7/24/14

From Jim McGuiggan... War (3)


War (3)

 What Paul says in Galatians 5 about the works of the flesh is true but not everyone that thinks there are times when we should take up arms in war thinks that way because he or she is vindictive or cruel or even easily provoked. I know that we must examine more than motivation when discussing issues like this but intent or motivation is the only thing I want to look at right now. (Lurking behind all this will be the question about fulfilling a moral obligation by immoral means.)

An aspect of moral righteousness is providing for the poor and the defenseless what it is that they need. This might mean clothes, food, shelter and other such things. The Old Testament (and New) is saturated with such teaching. James says to see someone naked and hungry and to do nothing about it when you could is to be immoral.

There are those during the Nazi era who felt that it would have been immoral not to take up arms in defense of ravaged nations. At this point I’m not saying that that is a correct view, I’m simply saying that their motivation was not to ease their spleen and gut some German soldier. Tens of thousands supported the war against Hitler without ever going to the front line and they did it not simply because the government said they should or even because their neighbors thought they should. They made bullets and tanks and clothing because they felt they were paying homage to what was right. This wasn’t even a matter of self defense it was a matter of neighbor defense.

I’m not interested at this point in whether war achieves all the good some of us say it does. I’m simply saying that there are kind, gentle and decent people, who never raised their hand in anger all their lives but who freely got involved in the war effort. They did so because in their agony they looked out on nations being raped and butchered and felt they were morally obliged to do something to stop it. They were persuaded that the only way to stop it was to take up arms. It doesn’t matter that that was not good advice and it doesn’t matter if war didn’t achieve what they aimed for; they felt they should try! When they took the decision to engage in warfare they were not looking for some excuse for their malevolence because that was not in them. They wanted to put a stop to the butchering and raping of men, women and children.
It’s clear that war is an evil but is it the only evil? Is it not evil to watch while the oppressor oppresses when you could do something about it? Is it not evil to watch while the oppressor oppresses when you think you could do something about it? It may be true that to do violence to end violence is wrong and it may be true that to do violence to end violence is like getting a prostitute to quit her trade by having sex with her. But that needs to be established. Maybe a better analogy is using violence to stop a mugger assaulting and robbing an innocent citizen. Maybe a better analogy is carrying out capital punishment on a serial murderer that insists that if he ever gets free he’ll come after others. All this needs to be thought through but the point I especially want to make is that violence doesn’t always rise from a heart bent on wickedness. Sometimes it is rises out of a pursuit of what is right. Perhaps the way to what is righteous is not via war but in the hearts and minds of tens of thousands—given extreme conditions—it is. Didn’t God establish a system of judges and authorities to see to it that the defenseless and disadvantaged were not made prey? Wasn’t "punishment" a part of the armory of God against unrighteousness?

And are we not told that it was God who punished evil by sending invading armies? Did God not instruct the army of Joshua to slay everyone in certain cities (infants included)? There are those who deny that these texts tell the truth about God, but I’m not one of them so I have to take the texts into account. Then there is that text in Deuteronomy 32:25-27. The whole section speaks of God’s redemptive judgement against a wicked Israel and he says in 32:26 that he might have utterly obliterated them had he not been afraid of what the enemy might think. He said he didn’t want the enemy to think, "Our hand has triumphed, the Lord has not done all this." We worry that people might think God did it and he worries that people might think he did not do it. In a fallen world and for the greater good the Holy Father makes use of lethal violence.

Where Did Cain Get His Wife? by Bert Thompson, Ph.D. Trevor Major, M.Sc., M.A.

 http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=1145

Where Did Cain Get His Wife?

by  Bert Thompson, Ph.D.
Trevor Major, M.Sc., M.A.

Q.

Genesis 3:20 says that Eve was the “mother of all living.” If that is the case, where, then, did her son Cain find a wife?
A.
Many infidels and skeptics have used this apparent inconsistency as evidence for the allegorical or mythological nature of the early Genesis record, in opposition to plain historicity as advocated by biblical conservatives. While it is true the Bible is not specific on this matter, there is no difficulty in suggesting a reasonable solution that does no violence to Scriptural interpretation.
The most common solution is to propose that Cain married a near relative—perhaps a sister. Initially this may seem a radical idea, but as we will note, it is the most realistic option. We are told in specific terms that Adam and Eve had three sons—Cain, Abel, and sometime later, Seth. However, we also are told that Adam was the father of “other sons and daughters” (Genesis 5:4). Eve had borne Cain and Abel soon after leaving Eden (Genesis 4:1-2), but she could have had other children between their birth and Abel’s death, and between that murder and the birth of Seth. In any case, one female offspring could later have become Cain’s wife. [Some have inquired as to whether or not Cain could have married someone else not of Adam and Eve’s family—viz., a woman of other people whom God had created. In light of Scripture, this is not a possibility. The Bible makes it plain (Genesis 3:20) that Eve was the “mother of all living” (emp. added). If Adam was the first man (1 Corinthians 15:45) and if Eve was the mother of all, then it is clear that there were no “other people” left for Cain to marry. The population of the Earth came directly through the lineage of Adam and Eve.] There would have been no shortage of potential mates. A glance at the rapidly growing population of the antediluvian world (Genesis 4-6) shows that the people of those times were prodigious; they took seriously God’s command to “be fruitful, and multiply” (Genesis 1:28)!
Many people immediately see a problem with marriages that must, of necessity, be incestuous in nature. Remember, however, that incest itself was outlawed only with the coming of the Mosaic covenant (Leviticus 18). There was no need for strict laws on marriage partners in the early Patriarchal Age (apart from the divine “one man, one woman, for life” institution), and for at least one good reason: during this time, man was in a relatively pure state, at least physically, having left not long before the perfect condition in which he was created and the Garden that had sustained his life. Adam and Eve could have lived forever had it not been for their corruption by sin, and their consequent expulsion from Eden (Genesis 3:1-6). Hence, no harmful genetic traits had emerged at this point that could have been expressed in the children of closely related partners. However, after many generations, and especially after the Noahic Flood (Genesis 6-9), solar and cosmic radiation, chemical and viral mutagens, and DNA replication errors, led to the multiplication of genetic disorders. God protected His people by instituting strict laws against incestuous marriages in the eighteenth chapter of Leviticus. Needless to say, more genetic disorders have arisen in the world population since the time of Moses, and thus it is even more important to avoid marrying a close relative. Christianity thus far has insured that such rules have been carried forward into modern laws in the western world.

From Mark Copeland... Paul's Roman Citizenship (Acts 22:22-30)

                          "THE BOOK OF ACTS"

                 Paul's Roman Citizenship (22:22-30)

INTRODUCTION

1. As Christians, we enjoy a special citizenship...
   a. Our citizenship is in heaven - Php 3:20
   b. We are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's family
      - Ep 2:19
   c. As such, we are in one sense pilgrims and sojourners in this world
      - 1Pe 2:11

2. But we also have an earthly citizenship...
   a. As citizens of an earthly nation in this world 
   b. Thus we enjoy "dual citizenship," if you will

[At times, this "dual citizenship" works to our advantage, as it did for
Paul when his life was in jeopardy in Jerusalem.  Turning to our text
(Ac 22:22-30), let's consider some things about...]

I. PAUL'S ROMAN CITIZENSHIP

   A. HIS LIFE THREATENED...
      1. When Paul defended himself before the mob in Jerusalem...
         a. They listened to him quietly until he mentioned being sent
            to the Gentiles - Ac 22:1-2,22
         b. When they again called for Paul to be put to death - Ac 22:22-23; cf. Ac 21:36
      2. The Roman commander, determining to know the truth...
         a. Ordered Paul back into the barracks - Ac 22:24
         b. Prepared to have Paul examined by scourging - ibid.
         c. A form of torture involving beating with leather thongs in 
            which were inserted rough pieces of bone or metal

   B. HIS LIFE SPARED...   
      1. About to be scourged, Paul asked the centurion a question...
         a. Is it lawful to scourge a Roman who has not been condemned?
            - Ac 22:25
         b. Prompting the centurion to go to the commander, urging
            caution - Ac 22:26
         c. The centurion's caution reflects the magistrates' fear at
            Philippi - cf. Ac 16:35-39
      2. The commander questioned Paul about his Roman citizenship...
         a. Paul confirmed that he was a Roman - Ac 22:27
         b. The commander boasted of his purchased citizenship - Ac 22:28
         c. Paul claimed to be a born citizen, evidently a higher status
            of citizenship
      3. The response to Paul's claim was immediate...
         a. Those about to scourge him withdrew from Paul - Ac 22:29
         b. The commander was afraid for having bound a Roman - ibid.
      4. Knowing that Paul was a Roman citizen, the commander...
         a. Was determined to know why Paul was accused by the Jews - Ac 22:30
         b. Arranged for a legal hearing before the Sanhedrin council
            - ibid.

[Paul certainly used his Roman citizenship to his advantage.  But what
are our duties as Christians in regards to our earthly citizenship? Let's
use this opportunity to review what they are...]

II. OUR EARTHLY CITIZENSHIP

   A. THE DUTY TO OBEY...
      1. As taught by Paul - Ro 13:1-5
      2. As taught by Peter - 1Pe 2:13-14
      3. Whenever there is a conflict, we must obey God rather than man
         - Ac 5:29
   
   B. THE DUTY TO PAY...
      1. To pay taxes, customs - Ro 13:6-7
      2. To pay respect toward authorities - Ro 13:7; 1Pe 2:17
      3. Whether we approve their political or personal behavior (e.g.,
         Nero)

   C. THE DUTY TO PRAY...
      1. For kings and all in authority - 1Ti 2:1-2
      2. That we might lead quiet, peaceful, godly lives - 1Ti 2:2; 1Th 4:11
      3. Christians who pray in this way serve their country in very
         powerful way!
         a. God does not hear the prayers of the wicked - 1Pe 3:12
         b. If not for the righteous, this world would be in dire 
            straights!
      4. Think of Christians as spiritual chaplains, serving their 
         country as military chaplains serve their country ministering
         to their fellow soldiers
 
CONCLUSION

1. As Christians living in the world, we have an earthly citizenship...
   a. As citizens of the nations granted by birth or other means
   b. We must be careful to fulfill our God-given duties as citizens
   c. And as did Paul, utilize our rights as citizens when they serve
      God's purposes

2. As Christians living in the world, we have a heavenly citizenship...
   a. That calls us to be spiritual priests making intercession for all
      men
   b. That calls us to be peacemakers as we serve the Prince of peace
   c. That cautions us to place our heavenly citizenship over our earthly
      one

For in the end, we are still pilgrims and sojourners.  But properly
discerned and lived, our "dual citizenship" can be a blessing for both
God and country...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2013

From Gary... Make a daily habit of change


Recently, I had some lunch with friends from New Jersey (a few weeks ago) and during the course of the conversation one of them told me how amazed he was that I was able to write this blog as much as I do.  Well, frankly, some days it is just not that easy; however, once I actually sit down to write, usually something comes to me.  And this little quote from J.C. Maxwell does apply.  Because, well, just the act of writing does change things- it changes me. And I find that the habitual re-consideration of the Bible makes me a stronger Christian for the effort. You might say that I am receiving exhortation myself by my own efforts at exhorting others.  Paul puts it this way...

Hebrews 10:22-25 NASB
(22)  let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
(23)  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
(24)  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,
(25)  not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

When I habitually read the Scriptures, they change me; when I consider them I become more steadfast in the faith and when I think of others more than myself, I am learning to express love.

Gary - repeat verses 22ff. daily; or as often a day as you really desire to go to heaven!!!