On Pole Dancing & Other Worldly Practices...

When "professing Christian churches" are advocating pole-dancing & other forms of practices that arises from licentious origins, one have to wonder what kind of spirit dominates the church. All these talk of being 'relevant' is just an excuse for worldliness which the Holy Spirit does not condone, but less allow (Galatians 5:16). We are called to battle 'fleshly lust' not exult in it (1 Peter 2:11). Yet the spirit of our generation is one of 'glorifying in the flesh' and on our 'rights to show forth my body' - a far cry from submitting to the fact that Christian lives are no longer our own, but Christ', since it has been blood-bought. A true measure of one's spiritual maturity is never the exercise of 'liberty' but the exercise of 'self-control'. Judgement ultimately comes from the revealed Word of God; not our human sentiments.

Romans Chapter 3

We have considered in the first two chapters, the origin of sin and how it shows itself in the churched (Jews) and the un-churched (Gentiles). The Jews and Gentiles are not different in their natures. They are both judged unfavourably because of sin in them. The conclusion of that presents itself in the form of three arguments from verses 1-9 of Romans 3:

1) Is God unfaithful to His Covenant if some in the covenant are disobedient? (v.3)
Answer: No, for only those who are made obedient are in the Covenant - thus God is true and man is false in presuming upon their own faithfulness that is non-existent.

2) Is God unjust to condemn those disobedient, when it is the disobedient that is made righteous before Him? (v.5)
Answer: No, for all who are disobedient deserves death already. Obedience is given by grace, not by any action from the disobedient.

3) If God justifies the unjust/disobedient, should those justified not seek to increase God's grace by being more disobedient? (v.8)
Answer: No, for further disobedience would show that they are still in their trespasses and sin and not justified.

Therefore, all (everyone who has lived, are alive and will live) are under the power of sin - they are all guilty before God (v.9, 19). There is no advantage among sinners to justify themselves for sin breaks the Law (v.20) for there is nothing in them that is commendable (v.10-18). Rather, the only advantage to the Jews is the anticipation of salvation that comes from God apart from their own works (actions or merit) which is hidden and prophesied in the Law and the Prophets (v.21). How sad that the Law and Prophets were unheeded by the Jews in general because of their self-righteousness. Ultimately, true righteousness (which gives us salvation) comes through faith in Jesus Christ. We are made clean (justified) by God's free mercy and grace in the Person and Works of Jesus Christ.

The result upon those who are truly saved are these:

• They cannot boast of any advantage (v.27)
• They come from all the nations (v.29)
• They show a changed life in loving the law (v.31)

Lessons:

• Judgement upon men is just. It justly falls upon those who have a Christian background and on those who do not have such privileges. There are no arguments that can justify ourselves before the Holy God. Those who had the privilege of hearing this truth ought to come to Christ sooner. Unfortunately, it is usually the opposite case, as in the Israelites! Truly the first shall be last and the last shall be first. 
• Realisation of human depravity (hopelessness and helplessness) ought to throw us into the arms of God's saviour. However, in history and experience we see that men would rather believe in their own self-righteousness which promises salvation by good works. It is because of this belief that many reject the true righteousness that comes freely through God's grace! Instead they boast in themselves and discriminate others by their outward pretension of holiness; inwardly they remain condemned. 

Applications:

1. There are many people who accuse God of being unjust or unfair in His dealings with the peoples in the world. Is He too lenient on the Gentiles and too strict on the Jews? Explain your answers.
2. What is the biggest hindrances that people have to a salvation that is entirely given by God to undeserving sinners based on God's own pleasure and will? Can these hindrances in a person be detected in church? Give some examples of how they can be detected (identified) in church and any methods to take away these hindrances.

Love... thinks no evil

It might be slightly surprising to find the word 'evil' used here. Can love be 'evil'? Not unless you have a 'love' for depraved things like murder, robbery, adultery and the like. All reasonable persons who read this would think it surely cannot be relevant to them, since most people are 'law-abiding' people who are religious and perform their civil duties of paying taxes and of voting? However, we are thinking based on the 21st century definition of the word - which is narrow and limiting in its scope. "Evil" can mean anything from 'immoral' to 'harmful' and 'worthless'. Basically, anything that is negative in its motivation or effect. Anything that puts self, man and temporal pleasures at the fore speaks of such 'evil'. Think about it for a moment - when was the last time we looked at a loved one and we focused on their weaknesses? When was the last time we expect them to 'change' for 'the better'? The result of our thoughts are seen by our complaints, our nagging words, our disappointed tone, our superior view and many other ways. It is just so easy to see the other person's flaws and their broken promises, but we forget that the person who is in our life is a God-created creature that is fashioned in His-likeness (Genesis 1:27). Of course mankind is intrinsically flawed and without spiritual beauty, yet we cannot deny the value God placed upon His creatures by the token of life given freely to them! When we put others down, whether through our actions or by our mere thoughts, we are proclaiming our self-worth, which before God - does not exist! Consider this sobering truth in - Ecclesiastes 7:20 - For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin, Isaiah 41:24 - Indeed you are nothing, And your work is nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination, and Job 25:6 - How much less man, who is a maggot, And a son of man, who is a worm?

Friend, love truly confers no evil or harm on others but seek their prosperity and blessings. If we are called in Matthew 5:44 to - ... love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you... how much more ought we to do with those who are our family members, friends, colleagues and acquaintances? Let us seek their spiritual good by blessing them. Let us show grace that would encourage them to the paths of righteousness. Let us truly be that 'friend' that reflects the deep love Christ gave to His 'enemies' - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Let us show Christ in our love, and expel all seeds of self-righteousness and moral superiority from our 'love for one another'. Amen!

Love is not... provoked

The original language of the New Testament is Greek and sometimes we come across a word that needs some extra background information. The word used at this juncture is "paroxunō", which is derived from two other words - sharpen alongside ('para' means 'next to' or 'near' and 'oxunō' means 'sharpen'). To capture the essence of what is conveyed, let us read it again - love is not 'to sharpen next to each other'. Provoke does convey some of that meaning, but so does 'irritate', 'frustrate' and 'exasperate'. 

In experience, irritation comes from insensitivity from one party and over-sensitivity of the other party. For one party it is a joke done in earnest love. For the other party it is an insult done with cruel intentions. Those who have been in friendships for years can attest to how practical this problem is. Of course it happens in seasons, but that is the point - true love should not irritate each other. The cure of this is the opposite of irritation - "like-mindedness". This is used by the apostle Paul in another letter as a remedy for rifts and conflicts between two believers; 

Philippians 2:1-4 - "Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,  (2)  fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.  (3)  Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  (4)  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." [this is the prelude advice to its application in Philippians 4:2 to the two believers mentioned - I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.]

Love in Christ truly covers a multitude of wrong-doings and sensitivities that we may have with our imperfect brethren on earth. If Christ' love for us forgives us of our wretched sins, shall not the minor sins of our brethren be quickly forgiven us?

Romans Chapter 2 (Part 2)

We are continuing in chapter 2, but from verses 17-29.

Here it deals with the hypocrisy of ALL man, regardless of their outward profession and knowledge. The Jews had the Word of God entrusted to them (as given to them at Mount Sinai in Exodus 20 onwards). They thought that having the knowledge and obeying the letter of the Law/Commandments were sufficient to make them righteous before God. The sad truth is this: they were no better than the Gentiles who were godless - they did not have the true spirit of obedience. An example given is in regards to circumcision. They thought that the act of circumcision makes them 'holy', yet read verse 28-29: true circumcision is not external, but internal - cutting off sin and rebelliousness from the stubborn heart. How sad it is if we are happy with an outward/superficial obedience to God's Word but missed out on the important part.

Lessons: 

• There is a difference between outward obedience that follows the letter of the Law and between inward obedience that follows in the Spirit. The former shows a form of religion. The latter shows true religion!
• Hypocrisy is a damning sin which purposely makes us feel good about ourselves by making others seem useless. It is often seen in religious groupings who are zealous over their 'works' and over their 'traditions'. 

Applications:

1. Do these lessons apply to the modern church as well or are they only applicable to the Jews in Paul's time? In what ways do we see churches obeying only the outward forms of religion, but not having true inward religion?
2. Do we acknowledge the hypocrisy that exist in us? Are we honest about our faults (as it is described by Paul in verses 21-23)? Humility is the 'fruit' of such honesty before God. Can we dare to consider that we are 'broken' and 'humble' before God? Let us take comfort in this verse from Isaiah 66:2 -“But on this one will I look [upon]: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word".

Romans Chapter 2 (Part 1)

There are two parts to this chapter, the first from verse 1 - 16 and the second from verse 17 - 29.

The first part deals with the standard of God's demand on man. This is important because God is the judge of our souls, since He is our Creator. Just as it is with us and our belongings (where we decide what to do with our own belongings), so it is with God (in a more perfect sense) to judge His creatures which He had given life to. Let us be mindful of this, lest we think ourselves too highly and judge others. Instead, let us understand that God is the One true Judge - He punishes those who are rebellious and unrighteous in going against God's Word (verses 5, 8,9). In contrast, He rewards those who are good and who glorifies God by their actions (verses 7, 10). This is not only applicable to 'churched' people who have known God's Law, and are able to have the moral grounding that is seen in civilised nations, but also to those who are uncivilised (e.g. lost tribes in the world that have not met with modern civilisations). They too have the knowledge of God and the need to worship Him hidden in their hearts (alluded to in Romans 1:18-20). Thus, God will judge all men, whether churched or unchurched, by Jesus Christ (who is the Judge to come) and according to His gospel (that there is no other saviour besides God's way).

Lessons: 

• We must be very careful NOT to judge (condemn) others in our hearts (see Matthew 7:1). This does not mean we cannot have an 'opinion' on them or to 'weigh up their attitudes' (see Matthew 7:6), but it means we cannot condemn a person with no pity in our eyes, for we are NOT the ultimate judge.
• We must acknowledge that God has standards in His Judgements. This is nothing about what 'we think', but everything to do with what He has set. Condemnation to hell for those who do not meet His righteousness (fitting since defective creatures have no place in a perfect dwelling) while a Heavenly Reward for those who do meet His righteous standard (heaven is fit for those who are perfect, see Matthew 5:48). 

Applications:

1. There are many in the world who rejoices to see others who are 'worse sinners' than themselves. It somehow gives them a comfort that 'they are not as bad as others'. The opposite is also true, that there are those who don't think their sins are 'a big thing' since everyone sins. What is your position on this? What ought we to think when we are confronted with sin?
2. The destiny of our souls really are according to the condition of our hearts. God is just in His judgements. We ought to fear His judgement since He sees everything. Why are we sometimes not fearful of His judgements? What are some ways to bring back the 'fear of God' into man (and of course, ourselves)?