JURONG OUTREACH - April 07

WEARING REVEALING OUTFITS TASTEFULLY?
1 April 07 

Dear Mr. Rushmore,

I read your article “Modesty: Biblical Investigation, Contemporary Application” . . . It was a very interesting article, but I became a little concerned about some of the things that were written. I know a very beautiful woman who likes to wear revealing outfits and she does it very tastefully. She also loves and worships the Lord and her character is very holy and very admirable, in my opinion. When I see her, I recognize that her outer beauty was a true blessing from above, but I never lose sight of her inner beauty. But is she still committing a sin just because there may be other men out there that might have different (perhaps lustful) thoughts when they see her in these revealing clothes? Shouldn’t it be the men that see these kinds of women and lust after them that are the sinners rather than the women themselves? What about men like myself that see these women, recognize their beauty (both inner and outer), yet they don’t lust after them?

~ Sincerely, Concerned Male, Syracuse, NY

It well may have been the case that had sin never entered the world (i.e., neither through Adam and Eve nor through any of their descendants), we might all be running around naked in paradise - with at least God’s implicit approval.  

However, the introduction of sin into the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve forever altered man’s habitation. Several consequences ensued that changed both the habitat in which mankind lives as well as the circumstances attending his domicile on earth. These changes from the mankind’s former blissful existence in paradise include:

(1)    Adam and Eve (representative of their subsequent posterity, too) became aware of their nakedness and were ashamed (Genesis 3:7).

(2)       Adam and Eve became afraid of God (Genesis 3:8-9).

(3)      Eve (and subsequently all women) was assigned labour  pains in childbirth and          consigned to the rule of her husband (Genesis 3:16).

(4)       Adam was charged to laboriously farm unwilling fields infested with weeds and thorns (Genesis 3:17-19).

(5)      Adam and Eve lost their access to the tree of life (and the Eden paradise itself) and were advised that they would             experience death (Genesis 3:19, 22-24).

(6)    God explicitly withdrew his approval of mankind’s nakedness by clothing Adam and Eve (at that time still the    only two human beings on the planet) (Genesis 3:21).  

Adam and Eve derived their first clothing from “fig leaves” and made “aprons” (Genesis 3:7). These “aprons” were essentially loin-cloths,” which is what the original Hebrew word translated “aprons” means. God apparently disapproved of their “aprons” and instead clothed Adam and Eve with “coats” made from animal skins (Genesis 3:21). The “coats” with which God clothed Adam and Eve were long shirt-like garments. The original Hebrew word that is translated “coat” also appears as “garment” and “robe.”  

Despite Adam and Eve’s meager efforts to clothe themselves, God obviously considered them yet unclothed and needing yet to be clothed. Following Adam and Eve’s sin in Eden, a sense of modesty awakened in them, which though they attempted to address, they did not address it to God’s satisfaction.  

Therefore, God essentially defined modesty for them (and us) by substituting garments of his choosing for the first couple’s fig leaves.  

Throughout the religious historical periods of Patriarchy and Judaism (in the Old Testament) and Christianity (in the New Testament), God continued to enjoin his definition of modesty upon humanity. For instance, one opting for provocative attire in Old Testament times was acknowledged as a sinner. “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart” (Proverbs 7:10).  

Likewise, persons in the New Testament are also commanded to practice modesty (1 Timothy 2:9-10).  

Finally, notice the text of 1 Timothy 2:9-10.

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

Modesty is coupled with godliness and contrasted with immodesty in this citation. From the time Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, immodesty or degrees of undress and godliness have been and continue to be biblically incompatible. Therefore, anyone who dresses immodestly in public sins and further contributes to the sins others may embrace, such as lust, because of that immodesty.  

Friends don’t let friends dress immodestly

(Ephesians 5:11)!

DEGREES OF PUNISHMENT AND REWARD?
8 April 07

Degrees of Punishment and Reward?

Does the Bible teach that there will be degrees of punishment and rewards? ~ Don Puryear

There are a few topics of which the Bible speaks, but about which the pages of inspiration say very little. Yes, the Bible does teach that there will be degrees of punishment and reward, though not much is said regarding either. We must content ourselves with the Bible’s affirmation, howbeit perhaps in passing, regarding punishments and rewards. Likewise, we must not concern ourselves overly with the details that may not be attainable in this life. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29).  

One passage that seems to suggest degrees of punishment is 2 Peter 2:20-22. It reads:

“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the  mire.” 

Those who ‘escape the pollutions of the world (i.e., the state of being lost in sin) through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (i.e., John 8:32)’ are Christians. To be ‘again entangled therein, and overcome’ equates to apostatizing. Contrary to popular Calvinistic dogma, a child of God can sin so as to be lost (eternally lost if he remains in that condition). The phrase that says ‘the latter end is worse with them than the beginning’ teaches that somehow it is worse for a Christian who apostatizes than being in the condition in which he was before he became a Christian (i.e., lost). This expression is reinforced with the statement that reads “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”  

In what sense is that so? One might argue that the awareness alone (as one experiences eternity away from God in hell) that once he was saved and enjoyed the prospect of spending eternity in heaven with God sufficiently explains the reference under review in this passage. Yet, it may well be that what we have here is a passing reference to degrees of punishment in hell. It is difficult to imagine from this side of eternity how differing degrees of punishment matter. Certainly, suffering some lesser degree of punishment in hell than what others may experience will be no consolation at all.  

Elsewhere, the Bible seems to suggest degrees of reward. It seems reasonable to suppose that if there are degrees of punishment that there also would be degrees of reward (and vice versa). Notice the following passage.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire” (1 Corinthians 3:11-15). 

The apostle Paul wrote about his labours or the labours of others in the Gospel, namely evangelism. Paul illustrated the fruits of his work for the Lord, converts, with the series ‘gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble.’ According to the illustration, each convert is assayed with fire to determine purity, much like metals are purified by fire to extract the impurities. It is clear that one’s converts are discussed here rather than the salvation of the evangelist or personal worker. “If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.”  

The summary of the passage is that the evangelist whose labours result in the salvation of several souls (who continue to be obedient) will receive a greater eternal reward than the evangelist some whose converts do not remain faithful. Both personal workers in the above scenario receive the eternal reward of heaven, though the one in some way receives an added reward. Again, one might argue that one’s awareness (while enjoying the bliss of heaven) that other souls in heaven are there due one’s efforts is sufficient to explain the passage.

However, the passage may well be a reference, though without the extent of detail we might prefer, to degrees of reward in heaven.  

Both the 2 Peter 2:20-22 and 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 passages contain biblical principles that are valuable to Christian living and service irrespective of whether we concur or disagree regarding degrees of punishment and reward. However, the subject of degrees of punishments and rewards is not something over which the children of God need to be dogmatic. It is not something critical to our redemption, worship, Christian living or Christian service which without agreeing upon will rob us of our eternal heritage. There are several other biblical topics which deserve greater attention, especially due to their gravity and their frequent abuse today.

*********************************************************************************************************

Thought for the week.

Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs

on your door again and again.

A PROUD LOOK
15 April 07

“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look…” (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Pride is a “respectable sin” with man, but it is an abomination with God. “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord…” (Proverbs 16:5). Pride is antithetical to the very nature of God. He says, “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the spirit of the contrite one” (Isaiah 57:15).

What is a “proud look”? How do we identify it? Three factors are prominent. 1. Pride looks highly on self. 2. Pride looks lowly on others. 3. Pride looks falsely on God.
Jesus said, “Two went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortionist, unjust, adulterers or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess'” (Luke 18:10-12). The Pharisee had a proud look, because he looked highly on self. He confessed his own goodness rather than his evil ways. He had his eyes lifted up in prayer, not on God, on himself.

He was so thankful he was not like others. Everyone who exalts himself will be abased (Luke 18:14). The world looks at the self-promoter as ambitious, aggressive and a go-getter, but the Lord says to his disciples, “…It shall not be so among you” (Matthew 20:20-28). More of us need the attitude of Paul who said, “For I am the least…who am not worthy…But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:9-10).

A proud look is one which not only looks highly on self, but also looks lowly on others. There exists the tendency to look down one's nose at those whose educational attainments are below ours, or to shun those who live “across the tracks” and who wear clothes which are not as fine as ours or snub those whose social or economic positions are lower than ours. However, Paul wrote, “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Romans 12:16).

Jesus spoke the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector to those who were self-righteous and “despised others” (looked lowly on others) (Luke 18:9). The Pharisee looked down on
others because of their sins. He said, “I am not like other men, extortionist, unjust, adulterers or even as this tax collector” (Luke 18:11). A preacher informed two brethren of another brother who had fallen into sin. The preacher asked the two brethren, “What would you have done if you had been this brother.” The first said, “I am sure I never would have done the terrible thing he did!” However, the second brother humbly responded, “I might have fallen lower than he did.” The preacher then said the second brother was who he wanted to take with him as he went to talk to the fallen brother. If our hearts are in the right place, we cannot look down because the ground is level at the foot of the cross. As brother Ritchie used to tell us in Bible class at Harding, evangelism is one beggar telling another
beggar where to find food (cf. Matthew 5:3).

The ultimate evil in a proud look may be that it looks falsely on God. A self-centred look cannot be a God-centred look. The Pharisee (Luke 18:11) did not properly look on God. His prayer does not manifest any recognition of his need for God but consists of a proud, conceited, arrogant notice of himself. There is no deep awareness of his “nothingness” without God (cf. John 15:5). God does not need us to inform him of our “goodness,” but we need him to impart to us his grace.

The tax collector prayed a great prayer. It was not great because of human eloquence but because of divine reliance. Bankrupt in spirit, he “standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13). So unworthy did he feel that he stood afar off, would not raise his eyes to heaven, beat his breast and identified himself as a sinner. However, so conscious was he of his need for God that he prayed to God, pleaded with God and petitioned God for his mercy to meet the deep need of his soul.

Unlike the Pharisee, the tax collector claimed no personal glory. A proud look fails to give God the glory (cf. Acts 12:21-23). Unlike the Pharisee in Jesus' parable, we have Paul,
himself a Pharisee, who, as the tax collector, claimed no personal glory but manifested both the true view of God and self, when he wrote, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief. ... To God, who alone is wise, be honour and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1 Timothy 1:15, 17).

FIGHTING IN THE PEWS
22 April 07

I want to see more fighting in the pews.

Have you ever thought about the battles being fought in our pews? If we sleep through the sermon or just let our minds wander, if we pass the time planning lunch or the events of next week, then there are not many battles where we sit. But if we examine ourselves as we listen to a sermon (2 Corinthians 13:5), and measure our conduct by God’s Word (James 1:22–25), there is a battle within us. When we honestly compare our lives to that Word to see if we measure up to what God would have us be, most would honestly admit to falling short (Romans 3:23) and therefore struggling to improve in our efforts to be more like Jesus.

Another kind of fight going on in the pew is the individual with a secret/private sin, who doesn’t want to give up that part of their life and fully obey God’s law. They hope others do not know, and battle their own conscience (Psalm 19:14; 90:8). Although we may not be aware of them, I am sure that there are many such silent fights occurring every week.

There is a more open fight that we can see and hear—the training of our young children. Parents have a tremendous responsibility when those wonderful and beautiful babies began to develop their own personalities (Proverbs 22:6).

This is a fight we dare not lose. Busy little hands, minds, and feet. They can now do the things we have spent hours teaching them to do.
They talk; they can walk! Now it becomes a power struggle. This is the first step in learning submission. It’s a slow yet powerful process, and it is a fight that sometimes determines the course of their lives, and to some extent, ours.

There was once a young mother with several small children, who sometimes left one son home because of such a struggle. He later died without obeying the gospel. Upon learning of her son’s death, that mother’s cry was, “Oh, what about his soul?”

If children don’t learn to obey their parents, how or when will they learn obedience to God? Will they respect any authority later? Can we afford to let this slide by until they are older? Little ones are cute; they have short attention spans, and they often have to “go potty.” However, we must succeed in teaching them if we want them to develop self-control, respect for authority, and reverent obedience to God. What beautiful people these children become when these qualities are instilled at an age where they become part of the very character of an individual.

Young mothers, don’t grow weary, don’t lose sight of your goal, and don’t give up (Galatians 6:9). It’s well worth the fight. If you don’t do it now while that wonderful bundle of energy is young, when will you do it? When he is six and encounters worldly ways in school? When she is twelve and her acquaintances are smoking or drinking? When they turn sixteen and are tempted to enter into an intimate relationship? Subduing and bringing into obedient subjection is not breaking a child’s spirit but directing it into a path that will serve them well all his/her life

From outer space to the depths of the ocean floor, and all the wonders between, if we are small-town locals or a world-wide adventurer, regardless of our achievements, simple or great, in the end when all these things are stripped away we will eventually stand “naked” before God to be judged (2 Corinthians5:10). At that time, will it not be for our hearts, our patience, our self-control, our willing submission to His will, and our obedience to His Word—the same things that began being taught in this fight in the pew—that will determine our eternal destiny?

Keep fighting in the pews.

—Jean Ammon

T. S. Eliot: “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

FOOD FOR THOUGHTS


NO POINTING FINGERS

A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"

The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticise your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you."

We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a
person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at.

This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves.

If we forgive others, others will ignore our mistake too.
After what has been said, remember however that we can ignore other’s mistakes but never ignore sins.

Ga 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump

WHAT DID I DO?
29 APRIL 07

As 1 Samuel closes, the Amalekites invaded Ziklag, a city housing the families of David and his men. The men were in Philistia at this time, so the Amalekites carried all their families away as captives, including David’s two wives. However, the men did not consider David’s loss. Instead they blamed him for keeping them away – a decision that each had made individually. Many men might have crumbled at the very mention of dissension, but David provided us with a wonderful example. “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Sam. 30:6). 

The Lord’s church sometimes acts much like these men. When we see something happen that we do not like, we tend to blame the person in charge, even though they might not have any control over the situation. Following this line of reasoning, we should always blame the treasurer if the church does not meet the budget – even if we have not been giving as we should.  

We should blame the Bible Class teachers when our children are not learning – even though we remain too busy to teach them ourselves. We really should be angry with the elders when our youth do not have “adequate” entertainment – even though we have not invited them over to our house yet. We ought to fire the preacher when attendance has not grown – even though we have never participated in a campaign or visitation program. We can blame a lot of people for a lot of things, but we first should consider our own part.  

David was distressed because of the pressure that the people put on him, but he knew how to deal with the stress. David went to the Lord. When those in leadership positions forget whom they are serving, they may give in to the murmuring of the crowd, but spiritual leaders will follow the example of David and pray to God concerning the matter. David was under stress because of the responsibility that had been given, but he did not let stress keep him from his duty. Instead, David relied on God to help him with decisions and dealing with the people. Let all leaders in the church today do the same.  

Brethren, let us make up our minds not to act as the men of David at Ziklag, rather let us support our leaders and follow them as they follow God and trust in Him no matter what may lie ahead. Let all leaders follow the example of David and look to God for guidance instead of relying on self and becoming discouraged. If all would dedicate themselves to developing these attitudes, the work of the church would prosper and the gospel would be spread throughout the world. Is that not reason enough? “What did I do?” is a question often asked by leaders in the Lord’s church. Maybe it is time that more members started questioning their own behavior pertaining to church work by asking the same question, “What did I do?”

Lotteries and Church Groups 

An Agape Press story by Mark Creech details a new challenge for some churches: members who win lotteries and then want to donate a portion of their winnings, despite the church’s outspoken opposition to gambling. Creech relates: “Scott Thomas understands this principle well. According to Family News In Focus, he faced a very difficult situation several years ago when a deacon in his church offered a portion of lottery winnings for a building fund. Thomas refused the gift and stood on the principle of Christian separation. ‘I’ve just always believed that God doesn’t need to use chance to build his Church,’ said Thomas. Furthermore, he added that impoverished people largely play lotteries and the church shouldn’t profit on the backs of the poor. 

“Despite Thomas’ opposition, however, the church wanted the money and fired him. They accepted the gift and built the building. As a result, attendance has dropped from 165 to fewer than 50 people a week. Thomas says: ‘Several of the members have called me and said, ‘The albatross around our necks is that we are now known as the lottery church.’” John Piper wrote, “Don’t play the lottery for me. We are followers of Jesus. He had no place to lay His head and did not accept the demonic temptation to jump off the temple for the jackpot of instant recognition. The Calvary road is not paved with Powerball tickets, but with blood. . . . We will not, I pray, salve your conscience by taking one dime of your plunder, or supporting even the thought of your spiritual suicide. Let the widow give her penny and the labourer his wage. And keep your life free from the love of money.”  

“And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just. “ —Romans 3:8