians 3:3
You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?
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Juan Carlos Ortiz pastored the fastest growing church in Argentina during a time of great church growth in that nation. His church was bursting at the seams but he tells how in a time of prayer he sensed the Lord telling him his church was not growing. Puzzled by this he tried to tell the Lord how many new people they were baptizing each week and how many more were coming today than a month ago.

He then sensed the Lord say, “Your church is not growing. It is just getting fat.”  As he thought about this he realized he was just building a huge spiritual nursery full of infants, not growing Christians.  The attendance was getting larger but the church, God’s people, were not growing.

While I believe in church growth – no one should be content with the size of his church as long as there is one unsaved person within reach of that church’s ministry – I also believe the Lord is concerned with growing the church, His people, into mature believers.

This passage tells us how God measures church growth and it has nothing to do with attendance, budgets or buildings. Jealousy and quarreling is a sign of infancy – no growth.  Our love for one another is the Biblical sign of church growth and, according to 1 Corinthians 13, is more important than our giftedness, our knowledge, our faith or even the sacrifices we may make for God.  Am I growing in my love for others?  If not, I may be getting fat but I am not growing more mature.

PRAYER: Lord, since your measure of church growth is the love I have, let me grow to be a mega-church in your kingdom – a person of mega-love.
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1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (my paraphrase)
If I have all the gifts of the Spirit, understand all about God and the Bible, have awesome faith, if I give my last dime to God or even die as a martyr but don’t have love, it’s all a big zero by God’s standards.

How To Find More Time

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Lately a lot more than usual has been going on in life and though I get up early to read a little Scripture it has been rushed and I haven’t taken time to “settle into” prayer. Without that time to just wait before the Lord, prayer is just me talking (not giving God a chance to respond when He has something to say).  And I have discovered, what God says to me is infinitely more important than what I say to Him. I am beginning to notice the spiritual addledness that comes from no listening time but, but it’s easy to think, “I just don’t have time.”

That’s when I received this post from my son Jonathan reminding me of something he has probably heard me preach 20 times. I thought it might be a good word to encourage you as it did me. I condensed it so I suggest you check out his blog: FakingCreativity.com

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You Aren’t Too Busy
by Jonathan Malm

I hate when people say they’re too busy. When you say that, you’re actually saying “I’m too busy for you!” You’re never actually too busy. If the President requested a conference with you, you’d find the time. The reason you’re “too busy” is that you have put a higher priority on other things.

May I suggest you have enough time in the day to do everything you want to do? If you were willing to drop other things, you would have the time. By shifting your priorities you can make time for what’s important to you. Here are a few reasons you might be “too busy”:

  • Perfectionism – I spend valuable time on insignificant projects.
  • Media – Try dropping media for a day. You’ll find the time again.
  • Squeaky Wheels – If you’re greasing the wrong vehicle you’re wasting your time.

So why are you “too busy”. What needs to be re-prioritized in your life? You have enough time to be creative. You have enough time to be awesome at what matters to you. Give yourself, and others, the time. Creativity is found in love, not in tasks.
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Thanks for the good word, Jonathan.
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Ecclesiastes 8:3-6
Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. … Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter …