Category: Theology Questions

Questions about theology and theological viewpoints

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Israel, Gentiles, the Millennium

How Do Israel and the Gentiles fit into the Millennium, the New Earth and the New Heavens?

1. How do Israel and the Gentiles arrive into the Millennium?

There will be two ways to arrive into the Millennium. One is by faith, and the other is by works. The one that is by faith will always be accompanied by works that demonstrate that faith. The other that is by works will not be conjoined with faith at that time. The Jews can only arrive into the Millennium by faith and its accompanying works, whereas Gentiles can arrive by both means (one example being the Matthew 25:31 and following ‘Sheep/Goat’ judgment).

Continue reading “Israel, Gentiles, the Millennium”

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Motives

Motives

Determining the motives of others is wrong. All have motives for what they do. Many of the motives that folks often have are not good. How can one be certain what some else’s motives are? Judging actions is appropriate; God commanded Israelis to do this. There are some great restrictions on judging motives, however. God alone knows the heart:

1 Kings 8:39 Hear Thou in the heavens, Thy dwelling place. And forgive, and do, and give to every man according to his ways, whose heart Thou knowest. For Thou, only Thou, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.

Matthew 12:34 The mouth speaks from the abundance of the heart.

A person will talk about what he thinks. Words can be used against the person who spoke the words. Many, however, tend to assume motives based upon their own views and cultures. That is not justice, and it isn’t right. Judgment of any kind must be based upon facts, not upon what might be true or appear to be true.

Everyone’s counsels of the heart will be exposed at the time of judgment (see 1 Corinthians 4:3 below).

Trying to figure the motives of others is not harmful. This is not the same as determining the person’s motives. Concluding what those motives are is wrong, and exposes the faulty character of the person who assumed motives for another’s actions.

Some have the audacity and arrogance to declare why others did what they did: “She did that because she’s just jealous!” “He said that because he’s a liar!” “He gave that to you because he feels guilty.” Anyone who makes such declarations without hearing the motives from the person who did the actions is behaving as if he or she is a prophet/prophetess, speaking the words of God! Some even have the increased audacity to tell folks to their faces why they did what they did: “You wanted to read the will first because you knew that you would get very little!”

Do You Know?

Some think they know others very well. They have an idea of why others do what they do based upon watching them and others, and why they themselves might do such actions. If someone’s behaviour ‘bugs’ me, I will probably think that that person ‘bugs’ everyone. Most folks see others according to their own frames of reference (their own ways of viewing things in life). If they respond to others’ actions as if their views are right, they will often improperly respond.

Facts are true, but they don’t always give full information. Getting to the facts is an art for which every Saint is responsible. Judging is rendering a right decision based upon all the facts, not upon the feelings!

You Are Lying to Me!

Anyone giving a particular side of an issue is giving observations from his point of view. Someone else who saw the very same thing will often disagree with parts of the description, and sometimes will disagree with the entire description. Everyone hearing what happened will hear something different. If two describe the same scene, yet disagree with each other, one might be inclined to say, “You are lying!”

Lying is not merely giving false information; it is giving false information with intent to give false information. One who accuses the other of lying is also claiming that the other is intentionally twisting the facts into a lie. This can result in great and needless offense. If the person is truly lying, this can be a great wrong, but if the person is not, but is mistaken concerning what he or she observed or heard, accusing the other person of lying is a great wrong. Assuming that someone is lying is a great violation of justice, but it is common practice.

Saints in the Scriptures did not assume that others were lying even when it appeared that way. They kept the facts they observed to themselves until all the facts were known, or they dealt with others as if there were no questions about their honesty.

Careful deliberation with patience is very wise. It avoids years of hurt and bitterness, and can avoid bloodshed.

Innocent until Proven Guilty?

The Scriptures do not teach that all are innocent until proven guilty.

Jeremiah 17:9 The heart [mind] is deceitful above all, and terminal. Who can know it?

They teach that violent sinners have a deceitful and terminal mind from the fall of Adam. Yet, the Scriptures also declare that it is wrong to judge anyone before the time of the person’s judgment (whether that judgment is the final one, or is personal or legal):

1 Corinthians 4:3 “It is a very small thing with me that I should be judged under you or under man’s judgment. Indeed, I don’t judge myself! 4For I know nothing by myself; yet, I am not justified by this. But he who judges me is the Lord! 5Therefore, judge nothing before the time—until the Lord comes—Who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then every man shall have praise from God.”

A Biblical counselor is not the same as an advisor. A counselor not only proposes what should be done, but also carries the idea out. If a person only gives the idea of what should be done, that is an advisor. If this is true, counsels of the heart are both the plans/plots and the actions done. Since the heart is the mind, all plans/plots of each person’s mind, including what the person did, will be publicly exposed in the judgment. Those who did well will have praise from God.

Anyone who judges before the time prejudges. This is how we get the word prejudice. Assuming that anyone is guilty or innocent is equally wrong. The best way to view each person is with kindness and skepticism (which means that all the facts are not present, and yet automatically trusting folks isn’t wise). If one is kind, he/she will treat others in a way that will carry no regrets in the future. If one is skeptical, he/she will not assume that everyone is harmless or innocent.

Benefit of a Doubt

When parents treat their children with kindness and skepticism (some call this giving them the benefit of the doubt), those children are given the opportunity to show what they can do, and why. Parents who quickly accuse their children of wrongdoing (without finding what they are doing and why) violate the command to not drive their children to wrath:

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye parents, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

If the parents continue provoking their children, a broken and untrusting relationship with their children will later develop. Parents who believe their children much more than they should will end up with insecure children who will take wrong paths (and will be ‘brats’). Parents who listen carefully to each case and ask their children questions regarding their thoughts (including their motives) will increase the likelihood that their children will talk with them.

Ascertaining Motives

It is not wrong to discover motives. There are wise procedures for rightly ascertaining motives, including the following:

  • Directly asking
  • Discussing an issue, and deftly considering reasons the doer of the actions offers for his or her actions
  • Considering other similar actions of the person, and asking why the person did those actions (this can lead to a wrong conclusion)
  • Overhearing someone brag about the actions and why he did them
  • Asking a person in a similar culture why such an action would be done (this can lead to a wrong conclusion)
  • Describing a totally unrelated, but similar action of someone else (whether fictional or not) to the doer of the action in question, and asking why someone would do that

Be cautious when attempting to find why someone did something when you are very angry. Anger blinds against justice; lynch mobs prove this. Time can allow anger to diminish so that justice can be pursued. If your anger builds with time, you are probably trying to prove in your mind that the other person is guilty of having evil motives. Some just ‘write someone off’ (“You’re no longer my friend!”) or will try to put what happened out of their minds (a very bad idea). Take the time to find out what you can before giving up or drawing a conclusion why something occurred.

Asking the Right Questions

Once anger has cooled enough for justice to be pursued, ask the person (with whom you are angry) questions. Make certain that your questions are not accusatory. “Why did you do such and such?” is quite blunt, and may produce the wrong result. Start by describing the scene slowly: “You and I were outside, yesterday. You were roasting those delicious steaks on the grill—they were very good! When Bobby said, ‘Johnny doesn’t say much,’ you said, ‘Johnny doesn’t have much to say. I laughed, because I normally don’t have much to say. I was wondering, though, do I really give the impression of greater than normal ignorance?”

If you cannot ask right away, wait. If you will never be able to ask, don’t become bitter. You may also say, “What happened confused me; I don’t understand why it took place,” or some other statement like that. This gives the other person a chance to tell what happened before you accuse him of anything.

There is rarely a reason for assuming that someone is guilty of doing a harmful act with evil motives (unless the person is known for violence). There sometimes are reasons for assuming that someone is innocent, but if you want justice, wait and ask. If the other person is also angry, use diplomacy!

After asking and receiving an answer, you will sometimes wonder if the story is true. Ask more questions if you can. There is an art to getting to the bottom of an issue. Columbo, in the famous television series, was an expert. He asked and asked until he obtained answers. He was never offended.

Being ‘Unoffendable’ while Pursuing Justice

Anyone who truly pursues justice cannot be easily offended. Those who are easily offended make rash decisions and choices, get easily distracted, do violence, become guilty themselves, and teach others to do the same. When folks feel ‘cornered,’ some will sling accusations. Ignore those accusations in order to find justice; they distract and will start a new argument or issue where there was none before.

A defensive person tends to react to what he thinks are accusations against him either by feeling guilty and defending, by backing away from the real issue, by throwing back hard accusations, by sarcasm, or by some other means of shielding himself from bad feelings in the situation. If both become involved in a war of words, the volley will lead to injustice and a stalemate. If justice is not the result of a discussion, anger usually grows. Being ‘unoffendable’ is a key to justice. Agree with the other person whenever possible even if he is slinging accusations at you. This will sometimes disarm him and lead to a resolution. Sometimes it won’t. At least the one seeking justice by proper means has done right.

Unlatching Motives

Parents often struggle with ascertaining the motives of their children. When a youth does something wrong and a parent asks why, a common answer is, “I don’t know.” This response can be aggravating. If the parent starts to lecture, the youth will shut the parent out, hearing only what he wants to hear and becoming very angry. There are now two angry individuals, but the parent has the power. If he responds to the child’s attitude in anger and punishes (I did not say chastises), what good has been accomplished? This is harmful and destructive to the relationship.

Punishment is inflicting bodily damage or loss for an offense that cannot be rectified (made right). Chastisement is properly rearing, teaching, and training another in order to reach the goal of independence.

If a parent responds in anger and the child does not understand the justice of the parent’s anger, a wedge will form in the relationship, giving the youth a desire to escape. The parent will have much greater success if he takes the time to respond to the new issue. The first issue was the offense. The new issue is the child’s not knowing why he did what he did. “It disturbs me more that you don’t know why you did what you did than the act itself. I want you to think about this and let me know. I cannot do justice in this case until I understand why this action took place. Until you know and are able to tell me why you did this, you are grounded…” A very young child will not be able to give a good answer—he did it because he felt the urge. This must be modified for him. Teenagers and pre-teens, however, will be able to respond. This gives the parent a chance to cool off, and it gives the child a chance to construct his case. The teen or pre-teen child will usually desire to get out of the grounding and to minimize damage. If the youth is very bitter, however, grounding will be received with more anger and bitterness; it isn’t a wise route in that case.

How a parent responds at this point is crucial. Discovering the motives and caring about them (the motives), combined with quietness and patience, will do more good than being heavy-handed. If the admitted motives are evil, one course of action is necessary. If the admitted motives are not evil, the parent can either suggest other ways to accomplish something beneficial or can ask the child to come up with other ways to accomplish the goal without causing harm to relationships. If a youth is just a willful ‘hard-head’ (be careful, parent, that you don’t assume this when it is not the case!), take stronger action. Be right, though. You can do damage if you are wrong, and you can do damage if you do nothing.

Do not be quick to assume that rebellion is what is occurring. Teenagers need to learn independence. What appears to be rebellion is often an attempt to gain (or steal) some freedom to make one’s own decisions. Parents who refuse to grant independence will usually finally push a child into rebellion. Parents who grant a measure of trust and equal responsibilities will be much more likely to have a successful relationship.

Seek wise counsel. The Bible mentions the extremes:

Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them, 19then his father and his mother shall lay hold on him and bring him out unto the elders of his city and unto the gate of his place. 20And they shall say unto the elders of his city, “This our son is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey our voice–a profligate and a drunkard.” 21And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones. And he shall die. So shalt thou put evil away from among you. And all Israel shall hear and fear.

Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Don’t try the Deuteronomy text in our society. You will get what you deserve if you do! Yehovah commanded this to Israel with the proper justice mechanisms in place. A hardened child, however, can be placed in a correctional facility. This is rarely needed, but there are bitter children who are not correctable by ordinary and good means.

Lying about the Motives

Suppose a youth lies about his motive. What should the parent do? Parents often suspect their children of lying, and sometimes they are right. Suspicion is not enough according to the Teaching (Torah, wrongly rendered Law) of Moses. It is better to patiently wait for the youth to get caught, and then take strong action. He needs to be warned, however. “If I find that you lie to me or to anyone, and you are not in the process of saving the life of an innocent person from the hands of guilty criminals, you will find how great my wrath can be.” If the child does lie, inform him that he has destroyed the trust relationship, and it will be very difficult to rebuild it. Ask the youth what he is going to do about this. After this, strong actions of other types will sometimes be necessary: forms of grounding, etc. Violence is never wise. Take your time. Good counsel is vital in these types of decisions. If you find that lying has been part of the child’s behaviour, ask him why. Find out his motives, if you can. If you cannot, take action. A parent does not have to know the motive to respond to the action. Knowing the motive can help.

The same is true in friendship relationships. Carefully confront; do not be quick to accuse. Accusations are rarely ways to make peace.

Hidden Motives

It is often impossible in life to discover motives for behaviour. Some folks do things without knowing why they did them. Other folks know exactly why they did what they did, but have no intention of telling why; it is none of the business of others, in some cases.

Sometimes a person knows his motives, but is too ashamed to state them. He may give clues, however. If a woman practices bulimia, she may be terrified to give her motives. She may have fears that directly block her from facing these issues. Her discussions, however, will include clues. Wisely trained psychologists know how to gather clues, but wise men and women in general can do the same thing. The discovery of a motive can lead to a correction of a problem.

There is always a motive behind sin. The motive is never good, but it is important. Joshua desired to know Achan’s actions (and motives, if possible) before he killed him:

Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give, I pray thee, glory to Yehovah the God of Israel, and make confession to Him. Tell me now what thou hast done. Keep it not back from me.” 20And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against Jehovah the God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done. 21I saw a beautiful mantle of Shinar, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a golden bar of fifty shekels weight among the spoils, and I coveted them and took them. And behold, they are hid in the soil in the midst of my tent. And the silver is under it.” 22And Joshua sent messengers. And they ran to the tent. And behold, it was hidden in his tent, and the silver under it. 23And they took them out of the midst of the tent. And they brought them to Joshua and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before Jehovah. 24And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the mantle, and the bar of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had. And they brought them up into the valley of Achor. 25And Joshua said, “How hast thou troubled us! Yehovah will trouble thee this day!” And all Israel stoned him with stones. And they burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.

Conclusion

Anyone who assumes another’s motives is interfering in Yehovah’s territory, for Yehovah only knows the hearts of all the children of men. Wrong assumptions regarding motives will lead to great injustice. Some parents always assume that their adult children do things with good motives. They are blind to the truth regarding their ‘little innocents.’ Other parents assume that their children have evil motives when this is not always the case, and they become bitter against their children. Children learn, and assume motives in their friends. The court systems in the United States sentence individuals based upon motives. This nearly always leads to injustice. A wise person will seek the motive behind actions while realizing that anyone can lie about his motives and give a strong case built on a lie.

Be cautious. Be careful. And quit reading this document just to find out how many texts I used to prove my points!

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Bitterness

Bitterness

 

Introduction

There are two types of bitterness. One type breeds a response that is damaging, and may be sin. The other type is a reaction to the pain in life, and breeds no damaging response; it can breed life. This paper will examine some aspects of both.

 

Definition of Bitterness

Bitterness is the state of unrelenting hurt, anger, and/or outrage over a perceived or real loss, a lack of gain, an outrage caused by another or others, and/or an injustice. This will be considered in detail.

 

Unrelenting means continuing without stopping, with the same irritation. If a child asks for a glass of milk over and over and over again, because the milk has not been given, and no answer has been given, both the child and the mother or father can become angry. The child’s request is unrelenting. It just won’t stop until there is a reply.

 

If one has a headache, and the aspirin won’t take it away, the throbbing is unrelenting. In the same way, bitterness has to do with unrelenting hurt, anger, and/or outrage. Outrage means very strong anger over something which seems just so very unfair or contrary to justice. Perceived means what something seems to be.

 

Suppose that Johnny is hitting Sue. Their mother comes in and sees this. She perceives that Johnny is doing wrong, and she becomes angry at Johnny. She later finds that Sue had been tickling Johnny to the point of really bothering him, and he responded in the only way he knew how to respond. When one perceives something as true, it may or may not be true. Bitterness in life often forms from such responses.

 

Bitterness may be from what seems as an unfair or unjust loss. It may be unfair, or it may be fair─but the bitter person definitely thinks it is unfair.

 

A person may become bitter because he didn’t get what he thought he should get. This is the perceived lack of gain.

 

A person may become bitter because of the cruelty of others, the death of loved ones, racism, jealousy, envy, and many other events.

 

What is Bad Bitterness?

Bad bitterness is used as an excuse to do violence. Say that Johnny hits Sue. Sue then picks up Johnny’s favorite truck and smashes it on the ground, ruining it. Sue has taken vengeance on Johnny. The word vengeance means personal or group punishment for a supposed offense, harm or crime for which restitution cannot or will not be made.

 

One may take vengeance on the other who did the supposed offense, or he may take vengeance on someone else who seems related. Vengeance is very dangerous. There are times when it is right, and there are many times when it is wrong. Sue was wrong when she smashed Johnny’s favorite truck. She would have been right if she had gone to their mother, and had asked her mother to take care of the hitting problem.

 

When a person who commits murder is found guilty, putting that person to death is right (according to the God of the Bible). This is a right form of vengeance.

 

Folks with bad and wrongful bitterness often desire to take vengeance or see vengeance on someone. They want to ‘get back at’ someone or a group. Some folks don’t care who gets hurt as long as someone who seems related to the cause of their bitterness will be targeted. They sometimes don’t even care if they, themselves, get hurt or killed in the process as long as they are successful in hurting or killing the ones they hate. This is the mindset behind Middle Eastern and Islamic terrorism. Since the gods won’t or can’t take vengeance, followers of the weak god feel the need to do vengeance for the god. (Folks with a strong god or God never need to help their god/God.)

 

Thus, bad bitterness includes hatred.

 

Not all hatred is bad; some forms are right. It is right to hate those who love to hurt others, who love to lie, who love to make others become guilty of wrong-doing, etc. The Bible teaches this in Psalm 5 and in Psalm 11, as well as in Proverbs 6, where we see that God hates such people:

 

Psalm 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight. Thou hatest all workers of iniquity! 6Thou shalt destroy them that speak lying! Yehovah will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

 

Psalm 11:5 Yehovah tries the righteous. And His soul hates the wicked and him who loves violence.

 

Proverbs 6:16 Yehovah hates these six things. Indeed, seven are an abomination unto Him: 17a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18a heart that devises thoughts of lust, feet that are swift in running to mischief, 19a false witness speaking lies, and he who sows discord among brethren.

 

Hating someone, therefore, isn’t necessarily wrong, but being gracious to that person is most often the right thing to do. How can this be done? If one treats a mean person graciously (except when defending innocent victims from the mean person), this can sometimes turn a mean person from the meanness. If the person is doing violence against a victim, it is also gracious to stop the mean person from hurting others if that is possible.

 

Personal vengeance (vengeance for one’s self) is not right. One can defend one’s self against an attacker; this is right. Vengeance for oneself is from bad bitterness, however.

 

What Causes Bad Bitterness?

Bad bitterness comes from pride. Pride is either having a higher or lower view of one’s own rank than what is true, without properly viewing one’s own responsibilities, or having a proper view of one’s own rank and responsibilities, but not living that way. A person who thinks that he is more than he really is shows pride and arrogance. A person who boasts, and says that he can do more than what he can actually do is prideful. A person who thinks he is more important than he really is arrogant. But also, a person who thinks that he is no good, low-down or stupid is also prideful! If a person thinks that he is special in any way, either over others, or below others, is prideful! The reason is this: such a person is self-centered. This means that such a person thinks about himself, not about others. He concentrates on how good or how lousy he is, rather than on benefiting others. Anyone who is self-centered tends to not care about others, and such a person is prideful.

 

A person with bad bitterness thinks that he is special and that his anger is special. He thinks about his cause and his fight as being more important than anything, including justice. Justice is rendering a right decision based on all the facts. A person who is bitter in a bad way does not care about facts; his view is right and cannot be wrong (even though it is wrong). It often does not matter who gets hurt as long as others feel the bitter person’s pain! Those with bad bitterness are very mean, and they don’t even know it. They are very angry. They get angry very quickly for no justifiable reason. They are certain that they are right.

 

Anyone with bad bitterness wants others to feel the same pain, or more pain, that he feels! It would not be good enough to just make peace. Peace alone is not the objective. The objective is to hurt others. If the others are the ones at whom the anger is aimed, fine! But if the others are not involved, that is often fine too, because this draws more attention to the bitterness.

 

Suppose Johnny is at school. And say that Mary took Johnny’s pencil, and broke it, then laughed. The teacher came in, so that Johnny couldn’t do anything. Johnny is really angry. Mary later goes to another class, and Johnny can’t go after her. He is really angry. He is bitter. Sherry walks up. Johnny is angry with Mary, but Mary is gone. Sherry accidentally bumps Johnny, not meaning to do it. Johnny gets intensely angry very quickly, turns, and pushes Sherry down, hurting her. He then walks off still angry. He has taken vengeance on Sherry for his anger against Mary! Yet, he is still angry with Mary! Then, when the teacher comes, gets Johnny, takes him out of class, and makes him sit alone, Johnny becomes very angry with the teacher, too! He has bad bitterness. He is proud. He sees himself as being more important than Sherry, whom he hurt. He sees himself as being more important than doing right. Yet, he feels like he is being picked-on by everyone. He has a low view of himself. This is still from the same pride!

 

Now, suppose Tim is in the same difficulty, and suppose that Mary broke Tim’s ruler. Tim is angry, but he thinks about it. He will get a new ruler. And he knows that Mary, for some reason, is mean, but he won’t permit Mary’s meanness to make him mean. Sam later comes and also picks on Tim, making fun of his hair. Tim just looks at him and says nothing, thinking that he is just trying to make him angry, but it won’t work. Later, when Jane drops her book, Tim picks it up for her, and hands it to her. She thanks him for that. Tim has responded in a good way. He has a right view of himself in terms of others. He is not proud.

 

There is no way to be bitter in a bad way without being proud. Prideful individuals can easily become bitter. Humble individuals, those who know their true rank and responsibilities before others, and insist on living that way, won’t ever become bitter in a bad way. They may suffer many wrongs against them, but they won’t become bitter. They will do well in life.

 

Is There Bitterness that is Not Bad?

There is a bitterness that is not bad. In the book of Ruth in the Bible, there is a woman named Naomi. Her husband and her two sons died soon after getting married, and they had no children. Naomi had lost practically everything during a famine. She was about to go home with nothing except two widowed daughters-in-law. She was bitter, but not in a bad way. She stated,

 

Ruth 1:20 Call me not Naomi {My Pleasant-One}; call me Mara {Bitter}. For the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21I went out full, and Yehovah hath brought me home again empty. Why will ye call me Naomi, seeing Yehovah has humiliated me, and the Almighty has bad-done to me?

 

She was right. She would soon see Yehovah turning things around for her in a most excellent way! In the meantime, she refused to take vengeance on anyone or harm or mistreat anyone, including Yehovah. She was only gracious. She feared Yehovah! She did what was right. Her bitterness was caused from the pain of loss and grief that she felt for herself and for her two daughters-in-law all the time. Naomi had no pride. She did not see herself as lower than others or as higher than others. She saw her responsibilities, and she did them on behalf of others. Anyone who takes her attitude and fears Yehovah will do well in life!

 

How Can One Get Rid of Bad Bitterness?

In order to get rid of bad bitterness, one must first get rid of pride! (That is extremely hard for a prideful person to do, because a person with pride usually is too proud to admit that there is pride!) He must admit that he does not properly see his own rank and real responsibilities, and he is not living according to his real rank and real responsibilities.

 

The next step is to carefully consider what has really been happening. In the case of Johnny above, if he had considered that Mary is probably mean because she does not know better, and because she is very bitter and angry too, Johnny might be able to respond kindly toward her. It could be that if he did, she might begin to treat him better. Even if she didn’t, she might soon get caught in her meanness, and face the teacher! Johnny also didn’t see that Mary wanted him to become mean so that Mary could feel better about herself! Mean people sometimes feel bad that they are so mean. They press others to do things to look bad so that they can feel better about themselves. If Johnny truly wants to ‘bug’ her, he could treat her very well, and watch her really struggle!

 

After considering what is happening and how it is affecting oneself and others, the next step is to make something good (constructive) out of what is bad. The best and most allowed form of vengeance is kindness to one’s enemy. This takes a lot of work and energy, but it can truly make all the difference in the world.

 

Being kind to a bitter enemy sometimes isn’t possible. If the Bible is Truth, Yehovah will deal with the enemy at a later time. When He does, vengeance will be much stronger and more appropriate than anything that any person can do.

 

Refuse personal vengeance. That belongs to Yehovah.

 

Don’t let an enemy possess your mind! One who is bitter in a bad way is almost always thinking about the object of the bitterness: the mean person or persons who did the supposed wrong in the first place. A person whose mind is possessed is a slave! There is no freedom of thought when one’s thoughts always go toward one’s enemies!

 

Talk with someone who is wise about the way you feel. Make sure that that person is not one who says, “Yeah, you are right! You have a right to feel that way!” That is not a wise person. Rather, talk with someone who will help you come up with good ideas how you can overcome your bitterness.

 

Warning: Do not try to fight the feelings. Your emotions are given as a gift from God. Don’t fight them. Rather, Do Good. Proper feelings will follow much later.

 

National Vengeance

Countries take vengeance on criminals; this is right. This is not from bitterness. The Almighty (Yehovah) has given countries the right to do this. Countries have the right to fight against enemy countries and enemy individuals.

 

Some wars are right, and some wars are not. Countries have a right to go to war. Individuals may disagree with their own countries regarding a war. Some may even fight against the actions of their own countries, as some Germans fought against the mean and cruel Nazi government in Germany during World War II. It is right to fight against wrong violence of your own country’s leaders if your country’s leaders are fighting against the God of Israel and against the Israel of God. If your country’s leaders are not commanding you to do wrong, however, it is not right to fight against your own country’s leaders.

 

A person who claims to believe the Bible needs to very carefully think about all these things before doing something that might be wrong. Daniel, in the Bible, was a leader in a country that had taken the Israelis captive. He served that country’s leaders very well, and was loved and respected by the leaders. Daniel feared God. He never tried to take vengeance on his enemies. He saved some of their lives!

 

In the book of Esther, Esther asked for the right of the Israelis to defend themselves, against enemies who were going to kill all Jews. The King gave the Jewish People not only the right to defend, but to get rid of their enemies! This was vengeance, and this was right!

 

There are times when vengeance is right. As you think about it, you will begin to see the difference.

 

Conclusion

If you suffer from bad bitterness, or what seems to be unrelenting anger, bad bitterness is always against a god/God, and it is from pride. Do something about it—something good, beneficial and kind. Do right!

 

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One Aim of The Law

Introduction

Some erroneously believe that the Torah (‘Law’) provided salvation for those who kept it. This will be examined.

The Directive: Thou Shalt Keep the Commandments

Deuteronomy 8:6,19 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of Yehovah thy God to walk in His ways, and to fear Him. And it shall be, if thou do at all forget Yehovah thy God and walk after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish as the nations which Yehovah detroyeth before your face. So shall ye perish because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of Yehovah your God.

 

Two purposes are given to Israel for keeping Yehovah’s commandments:

 

  • To walk in His ways
  • To fear Him

The Israelis were temporarily permitted to dwell in, use and prosper in Yehovah’s Land as long as they walked in Yehovah’s ways. Everlasting life was not the issue, and no permanence was guaranteed.

 

 

The Everlasting Gospel

The everlasting Gospel consists of three elements that will have everlasting consequences:

 

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people, saying with a loud voice, (1) Fear God, and (2) Give glory to Him! For the hour of His judgment is come! And (3) Worship Him Who made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters!

 

The fear of Yehovah is essential for Salvation and is the beginning of Wisdom.

 

One purpose of Torah was to direct a person to the Fear of Yehovah. The Torah deals with the issues of this life (the physical land of Israel; one’s neighbour; one’s view of Yehovah). Any Israeli sensitive to the Torah who desired truth with all his being will obtain the fear of Yehovah. The same is true for anyone who approaches the Torah today with such an attitude.

 

 

The Righteous by His Faith Shall Live

The Scriptures teach, the righteous-one by his faith shall live (Habakkuk 2:4b). Contrast this with Hebrews 4:2b: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard. Hearing the Word of God is not profitable if it is not mixed with faith. Faith is the gift of God. The Torah is the word of God. One who observes the Torah without the faith of Yehovah will accomplish nothing permanent. He will not ultimately glorify or please God. All who live by the faith of Yehovah will be righteousness and will show proof of their salvation.

 

 

Can Keeping the Law save Anyone?

If anyone could, the following would also be true:

 

  • Those saved by keeping the Torah would not need the sacrifice of Messiah. His shed blood would be useless for them.
  • They would obtain salvation by their own works and power. Man would not be helpless and lost in sin, just temporarily in trouble.
  • Many passages such as Romans 8:3 would be rendered false: For what the Law could not do (in that it was weak through the flesh), God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
  • The means of salvation for non-Israelis during the time of Moses, Joshua, etc. would be in question. Many would not be able to come to Israel to obtain salvation by keeping the Torah. Slaves and residents in other lands where the Torah could not be performed could not obtain salvation due to a geographic problem beyond their control, unless there were two or more ways to obtain Salvation.
  • The Grace of Yehovah would not be essential.
  • The importance of one’s name being written in the Lamb’s Book of Life would be meaningless. Salvation would be obtainable then loseable, obtainable, loseable, etc. (There is no record of blottings or additions to the Lamb’s Book of Life.)
  • One would still be able to obtain salvation through keeping the Torah today, making the Grace of God of non-effect.

The curses of the Torah are still active against Israel, and thus the Torah is still active. Yehovah still brings Israel’s enemies against Israel and Israelis for refusing to turn to Yehovah and obey His Torah (His Word).

 

Since He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and His plan never changes, His means of salvation has never changed.

 

 

Conclusion

One aim of the Law is to direct the Israelis to the fear of Yehovah. Non-Jewish folks can also learn the fear of Yehovah from His Word.

 

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Who in Hell Does God Love?

Who in Hell Does God Love?

 

A common teaching is that God loves everybody. I find it amazing how few folks stop and think about how unreasonable this is.

 

If God loves everyone, why does the Bible teach about everlasting torturous judgment?

 

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.

 

If God loves everyone, why does the Bible teach that God commanded the Israelis to annihilate all Canaanite folks?

 

Deuteronomy 20:16 But thou shalt save alive nothing that breathes from the cities of these peoples that Yehovah thy God gives thee for an inheritance, 17but thou shalt utterly destroy them—namely, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites—as Yehovah thy God commanded thee.

 

If God loves everyone, why does the Bible teach that God kills and destroys Israel’s enemies?

 

Psalms 143:12 Cut off my enemies from Thy Grace, and destroy all them who afflict my being! For I am thy servant.

 

If God loves everyone, why does the Bible teach that God slew Judah’s firstborn son?

 

Genesis 38:7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yehovah. And Yehovah slew him.

 

If God loves everyone, why does the Bible teach that God hated Esau?

 

Romans 9:13 As it is written, “I loved Jacob, but I hated Esau.”

 

Some senseless folks will say, “God loves everyone, even folks who go to Hell, because it was their own choice to go there!” They have no understanding that the Lake of Fire and Sulfur is a judgment that God will institute! What kind of love will consign a person to such a place everlastingly? If this is ‘love’, do you want God to love you?

 

Some groups try denying that Hell is a real place. They claim that it is a state of mind, or it is right here on earth. Denial is the core of unbelief.

 

“Then whom does God love?”

The Queen of Sheba stated about King Solomon,

 

2 Chronicles 9:8 Blessed is Yehovah thy God Who delighted in thee to set thee on His throne to be king for Yehovah thy God. Because thy God loved Israel to establish them forever, therefore He made thee king over them to do justice and righteousness.

 

The Bible stated about the Israelis,

 

Deuteronomy 7:7 Yehovah did not set His love upon you or choose you, because ye were more in number than any people—for ye were the fewest of all people—8but Yehovah brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slaves, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt because Yehovah loved you and because He would keep the oath that He swore unto your fathers.

 

“But what about Gentiles?”

Psalm 146:8 Yehovah loves the righteous.

 

Any Gentiles that the Bible considers righteous will have His love.

 

Does God hate or abhor anyone?

Psalms 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight! Thou hatest all workers of iniquity [folks who make themselves guilty before God by sinning]. 6Thou shalt destroy them who speak lying! Yehovah will abhor the bloody [folks who intentionally shed innocent blood] and deceitful man!

 

John 3:36 He who doesn’t believe the Son [the Biblical Jesus, distinct from the popular ‘Jesuses’ of many different religious forms] shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.

 

“Well, I just can’t believe there is anyone that God doesn’t love.”

Anytime someone states, “I can’t believe…” and then follows it with something the Bible teaches, the person is directly declaring his own unbelief. I always believe that person’s testimony, and know that that person truly cannot believe.

 

Jesus taught the Jews and their friends who will be going to Mount Zion during the Tribulation,

 

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait [constricted and very tight] gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and there are many who go in there. 14Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leads unto life, and there are few who find it.

 

If only a few will find it of all who seek it, and if the majority never seek it, the number who will find it must be very small contrasted with the very large majority who go to destruction (the Lake of Fire and Sulfur).

 

Do you think the Biblical God loves you? You probably do. If you are normal, the Biblical record doesn’t really matter. You figure that you have not been as bad as some folks, and that God ‘grades on a curve.’

 

2 Thessalonians 2:11 God shall send them strong delusion for this cause so that they will believe a lie, 12so that they all will be damned who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

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Charismatics and Anti-Charismatics

Charismatics and Anti-Charismatics

There are two main preferences in every denomination and church. One is quiet, sometimes contemplative, sometimes sleepy, and the other is enthusiastic, oriented toward motion and activity.

 

History

Many new denominations and independent congregations were formed after the Reformation, usually paralleling their cultures. If the culture was motion oriented, the congregation was motion oriented. If the culture was stiff and formal or quiet, the congregation followed suit.

 

The experiment in the newly formed United States of America included the notion of religious liberty and personal individuality. The beginning of the Declaration of Independence is as follows:

 

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the National bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the earth, the separate and equal stations to which the Laws of Nature and Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.____________ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.____ That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the consent of the governed,___ That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

 

This reads more like an American church constitution because it is a religious document, and it formed the example for American churches.

 

A careful look at the above quoted section will expose its humanism and naturalism. Were it written from a Biblical perspective, it would have been worded something like this:

 

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for societies to dissolve the National bands which have connected them with others, and to receive among the Powers of the earth, the separate and responsible stations to which the God of Israel entitles them, an appropriate fear of God and consideration of others requires that they should declare the causes for the needful Separation.____________ We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created Unequal, that they are endowed by their Creator with greatly varying abilities and certain unalienable Responsibilities, that among these are Righteousness, Justice, and the pursuit of Truth.____ That to make foundational these responsibilities, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the God of Abraham,___ That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Responsibility of the Society to determine to do right nevertheless, clinging to the foundation of such principles in the fear of God, in spite of the lack of Safety and Happiness.

 

This was not the way it was constructed.

 

In the same manner as the new American Patriots, the Puritans, Baptists, Methodists—all denominations and congregations broke away from other denominations and congregations. Each sought freedom from tyranny and error or liberalism, but they always became like their parents. The strictest churches of our day seem liberal contrasted with churches after the Great Reformation.

 

Many denominations historically determined to stand against the Enthusiasts, folks who were convinced that the Spirit of God moved men and women into forms of worship that were considered scandalous. Enthusiasts were known for their shouts, contortions, eruptions and other disturbing behaviours, claiming that the Spirit of God was moving them, coming upon them, filling them, etc. Pastors commonly preached fervently against such ‘devilish’ behaviour. Years later, Pentecostalism formalized Enthusiastic practices, and the Assemblies of God was later formed, establishing the Charismatic Movement.

 

The separation between non-Pentecostal/non-Charismatic Protestant and Catholic churches and the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches was so great that anti-Pentecostal sermons were preached that condemned the Enthusiasts for their excesses and evils, while Pentecostal sermons were preached condemning spiritual deadness among non-Pentecostals. Protestant churches stood against Catholicism, Catholic priests spoke against the wayward Protestants, and each group saw the need to inoculate its own against the evils of the others. Nothing had changed in 1600 years.

 

From the 1960s to the 1990s, walls began coming down. Non-Charismatic congregations began using catchy Charismatic choruses—miniature hymns repetitively quoting pieces of Scriptures or catchy personal-relationship-with-God issues.

 

Individualism became much more important, following cultural trends at large. Charismatic churches that had rejected ‘doctrine’ as a great evil began to look to non-Charismatic churches for examples of doctrine. Baptist churches that had once spoken out against the Charismatic Movement now embraced its freedoms in ‘worship,’ adopting Charismatic choruses months after they were popularized in Charismatic churches instead of decades. Some Catholic churches embraced Charismatic doctrines, desiring the accompanying enthusiasm. Catholicism had no trouble adopting protestant ideas without violating Catholic standards. As walls came down, standards of Christianity followed.

 

The Draw

What draws someone to a Charismatic or a non-Charismatic church? Is it the doctrine? Very few churchgoers are aware of their church’s doctrines. Church attendance is usually a matter of feel and fit. Some folks attend a church because it is what they are used to, and some attend because of the beliefs of the church. Most attend because it either fits with their personalities or because it directly contrasts with their personalities and lives, providing a welcome change.

 

Charismatic/Pentecostal churches are far more feelings oriented than non-Charismatic churches, and anti-Charismatic churches are far more structure oriented. Charismatic churches tend to attract strong, vocal women, and men attracted to those women. Anti-Charismatic churches tend to attract folks who desire order and peace at least on Sunday. Charismatic churches tend toward excitement and expectation (“God is moving again!”). Anti-Charismatic churches tend toward quietness and formalism (“Stand for the recitation of the Apostles’ Creed…”)

 

There are curious crossovers. Some anti-Charismatic churches attract very Charismatic women who take them over. Other women look to those Charismatic women as supreme examples of Godliness and take-charge activism.

 

Women, not men, are the backbones of nearly all churches. Men are put on the pulpits and are usually the preachers, but women hold authority and sway. Charismatic churches tend to exaggerate this trend.

 

Today’s churches are designed to meet the ‘needs’ of as many as possible. They must attract Charismatics and non-Charismatics alike. Many ‘services’ have a Charismatic music segment followed by a traditional hymn and a message. If the congregation is mainly Charismatic, the message will be louder, with the preacher making rapid motions and gestures and the audience verbally responding. If the congregation is mainly ‘conservative,’ the message will be shorter, quieter, and with little audience response. Newer churches combine the active with the formal and quiet. They employ exciting music with miniature soothing concerts and even dance. The service moves more like a show.

 

Attraction

Very formal churches attract Charismatic Sunday School teachers, and few notice the inconsistency. They are like a breath of fresh air. Charismatic churches will attract doctrinally oriented ‘Spirit-filled’ Sunday School teachers. It is becoming very difficult to tell the difference between churches based upon the music and the Sunday Schools. There are no institutions that maintain such low standards for its teachers as Protestant churches. (Roman Catholic and the various ‘Orthodox’ churches don’t do better.)

 

What attracts a conservative, non-Charismatic person to a Charismatic church? Whatever attracts opposites to each other in marriage is the same force. Many non-Charismatics hate feeling bored. A Charismatic church offers excitement and a closer relationship with God.

 

Bitterness

Some are weary of their bitterness toward God and their guilt feelings, and they seek refuge in Charismatic churches. They ‘lose themselves’ in ‘the Spirit’ and obtain ‘a refreshing’ and a new ‘filling of the Holy Spirit.’ They want to become closer to God, hoping to solve their bitterness against Him. Non-Charismatic churches have no means to solve the bad feelings from bitterness.

 

Refuge

Charismatic activities have helped many to temporarily forget their troubles, while others who are not as ‘churched’ get drunk to forget theirs. This does not indicate a lack of fervency in their faiths, but their fervency is from a position of weakness. They are seeking a refuge, a hiding place, looking to go ‘under the shadow of the Almighty’s wings.’ Church is their escape from day-to-day problems. They seek an infilling of the Spirit of God to give them overcoming power throughout the week.

 

The Attraction of Formal Churches

What attracts a vivacious, Charismatic person to a ‘Formal’ church? Again, opposites attract. Some naturally very Charismatic folks live chaotic and somewhat empty lives. They long for quiet, majestic hymns, uplifting, quiet homilies and the formal majesty and beauty of a well-kept and well-run church. They do not want some inner power, but a transcendental Being Who rises above all and Who governs from the heavens in majesty. Naturally Charismatic folks attending high churches feel God’s majesty in the beautiful pipes sounding out majestic hymns.

 

Benefits of Religion, and Religious Holes

What attracts non-religious folks to a Charismatic/Pentecostal church in the first place? Some have described an imaginary ‘hole’ in one’s heart that only God can fill. There is no hole that God can fill; a new heart is the only acceptable solution. There is a hole that only religion can fill.

 

Religion serves vital purposes in society and in the individual, restraining society from total decadence and giving some ideal of right and wrong. It serves as a basis for law, justice and culture. It provides answers where answers are not possible, explaining the unexplainable through various gods. It adds rhythmic normalcy without which citizens would be constantly nervous. It provides ways of restraining fear and anger. Without it, folks would blame other folks for natural disasters, but instead that can look to the gods over whom they have some sway.

 

Religion soothes the individual by giving him a sense of hope, a reason for living, a reason for planning for the afterlife, a feeling that the god or gods can be convinced to intervene when things get too bad, a consolation after the death of a friend, songs for refreshment, and something upon which to focus besides oneself.

 

Charismatic/Pentecostal religions are much stronger than conservative religions, as if their volume controls are turned up. Folks with higher bitterness, frustration, thought wars, greater helplessness and emotional shifts are attracted because these religions offer greater distractions and more active solutions.

 

Non-Charismatic/non-Pentecostal religions offer a long-term anchor. Their volume controls are turned down for folks who prefer to meditate or who want to be left alone.

 

Some Baptist churches that are fervently anti-Charismatic are truly very pro-Charismatic! They just deceive themselves. Their services are at least as active, noisy with “Amen!” and carrying on as any Charismatic church. They are out to win souls!

 

Biblical, Frustrating Religion

All religions except the one described in the Book of James help folks not think about teachings in the Jewish Bible.

 

The Bible is frustrating to many because it shows valiant and ignoble folks, giving no excuse for the ignoble, and giving every reason why anyone created in the image of God can be valiant through His power. Each person is responsible for not being valiantly righteous, Godly and centered on Yehovah instead of self.

 

Charismatics often have a very difficult time with the Bible because it is so cold. It states things in ways that would hurt anyone centered on feelings. New translations have helped make the God of the Bible a much nicer guy.

 

Non-Charismatics have less difficulty with the Bible because so few read it. It is a good book to take to church, maybe, but once one has his ‘faith’ (religion), reading the Bible is an extracurricular activity.

 

Today’s Churches

Today’s churches reach out for folks from these extremes. They want to bring the bitter and the joyful together in ‘fellowship’ and ‘unity of the Spirit.’ Some churches even offer formal services at one time on Sunday morning and Charismatic services at another!

 

What does all this have to do with the Bible? Nothing. It is totally unrelated to the Bible. The Word of God does not center on any individual’s liking or preference, but on the plan of Yehovah for Israel, and Truth. An individual’s circumstantial bitterness or joy has nothing to do with Israel’s Spiritual status and Yehovah’s judgments on Israel.

 

The Bible is not designed for the self-centered bitter person nor the self-centered joyful person. It is not designed for politicians, doctors, lawyers or money managers. It is designed to portray what is important from Yehovah’s perspective.

 

While Charismatic and Pentecostal churches keep declaring that ‘God is moving again,’ and non-Charismatic churches declare that God has ceased speaking, leaving it up to men and women to be His hands and feet to the world, Israel is still in unbelief. Many Jewish individuals having no knowledge or interest in the Jewish Scriptures; some having a liberal interest; some have rabbinic fervency.

 

Churches and Judaism

All churches follow various forms of Judaism. Charismatic Judaism includes Hasidic Judaism, and liberal Judaism includes Reform Judaism. Conservative Jewish congregations are like Conservative churches: they stand somewhere between a strict orthodox stand and a liberal stand, bent toward the liberal stand. And like their Christian counterparts, the most bitter and the most joyful are attracted to the most Charismatic forms. The Jews combined the most Charismatic and the most Formal forms of Judaism long ago, and the churches are just now seeing the light.

 

What does all this have to do with the Bible? Nothing. It is totally unrelated to the Bible. Judaism centers on rabbis’ teachings. In the meantime, Israel is still in unbelief, and holocausts always recur. As the population increases, new plans for the next holocaust and new inventions for disposing of Jews are made.

 

True Believers

There are a few Jewish and non-Jewish folk here and there who Biblically believe the Word of God. If they are bitter, they are bitter like Naomi whose bitterness led to Salvation. They await the Consolation of Israel, the Spirit of Yehovah of Hosts. They know that one Jewish or non-Jewish person’s salvation is good, but not satisfactory until all Israel is in faith. They desire to know the Word of God in order to live righteously, do justice, love Grace, and to selflessly walk with Yehovah. They also desire to properly present the plan, goodness and Grace of Yehovah to anyone, especially the People of Israel. If a fearer is also a pastor, he will instill this Hope and these things into all who will hear.