Question #1:
Thank-you for receiving Questions.
Is there a book that you know of that discusses the pragmatic living out
of the Gospel during the earliest years of the christian church? For
example: Conscientious objection to military service; Rescuing of
aborted babies. etc
I would like to trace the lines of faith and practice from the beginning
through the decline to which the crusades attest. I'd like to know what
we have gained in 2,000 years and what we have lost. Is there a history
of this subject you could suggest?
Thank-you for all your work in teaching the Bible and your patience with
the smallest of questions.
Gratefully,
Slang is as old as English itself. It offended Pilgrim parents when
their children took their traditional farewell, " God be with you, " and
turned it into, "good-bye."
Response #1:
Good to hear from you (it's been a while).
On your question, the canon of scripture closed ca. 68 A.D when John was
given to pen Revelation. Following this, we have only a very few things
that are contemporaneous until the church visible was established
hundreds of years later. We have the letters of Polycarp. We have the
writings of the apostolic fathers. We have early Greek fathers such as
Origin and Irenaeus. And in the fourth century we have the church
historian Eusebius. Eusebius had other sources available which are no
longer extent today (and these were clearly wrong about a great many
things). There are other early writers, some of them fragmentary, but
few of any of the above (outside of Eusebius) tackle the issue of church
history and/or the lives and beliefs of early Christians. Not that there
isn't a great deal of such material, but it is all much later and highly
imaginative.
As to books to help navigate these fragmentary sources, here we are into
the realm of "church history". "Church histories" are always speculative
themselves in trying to piece together the lacunose data, and they also
often suffer from hyper-skepticism which often also intrudes into the
area of doctrine (finding a church history which doesn't teach that the
Trinity was a "late development", for example, is hard to do). So
whatever you find in a church history, take with a grain of salt (or
maybe a whole cellar). The Bible we know is true; the later writings of
antiquity are writings of human beings which happened to survive, not
inspired by the Holy Spirit.
One other important thing to note is that even details from such sources
which we may find interesting and may be persuaded to believe (rightly
are wrongly) do not reflect the true picture: We, you and I and all
genuine believers in Jesus Christ, are the actual Church. If a person
with access to all modern technology were to write a "church history" of
contemporary times today, we, you and I, would not be in it, nor would
such a "history" reflect what we believe and how we are trying to serve
Jesus Christ. Who would be in it? "Christians" who make the news – many
of whom are not actually believers and most of whom are not doing what
Christ really wants. That is certainly the case also with church
histories that focus on the past.
Throughout the Church Age, there has been a remnant of genuine believers
and of those who are doing what Christ actually requires, namely,
growing spiritually, progressing in their walk with Him, and serving His
Church in support of the truth – in every generation. But you doubtless
won't find these good folk in any church history, whether contemporary
or the work of later scholars.
That said, three standard words for studying this issue (all of which
suffer to a greater or lesser degree from the problems above) are
Williston Walker's A History of the Christian Church, Kenneth
Scott Latourette's A History of the Christian Church, and Philip
Schaff's History of the Christian Church in eight very long and
heavily footnoted scholarly volumes. The first on the list is the
shortest (one volume), Latourette is two large volumes.
Best wishes for your studies!
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #2:
To Mr Bob,
I am thankful that you have such a heart for learning and teaching.
Many, I suppose, like me have no one but you to teach them. I have
gained much from your web site.
Thank-you for sharing your copy of Philip Schaff's History of the
Christian Church. It looks to be a good reference indeed. Your opinion
on this material means much to me along with your kindness in
responding.
Thank-you! Thank-you!
Response #2:
You're so very welcome!
Schaff is a treasure (I'm blessed to have a hard copy), but as I say one
has to take into account that he is also a "scholar", which
unfortunately means for far too many such that he has an unhealthy
skepticism about evidence from the Bible.
Best wishes in all your studies, my friend!
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Hello Bob,
I don't understand why C.S. Lewis is so revered among Christian
apologists. I actually get really upset when I hear a Christian Pastor
of bible teachers who adheres to sound biblical doctrine cite C.S. Lewis
as "scholarly", and even quote him at times. From what I've read about
him, some of his teachings were heretical. I read that he believed in
"purgatory", believed that there were "good" pagans. He also joined a
Catholic church before he died and believed in Universalism. Even more
disturbing is that he believed that even if one willingly serves Satan
their entire life, and God would have accepted it as service to Him. Him
and his friend Tolkien even had a degree of occultism in their books. Is
there a reason why so many bible teachers who teach sound doctrine tend
to bring up C.S Lewis as a revered Christian "scholar"?
God Bless,
Response #3:
I've never understood this one either. It probably has to do with the
fact that human beings have a tendency to celebrate celebrities
(Ps.49:18). But we who love Jesus Christ more than life itself
understand that HE is the only true celebrity – and we will be singing
His praises for all eternity for what He has done for us in dying to
give us life eternal.
Your friend in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Hello Professor,
I understand all your points on John 20:31. Neither the meaning ascribed to
present subjunctive nor the theological conclusion based on it seemed right, but
I could not rely on my own judgment with the textual and linguistic question,
so, as always, thank you for your very helpful input. Perhaps at some point I
can communicate that to our friend; I didn't want to do that without first
ascertaining what the right reading and interpretation is.
My understanding, also based on our discussion about the previous chapter, has
been:
~ All human beings are born with a sin nature.
~ All human beings begin to sin at an early age, before they are able to accept
Christ.
~ At some point in their life become accountable for not putting their faith in
Christ and that's when they are condemned if they die as unbelievers.
I have thought, however, that there is a period between 1 and 2 when a human
being is alive, but too young to sin. This is what I meant by a free will
decision in the text - an infant immediately after birth does have the sin
nature, but at least for several months, perhaps, his entire life is determined
by what we would consider as physiological urges.
That is different to a child at the age of, say, three, who may already be
selfish or showing disobedience to parents. Such selfishness and disobedience
are decisions which involve our free will (although this may not be the best way
to describe that) and have a spiritual value. So, as you clarified, although
such a child may be too immature to accept Christ, it is actually sinning
(should I say "it" or "they"?).
I have assumed, however, that since an infant at a few months of age doesn't
make such decisions, if they should die at that very early age, they die sinless
since they didn't reach the level of maturity required to make such decisions as
the above. They do die with their sin nature, but without a personal sin. I have
applied this to those mentally impaired - now God knows what the degree of
impairment is, but if it is severe enough for one not to be able to make free
will decisions of spiritual value, then I though I could apply the same
principle. But since you disagreed with this statement, could you clarify this?
Response #4:
I agree with your three points. The problem I have is that the most
important factor in all of this is the truth of universal sinfulness.
Augustine theology squared this circle by postulating
an imputation of Adam's sin to everyone at birth. Problem is that
it's not biblical (see the link). But fact of everyone being born with a
sin nature is all we need to know really. Because that guarantees 1) we
are not fit to be with the Lord because our bodies are defiled with sin;
2) we are going to die and have no way to avoid it; 3) in the interim we
are going to sin and so have no claim on anything other than the lake of
fire. So even in some theoretical hypothetical situation there is no
where else for us to be put after death since we are not saved – all of
this absent the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our acceptance of it
through faith.
While I understand where you are coming from, in the first place I don't
actually think that babies are innocent, not from the very first moments
of their ability to exercise the most basic emotional reactions. OK,
it's emotion; but that is the problem with the rest of us too, after
all. Sin is sin, regardless of whether or not it is sin in cognizance.
After all, most of the sacrifices in the Law have to do with sinning in
ignorance. So on the one hand, personally (though there is no way to
prove it), I believe that newborns are sinners not only physically but
willfully almost from the moment of birth (they're born crying, after
all); and on the other hand even if one wished to believe that they are
not "truly sinners" until some point down the road where they have
developed to the point of being able to express the natural human
arrogance in a more recognizable way, it is – for the reasons outlined
above – not a good idea in my view to support the idea that such a state
of "innocence" ever existed (we don't find it in the Bible; just the
opposite: Rom.3:23, e.g.).
On the one hand it makes absolutely no difference either to infant
salvation – the point in the case of babies who die is that they had no
real chance to accept the Gift until later and so are saved for that
reason, not that they hypothetically didn't or couldn't sin – or to
their eventual salvation or lack thereof: like everyone else, they will
beyond question sin because of having a sin nature and thus needed to
have Christ die for those sins and put their faith in Him in order to be
saved.
On a practical note, ever since Pelagius (and no doubt earlier) there
have been individuals who have proclaimed their own sinlessness, either
after salvation or even before. That is impossible. But positing a
window during which a child is sinless (as I said, I don't believe it
and see it as contradicted by scripture) definitely gives ammunition to
these types: "If a child can be sinless for a few years, why cannot that
continue in some cases? And why can't a person get back to that state?"
This is a deadly heresy, not so much nowadays through some saying they
never sinned in the first place but on the part of a growing number of
individuals and groups who proclaim that now they do not sin and that
"you too" should not sin and in fact "if you do", then you are not
actually saved.
Here is what I read in 1st John, a passage which while it doesn't answer
all the theological ins and outs certainly gives the conclusion I have
been striving to pound home since the beginning here:
If we say that we do not possess sin (i.e., a sin nature which is producing personal sins), we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just so as to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say, that we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His Word is not in us.
1st John 1:8-10
I'm not sure how much more clear John could have made this – without writing a systematic theology (and that would no doubt have proved more confusing than this very straightforward passage).
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
Psalm 51:5 NKJV
Yours in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Hello Dr. Luginbill:
I haven't bothered you for a while, so I hope this isn't too much of a
bother for you busy life...
The new pastor here is I think sort of a liberal theologian, so when I
heard of him referencing this gentleman named Baxter Kruger I became
curious about who he was so I sent the letter below to a few of my
friends and copied it to the new pastor. He sorta took offense that I
had insinuated that Dr. Baxter was a universalist. Baxter states as you
can see that he is not.
Still now at this date I'm curious what you think of Dr. Baxter's
theology and particularly this phrase from his writing below "That Jesus
Christ loves us all and has included us everyone in his life with his
Father and the Holy Spirit, I consider to be an absolute, eternal fact."
This doesn't sound like the teaching that occupies my head, since I
believe that we become a child of God when we are saved?
Thanks for listening as ever
Response #5:
Always good to hear from you, my friend. I don't know anything much
about this person except that your characterization of him as liberal
seems correct. He has some weird views on the Trinity. Mostly from what
I saw his stuff is amorphous (like the quote you include) and hard to
pin down. Bottom line: if what you say / write is so vague that people
can assume you are a universalist, then maybe you are better off
sticking to designing fishing lures (wherein I gather he's had some
success).
Your friend in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Dear professor,
I don't know how to express it. But, to survive, we have to be somewhat
what-some-extreme-preachers-would-call worldly. There is the fact that
the people of the Bible were never seemed to have expected to be
deprived for long (if at all) of worldly things. At first He gave the
first two everything. Then there was deprivations for sin and testing,
but not permanently. Job got his stuff back. Etc. And in the future in
we are given even more of it (what some would consider worldly
things)-the Feast, crowns, etc. Not that it is actually worldly, just
that a feast and crown by itself fits under the criteria most of these
types use.
Maybe we don't disagree, I just come from denial and deprivation so I
look at it weirdly. And I couldn't care less what the world thinks.
What do you think of mission trips? I personally don't approve of most
modern ones, for a number of reasons like that many people who go on
them have no skills or training, don't know anything about the people
they are going to, only go for a very short period of time (as in come
in, fix a house/give a service) and then that is it. Wouldn't it make
more sense to take the money spent on traveling and just give that to
them (if already saved). If not saved, does a short service where
nothing is followed up on do any good?
I am a bit miffed: in college I gave a pittance to help this one girl go
to (I think it was)
10 countries in a year. And I regret it. Plus, that sounds more like a
vacation spree now that I have some distance from it.
Response #6:
I'm certainly not into "willful deprivation"! At least not for no
specific good reason. So if I had to give up ordering a pizza, e.g., to
keep the ministry online for another month, I think I'd be happy to do
so. Blessedly, I'm not in that situation. I'm not crazy about enduring
anything uncomfortable or annoying, but I occasionally put up with both
in doing things that are good for me both physically and spiritually,
and for this ministry. There's no point, in my view, in being a martyr
when it's not called for. That is silliness and not of God. If we've had
times in our life when things have been extremely hard for any number of
reasons, then all the more reason to rejoice if they're better now. We
don't accept the grace God has given us in vain, however. We try to make
use of the "clear sailing" to spend more time growing in the Word,
praying for those in need, and engaging in the ministry to which we have
been called. But God does not begrudge us enjoying in godly ways the
bounty He's given us.
I've also never been convinced that such short "mission trips" are
anything more that Christian sightseeing. OK, perhaps the folks on them
help build a house or similar. Seems to me there are better ways to get
that done if that is something God puts on your heart to get done. What
people need the world over is the truth. Having a place to live, food
and clothing, are necessary in order to live a life for the Lord – which
is all about hearing, believing and living the truth. "Doing" very
easily becomes divorced from the truth on every level.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #7:
I appreciate what you wrote. I am partial to Green Tea myself.
Part of the deprivation was parental inflicted and part was self-inflicted (and
part of that was because of teachers and preachers and others saying things). I
have found a food rule of thumb is to see if the preacher follows their own
words (no, when it comes to the self-denial, dressing to in certain ways, etc.).
What has anyone I have ever met done? Certainly not thought about God 24/7
throughout childhood with hardly any distraction. So I am walking their walk
just a bit. Not on the doing sins, of course. But I feel healthier.
Response #7:
Every day is an opportunity. Every decision is a choice. Every choice
has something (at least) to do with how we are fighting the fight. More
(of what's good) is good, and less (of what's good) is the opposite . .
. but no one is running a perfect race. We can't let that fact of our
imperfection, however, dissuade us from doing the best job possible for
Jesus Christ. We claim to love Him. Our thoughts, words and actions tell
the true story.
One thing I can tell you is that we need to be operating on positive
motivation most of all, shooting for good rewards and a desire to please
our Master. If we are operating out of fear and worry, that will end in
no good.
Yours in Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Dear Robert,
I trust it will be OK to continue to ask questions?
A friend of mine is adamant with the following statement; "every
individual was born again at the moment of Jesus' resurrection!
Therefore, you are complete in Him and is already saved by that act."
I totally disagree, but would like to know whether there is a
theological term for this notion?
Furthermore, it will mean that you are pre-existent spiritually before
birth, which I totally disagree with!!! The soul/spirit is only
perceived to be existent at conception, would be my understanding.
May our Shepherd continually lead you in peace,
Response #8:
Good to hear from you – feel free to write any time.
Eternal life is something all believers have now, but it is also
something that we won't experience until we see the Lord face to face
(Col.3:3-4).
If your friend is saying that eternal life was made possible by the
cross (validated by the resurrection, ascension and session), that is
certainly true. Everything depends on the cross.
But, clearly, you and I did not exist when Christ rose from the dead.
Our coming existence was decreed in the plan of God, but it had not yet
come to pass. So there isn't any sense in which believers not yet alive
(let alone having yet believed) could be said to be "born again". The
whole point in the concept of being "born again / born from above" (it's
one and the same in the Greek), is of a NEW birth. Clearly, one cannot
have a new birth before the original birth has taken place. Also, the
new birth is a result of accepting in faith the person and work of
Christ. In other words, it's not automatic. It is contingent upon on a
free will act. A non-meritorious act whereby we merely accept the Gift
proffered at a cost beyond our imagination – but an act of free will
choice nonetheless.
It's very common for weak and immature believers who are filled with
pride to engage in what I call "hobbyhorse theology". That is to say,
they pick out one issue where they think they have some special insight,
and then try to browbeat every Christian they know into accepting their
point of view – as if they have something important to contribute. What
sufferers of this syndrome all have in common is that they are
inevitably mistaken about the importance and also the wrong on the
details of whatever it is. This case is no exception.
I'm not sure what to tell you on how to deal this individual. Christians
who respect no authority but their own – and who have little actual
respect for the Bible as well – are not easily persuaded to give up
false positions. It usually takes the Lord's acting to get their
attention. But He certainly knows how to do so.
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Hi Dr. Luginbill,
I hope you are doing well! I apologize for not writing back sooner. I
looked through my email box and realized we haven’t corresponded for a
few months.
How have you been? How is your family and situation at the university?
I am doing very well. God is continuing to heal me and help me to bear
up under all of the physical training, studying and work stress.
[personal details omitted]
I was in an accident last summer involving another Christian and we both
walked away unharmed and in the fall another Christian friend of mine
and her friends were saved from an accident coming home from an
amusement park at night. God is definitely delivering His sheep and I am
adding “protection while traveling” to my prayers for a lot of people.
Amazingly, my dad started to study God’s Word again. He bought a Bible
(with commentary) that breaks up the books/chapters by day of the year,
so he can read through the whole Bible in one year. Both my mom and dad
are believers but they have been very distracted by work, finances,
politics and daily life. My dad even considered going to school to
become a pastor when he was in high school, but went into education
instead. My mom started to read your studies on Ichthys a few years ago
and I have definitely seen her faith grow and the fruit of the Spirit
manifest in her life. We have been praying for my dad and now, all of a
sudden, we are seeing the change. Last night I was trying to go to bed
early, but ended up staying awake for an extra hour because my dad had
so many questions about the rebuilding of the temple during the
Tribulation and the coming of God’s two witnesses. My mom and I guided
him to your studies about the 144,000 and led by Moses and Elijah. He
had just finished reading through the Torah and is about to start the
Book of Joshua. It is amazing how much change happens when we just start
to spend time reading and believing God’s Word as Christians.
I also have an update about our friend, but it is not good. She has been
talking with me and another Christian friend for more than a year and we
have both been encouraging her to study God’s Word, but she has been
struggling because of her health issues. Not only do they prevent her
from being able to study (somewhat), she has told me that she is angry
at God. We have had some conversations about the love of Jesus Christ,
but I don’t think a lot of my words have made it through to her. I have
also sent her numerous links to your articles and Curt’s site. I thought
she had been making progress in her faith a few months ago because she
told me she had started to read the psalms and started praying. We were
calling and talking to each other more – sometimes for a few hours late
into the night because her pain was so severe that she couldn’t sleep.
But then, she got into a fight with this other Christian (who I think is
probably very spiritually immature and was not acting like a good
friend) and texted me a few weeks ago telling me that she was no longer
a believer. She asked for me to stop praying for her and to take her off
the prayer list, saying “There may be a God for some people, but not for
me.” Then she just stopped texting and messaging me. Before all this, I
had a suspicion that her attempts to pray and read were more to appease
me and this other friend instead of a true desire to grow closer to God,
but I wanted to be hopeful.
When we can’t talk (due to the time differences between the US and
Europe) we leave each other long voice messages via instant messenger on
Facebook. I left her one that week begging her not to lose her faith in
Jesus and let her know that I was more worried about her than I had ever
been. We have had conversations before where she told me she knows that
she could die soon – she has already had at least one near-death
experience during her emergency room and surgeries. I think she is under
the impression that death is going to be peaceful. I brought this up in
my message and told her the consequence of losing faith is most
definitely hell. I was kind, not accusing, but my goal was definitely to
scare her.
A week ago she finally left me a message explaining that her condition
and pain took a turn for the worse and she was in the hospital for
awhile – they almost had to do another surgery but eventually released
her. She told me that she wanted to keep talking to me, but she didn’t
want to talk about religion. I sent her another message and asked if she
had listened to the first one, but she never answered. I also told her
in my message that I will not stop being her friend just because she
lost her faith, but that I cannot and will not edit my faith out of our
conversations. I told her my whole life revolves around and is rooted in
my relationship with Jesus Christ, and she is going to see evidence of
that every time we talk. I also told her that I will continue to pray
for her.
I know the devil is trying to choke her faith and I don’t know if she
has truly apostatized but I am going to keep being a good friend to her.
She was talking to a Mormon a few years ago who stopped talking to her
when she could not convert her to Mormonism. I am looking back on all of
our conversations and I think I should have spoke with her more about
her faith. I should have asked her more questions about what she
believes and how she was saved, but I did not want to push her too much
or overwhelm her. I don’t know if God is using her illness to guide her
to Him or if her pain is a direct attack from the evil one, but please
keep her and her family in your prayers. I know the Holy Spirit guided
me to meet her, even if it is just to pray for her.
All of this has really motivated me to intensify my studies in
apologetics and to work on getting a series of studies started for newly
saved Christians. I am hoping and praying for God to free up some of my
day so I can devote more time to this. I have gotten into a really good
and consistent habit of studying His Word every morning for at least an
hour – sometimes two. This is something I have been struggling to do for
a while.
The Holy Spirit has guided me to join Toastmasters so I can develop my
public speaking skills. I can’t start going to meetings until after the
exam, but I am looking forward to the experience. I am pretty sure He is
getting me ready to start having face-to-face conversations with
unbelievers. I want to eventually connect with Eric Chabot and his
college/university campus ministry but I think the Holy Spirit is
guiding me to study more apologetics first.
Also, I started to listen to apologetic podcasts while driving and these
eventually led me to the book Always Ready by Greg Bahnsen. I really
like his approach because it is grounded in the truth of the Word of God
and attacks the atheist’s entire philosophic system and his futile
thinking at the root. Bahnsen uses so many verses and passages from
Scripture to support his method/framework on how to control the
conversation/debate. The Bible actually has a lot to say about how to
evangelize. The key is to get the atheist to a point where you show them
that if they are consistent and live according to their basic beliefs
their lives are meaningless and there is no way for them to know truth.
Of course, none of them live like that. They constantly borrow ideas and
precepts from the Christian worldview so they can function in the world
with any kind of logic or meaning…because they live in the world ruled
over by God. This leads to the apologist showing them that living a
meaningful life is only possible by putting their faith in the Gospel
and the Word of God as the ultimate authority for truth.
Of course, this is apologetics for atheists – the approach for other
kinds of unbelievers will be different. It is so important to listen to
an unbeliever to understand their unique worldview. Most people have
such an eclectic mix of beliefs that it would be wrong to assume they
are purely atheist or Mormon or pagan, etc.
I think apologetics is becoming more and more important for Bible
teachers, not just evangelists. There are so many lukewarm Christians
who don’t trust in God’s Word or only trust in parts of it. They are
ripe for atheistic attacks on their faith.
I’ve been spending a lot of time in Bahnsen’s book but want to get
through it soon. When I finish I need to jump back into my ongoing Bible
studies and take a short break from the apologetics. I read your email
responses every morning before I start taking notes and am starting to
get to all the questions I have been delaying to ask you.
There are a couple of different attitudes I keep bumping up against in
unbelievers. One is that they like to point out that It is unfair that
we were born with sin natures but are held responsible for the sins we
commit. They find fault with God for this.
For example, I found this quote online from a hyper-Calvinist but it is
typical of the kinds of questions I get from unbelievers, especially
those who are rebelling against Catholicism or some other works-based
religion.
“…. your pastor told you that the first Adam gave you a sin nature
against your permission…but the Second Adam needs your permission to
save you…which logically makes the first Adam more powerful.”
I think this person’s point is to argue against the teaching of the
Bible that people have to use their free will to put their faith in
Christ. Of course, the hyper-Calvinist thinks he is saved because he was
predestined, so he claims it is impossible for some people to be saved.
Also, I don’t agree with the logic. Is a disease more powerful than the
doctor who can cure it? The disease won’t ask the patient for permission
to kill him, but the doctor will ask the patient for permission to treat
him. The doctor is moral but disease/death is not. This is just another
way of saying that sin/death is more powerful than Christ’s sacrifice,
but the fact that God requires us to make a choice as to whether or not
we want to be saved shows God’s character to be righteous. It shows how
much our free will matters to His plan. Do you think I am answering this
sufficiently?
Sin came to us through the first Adam. When Adam took the fruit from his
wife and ate it, he knew he would die, but did he know he would condemn
his children as well? Or was he not even thinking that far ahead when he
took the fruit from his wife?
I have been taking notes on your Hamartiology Study. Is there any way to
explain or answer an unbeliever about the “unfairness” of how they were
born enslaved to a sin nature? Logically, it makes sense – two sinful
people will combine their seed to create another sinful person. I think
unbelievers think that when we tell them they are slaves to sin, we are
telling them they don’t have free-will, but if you think about it, the
devil did succeed in taking away some of our free-will. We no longer
have the ability to chose NOT to sin. Even saved humans will continue to
sin. We are able to fight it once we become saved, but we won’t be free
of our sin natures until we are resurrected.
Do you think I could start by pointing out that even if they weren’t
born with a sin nature, if they were born sinless like Adam and Eve,
they would still have to choose to put their faith in God by not
choosing to sin. Both sinful and sinless creatures are dependent on God
for life. Period.
Please let me know if there is another angle or more points that you
think I could add.
And please let me know if you or your family (or anyone on the Ichthys
prayer list) need additional or more specific prayers.
In Christ’s Love,
Response #9:
Always great to hear from you, my friend – and thanks much for the
detailed update.
I'll be keeping you in prayer for this exam et al. I'm pleased to hear
that you are doing well and making progress in pursuing your goals.
We're doing OK. It's been a rough month or so with flu/cold and after
effects (still not quite over it all). Looking forward to good weather
and some time late this spring and in the summer to spend more time
getting back into shape as well as more time on the ministry. Of course
that requires my contract being approved as is (prayers there
appreciated too).
Sorry to hear about all the accidents. We can always hope that these
things become prods to focus on what's really important. Great news
about your dad!
I have been praying for our friend. I don't think you should
second-guess your approach. Given the way she is responding now, it's
reasonable to suppose that if you'd come on even stronger earlier it
might well have had the opposite of the desired effect. This is all no
doubt the Lord preparing you by giving you experiences from which you
can learn and refine your ministry approach. For one thing, we can say
that it is God who does the evangelizing, and also that it is the person
we witness to who does the responding – to God, not to us . . . or not.
That is the other person's court. If we get too emotionally involved
with the outcome it can lead to second guessing and worse. We need to do
what is right and let the chips fall where they may, always keeping in
mind that no matter how grim things may look to us, the Lord knows the
perfect way to get to every person, if there is a chance that they are
serious about receiving the Gift.
In terms of battering away at people who've made a religion out of
rejecting God, I'm not so sure that is profitable. Then again, I do know
that there are Christians out there who have done good work in reaching
JWs and Mormons and others trapped in one cult or another. So I don't
second guess anyone else' ministry on that score. It's not my forte, so
I don't have a lot to add except to say that it's almost always a
mistake to accept the "ground" for debate that others lay down. There
are all manner of theological problems with the way this person wants us
to understand the need for salvation, and said person is proceeding at
least in part from the Augustinian doctrine of "original sin" which is a
flawed one. It would seem to me be a better approach to shift the debate
over to the fact that this person is going to die . . . then what?
He/she will personally have to stand judgment before God, a God that
he/she has rejected and even blasphemously declared does not exist. And
we know from scripture that all atheists at one point knew very well
there was a God (as all people who reach accountability do). If they
still know it, merely pretend not to, perhaps there is a glimmer of
hope. If they have hardened their hearts to the point of really
believing the lies they are spouting, well, it might be possible to come
back from that but it has to be something like "one in a million" – and
only with direct intervention from the Lord . . . something which does
of course occasionally happen, but usually not if it will be to no
purpose.
Happy to discuss this further, but I do want to warn you that there is
no winning a debate with these people on their own terms. If you could
find the perfect reasoning to refute this nonsense, so perfect that it
would undeniable on its face that you were right, they would most likely
deny it anyway and move on to another argument and do so ad infinitum.
And there is limited time in this life, after all.
Your friend in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Dear Bob,
The Baptism series’ explanation is good, and I do agree that water
baptism is an ‘Israel-matter’ to reveal / manifest the Messiah. Not a
Gospel requirement for Gentiles.
Does the ‘election of grace’ (Rom. 11:5b) encompass the full scope of
believe in the ‘Seed’ (Gal. 3:16) and ‘the Gospel of the grace of God
(Acts 20:24c) as the root in Romans 11:18c? ‘Root’ would be the promise
made to Abraham, the coming Messiah; the first advent (the Cross).
Israel is thus NOT the root! Those who received Christ Jesus as Lord are
rooted and built up in Him (Col. 2:6-7). National salvation for Israel
is thus a future event, at the second coming of Christ?
This is perhaps more personal. I think I do understand your ‘Ichthys
Explanation’, but am curious about the nature of a symbol that is
coupled to the Lord. It is however, your right to have an identification
symbol, as a personification for your theological stance. I specifically
references symbol and not carved image. I trust it makes sense in the
way that I will put my question. I do respect you and your wonderful
work/ministry.
Now my question: How would a theological artist paint wind? Or even more
difficult, how would wind be sculptured? Wind can be heard or felt.
Jesus explains some of it in John 3:8. Furthermore, God is Spirit (John
4:24). Perhaps, as a reason that no ‘carved images’ to be made
(Deuteronomy. 4:16-18; 23-24 & 5:8); ‘own creation a problem’ (Hab.
2:18) and ‘work of delusion’ (Jer. 10:14-15). For God who is Spirit
cannot be captured by any semblance that humankind can create. God’s
glory and praise not given to another (Is. 42:8). It is obvious that
reference is made to ‘carved images’. Much more can be said, yet your
field of knowledge, perception and objectivity can school me to better
understand Scripture; The way I deduct from Scripture that which is
descriptive or prescriptive in both the Old Testament and the New
Testament.
I would deduct that ‘Ichthys’ is not a carved image, therefore an
except-able symbol? I do not define you as a ‘theological artist’! I
respect you.
Continue to teach the things which concerns the Lord Jesus Christ with
all confidence!!
Blessings,
Response #10:
On election, this refers to God's choice in His plan of all who choose
for Him. In terms of the Church, while Israel is the foundation, the
Church is composed of all believers from Adam and Eve to the last person
saved during the Tribulation (a lot more on this in the recently posted
BB 6B: Ecclesiology, at the link). It is
true that during the Millennium there will be a great many Jewish
believers (the lion's share of the "friend of the Bride", or so it would
seem).
In terms of representing "wind", as you can no doubt tell from the
charts et al. at Ichthys, I am no artist! So I wouldn't really have a
clue about how to represent something invisible. In terms of "images",
Exodus 20:4 is speaking – as the context shows quite clearly – about
pagan idols which are constructed for the purpose of worshiping them.
There were images of cherubim on the mercy seat atop the ark, and others
woven into the curtains of the tabernacle. So images are not evil per
se. The key is what they mean and whether or not they are used as
objects of worship.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #11:
I don't like it when I make an irreversible break, and that includes
making an irreversible break WITH YOU. I get a vague sense of "this is
all superstition" from the Catholic Church and so I have decided to go
back to you for instruction. This includes telling me what I'm supposed
to believe.
I am not a person who gets "locked in" to one track unless there is
overwhelming evidence. There isn't overwhelming evidence that either you
are wrong or that the RCC is correct, so I will keep the status quo.
Response #11:
First, I'm glad to hear from you, my friend.
Second, I'm certainly not out to "take down" the RC church, nor is
apologetics the ministry I have been assigned.
Third, every born again / born from above person I've ever me who came
out of that church has assured me that it's not possible to be in it and
be saved. Why? Because it is a religion of works, and virtually every
single one of its teachings is contrary to the truth. Now there are many
RCs who are wonderful people. I would be pleased to continue to have you
as a friend, even if you continued in that church. And it is also true
that every RC person I've had a conversation with about this sort of
thing has made it clear that they "don't believe" this or that or most
things that church teaches. That is true to some degree to most members
of various denominations and other religions and cults as well (there's
a great deal on this at the recently posted BB
6B: Ecclesiology).
But the whole point is what we believe . . . because belief is the
ultimate choice.
"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 3:18 NKJV
I believe the testimony of the Bible, and I have devoted my life to
understanding what it really says and means. The above, and many other
scriptures, make it clear that salvation is of God's grace freely
offered to all who put their trust in Jesus Christ. This is not an
intellectual process or a mechanical operation. It is choosing to
believe in Christ as the God-man who died for our sins. And when a
person does that, that person is fundamentally changed. Plenty of people
can pass a multiple choice quiz on this; only those who have put their
faith in Him are believers, and only believers are saved.
Knowing this, I could never recommend the RC church and its teachings
since they are counter to the Bible and intrinsically so.
What should you believe? First, you should believe in Jesus Christ as
the only way of salvation. He is the Lord who died for us, having become
a man as well as God in order to bear all of our sins – which He did,
making our redemption possible.
Second, you should believe the truth. All of the truth. God's truth is
found in the Bible. We may have disagreements about what the Bible means
– but I can tell you that is possible to find out what it means.
Third, since no one is saved with an instantaneous understanding and
belief in all principles of truth (or the means and knowledge to get at
them, even if said person is given the gift of pastor-teacher), everyone
needs a teacher to grow. And what the teacher teaches should be accepted
as the truth, once said teacher/ministry has been vetted so as to have
assurance that the "tree" is good. If the tree is good, then the "fruit"
should be considered good as well. As much as is humanly possible should
be accepted as true, with skepticism put aside. It's no doubt impossible
for almost anyone to do that 100% of the time, but that should be the
policy. Why? Because to grow, a Christian has to believe what is taught
AND what is taught has to be true. Only then will the Spirit make that
truth "full knowledge" (epignosis) in the heart of the believer
in question. If the tree is good, then even one bad apple once in a
while won't stymie growth. But if all of the apples are bad, no growth
will occur; or if almost all of the apples are good, but the Christian
in question merely hangs around the tree and refuses to eat out of one
scruple or another, then no growth can occur.
I always recommend starting with
the Peter series (link), but you have been around Ichthys long
enough to know what else is available. Keeping up with the
weekly postings is also a
good idea (link).
Only the Lord is capable of looking into another person's heart. And
only the person in question knows whether or not Jesus Christ is truly
their Lord, having accepted Him, His deity and His death for all sin, so
as to be saved. If this is an issue, please see the link:
"Salvation: God's Free Gift".
I'm very happy to hear from you, my friend. I had a feeling that
tradition, any tradition, devoid of truth was not going to satisfy your
heart. You are welcome here any time.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
p.s., I'm happy to put you in touch with another RC "refugee" if you
wish.
Question #12:
I'm finding your question and response articles quite interesting. It
must have been God that link me up with you. Thanks so much for not
being weary of giving response to questions.
While reading about ministry and preparation for ministry, I came across
the issue that ministers should get something doing, like Paul did (Act
18:1-4; 20:33; Thessalonian 3-6-13). I have seen few ministers that say
God told them to quit their job and focus on ministry. I have also seen
ministers who never intended to take a job because they believe they are
called into ministry. Those ministers believe that the ministry is the
job they must feed, some how, this may have formed the root of false
teachings and malpractices. Contrary to this, some ministers are not
working and they maintain the truth of the word of God, and live
satisfactorily as well. Some ministers that are working have the mindset
of being part time ministers while those that are not working have the
mindset of being full time minsters.
Now my questions:
Are there some ministers that are not supposed to work due to the nature
of their ministry? What is your view of 'part time and full time'
ministers?
On what I read: "Are we really such mavericks in our understanding of
water-baptism, the placement of the "rapture", tongues, life at birth
instead of conception, etc. that it is unreasonable to ever find a
church that agrees with us on these things?"
Please can I get detail explanation of the doctrines?
Does Ichthys provides the necessary materials for learning Greek, Hebrew
and Aramaic outside seminary?
Best regards!
Your's in Jesus
Response #12:
Good to hear from you.
To take your questions in reverse order, no, this is a "one man
operation", and while I do teach Greek at the university, I'm not able
to do more than answer a few questions here and there online. While it's
always better to learn these languages "face to face", it's not
impossible to learn them on one's own with the aid of internet resources
and a good textbook. There are some men associated with this ministry
who have done so, and done well (not that it's easy: it's not easy).
Here's a link on that:
"Studying Greek and Hebrew".
On "the rapture" (see the link which leads to more).
On "baptism" (see the link which leads to more).
On "tongues" (see the link which leads to more).
On "life at birth" (see the link which leads to more).
As to "maverick status", personally, I'm only interested in the truth.
As I hope will be made clear in reviewing the links (and subsequent
links; see also the Ichthys
"Subject Index") above, all of these positions are the biblical
ones, despite the fact that this conflicts with traditional viewpoints
in many groups and denominations. But tradition is by definition
antithetical to a search for the truth, since by definition it considers
searching an affront against tradition. I think you were attracted to
this ministry because the Spirit moved you to see the truth of the
teaching you encountered. I encourage you to investigate all you want.
The truth is what matters. If that puts "us" on an island, well, I'd
rather be on a island with the truth than on the mainland without it,
personally.
On ministry and its support, see the links in BB 6B
"Pastor-Teacher" and
"Pastoral Support". Scripture tells us that "a workman is worthy of
his wages" (1Tim.5:18), so without question one of if not the first
financial responsibility of any congregation is is
supporting their pastor-teacher (see the link). Your observation
about how this plays out is certainly germane. I would also note,
however, that whether supported or not, and whether "working hard" as
some see it or not, the vast majority of so-called pastors today are NOT
in fact laboring in the Word (1Tim.5:17), and THAT is the context in
which Paul makes the "worthy" comment. Being "worthy" means actually
teaching sufficient quantity and doing so in a detailed and orthodox way
so that the congregation can grow spiritually. But today most pastors
belong to groups who by tradition adhere to many false doctrines, and
they are loathe to "upset the apple-cart" by teaching anything
different, even if they know better. Most don't know better. And most do
not teach at all. Instead they give "sermons". So it's an academic
question.
I will tell you, however, that in my observation and experience the
number of Christians who are actually willing to submit to the authority
of a pastor-teacher who is doing things the right way so as to grow
spiritually is very small indeed. So the odds of there being enough
positive Christians in one area to support a pastor-teacher so as to do
nothing but study and teach as his "day job" are long – and the result
is that I know of few situations where this kind of thing is taking
place. There are more than enough Christians willing to support a church
and/or a pastor – but they are not interested in the truth. As a result,
they will drive away any pastor-teacher who might chance to turn up and
try and teach them the truth. This all being the case, I think it's
unwise for a prospective pastor to assume that it's God's will for him
to be supported entirely by a church. It might very well turn out that
way (nothing is impossible for the Lord, after all), but in the late
innings of Laodicea, such things are the exception rather than the rule.
Yours in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Hi Dr Luginbill,
May I ask you a bit of a lifestyle question? How do you think the Lord
might feel if I decorated my apartment with fantastical themed items?
Would it bad, do you think?
What do you think? I think New Jerusalem will seem magical to us. Not
least the angelic beings (consider the multi-varied descriptions that
would seem fantastical to us in the Bible).
Hope you are well,
Response #13:
I learned a LONG time ago not to weigh in on how woman decorate and why.
If you have qualms about anything, it's always a good idea to take it to
the Lord in prayer, search scripture, and listen carefully to the
Spirit. Some things are more important than other things too. It's also
easy to get legalistic about "don't do this" and "don't do that", where
the issue is minor. If we stick to doing what's right on the major
things – such as spiritual growth and essential sanctification – we will
find that in the end the minor things tend to work themselves out, one
way or another.
Trying to please the Lord is indeed what this Christian life is all
about, and the best way to do that in the main is to keep growing, keep
walking with Him, and keep helping others do the same. What you stick on
the wall isn't even generally in the same category.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Dr. Luginbill:
Would you take a look at the email chain regarding the UMCs position on LGBTQ
issues and either tell me I am being obnoxious or I have a right to be concerned
about these things and to question the leadership of my Church on their
positions.
I am aware I may be making a mistake common to new believers and those who have
never read the Bible. I really had never read the Bible even once until about 2
1/2 years ago and I have read it 7 complete times and I am reading two Bibles
right now (I like to read different translations at the same time). So certainly
I am no expert, but I think on this issue the Bible is pretty clear.
So I know I am perhaps still at the Spiritual Milk level and several people are
shocked that I would have the audacity to approach the #2 (and younger "heir
apparent") at our Church. (and he himself is pretty sound in his teaching,
unlike a lot of Methodists he does talk about sin and repentance). They think it
is arrogant that I should do so.
Now, I know he probably knows the Bible and theology better than I do and I am
not trying to tell him how to run the Church. But they have also not addressed
this issue and, maybe it is my immaturity as a Christian, but I feel like they
hide from controversial issues. I feel like the Church is bending to society and
it should be standing firm. And the church I go to has not addressed this and I
feel it is an important issues.
I tried to be respectful, but I am not sure if I was out of line. I respect your
teaching, so if I need to be admonished I wanted to hear it from someone I do
respect.
The Methodists like to talk about love and grace, and those are indeed
important. But is there not a place for holiness and righteousness to be taught
and practiced by Clergy?
Finally, I am kind of a cantankerous person by nature. So I am just trying to
make sure my natural cantankerousness is not getting the better of me. I love
the Word of God and I just do not like to see what I consider the Church bowing
to popular social justice issues. It is apostasy to me.
Response #14:
Good to hear from you.
When you mention denominations embracing "social justice" over the
Bible, I think this is at the heart of the matter. It's also good to
point out, however, that conservative denominations which are equally
putting "social concerns" and political crusades ahead of studying the
scriptures are equally misguided, just on different issues.
What all denominations seem to have in common these days is a near
complete disregard and/or disinterest in learning and teaching the truth
of the Bible. The biblical reason to have "church", that is, the reason
for Christians to assemble, is to encourage one another through the
truth, and to be taught it in sufficient detail to grow so as to be able
to pass the tests of spiritual maturity and eventually be useful in THE
Church at large by ministering to its edification in the service of
Jesus Christ (a great deal on this in the newly posted
BB 6B: Ecclesiology at
the link).
We are in the lukewarm era of Laodicea, at present, and while in this
country, for example, there is a church almost on every street corner,
hardly any (with an infinitesimal number of exceptions) teach the truth
in any depth. That is the case even if their creeds or denominational
statements are not awful. In short, the Bible has no place in churches
today – that is by far the rule. So when you tell me you are reading
your Bible diligently, that of course will put you at odds with the
leadership of any church. Generally speaking, any believer in any church
who decides as you have decided to seek the Lord through the truth and
read the Bible is going to quickly be out of step with what is going on
within – for the obvious reason that no one else, even the leadership,
even thinks that important to do (lip service notwithstanding). If you
continue, you will become increasingly at odds with the leadership on
all manner of points where their policies are not biblical. This will
inevitably result in conflict if you are unwilling to compromise the
truth for good relations with those who care nothing about it. In other
words, this will eventually result in you being tossed out or pressured
out or leaving. What will NOT happen, especially in an established
denomination, is the church changing. If these leaders
cared about the truth, they would not be in this church / denomination
in the first place. So while I applaud your courage and your desire not
only to know the truth but to live it and to try and see that your
church reflects it, I can also tell you with the benefit of experience
that it's never possible to change things from the inside (Lk.5:37). In
a "loving" church, perhaps they will put up with you for a time, but
they are not going to change, and if you persist on putting Christ in
front of tradition and trendiness, you will pay the price eventually.
There is a reason why this ministry is "outside the gate". But that is
where everyone who loves Jesus Christ will eventually be led
(Heb.13:12). What I should also point out is that while
reading your Bible is
necessary and wonderful (see the link), it is not enough. No
Christian is able to grow past a certain point without submitting to the
authority of a genuine teaching ministry. That is because only those who
have been gifted to teach AND have prepared themselves to do so can
"rightly divide the Word of truth" so as to present spiritual food in a
quantity and quality necessary to achieve spiritual maturity. So while I
feel your pain, and I'm certainly not going to advise you on what to do
about the current situation, I do urge you to begin to grow through a
ministry that makes that possible. Ichthys is one such place, I
certainly believe, but not the only one. One other place I always
recommend is Pastor Teacher Curtis Omo's
Bible Academy (at the
link).
So keep your fire for the Lord alive, my friend (1Thes.5:19). But add
learning to understand the Bible to your reading of the Bible. That is
the way to win the three crowns of spiritual reward and glorify the Lord
Jesus Christ.
In Him,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Hello Bob,
I went on your site this morning to read the emails page and was really
happy to see some of my emails there! I am embarrassed to admit that it
took a little while with some of them to realise it was me but then I
spotted one or two (!) of my written eccentricities! At first I thought
someone else thinks exactly like I do (lol).
It was really nice to re-read them and your replies, it reminded me of
where I came from, where I have grown and which areas need more
attention!
It's funny seeing those emails today as yesterday I stumbled on
something called "Unitarianism" after it was mentioned casually in a
novel I was reading. Even after reading up about it I still don't
understand how it can be Christian as it seems to deny the divinity of
Christ! Have you heard about it? From there I found out about a more
modern (1960s) offshoot of it called UU. This is the church of Unitarian
Universalism (it should be called "me me" instead of UU). Apparently
it's an anything goes church that welcomes people of any faith including
people of no faith at all. Here is a link https://www.uua.org/beliefs
It truly is the oddest thing I have ever seen and I really do not
understand why anyone would want this? It seems to be very hypocritical
to me that atheists want to "play church" with all the rituals and the
atmosphere but with doctrine, teaching, wisdom and most importantly God
and Jesus completely taken away. I find the whole think ridiculously odd
and yet this is so dangerous! All the YouTube comments are very
favourable because it is very socially active, political, embraces
everything including Wicca paganism and fully endorses LGBT and other
harmful alternative lifestyles in a bid to be fully inclusive. It really
is growing in popularity to a ridiculous degree because it is whatever
you want it to be! As one Christian detractor said, it's the place to go
to if you want to worship yourself!
Do you think that this will be part of the end times deception? The UU
church eerily echoes what Pope Francis is hoping to achieve with his
"Coexist" movement as evidenced in this video here.
Just more evidence that the end times are round the corner!
It was good to be back on the website again today, seeing my emails and
your responses on the site made me feel as though you were in the room
with me dear friend!
I'm afraid my bible studies has taken a slight backseat recently. My ___
is really in a bad way. His physical and mental health is failing and he
refuses help from everyone despite being unable to look after himself. I
would really appreciate prayers for him. He used to be a very committed
believer but I'm not sure anymore. Unfortunately his faith has been
mediated by the RCC. The more I think about it the more I realise that
RCC has not really bore any spiritual fruit in my family despite a
devoted loyalty to the religion. That has been one of my chief
criticisms of it. My ___ has been doubting God lately because of what is
happening with her ___ but I have been there to nurture and protect her
faith in Jesus and it seems to have now gone from wavering to stronger.
My faith has been a real focal point to my family and it seems to have
forced them all to think more and more about it. I often talk about
little else!
God bless you Bob!
I hope this email finds you in good health and spirit.
In Him,
Response #15:
Thanks! Yes, your words are wonderful and contributing to the growth of
others, of that I am sure. I do edit some to make the writer virtually
impossible to identify – even hard for the writer! That's not the first
time I've heard this (it's usually around a year or so later that I get
around to posting things too).
As to UU ("me me" is hilarious!), I suppose the same questions can be
asked about all religions, that is, all nod-to-God groups who do not
really care about having a relationship with Him or accepting the Gift
of His Son. We who truly believe want "Him" and to be close to Jesus,
but as you note, for all others it's entirely about "me! me!", just
organized differently and packaged differently. The devil has 666 ways
to be religious, but all of them share in common that they end in hell.
There's only "one way" to salvation (Jn.14:6).
During the Tribulation, all these groups will pool their efforts in
support of antichrist's religion, so it's good to get inoculated against
this sort of thing before the fact. So it's great that you're ferreting
these things out now.
It is ironic, isn't it? Unbelievers enjoy "going to church", while
believers who are genuinely trying to grow closer to Jesus Christ
through the truth find what goes on in most Laodicean churches so
nauseating that they can't bear to go. A sure sign that the Tribulation
is close. You are right about that!
I will pray for your ___. Good job and encouraging news about your ___!
Keeping you in my prayers daily, my friend.
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Hi Bob,
Thanks for letting me help. I really enjoy it and hopefully it's just a
bit of backup if nothing else for you.
If you don't mind me asking, how long did it take you to write this one
(BB 4A)? It must take you ages to complete any of them, with all the
punctuation marks, Bible verses etc. I was just curious!
Re: what you wrote about our Lord's "Psychological Pressures: As can
be seen ... He never allowed Himself to get overly or unreasonable
(unreasonably) frustrated with negative response. (A recent lesson
here for me, Bob!)
Your friend in Jesus
Response #16:
I'm grateful for your help!
Most of these big files took years to do. Of course I started most of
them, the idea for them, at any rate, back in the late 80's. It would
have been impossible for me to do any of this if it were just "me" that
were doing it. The Spirit's role can't be underestimated, and I'm so
grateful to the Lord for using me in this ministry like this. Of course
I had a hand it all too . . . as the typos you're finding makes very
clear!
And, yes, a lesson for us all.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #17:
How are you doing Robert? Well I hope, you continue to be in my prayers nightly,
this world we live in seems to get crazier by the week. Your thoughts on
something. I was taking in some exercise at the park today, literally the first
day above freezing in 5 weeks and this woman approached my car as I was driving
out of the lot. I thought perhaps I had dropped something but when I rolled my
window down she said Jesus revealed something to her about me. She said the Lord
told her that I had a business decision to make and his message was to trust in
him and not to worry about it. Now she is partially right but that's a pretty
wide net to cast, a lot of guys my age are making those kind of decisions. She
seemed very sincere. How would you react to something like that from a spiritual
standpoint? I'm wondering if the Lord would actually send a message to someone
like that. Thanks for your help my friend, I hope you and your family are well!
In Jesus
Response #17:
Good to hear from you, my friend.
I hope things are going well for you. Thanks for your prayers too! They
are most needful. I've been keeping you and your family in mine daily as
well.
The way I read the Bible, the Lord uses the Spirit to direct our steps,
and the Spirit uses the truth to guide us, truth we've placed within our
hearts by giving attention to it and learning it and believing it. That
is not to say that the Lord doesn't also use circumstances and
situations, especially things that happen which are out of the ordinary.
He most certainly does. But these mostly do not involve people telling
us things like this. How could they? Because God is not verbally
communicating messages to us individually at this point in His plan.
That sort of thing ended with the termination of prophecy in the
apostolic age (1Cor.13:2; 13:8-12), and was, judging by the book of
Acts, rare enough even then.
This is not to say that God can't do such a thing (He can do anything);
nor is it to say that He never ever does (He can do as He pleases). But
it is fair to ask if it's not in the Bible as something we are to
expect, and indeed shown from a true appreciation of 1st Corinthians 13
and the cessation of the obviously miraculous gifts after the passing of
the apostles, why we shouldn't view all such claims with great
skepticism (much more on this in the recently posted
BB 6B, see the link:
"The Perfect Word of God and the End of the Transition"). We are
supposed to be "wise as serpents", after all, and this is an especially
important principle for Christians to keep in mind inasmuch as we tend
to be good-hearted people who have a tendency to believe what people
tell us. In this world, that is always potentially dangerous.
It is possible that the Lord spoke directly to this woman and told her
to give you this message. But I can think of several alternative
explanations just off the top of my head: 1) demon possession/influence;
2) mental illness; 3) immature believer arrogance (in thinking that
everything that pops into the head is a message from God and wishing to
show one's importance by claiming that it is); 4) scamming (whatever the
motivation). This may seem nasty, but in the history of the world I can
guarantee you that for every incident of the type you relate that really
was the Lord speaking to someone, the other categories (and others not
thought of) outnumber those incidences at least a thousand to one
(probably much, much more).
And you are right that this seems to be a "fortune cookie" type of
message – all the more reason for skepticism.
I didn't know you had a business.
I'd advise care in the extreme – and continued devotion to spiritual
growth: that is how the Lord guides us, through the truth.
Your friend in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #18:
My first instinct was to blow it off, just thought I would run it past
you before I did so entirely. I had a similar incident when I was 19 or
20, my girlfriend and I got into an accident speeding; probably lucky we
weren't killed. A woman came out of nowhere and said she started to pray
for us as soon as I lost control of the car. In hindsight, there was
probably more to that than what happened yesterday. She stated that
Jesus had saved us, or she saw Jesus save us, can't remember her exact
words. At any rate, with as many friends as I lost in that era from car
accidents, I am grateful to have survived that and of course that she
survived as well.
I pray every night and ask the Lord for forgiveness and guidance, mostly
just try to pray for other people. I do pray for my enemies but it's
very difficult to do that with the same kind of sincerity as I pray for
friends and loved ones. I send my mother paragraphs from your site, she
really enjoys it. If I send her links she seems to get overwhelmed,
easier for her to read bits and pieces but she definitely knows where it
comes from.
In Jesus Christ
Response #18:
I think we've all done things when we were young that put us into
unnecessary jeopardy – and were rescued by the Lord in His great grace
and mercy (that was certainly true of myself, more times than I care to
enumerate). It's good to remember these incidents as you are doing.
So, yes, these are two quite different situations, it seems to me.
Anyone, especially a believer, who sees someone involved in a miraculous
deliverance might well be prompted to say, "The Lord loves you!". The
recent situation is different. So this is why I asked you if you had a
business. Everyone has financial decisions to make. Even if it's only
whether or not to buy chuck or splurge on ground sirloin, anything
monetary can be considered a "business decision" when it comes to
fortune cookies or astrology or flim-flam – all of these make bank on
crafting generalities which people will take as unique to themselves and
fill in the blanks in doing so. So I would avoid this person if you ever
meet her again (it might not have been an accident).
You're a good son!
Keeping you in my prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Hi Brother Bob! (Brother Jarhead)
The Lord brought you to mind, and it has been awhile, so I thought I'd
drop you a line....
First off....THE LORD IS RISEN / HE IS RISEN INDEED !! HALLELUJAH !
PRAISE THE KING OF kings AND LORD OF lords forever and ever! HE ALONE IS
WORTHY OF ALL GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER AND DOMINION! (Whew, that felt
good!!!). Brother, let's enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His
courts with praise and into His presence with worship "together"....not
just at this time of celebration, but all year long!!! He is great and
greatly to be praised!!! And that's why I love JESUS today!!!
How's everything your neck of the woods? I trust all is well with you my
brother.
We're getting ready for retirement, and a couple of weeks ago, I was
approached and asked if I would consider taking the position of
"Chaplain" at Quakertown Christian School, grades K-12....wow! I
certainly did not expect that! I would appreciate any words of
encouragement and wisdom you could share with me.
Have a blessed Easter my brother and may the Lord cause His face to
shine upon you so good that you keep falling in love with Him over and
over again as I'm learning to do.
Walk with the King my brother!!!!
Your brother in Christ,
p.s. I covet your continued prayers for my family that they all be
delivered out of the cult....the way International.....talk about
warfare!
Thanks so much Bob!!!
Response #19:
Great to hear from you, my friend!
Yes, as far as I am concerned, every day is "resurrection day" . . . and
even more to the point, the day of the cross, for that is the victory
upon which salvation and everything else is based.
Congratulations on your coming retirement! Personally, I'm on the "feet
first" program here. I'm sure you'll find a way to use the time
profitably. The Lord has a personal ministry for us all, and now you'll
have some additional time to pursue growth, progress and production for
Him. I've never been a chaplain. I think it suits a retired person more
than a working-age person since you'll be able to have the right frame
of mind: this is a ministry not a job. The only thing I would wonder
about is the restraint imposed by accommodation to this particular
denomination (that would be my question for any denominational school /
organization which wanted a chaplain). I would suggest checking that out
first to make sure you're comfortable with what they teach / don't
teach. Quakers, last time I checked, had some "interesting" ideas about
government and self-defense which I could not pretend to agree with if
it came up counseling someone.
I do indeed continue to pray for you and your family and this situation,
my friend. It's been a long "prayer fight", but I know that nothing is
impossible for the Lord.
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob L.
Question #20:
I just wanted to clear up something....Quakertown is the name of the town where the school is located....no Quakers that I know of. The school is solidly grounded in Christ. It's a Bible believing, teaching, preaching, practicing school. Have a blessed week my brother.
Response #20:
Oh - OK.
Just trying to look out for you, my friend. Still, any Christian school
will have some set of tenets or creed – good to check that out before
committing (Quaker or not).
In our dear Savior, Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #21:
Hello Dr. Luginbill!
If a person is not able to study for his exam because he is in his
church the whole weekend, is he trusting or testing God?
I read a mother complaining to her church member about her son not doing
his school obligations because of church works and the mother was told
to put God first before anything else. Is this what God wants? They use
the story of Martha and Mary.
How do we delineate the apparent thin line between following and
trusting God and testing God? Doing church’s obligations without
forsaking our “earthly” obligations?
God bless.
Response #21:
Good to hear from you. Hope all is well.
As to your question, the Lord expects us to fulfill all of
our responsibilities. Being a Christian does not mean, e.g., that we
don't have to obey the law, or that we don't have to do a good job for
our employer, or that we don't have to meet whatever other family or
school obligations we may have. Just the opposite. Christians should
show by their witness of the life the glory of Christ.
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor. Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.
1st Peter 2:12-18 NIV
Being a poor student is a very poor witness. For anyone who truly does
trust the Lord, the Lord will provide enough time and energy to study
hard and well, and not let down on truly important spiritually
obligations. That is an important qualification, however.
What sort of "church works" are we talking about here? The biblical
purpose of a local church is to teach the Word of God and to mutually
encourage one another. Very few people can handle more than a few hours
of concentrated Bible teaching at a time – and very few churches
seriously teach the Bible at all. So I suspect that these "obligations"
have little or nothing to do with genuine spiritual growth. If a church
is willing to monopolize a young person's whole weekend to, e.g., work
on some building project, that just shows that not only are they not
actually leading him/her forward spiritually as the Bible tells them to
do, but they are also compromising his/her witness and possibly even
damaging future opportunities.
School is important. And like all the things the Lord gives us to cope
with here on earth, it ought to be approached in a diligent and serious
fashion by any Christian young person. "Church" should never be an
excuse for not doing the things we know that are right to do. Just like
the Lord told the Pharisees:
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
Mark 7:9-13 NKJV
You are right that there is a "line" to draw, but in my experience the
Lord never asks us to draw it to the detriment of our witness or in the
carrying out of our legitimate responsibilities.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #22:
Thank you so much Dr. Luginbill. I always thank God for finding your site, for your patience and hard work to help people like me understand what God wants us to know about Him and our Lord Jesus Christ so that we can be able to keep the faith and follow their commandments. I almost gave up and even doubted the existence of God and His Son because of too much manipulation I see in churches today, and somehow, God pointed me to your site, to let me know He exists, and our Lord Jesus Christ exists, to forgive, to guide and to educate me through your site. I will always include you and your family in my prayer.
Response #22:
You are so very welcome!
Thanks so much for these kind and encouraging words – and thanks for
those needful prayers as well!
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.