Should Christians Fight for Ten Commandments? by David Vaughn Elliott

http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com/2017/04/should-christians-fight-for-ten.html

Should Christians Fight for Ten Commandments?

by David Vaughn Elliott

The battle over the display of the Ten Commandments has gone all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. What place do Christians have in this battle? Does God tell Christians to spend their time and energy defending the display of the Ten Commandments in public places? Is this a Christian issue?

It is commonly believed that the Ten Commandments are the foundation of the U.S. legal system. Absolutely false. For starters, consider these four obvious ones. First Command: "Have no other gods." Second Command: "not bow down" to "any graven image." U.S. law is the opposite of both. U.S. law upholds freedom of religion. Fourth Command: "The seventh day [Saturday] is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shall not do any work." No U.S. laws here, thank God. Skip to the Tenth: "You shall not covet." There are no U.S. laws that fine or jail people for coveting. How could there be? Coveting is in the heart.  

A related belief is that the Ten Commandments are the foundation of our so-called Judeo-Christian culture. The fact is that the Ten Commandments are a Jewish, not a Christian, document. The preamble states, "I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt" (Ex. 20:2). That is clearly a document for Israel, later called Jews. 

What is the Christian view of the Ten Commandments? In 2 Cor. 3:7, God is obviously speaking of the Ten when He refers to that which was "engraved in stones" at the time of Moses. These Ten Commandments are called "the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones... the ministration of condemnation... that which is done away" (3:7-11). In contrast, we now have "the new testament... the ministration of the spirit... the ministration of righteousness... that which remains" (3:6-11).  

Many believe that the Ten Commandments are the greatest of all laws. Jesus disagreed. When asked what was the greatest commandment, He did not mention any of the ten (Matt. 22:34-40). He singled out love of God (Deut. 6:5) and love of neighbor (Lev. 19:18) as the basis of "all the law and the prophets."

God predicted a new covenant. We have a new covenant. Let us not get caught up in the religious world's frenzy over defending the stone tablets of the old covenant. Jesus nailed the old ordinances to the cross (Col. 2:14). 

"The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17). Let the world, secular and religious, fight it's own battles over public display of the "ministration of death and condemnation." We have a new covenant of grace and life that was predicted by the prophets of old. Praise God, Jesus fulfilled those predictions. 

Plead For the Widow by B. Johnson

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Johnson/Edna/Elizabeth/1939/pleadforwidow.html

Plead For the Widow

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, ‘Woman, behold thy son!’ Then saith he to the disciple, ‘Behold thy mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home” (John 19:25-27).
The New Testament scriptures tell us of our responsibility toward women in the church who have been faithful workers in the Lord’s vineyard whose husbands have died. What kind of ‘insurance policy’ may faithful widows expect? What can they expect from Christian children or nephews? Paul told Timothy, “But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day” (1 Tim 5:4-5). Then four verses later, he adds additional qualifications. “Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man” (1 Tim 5:9-10). That direction to children and nephews is pretty plain, and most Biblical scholars believe it includes grandchildren as well.
Even under the Old Testament Law, God’s provision for widows was one of the most marvelous systems anywhere. The widow was to share the tithe of Israel with the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless (Deut 26:12). This appears to include any widow, whether or not she is blood related. She also was to share the joys of the annual feast (Deut 16:11). A man, his son, daughter, manservant, maidservant, the Levite, any stranger, fatherless and the widow could enjoy the bounty at the Feast of Weeks together.
The widow could also glean in the fields where she had not planted (Deut 24:19). If a man forgot a sheaf in the field or dropped some grain in the corners, he was not to go again to get it, but leave it to the stranger (foreigner), the fatherless and the widow. Ruth was a well-known widow who gleaned with the reapers (Ruth 2:8). We have read many times about how Boaz and his workers shared their meal of bread, vinegar, and parched corn with her. After they went back to work, Boaz (the owner of the field) told his reapers to leave some sheaves on purpose for her and let some grain drop so she could glean it (Ruth 2:14-16).
Part of the covenant between God and Israel was that Israel could continue to dwell in Canaan IF they did not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, shed innocent blood or walk after other gods. If they kept their part of the covenant, God would give them the land forever (Jer 7:6-7). The Israelites were to execute judgment and righteousness, and to deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the one who was oppressing them. They were to do no wrong, nor to do any violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow. Neither were they to shed innocent blood (Jer 22:3).
If the Israelites had followed what God told them to do for the widows, there never would have been a pitiful case of women starving or being mistreated. Sadly however as we read the Bible, we come across many cases of abuse. Even in Jesus’ lifetime, we read of such things as the poor widow who had nothing but two mites to give as an offering at the temple. We see her faith led her to give even though she believed she would have to starve afterward (Mark 12:42-44; Luke 21:2-3). We read of the widow of Nain whose only son had died and left her helpless (Luke 7:11-15). We read the account of the unjust judge who would not avenge the widow of her adversary until she wearied him with her continual coming (Luke 18:1-5). Who were her adversaries? Who were the ones who deliberately abused her in opposition to the laws given by God? How will God view those who oppress the widows?
“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17).
Beth Johnson

The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982,
Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

UP-SIDE-DOWN by Gary Rose

If you look at the world through this crystal, the world seems up-side-down. Its a strange thing to see, but quite a normal thing for a crystal. I grew up in a godless household, that exemplified everything the word godless implies. Drinking, swearing, cheating in all sorts of ways were the norm. When I became a Christian I was never REALLY welcome there again. Why? Well, I just didn’t do the things my family did anymore. I prayed, attended church and tried to please God in every way. I still remember trying to reconcile several times with my father, only to be cursed and spit upon each time. I could tell that the rest of my family didn’t accept what I believed, but just thought that it was just something I was “into” and ignored both God and his message. All of them just couldn’t understand how I could become a “good for nothing” Christian.

In short my world had turned up-side-down. But that is nothing new, for becoming a Christian has always involved a complete change of ones life. Consider these two passages from the book of Acts…

Acts 17 ( World English Bible )

  ^[1] Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.  ^[2] Paul, as was his custom, went in to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the Scriptures,  ^[3] explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 

  ^[4]  Some of them were persuaded, and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.  ^[5] But the unpersuaded Jews took along some wicked men from the marketplace, and gathering a crowd, set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they sought to bring them out to the people.  ^[6] When they didn’t find them, they dragged Jason and certain brothers before the rulers of the city, crying, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here also,  ^[7] whom Jason has received. These all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus!”  ^[8] The multitude and the rulers of the city were troubled when they heard these things.  ^[9] When they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

AND

Acts 26 (WEB)

  ^[1] Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak for yourself.” 

Then Paul stretched out his hand, and made his defense.  ^[2] “I think myself happy, King Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before you this day concerning all the things that I am accused by the Jews, ^[3] especially because you are expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews. Therefore I beg you to hear me patiently. 

  ^[4]  “Indeed, all the Jews know my way of life from my youth up, which was from the beginning among my own nation and at Jerusalem;  ^[5] having known me from the first, if they are willing to testify, that after the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.  ^[6] Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,  ^[7] which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa!  ^[8] Why is it judged incredible with you, if God does raise the dead? 

  ^[9]  “I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  ^[10] This I also did in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them. ^[11] Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities. 

  ^[12]  “Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests, ^[13] at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.  ^[14] When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 

  ^[15]  “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ 

“He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.   ^[16]  But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you;   ^[17]  delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,   ^[18]  to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ 

  ^[19]  “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,  ^[20] but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.  ^[21] For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me.  ^[22] Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,  ^[23] how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.” 

  ^[24]  As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!” 

  ^[25]  But he said, “I am not crazy, most excellent Festus, but boldly declare words of truth and reasonableness.  ^[26] For the king knows of these things, to whom also I speak freely. For I am persuaded that none of these things is hidden from him, for this has not been done in a corner.  ^[27] King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe.” 

  ^[28]  Agrippa said to Paul, “With a little persuasion are you trying to make me a Christian?” 

  ^[29]  Paul said, “I pray to God, that whether with little or with much, not only you, but also all that hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these bonds.” 

People will react in different ways when introduced to the real king of the universe. Some will accept Jesus for who he is and turn from the darkness of sin to the light of God and others will not. Those who do change will be different, because Godliness is different from god-less-ness. Their eyes will be opened to a better way of living now and to an eternal reward in heaven. Paul wrote these words to the congregation at Corinth…

2 Corinthians 4 (WEB)

  ^[1] Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.  ^[2] But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.  ^[3] Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;  ^[4] in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.  ^[5] For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;  ^[6] seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Only one thing remains to be said: have you seen the light of God yet? If not, I pray that you WILL, for your eternal soul is at stake. Why not obey the Gospel of Christ today? You will see…

the world will look better

UP-SIDE-DOWN