Question #1:
Hi Dr L,
Okay I really need your Bible teacher perspective and advice. When I was a
teenager I made a promise. Now I honestly don't remember exactly what it was or
why. But it was that (I think) I would not drink things with lots of caffeine
(coffee and tea). The thing is, should I still be trying to follow this since I
did make that promise? The thing is that I didn't really set a cutoff on how
much caffeine (as lots of things have SOME caffeine in them) and I don't even
remember clearly what I originally said. What is God's will on that-should I
still be trying to follow? Please tell me yes or no, with your reasons. I know
we shouldn't make vows. It was a long time ago and I don't intend to do it
again.
[omitted]
Respectfully,
Response #1:
I certainly wouldn't worry about promises – we are human beings and we
almost never keep our promises (at least not perfectly). The Bible does
talk about oaths, but the NT is very clear about not swearing oaths
being the best policy (cf. Matt.5:34; Jas.5:12). Believers are supposed
to look forward, not backward. If we think we may have sinned, we
confess it, determine not to do it again (whatever "it" is), and move
forward, not looking back. Any other policy is a recipe for going off
the rails spiritually and completely bogging down.
Studying the ancient world is useful for just this reason: while we find
many things familiar and easy to identify with, next thing you know we
bump into something seeming completely bizarre to us in the modern
world. Good to find out that not everyone has always done things the
same or seen things the same (broadens the perspective).
Thanks for the background on your job – it is important to be able to
describe one's skills in looking for other work, that's for certain. And
thanks for your good words!
Have a restful weekend, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Okay I mean it sort of was like an oath in my mind. Am I sinning by not holding to it now? That is what I am asking.
Response #2:
There's no such thing as a "sort of like an oath": an oath is a formal declaration taken before duly constituted officials (e.g., the "temple servant": Eccl.5:4-6) or other responsible parties where there is no question about it, such as the oath sworn by the spies to Rahab at Joshua 2:14.
Question #3:
Doc, please pray for me...
I made a very hasty and impulsive vow, one that had severe ramifications
that I didn't even stop to think about for a single second, and once I
realized them I pretty much bailed and broke the vow, hearing from
several others that if you fail to keep a vow it becomes no longer
binding...i pretty much completely disregarded how sacred vows to the
Lord are supposed to be, knowing full well how much they are and not
caring at all in an act of supreme selfishness, wanting to go back to
the thing I loved. I still feel too guilty to actually do said thing
again, even after asking for forgiveness, because I know this just
proves I'm not truly repentant about this, even after realizing what
I've done, I was still far more glad I could go back to what I wanted to
than sorry for doing such a thing. Please pray i'll get over this guilt
and truly learn from my mistakes this time.
Are vows done in thought only valid like the one mentioned? I was a fool
for doing it regardless, but is it still binding?
Response #3:
Your experience is exactly the reason why we should never vow anything.
"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."
Matthew 5:33-37 NKJV
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.
James 5:12 NKJV
We are only human and we have little control over events. It is hard
enough to control ourselves and no one carries even that off perfectly
at all times. So the idea that we can anticipate what will happen and
"do as we have said we'll do" no matter what may occur is extremely
arrogant. The humble course is to never make any sort of vow.
Of course, we believers today are not under the Law of Moses any longer.
Christ fulfilled it (Rom.10:4) and it has now been invalidated (this is
in some ways the whole point of the book of Hebrews, as you know if you
are reading the most recent series at Ichthys;
at the link).
If we sin, as believers, then we need to confess that sin to the Lord.
If we do, we are forgiven (1Jn.1:9; Ps.32:5). Believers are supposed to
be confessing their sins to the Lord daily in any case (it's part of the
Lord's Prayer), so whatever discipline we receive for such things, we
can be sure that it is coming from a loving Father for our good after we
confess (Heb.12:3-13). It's never been God's purpose for His children to
agonize over failure – as long as they are willing to confess and repent
and return to Him:
When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Psalm 32:3-5 NKJV
I have had this question before, so you might profit from reading the following links as well:
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Read my last email please. Just about all of the foolish oaths(which i did end up breaking out of cowardice of not being able to do things that i have to real reason to stop doing), were because of my religious OCD, even when I did agree to it and not vehemently resist, it was like I wasn't myself, that my sense of reason was almost taken over by the compulsiveness...I've read many cases of people obsessively making foolish vows or getting intrusive thoughts of making them which makes them think they did, and everyone seems to agree that things like this that are the result of pathological thought processes like OCD aren't binding...but if we truly have free will, isn't that a lie? I would like to think they're right but isn't there no way that's actually true?
Response #4:
Read those links please.
The first one addressed this issue head on. Here's a paste-in of some of
it:
Notice in both instances the idea of a verbal and public pronouncement is present. I would certainly not want to down-play the significance of any sort of promise a believer feels he or she has made to the Lord, but I do note the differences between a prayer and a formal vow. I would also remind everyone that our God is a merciful and forgiving God. He knows that we are but flesh. He forgives us our sins whenever we ask Him to do so, and He does so in the Name of Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for all of our sins of every sort, washing them away forever with His blood, His suffering for them on the cross. So if we are guilty on this score, in common with other sins, God forgives when we confess in Jesus' Name.
In short, 1) don't vow, but 2) if you do, keep your vow, and 3) if in the course of life and the weakness of our flesh you break your vow, confess your sin and commit yourself to the mercy of the Lord.
Question #5:
Doc, this WASN'T a vow, but foolishly, in my manic compulsions, I prayed and asked God to bind me to all my old oaths if I ever made a vow again (almost all of my vows I've made in memory have been in thought alone and not speaking to the Lord, but I'm still scared), at least I'm pretty sure it counts even though I resisted at the last second. I then immediately repented and asked God to forgive me and release me from that, since it wasn't supposed to be a vow but just a request...please pray for me, I'm in terror right now because I can't afford to break any more vows, and I don't want to be bound to any more.
Response #5:
As far as I can tell that is a "distinction without a difference". In any case, if you've read the links, praying is not vowing and anything we have done wrong can be forgiven. God is not a trickster out "to get us" when we make a mistake. He is a loving heavenly Father who forgives us as a good father would forgive the children he loves – only more so.
Question #6:
Thank you Doc. Please pray I'll keep my compulsions under control and not play out these stupid things again...
Response #6:
Don't blame God.
I'm praying for you.
Question #7:
Thanks Doc...one last question on oaths, if I make some foolish oath in my head (and yes I sadly did do this), asking God to bind me to all my old oaths whenever I think a certain word, will He honor that? I have asked Him to release me because I was barely able to control my compulsions and the urge wad so strong, but I can't live like this, always being bound to my old foolish vows (almost all were in my mind but still), and having to constantly live in bandage to pointless brutal restrictions and/or breaking them and dishonoring the Lord. I don't know if I can go on anymore if this stupid thing is bound to me...
Response #7:
Never ever underestimate the mercy and forgiveness of the Lord – because Christ died for every one of our sins.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9 NKJV
Question #8:
I still can't stop...why can't I stop with the rash oaths in my head? I
pray and pray to be forgiven and for strength to stop, and try to focus
on other things, to push away the thoughts when they come, yet I can
barely resist the urge when it comes, and I can rarely make it stop...I
pray and pray to be released from all the compulsive foolish vows, but
my mind just seems to force me to make more and more ridiculous and
unfair bindings, even ones that bind me to all my old ones whenever I do
something from then on!...do you understand why i hate this system of
vows? DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH AGONY I'M IN HAVING TO LIVE WITH SUCH
BURDENS, ALL BECAUSE I HAVE THOUGHTS I CAN'T STOP FROM COMING!? DO YOU
UNDERSTAND HOW I CAN NEVER HAVE ANY HAPPINESS BECAUSE I STRUGGLE TO
CONTROL MY OWN THOUGHTS!?
ALL OF THIS, ALL OF THIS, BECAUSE "IF WE DON'T CONTROL OUR THOUGHTS
COMPLETELY, WE DON'T HAVE FREE WILL!!!"
I honestly can't believe you can look at this, and say with a straight
face and no conviction that this is completely fair and just. Trust me,
if I could get rid of all these intrusive thoughts, I would in a
heartbeat. Maybe after all it really is my fault for giving into them,
but even so, how can you just tell me to stop and repent when I'm trying
my hardest already!?
Response #8:
I'm very sorry to hear that this is still such a problem for you.
Please know that you are not the only one with this sort of problem.
I've heard similar stories many times in the past.
*It is important, as with any test – and this is a test – to trust the
Lord with all your heart and to commit the problem to Him. Don't blame
Him – He loves you and is working things out for good . . . even though
it's hard to see that when the pressure is on. Trust Him and commit this
problem to Him in prayer, because He cares about you.
Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:5 NKJV
Cast your burden on the LORD,
And He shall sustain you;
He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 55:22 NKJV
I am praying for you as well.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #9:
One last question on oaths/vows: does the Hebrew and/or Greek word for vows or oaths imply it's specifically spoken?
Response #9:
Yes, and not only that. In addition to being verbal, vows/oaths are always public, formal and specific:
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
Genesis 28:20-22 NKJV
"Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow."
Acts 21:23 NKJV
So there is no such thing in the Bible as an unspoken or implicit vow or oath. The whole point is a specific, public declaration which is binding for its specificity and public pronouncement.
Question #10:
Another question, and I know this might sound stupid but it's important...I've been getting urges even though I don't want to be bound to any oath, to actually speak them in a way, basically my mind in its foolishness makes a deal in my head to make the next sound out of my mouth no matter how quiet or non-speak like it is, to be my "speaking the oath"...I struggle to resist as always, and often times I compulsively give in because I can't resist the mental and emotional pressure. I sometimes get this thing where I say no to the oath verbally and then I get this powerful urge in me while saying it that says I mean yes...I don't want that though and while I struggle to resist it, it comes up so quickly and strongly that it's often too much to resist as before...I know oaths are also public or at least have someone to confirm them, but I need to know, when the Hebrew and/or Greek words for oaths/vows say it's spoken, I'd assume random mouth noises don't count? I don't really know why I obsess over this, other than these urges are always for giving up things I love for seemingly no reason at all...I've started praying more often in an attempt to drive these thoughts away, and it helps a lot.
Response #10:
Re: "I'm getting urges". We are all prodded by our sin natures all the
time to think and say and do things we should not. We DO have the power to
resist – in the Holy Spirit . . . but you do have to trust and believe that the
Spirit is there to help you and you do have to listen attentively to His still,
small voice (rather than to the voice of your sin nature prompted by the evil
one). If you are walking in the Spirit, you will be able to resist the influence
of the flesh (Gal.5:13-25) . . . and if and when you fail, then confess
(1Jn.1:9). And, again, the more we grow spiritually, the better we are able to
martial the spiritual resources we have been so graciously given. The more we
fight the fight, the better we get at it (in all respects).
In Greek, in Hebrew, in Latin, in English – in any language I know of, an oath
is verbal. When they swear you in at court they don't allow "silent oaths"; when
you get married, they don't allow "silent vows". Feel free to look up these
words in a Bible concordance or on a Bible website and see if you can find any
place where the oath/vow is silent. If you do, we can talk about it (but you
won't).
Keeping you in my prayers,
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Doc, where do you get from the Bible that if you break an oath you're no longer bound to it?...or am I misunderstanding again and it doesn't actually say that? Most people say if you make an oath it cannot ever be undone, period.
Response #11:
Re: "where do you get from the Bible that if you break an oath you're
no longer bound to it?" I'm sure I never said anything like this.
If you have taken an oath and broken it, then I suggest you select from
your herd a bull without spot or blemish and present yourself to the
temple servant in Jerusalem where it can be offered on the brazen altar
on your behalf. But of course, that is not possible because there is now
no temple or altar or ritual sacrifices. Oaths belong to the Law. They
were (and are) public pronouncements which bound the individual to do as
they promised according to the Law. But the Law is now defunct (e.g.,
Rom.10:4; Heb.8:13).
“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."
Matthew 5:33-37 NKJV
But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.
James 5:12 NKJV
Christ died for all of our sins. If we sin, as in swearing when our Lord
Himself told us NOT to swear, then we should confess that sin. When we
do confess it, we are forgiven, "and cleansed from all unrighteousness"
(1Jn.1:9). There may be discipline as with any sin we commit, but if so
it comes from a loving Father for our benefit just as we lovingly
discipline our own children (only He does it perfectly: Heb.12:4-13).
Re: "Most people say if you make an oath it cannot ever be undone,
period." Most people don't believe in God, and very few believe in
Jesus Christ, and pitifully few actual believers are bothering to grow
spiritually so as to believe the truth. I wouldn't worry about "most
people". If you read the Bible for yourself, it will confirm what I've
been telling you.
So please stop torturing yourself about this unnecessarily. Let the
Spirit help you resist all pointless thinking and start moving forward
spiritually.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #12:
So then do I have to still keep every oath I've spoken even after I repent? That doesn't seem fair, but I guess God is God, and we really shouldn't be trying to question what He puts in place, He only does it in our best interest after all...
Response #12:
I think I have been consistent in maintaining that oaths/vows were
formal proclamations made in public under the Law. In other words, they
don't currently exist in the sense found in the Old Testament. As far as
the New Testament is concerned, I've already shared with you passages
from our Lord and His brother James telling us NOT to make vows / take
oaths.
So if a person does what the Lord and other scripture tells us NOT to
do, I can't see how that is right. If a believer sins, that sin is
forgiven – and all unrighteousness cleansed – when that believer
confesses to the Lord (1Jn.1:9).
How can a vow / oath be binding when it is not authorized to be made in
the first place? With the exception of negative passages (Matt.5:33-37;
Jas.5:12; cf. Matt.14:7; 15:5; 23:16-22; 26:63; 26:72-74; Mk.6:26;
14:71; Acts 23:12-21), I don't find a single instance of vows / oaths
being considered valid in the entire New Testament . . . with the
exception of temple vows (Acts 18:18; 21:23), and in both those cases,
Paul was operating under the Law . . . and in the second one it was
clearly a mistake, one which landed him in prison for many years (see
the link).
Vows pledged a person to do for God what they said they would do. But
this is a dangerous game to play because how do we know what God wants
us to do in the future apart from His will revealed in His Word?
Consider Jephthah and his daughter (Jdg.11:34-40). However I DO know
what God wants you to do, what He wants us all to do: to grow
spiritually, to draw closer to Him through the truth, passing the tests
that come our way, and then, once maturity is achieved, to produce a
crop that honors Jesus Christ through the proper functioning of our
spiritual gifts and the ministries He assigns us. He certainly does NOT
want you to agonize for the rest of your life for some past failure
(Phil.3:13); if it were otherwise, then the apostle Paul would never
have gotten anywhere (1Cor.15:9; Gal.1:13).
So here is what I propose. Why don't you put this bone aside until AFTER
you have grown spiritually to the point of being able to handle this
issue better? I am confident that if you keep growing this issue will
eventually be made clear to you and you will know exactly what it is you
need to do and what you need not to do. Until then, you will only be
spinning your wheels, so to speak, and compromising your spiritual
growth by worrying about it . . . thus delaying the day when the light
will dawn on you on this issue and many others besides.
Keeping you in my prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to read this email.
How can I tell if I am really saved? I need to know if I have faith in
Jesus, or if I only have knowledge about Jesus, like you talk about.
What if it is too late for me to be forgiven? What if I have done
something and Jesus will not save me? I know Jesus died for all sin, but
what if I have rejected Him?
Thank you.
Response #13:
Good to make your acquaintance.
In my experience, people who ask "am I saved?", always are. People who
have definitively rejected Christ without any thought of repentance
never care about Him or their salvation thereafter.
It doesn't matter what may have happened in the past. If you are a
believer NOW, trusting in Him for your eternal life, then you are saved.
The evil one loves to throw curve balls of doubt our way, but we have a
right to cast out doubt and hold onto our faith in Christ aggressively
and demonstrably.
The best way to gain assurance of salvation is through spiritual growth.
The more we grow, and the more we grow closer to the Lord through that
spiritual growth, the more confident we will be about our salvation. So
entrust yourself entirely to the Lord, and commit yourself to growing
through His Word every day, putting your hope in Him – that is my
advice.
(16) For men are accustomed to take oaths on the authority of something greater than they are, and there is absolutely no doubt about the fact that an oath is taken for the purpose of confirmation. (17) Just so God, out of a desire to make it abundantly clear to us, the heirs of His promise [after the pattern of Abraham's faith], that His will in this matter [of salvation and its resultant blessings] is unchangeable, guaranteed it with an oath (Gen.22:16-17), (18) so that through two unchangeable matters wherein it is impossible for God to prove false (i.e., His Word and His oath), we who have escaped [the wrath to come] and taken hold of this hope (i.e., of life eternal, resurrection and eternal reward) offered to us might have a strong basis for encouragement. (19) And this hope [truly] is what "anchors" our lives, so to speak: it is certain; it is solid; it penetrates beyond the [heavenly] veil into the [holy of holies], (20) where our vanguard, Jesus, has entered on our behalf, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:16-20
There is a great deal about this at Ichthys. Most concentrated place to
look is BB 4B: Soteriology (at the link).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,
I hope you are doing well.
I am troubled inside. If I believe in Jesus, in His death and atonement
for my sin, and trust Him to give me eternal life, then it absolutely
covers all my wrongdoing and filth? And I am for sure saved, no matter
how much I feel that I can't be saved? And then I can quit feeling
guilty and doomed? I know I need Jesus and I know that He needs to be
Lord of my life, and that true peace only comes from Jesus. I am not at
peace and I just want to be. I do want to say "yes" to Jesus.
Thank you in advance,
Response #14:
As a believer in Jesus Christ, you ARE saved.
But what does [scripture] say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10:8-11 NKJV
Salvation is NOT a function of how you may feel but of whether or not you have been born again, born from above when you put your trust in Jesus Christ to be saved. Once saved, you don't need to be "re-saved" . . . there is no such thing, not even for those who sin after salvation:
Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
John 13:10 NKJV
And ALL sin after salvation (1Ki.8:46; Eccl.7:20; Rom.3:23; 1Jn.1:8-10).
For we all stumble in many things.
James 3:2a NKJV
Which is why we are given the command and the opportunity to confess our sins – upon which confession we are forgiven, regardless of our feelings:
(1b) Blessed is he whose offense is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (2) Blessed is the man whose iniquity the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit there is no deceit. (3) When I was silent [about my sin], my bones grew old with groaning all day long, (4) because day and night your hand was heavy upon me. My vigor was drained away as by the heat of summer. (5) [Until] I said, "I will make my sin known to You, and I will not cover [over] my guilt. I will confess my transgressions to the Lord", and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Psalm 32:1a-5
And forgive us what we owe you just as we also forgive those who owe us.
Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our sins just as we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
Luke 11:4
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1st John 1:9
Mind you, we should all be pursuing sanctification (Heb.12:14), and only by turning away from sin on the one hand and – very importantly – pursuing spiritual growth at the same time will we ever get anywhere in the Christian life.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
2nd Peter 2:18 NKJV
So I always counsel people to stop lamenting about yesterday. What good does that do? It only wastes today. If we would move forward spiritually in growth in the Word through attentiveness to Bible teaching, we would gain confidence and begin to "feel better" about our relationship with the Lord – because it WOULD be better, since that is the only way to get closer to Him. But by wringing our hands about yesterday, all we do is ruin today. TODAY is "the day the Lord has made" (Ps.118:24), so we ought to make use of today RIGHT NOW to start growing. We can't change yesterday, and scripture tells us to let it go in any case (Phil.3:13). Tomorrow, moreover, will "take care of itself" (Matt.6:34). Our job as Christians is to fight the spiritual fight we are in TODAY, "as long as it is called 'today' " (Heb.3:13), and leave the rest to the Lord (see the link).
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Bob,
Just another message, a quick one this time. Just studying the different
church eras in Revelation (CT)
against the SR studies and
really getting so very much from them.
Your ministry is such a huge blessing to me. I really don't know what I
would do without you and your ministry! I was reading tonight about
Smyrna and how strong in faith they were and it really inspired me to
continue in the aggressive spiritual growth I am now pursuing. I am also
determined not to falter or lose days of study this time when tested
returns.
Thank you so much my friend for feeding us sheep! Amen!
Keeping you and your ministry in my daily prayers.
In Jesus,
Response #15:
Thank you!
Question #16:
Bob,
I think I have had another breakthrough and deliverance here.
[omitted] . . . but then suddenly I had a change of heart and stopped
myself and instead of feeling anger or reproach I felt a huge gentleness
come over me and rather than being focused completely on myself . . . As
soon as I felt this desire to be loving in that moment, I really felt
that depressed heaviness lift from me and I felt strong but not in my
flesh, I felt strengthened by the Spirit. That strength enabled and
empowered me to be kind and gentle even though I felt I was being judged
and slighted.
P.s can the enemy attack the mind to such a degree that you think you
are losing your marbles?
That is what is happening to me now (and happened many times before).
I worry about how this will effect my witness as I have been acting
fully postal the last few days and almost smashed my hand bones to
pieces on the table in a fit of rage. I often find myself talking
endlessly over and over the same thing while I feel myself racing
inside.
__ often blame my faith for all of this. They think my intense study and
singular beliefs are making me mentally unwell. At times the enemy is
tempting me to agree with this but I know that it is he who is fighting
against me at the moment as he can see I am holding my position and also
threatening to go further once this attack subsides.
I am also being met with some very fierce and intense opposition to that
plan I told you about.
I have been aggressively pursuing a defensive AND offensive position by
pushing forward with spiritual growth. The flak has come hard and heavy,
physically, mentally and through other people. I am praying to get
through it and to have stronger faith at the end of it and to stick to
my plan no matter what.
I have still continued with my studies so that at the very least I have
accomplished that in a day, to get through my daily portion of study.
Of course I do want to move on from this position both spiritually and
with material commitments with work and family but right now I am trying
to hold on to the position I have and not cede any ground. I hope in the
next day or two to push forward despite the heavy bombardment and trust
that I will be delivered through.
In Jesus,
Response #16:
Good for you!
This is a real sign of spiritual growth and progress too, especially
since we are talking about family. Old friends and particularly family
are the hardest to cope with, especially if they are not believers. That
is because they have a tendency to see us as we were many years ago and
to reduce us in their thinking to exactly the person we were even as
children – and it is very tempting even for believers to allow
themselves to fall into that way of thinking in reaction (especially
whenever incidents of days long past are brought up). Being able to rise
above all that, not hold it against them, AND not allow oneself to feel
bad in any away about the dim, dark past but rather to deal with these
individuals on the basis of present spiritual realities is something
only mature believers have any hope of doing effectively and
consistently.
*Satan doesn't control our minds or emotions in any way. We have total
control. Of course, that "control" emanates from our spirit over our
fleshly mind – which is always resisting, infested by the sin nature as
it is and goaded by the evil one and his system. If something "gets our
goat", well the devil has a big file on us all and will keep attempting
to make sure our "goat is gotten" as often as possible. I.e., if we tend
to lose our temper when the phone rings at precisely the wrong time,
don't be surprised if the phone keeps ringing at precisely the wrong
time – until we adjust and stop letting it bother us. See the
links:
SR 4: Satan's World System (the devil's present kingdom and tactics)
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Hello Dr. Luginbill,
Here is a small clip from a teaching I just finished, and I would be
very pleased if you would comment on it. There is more that is included
but not written here. The scripture verse that some very well known
so-called television evangelists use in support of their false theology
and their so called “anointing”, is taken from:
1 Chronicles 16:22.
22‘Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!’
According to a clip from one of the TV programs, wherein another TV
evangelist had allegedly spoken against another TV evangelist, and got
very sick. The first evangelist stated that this other evangelist had
said something in one of his crusades in a foreign country against him,
and as a result of this, this evangelist was afflicted with some unnamed
sickness, and did not get well until he admitted to the first
evangelist, that he had indeed defamed his name, and asked him for
forgiveness for what he had done. When the second evangelist asked for
forgiveness, he stated he was cured.
This is a typical explanation of their belief, that no person can
“touch” them, nor defame their name, for they are anointed; this belief
is totally un-Biblical for the following reasons:
1. They have lifted out this verse from it’s rightful place, and out of
the context it was written, and made it a doctrine for themselves.
2. Verse 22 in 1 Chronicles is specifically referencing the Hebrew
children who wandered in the wilderness after being set free of their
bondage by Egypt, with no application to any future person or persons.
3. This is a common technique of many who claim to be “children of God”,
that is, to take scripture “out of context” in which is was written and
apply it to themselves as proof.
4. All ministers and all believers need to be corrected when they
preach/teach false doctrine. See 2 Timothy 3:16
5. Here is the correct context of this verse , that must be considered:
1 Chronicles 16:16-22. These verses were actually part of the “song”
that was sung to God as a Psalm of praise and in thanksgiving to God,
for bringing the Ark of the Covenant into the tent David had erected for
that purpose.
“ 16The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
17And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
18Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
19When you were few in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
20When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
21He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
22Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”
Taking scriptures out of their context is deceiving, dangerous, and
harmful for everyone; It is very clear in Verses 20-22, who God is
addressing. All “true believers” must, must, must, prove what is being
said by anyone, by the Word of God alone. Just because someone says that
what they say is scriptural, must absolutely always be validated.,
especially in the time in which we now live. Don’t allow yourselves to
be deceived by someone who says it is in scripture.
Yes, it is true that genuine ministers are anointed by God, and “true
believers” also, but we are not infallible, and still make mistakes;
this mistake is a very critical one at that.
Thanks so much for your input.
Blessings to you,
P.S. Acts 11:16-17 are interesting, especially the phrase "God gave to
them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord
Jesus Christ,....
It is biblical proof that a person is indeed baptized in the Holy Spirit
when they believe in Jesus and His Gospel.
Your friend,
Response #17:
Excellent, my friend!
It is amazing – and also a bit discouraging – to see the nonsense that
passes for "teaching" out there in the ether of Laodicea. Indeed, these
individuals pull verses at random and infuse them with a desired meaning
– then come up some anecdote (always exaggerated, often entirely
fabricated) to prove the "truth" of what they claim. It's more
interesting and exciting than the boring method of actually studying out
what the Bible truly says. No wonder the devil is having such success
with it – among those who love themselves far more than they love the
truth of the Word.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
p.s., yes indeed, Acts chapter ten was a signal moment in the
development of the Church Age; it is sometimes called "the gentile
Pentecost", because from thereon in, everyone received the Holy Spirit
at the point of faith in Christ (cf. Rom.8:9b NIV: "And if anyone does
not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ").
Question #18:
Hi Dr Luginbill,
Did I tell you 2 more people left our smaller group of 6 or so people?
So our group of ~6 has had some 6 people leave within the past year or
so. So sounds like you were right about people just jumping ship if
employers treat them in a bad way. Also, I think I was right in my
estimation of it being better to keep the same employees longer. The
manager of our larger group sent out a long email about having to write
off a bunch of accounts and how it means the collectors just don't care
about the account and things like that. And I think 'why should they
care if they are here today and gone tomorrow, and if you treat them
rudely and work them into sickness (three of us in our smaller group got
sick from overwork in the last 3 months, and tried working through
that).' Remember I did say that one of the problems with a revolving
door is that employees can mess things up on purpose or by accident (and
some employees would do the former)) and be onto their next job you
won't know about before you even realize there is an issue since tenure
is so short.
[omitted]
Well I am rereading Anabasis. I finished Herodotus. Also I am working
through "The Text of the New Testament," though it is a bit slow going.
There is a lot of interesting info. Yes I am still doing Bible reading
and study. I feel adrift though, like, I don't know, I am missing
something. I don't know.
Have a good weekend. Please let me know how you are doing.
Response #18:
It's no way to run a railroad, that's for sure!
If you were working at a hotdog stand for a sole proprietor, he/she
could pretty much fire you at will without any explanation (there are
certain federal and state laws governing these matters, however, so even
that is not absolute). But you work for a fairly large company. They
have an HR dept., as you've mentioned. And that means they have
policies, written policies. Not like in the dark ages of Greece when the
aristocrats were able to make the "law" up as they went since it wasn't
yet written down.
So there IS a personnel policy in your company, I'm sure. If it says
you're supposed to have a performance review, they are violating the
policy if you don't receive one regularly. If it says that there has to
be progressive discipline and counseling for anything deemed
unsatisfactory, they are out of policy if they don't do these things.
And I've never heard of a policy anywhere that stated something like "we
don't know what other violations you've committed but you probably
committed some" is acceptable – except maybe in North Korea or Stalinist
Russia.
If a company has a written policy and doesn't follow it in regard to how
it treats its employees, it opens itself up to legal jeopardy. Your
lawyer: "You have this policy; here, read it out loud; did you follow
it?" Your former employer: "No". Jury: [thinking to themselves: "that's
a wrap"]. Of course, that's only if a person 1) gets a very good lawyer
(much harder than you may imagine); 2) gets a very sympathetic jury (as
opposed to someone who doesn't like your hair color or the way you talk
or is going to hold it against you that they didn't want to be on jury
duty); and 3) everything just happens to break your way – over four
years or so of unemployment leading up to "the big day". Businesses
realize all of this, of course, which is one of the reasons, I suppose,
that they don't much sweat acting contrary to their own written
policies. But any business who acts in such a terrible way is likely not
going to thrive in the long run – or possibly even survive. It sounds to
me as if they are hurting already and would be really hurting if you
decided to go some place better.
I'm doing OK, thanks for asking. Work at the university is highly
problematic as well. Higher ed is headed down for all manner of reasons,
but I'm hanging in nonetheless.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Hi Dr, I was wondering, are you interested in having an app develop for
your site where one can access the teachings on mobile? It won't cost
you anything but let me know if you are interested.
In Christ our Lord
Response #19:
Thank you for the kind offer!
However, I'm going to have to turn it down. On the one hand, mobile
phone users access Ichthys all the time, so it is possible to do that
already, even if not in a dedicated app. On the other hand, apps have to
be distributed through "stores", like Apple's. I'm not comfortable with
that at all.
I do appreciate you looking out for me!
How are things going on your end?
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #20:
It's going well, thank the Lord. Transitioning is going smooth and it
has been 2 and half months. The Lord does redeem time. It seems like I
never left at times.
But as always prayers are needed for permanent work. I am working at a
great job with excellent salary but as of now only for six months but
pray the Lord will turn it to permanent.
Apart from that all is well.
Can you recommend a good study material for the Book of Isaiah? My wife
is looking for one.
Thanks and to God we give all the glory.
Response #20:
I'm praying for that, my friend!
On Isaiah, one would think that there would be lots of good commentaries . . .
but I've never found a single one I could recommend. Most are all bollixed up
with imagining that there is "second Isaiah" or even a "third Isaiah", and
wasting their time on theories of composition.
I think she would be better off reading the book in several translations at once
(e.g., NKJV, NIV and NLT) and making use of a good study Bible for support (as
you probably know, I like the K. Barker NIV Study Bible – 1985 version).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #21:
The Word of God is actually true and we see it every day if you see it through
spiritual eyes. It is really interesting to observe it in "real time" In Lk 12
verses 12-32 where the Lord Jesus Christ talks about "Worry" etc, there is a
great application I see daily and His Word speaks to you through his creation.
There is a small baby cat that was separated somehow from its mother. Here we
don't see animals or pets that often unless they are strayers. This baby cat, I
mean an infant, was found underneath one of the air conditioning units where we
live. When the guys found out about it, all of a sudden that baby cat became a
personal affectionate object to them. They feed the cat, make sure it has water,
etc. For the last 4 weeks the cat has grown and you can see it is becoming more
active and is a personal pet for guys here.
Even during time of separation or trials one goes through, the Lord is telling
all of us, we are never alone. He is constantly here. If he can put it in our
hearts to take care of a stray baby cat, I mean days from being born, then how
much will he take care of his children who are made in the image of his Beloved
Son.
Just want to share that perspective with you all and for you guys to take time
to enjoy God's creation, walking, etc. because through his creation he many
times speaks about his enduring truths that comforts us through the Spirit.
Response #21:
Thanks for sharing this!
Question #22:
John 20:1, "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the
tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been
taken away from the tomb."
We celebrate the resurrection of Christ as the proper response to His
empty tomb. It is history. The events of that morning have been put to
the test countless times, and the message resonates: He is truly risen.
The Bible believing people in the islands of Tahiti celebrate our
Savior's resurrection with the same joy as others all other the world.
In grief, in the travails of the pandemic, in poverty, and in heartache,
the resurrection radically changes our view. As the great song goes,
"Because He lives..." The empty tomb is why we serve. We have seen that
truth transform lives time and again in the course of our sojourn here.
We head home next week for a three week visit. Our son graduates
seminary in May and alongside that event we will be visiting family and
friends in Texas and Colorado. We may see some of you all along the way.
After eight months of life in rural Tahiti, we believe we are in for
some culture shock. Please pray for our safe travel and that the Lord
protects our dear Tahitian friends in our absence. It has been a very
blessed beginning to what we hope will be many years of teaching,
training, and serving in our second home.
Because He Lives,
Response #22:
Will do!
And congratulations to you on your boy's seminary graduation!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #23:
I see what you are saying.
I took the day off of my dailies. And I feel not so good now at the end.
But I did need a day off, and maybe another. But I feel disconnected
from Him. But the whole point is rest. Maybe I am pushing myself too
hard in normal day to day that I sort of crash during this period. Maybe
I should take the longer-to-goals path. Even if it does seem more
tenuous whether or not I will reach them. I feel overwhelmed and
conflicted. I finally responded to __ who had emailed me months ago
about my birth mother passing away.
I fear things like the verse that says that he who will not provide for
his own has denied the faith. Because I don't see a 'domestic violence'
escape clause from marriage or family in the Bible. I emailed him
earlier and it gives me such anxiety. I still have nightmares and PTSD
episodes (though they are rarer) as I try to survive and put food on the
table with NO help, no one to catch me if someone goes wrong. He asks me
how I am doing and to me I think 'we aren't friends. we aren't family in
actuality. I am on my own if things go wrong as far as I know and we
don't know anything about each other (not by my choosing).' Plus he
leads a very sinful lifestyle and so even if we were close I may
actually have to avoid him anyway. What a mess. There is no glory in
this mess either. No profit.
Response #23:
About your family, I think you have nothing to feel bad about in terms
of anything you have done or not done; I think the whole lack of
response to your question also speaks volumes. As I've mentioned before,
it's not a case of you having been loved and nurtured and now they are
in need and you are ignoring them – quite the opposite in fact!
As to goals and daily quotas, if they're making you feel bad because you
just can't get to them, then perhaps the bar is set too high. It's
better to set a do-able quota – and sometimes exceed it – than to set
one unreasonably high except for ideal days (which are uncommon), and
often fail to meet it. In the end, the amount of production might well
be equal, but one feels good about the former and bad about the latter .
. . and that makes little sense.
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #24:
I'm sorry, I feel really bad now realising your worries and problems far
outweigh my own which are small in comparison. Please forgive my
selfishness Bob.
I was just thinking about all the pain families cause in the Bible
through sin; Cain vs Able, Joseph sold by his brothers, David undermined
by his brothers, Moses rejected by his kinfolk and going into exile..
Even our Lord, his own family thought He was beside Himself! So I am in
great company there!
I realise the enemy is tricking me into thinking most families are
picture postcard but the opposite is the norm in this fallen world.
I've just been reading about Paul's road to Damascus and also about the
fiery furnace and it has really comforted me. Also I thought about our
Lord overcoming the world and that is what we have to do too.
I still struggle to understand what I should do at times. Faith seems
counterintuitive and not following my eyes. I keep thinking I need to
meet these trials with either mental or physical force but it is actual
a test of spiritual strength which is the complete opposite! One is
trusting in self and man and the other is relying on God like a child.
No need to reply to this one Bob and sorry again to bother you during
this tough time for you.
God bless.
In Him,
Response #24:
You don't need to apologize for writing me! That's what I'm here for.
I just got finished writing someone else and telling them that based
upon the emails I receive, those whose families are not dysfunctional
seem to be the exception! Of course part of that is my dealing mostly
with Christians who, to one degree or another, are engaging in the
process of spiritual growth. Of course the devil opposes that in any way
he can, and family trouble is one of the most effective ways to throw a
believer off track. Well done you in recalling a number of such
dysfunctional situations right out of the Bible (there are plenty more,
I assure you)!
Also, in terms of "picture postcard" scenarios, the facade that people
wish to display to the world is almost always vastly different from the
reality behind the scenes. That disparity is becoming more and more
pronounced in our new social media addicted world where the online
personae people project often have very little to do with what they are
actually like (or look like) or what is really going on in their lives.
But we Christians deal with reality (or certainly should). And no matter
how challenging present day reality is, we have a higher hope of much
better things to come, better in every way, and infinitely and eternally
so. And so we persevere, trying to please the Savior who bought us as we
fight this fight day by day.
Believe me also when I say that we could ALL do a better job of walking
in peace, in faith rest, not allowing ourselves to be moved mentally or
emotionally from our true focus, Jesus Christ and His evaluation of us
on that great day to come. And we could ALL stand to be better at being
"strong and courageous" when things happen that test us. And it usually
is the small and/or intermediate tests that tend to do the most damage.
Somehow, believers who are progressing always seem to rally when a big
test comes along, even though these are much harder. It's the ones where
we don't feel threatened enough to shake ourselves into complete
spiritual awareness where we tend to get tripped up.
So keep running your good race, my friend, remembering always that this
" light momentary affliction" is working out for us "an eternal weight
of glory beyond all comparison" (2Cor.4:17 ESV).
Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.