Rituals, Are They Faithful or Facade ? Amos 5:2124

Even though there is nothing wrong with Christian rituals such as communion, baptism, testifying, singing, and worship, we still must be careful not to let them become a form without meaning. The Pharisees were condemned for swearing to gold, offerings, and the Temple, because it was an empty form of promising without recognizing that God heard each vow.

Amos declares to Israel that God hates, and rejects the religious feasts, assemblies,and offerings, because your offerings and assemblies have lost their meaning. Their worship, offerings, and fellowship did not include righteousness, justice, or truth. It had become a facade to appease God and still live in sin, luxury, and lies. God wants faithfulness, obedience, mercy, love, and justice.

The church today is being tempted to compromise with sin and allow homosexuality, adultery, fornication, unjust fund-raising methods, and easy divorce.

Will the church bow down to these idols and compromise? Don't bother taking communion, worshiping, baptizing, unless you are obedient to the commands of Christ .
As Christians we need to examine our priorities. If we tithe but fail to have justice, mercy, and love we are straining at a gnat and swallowing the camel.

Five Opinions on the Lords Supper

"Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes."
If we proclaim his death until he returns than we are also proclaiming his resurrection because someone who is dead can not return.
So we proclaim that he did die but arose from the dead and is returning.
There are five opinions about communion1. Roman Catholic's believe the bread and the wine actually become the literal body and blood of Jesus when consecrated and received. (Transubstantiation)
2. Lutheran's (Martin Luther) believe Jesus is literally present in the bread and wine, but the elements don't become his body and blood.
3. Calvinistic (John Calvin) doctrine teaches that Jesus is present in the bread and wine, but only in a spiritual manifestation and not a bodily sense.
4. Ulrich Zwingli taught that Christ is present with us at communion but only in a memorial that brings remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and affirms our faith by commemoration and thanksgiving.
5. Wesleyan (John Wesley) teaches that both Zwingli and Calvin are correct. The Lord's supper is a symbolic commemoration of Jesus death but Jesus is present in the spiritual sense that can only be experienced by the sacraments.Jesus is the invisible host inviting us to fellowship at his table, to commemorate his body and blood sacrificed for us.
"Anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment upon himself."
Paul is not saying we should avoid the Lord's supper just because we're not living a perfect Christian life.
None of us is truly worthy of his blood and body.
We all have faults or sins we must bring to him for help or forgiveness; that is why we are to examine ourselves and avoid judgment.
The reason some were being disciplined or punished for taking the bread and wine was because they were not recognizing and respecting the body of the Lord, including their fellow believers who were also part of His body.
In verses 17 -22, we see that some came to the Lord's supper and were getting drunk , others were being so selfish that there wasn't enough for the others to partake in the supper.
Such selfishness and drunkenness was a sin against the Lord's body.
They disrespected the sacrament and failed to recognize the Lord's body and blood, therefore, they were bringing judgment and punishment upon themselves.
Don't avoid taking the bread and wine just because you're not as spiritual as you wish you were, or are fighting doubts, temptations, or discouragement.
Instead, examine your heart as Paul says, and bring those doubts , temptations, and problems to Jesus before you partake in the sacrament.
If you're not a Christian yet then repent of your sin and ask Christ to come into your heart, just as you're going to take the symbols of his body and blood into your body.
You can leave the Lord's communion table a forgiven, changed person.

Controversy Over Childbearing and Salvation 1 Tim.2:15

1 Tim. 2 Verse 15 is very confusing because Paul says"women will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith, love, and holiness with self-control."

1. It almost sounds as if Paul is saying women will be saved through childbearing. That is not the real meaning of the verse.
2. If that were true women would not need Jesus' sacrifice for salvation and those unable to bear children, or single mothers would not be saved.
3. What this verse is saying is that women will be saved, even if they do bear children.

4. The reason Paul says this is because the Gnostics were teaching that the human spirit is a divine spark that is imprisoned by human flesh. Having children was the worst thing a woman could do because it imprisoned another spirit. This was a false teaching.

5. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ, and love with holiness and self-control are what Paul is teaching will save a woman, even when she bears children. Childbearing is not wrong, and childbearing does not save her.
6. Motherhood does not prevent or enhance salvation, but motherhood is a blessing, and God told Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth.

7. There is no scriptural proof that a spirit pre-exists the life of the flesh.
8. Mormons teach that God is having children by many wives in another heavenly realm and that spirits preexist. They believe that women here on earth should have as many children as possible so that those pre-existing spirits will have a body to inhabit. This is also a false doctrine.

Did Paul Really Forbid Women to Teach 1 Tim.2:8-15

These verses say that a woman should learn in silence and not teach or have authority over a man; but this is contradictory to the whole of scriptures.
1. Galatians 3:28 Paul said, "In Christ, there is neither male nor female for all are one."
2. Exodus Chapter 15, Micah ch. 6, Mariam is a leader and a prophetess of Israel.
3. Judges ch. 4 Deborah was a judge over Israel and a prophetess.
4. 2 Kings ch. 22, 2 Chronicles the prophetess Huldah brought revival to Israel.
5. Acts 2, Joel 2, God said He would pour out his Spirit on daughters and women.
6. 1 Cor. 11 Paul tells of women praying in prophesying in public.
7. Acts 18:26 Pricilla is a co-minister with her husband.

8. Rom. 16:1-7 Paul commends Phoebe , Priscilla & Aquilla , Mary, & Junia

9. Gen.2:18-24 Each gender (man & woman) is a completing portion of the other through mutual submission.
So why does Paul seem to contradict Scripture and forbid women to have authority over men or teach?
The answer is that in verse 12 the word authentein has various meanings and is mistranslated.
Rather than "I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man." It should read. "I do not permit a woman to teach that she has dominion over a man." Or " I do not permit a woman to claim that she is the originator of Man."
This last translation may be the best because the Gnostics were teaching that Eve existed before Adam and that she was the originator of Adam and that women were dominant over men.
This is emphasized by the fact that Paul refers to Genesis and the fact that Adam was formed before Eve and that she was subordinate in major decisions, and in chain of command.
Paul also commanded that husbands love their wives and that women respect their husbands.
In businesses , homes, sports, and churches,there is a chain of authority. Although women should respect men in major decisions , there is plenty of latitude for women to have authority and teach according to the Scriptures.
In fact Proverbs refers to the wise woman, who keeps her home and runs a business . If a man has a wise Christian wife, he should listen to her opinions even in major decision making.

Gen.2:18-24 Many have made the mistake of interpreting the word helpmate to mean an assistant or servant. That is not the meaning of the Hebrew word. The Hebrew expresses the idea of strength that draws out from Adam the fulness of his humanity and places woman equally at his side. It expresses a fulfilling relationship of completing Adam's identity. Each is the completing portion of the other, and neither is complete by themselves. By mutually submitting to each other they become whole.

That's why Paul teaches in Eph.5:22-25 that husbands and wives are to relate in mutual submission to one another. Such a submission and completeness can not be filfilled by two men or two women in a relationship with each other. Homosexual relationships are counterfeit ,incomplete imitations of God's plan for wholeness.

The only other way to find such fulfilling completeness is in a submissive marital type relationship with God, or as a eunuch, who is completely dedicated to God and His kingdom.

In 1 Cor.7 Paul said ,if possible people should remain unmarried and devote all their attention to fulfilling God's will. In Matt.18:3-12 Jesus speaks of people choosing to be eunuchs for the kingdom of God. It sounds as if He is implying it is a spiritual gift from God to be called to Eunuchism. In such a relationship God provides the fulfilling wholeness and completeness that most people find only in marriage.

Jesus is the Only Mediator (High Priest) 1Tim.2:3 -7

Paul was refuting a false doctrine of the Gnostics when he said. "There is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."
The Gnostics taught that there were countless intermediaries between man and God but this was a false doctrine. Just as their doctrine that only a select few with special knowledge could be saved was wrong.

I believe this verse also refutes the Roman Catholic doctrine that proclaims Mary is a mediator between God and Man.
I believe they have erroneously exalted Mary to a position that is not scriptural.
I also feel their prayers to the apostles and saints is a form of idol worship.
Only someone with a sinless blood sacrifice can be a mediator.
Old Testament priests were a type (symbol) of the true mediator in heaven.

I'm not saying that many Roman Catholics aren't saved because many of them are.
But I disagree with some of their doctrines such as
1. transubstantiation
2. worship of Mary
3. worship of the saints
4. the Pope speaking as God (excathedra)
5. Purgatory
6. salvation through the keeping of sacraments.
May the Lord help us to stand against the false doctrines in the world, and in the Church. But help us to do it lovingly and not too critically , so we can win people to Him rather than drive them away with arrogant debates.

Is Socialism the Answer?

Many college professors today are promoting socialism to their students as the best form of government. They teach that if true socialism existed, everyone would be equal.

Equal socially, financially, and politically.
Many singers and movie stars have promoted socialism as well, such as John Lennon and Jane Fonda.

The theory behind socialism is that all people, religions, classes, ethnic groups, and political views would be equal and share equally in wealth, social programs, health care, welfare, and education.

Each person can do whatever occupation they prefer , because all occupations would pay the same wages.
Each person could train for their preferred occupation, because all education would be paid for by the government or be free.
Each religion would coexist with other religions or philosophies, because all would be considered equal in value.

Government would be controlled by the people instead of controlled by politicians or financial wizards.
There would be no elite social status, because all individuals would be equal and possess equal wages and status.
There would be, as John Lennon sang, no more war, because no religion or wealthy person would be clamoring for power or influence or money.

These professors and promoters claim the reason socialism failed in the USSR (Russia) and is failing in China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, and other countries is because their governments are corrupt and are not true socialism; but have become totalitarianism or Communism

The followers of socialism, believe it would work if everyone were truly equal and government were in the control of the people ; or at least people who truely know what socialism is, and would govern correctly according to socialist doctrine.

Why won't socialism work?
1. To implement socialism requires power, and power corrupts those who have it. They soon become the powerful elite, forcing their will upon others.
2. Individuals will not voluntarily surrender their money, power, influence, possessions, so that all can be equal among us. Even Lennon and Fonda and others were not willing to sacrifice their wealth. So that all people would be equal.
3. When individuals are forced to surrender money, power, influence, possessions, they rebel and war is inevitable.
4. When individuals are forced to surrender their money, power, influence, possessions, those in power become the ruling party and the rest becomes serventile. Then classes of servitude and elitism exist.
5. To be forced to share your possession's, power, etc. becomes theft. No one likes a thief. Even a thief hates to be stolen from.
Thieves usually rationalize that they deserve more, and others have more than they deserve ; so their stealing is justified. This is essentally socialism, described as sharing the wealth.
6. Man is born with a sinful selfish nature that rebels against sharing the wealth, power, influence, possessions.
7. Even the Christian church in Acts, which started out as a Socialist organization , sharing all things common among themselves and giving to the needy, could not maintain the socialist form of government very long.
8. Man's sinful selfish nature will not allow socialism to be maintained; and when it is maintained by force or power it becomes corrupt.
9. The anti-Christ in Revelation, who will appear in the near future, will establish a socialist society through power, economics, and wonders performed by the false prophet.
 It will not succeed for more than seven years even though it will control groups, individuals, and economics by a mark on the hand and forehead.
It will seem like a perfect way to control terrorism, drugs, crime, and the economy, but it will be oppressive.
It will not tolerate Christianity, because Christianity espouses absolutes when it opposes sin.           10. Christ's reign on earth for 1000 years will be a form of equality, enforced by a rod of iron, which is Christ's governing power.
It will be a thousand years of peace, justice, and love.

After the thousand years is over, satan will be released from the pit and lead many in rebellion against the perfect paradise government of Christ.
As much as we would like to see a fair, just, and equal government in our world, it will not happen.

Even with all our technology man's sin will keep him from perfect governmental rule.Only when Christ rules and reigns upon the earth will we finally have a fair, equal, and just government.

All we can hope for now is peace and joy within our individual spirits by allowing Christ to live within us.
With our sins forgiven, we can enjoy peace and fellowship with the Father and the Prince of peace.

For now, we will have to live with the checks and balances of democracy or the rule of dictatorship.
Since we do live in a democracy in America we are responsible to vote and voice our opinion and influence government leaders as best we can.

Reviewing Don Pipers book "90 Minutes in Heaven"

Revelations 3:1-6."Strengthen what remains and is about to die. Remember what you received and heard ,obey it ,and repent, or I will come like a thief. He who overcomes will be dressed in white, their name will never be removed from the book of life. They will be acknowledged before God and angels and walk with me."
Don Piper, in his book "90 Minutes in Heaven" describes what it was like when he died in a car wreck and spent an hour and a half in heaven. He says he was welcomed just outside the gate of heaven, by all the Christians who had died before he did,and had influenced his life in some way.
The first person in the welcoming committee was his grandfather embracing him strongly. Overwhelmed by an ecstatic bliss, he was loved by everyone in the group he was kissed, held, and hands shook.
His friend Mike who died at 19 years old in a car wreck brought him joy and brilliance. All pain and grief had vanished. His hunched over grandmother with no teeth, was there to greet him standing erect and with a brilliant smile. Radiating light and dazzling colors were so vivid and hues and tones surpassed anything ever viewed on earth. P.25 he says. "I felt like I was in another dimension."
What stood out to him the most was the music. p.29 "the most beautiful pleasant sounds I've ever heard. And it didn't stop" He says he didn't just hear music, but it played through his body and he felt embraced by the sounds. Without distraction or discord myriads of sounds filled his mind and heart. p.30 He says "The most amazing was the angel's wings. I didn't see them, but the sound was a beautiful holy melody with a cadence that seem to never stop." Praise was everywhere, every sound blended with each voice or instrument and enhance the others. Each step toward the iridescent pearlescent gate was more brilliant than the last step. p.35
He says. "My feeling has been that once we're actually in God's presence. We will never return to Earth again, because it will be empty and meaningless by comparison."
The streets inside the gate looked like literal gold bricks. p.33 He says, "I was home. I was where I belonged. I wanted to be there more than anywhere on earth. Time had slipped away and I was simply present in heaven all worries ,anxieties, and concerns vanished. I had no needs, and I felt perfect."
But Don Piper didn't get to enter the gate into heaven. He left as suddenly as he arrived. A man named Dick Onrecker was praying over his dead body in the wrecked car and God answered his prayer sending Don back to the pain of broken bones ,shattered legs ,dislocated arms, and bleeding ears, eyes, and nose. He had been dead an hour and a half but was once again alive physically.p. 34 "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord to those who love him and know him."