While listening to a Christian radio station I like (Gospel Radio Network) I was shocked to hear them portraying Francis E. Willard as a great heroine of the faith. While Frances E. Willard did some good things, she and other so-called evangelicals insisted on twisting Scriptures when it contradicted her pet theories and helped make it acceptable and popular to disregard the plain wording of Scripture whenever the Bible contradicts modernistic theories and agendas.
The corrupting influence of power makes corruption inevitable when public officials are not held accountable. We can expect federal courts to continue putting opinions and agendas above the plain wording of the US Constitution until the US Congress impeaches federal judges that put opinions and agendas above the plain wording of the US Constitution.
“Then Jesus said unto
them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6) “Then understood they how that he bade them not
beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the
Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:12)
Even though Christ never
denied, disobeyed, or contradicted Scripture the professed Bible-believers of
that day despised and rejected Him because He contradicted and disputed their
extrabiblical teachings. In the first century the Pharisees were fundamental,
ultra-conservative legalists and the Sadducees were religious liberals that
denied fundamental teachings of Scripture and were guided by secular
considerations, and both groups distorted Scripture to support their pet
theories. The leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees still impacts religious
circles and is a serious threat to sound Biblical Christianity. Have you been
affected? You might be surprised. Try applying these questions to specific
beliefs, teachings, and issues:
·
What does the Bible say about this, and
have you personally studied to learn what the Bible teaches? What would be your
response if an unbeliever asked why you believe this? (Proverbs 2:6; Matthew
15:3, 8-9; 22:29; II Timothy 2:14-15; 3:16)
·
How important is this in relation to other
matters and what Bible truths and principles or standards apply? (Matthew
23:24; Romans 14:1-13; I Timothy 1:5-7; note that Romans 14 is not a denial of
the importance of church discipline, as
some suppose, but is dealing with conscientious differences of opinion.)
·
Was this true in the distant past and will
this still be true in the distant future? (Psalm 33:11; 119:89; Proverbs 19:21;
Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)
·
Can this be verified with Scripture or is
it necessary to use the arguments of the world? (Psalm 33:10; Romans 12:2; I
Corinthians 1:20; 2:5; Colossians 1:9; 2:8)
“But the anointing which
ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you:
but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no
lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (I John 2:27)
As is true today, when
John wrote the First Epistle of John there were a lot of divisions, programs, heresies,
and fads spreading throughout Christendom, and many false teachers working to
corrupt the church. (Acts 20:29-30; II Corinthians 11:14-15; II Peter 2; Jude)
Deceivers often claim to have a special enlightenment or illumination, superior
insight, or special key to understanding, or claim that one needs a superior
spirituality or special revelation (which they claim to have) to know the
truth, which is the reason for the warning in I John 2:27. While there is more
to life in Christ than the initial experience (new birth) that occurs at faith
and repentance, and God does bestow wisdom and spiritual gifts to make someone
more effective in the Lord’s work, this does not mean that some have a special
key to understanding Scripture that other genuine believers do not have. While
there are difficulties in the Bible and we occasionally need help, for the most
part the Bible is self-interpreting and self-explanatory when one is familiar
with its contents.
“But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I
Corinthians 2:14) Deceivers like to use this passage to insist that it takes a
special enlightenment or key to understanding (which they claim to have) to
understand Scripture. This passage does not say the Bible can only be
understood by certain gifted individuals, it says that though natural men can
understand what the words in the Bible mean they decide that what the Bible
says is foolish. A good example of this can be seen when atheists argue with what
they know and acknowledge that the Genesis account of creation says; it means
nothing to them because of their lack of spiritual discernment. The Bible was
written to be read and understood by ordinary people and God's truth is not
hidden from everyone except for a few clever individuals. The Holy Bible is the
final authority, and the truth can withstand questions and critical analysis.
(Psalm 119:130; Acts 17:11; I Thessalonians 5:21; II Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17)
Often an unrepentant sinning Christian will interpret genuine Christian concern and Biblical church discipline to be busybodying or meddling.
On the other hand, when modern-day Pharisees and Sadducees justify busybodying by calling it Christian concern this is usually after demonstrating a distinct lack of concern: Never stick around to socialise after church services, believe that handshakes and short greetings in church once or twice (or maybe thrice) a week fulfills the Bible teachings on fellowship and hospitality, uninterested in befriending and getting to know church members outside of their family or clique, etc.. Then when someone violates one of their taboos or man-made measurements of spirituality all of a sudden they are "concerned."
We are naturally social creatures, born with a natural need for human fellowship and friendship. Over the years I have met numerous singles who were once active in a church in the past but will not attend church now, not because of a sinful lifestyle, but because they know from experience and observation that being an unmarried Christian often means living as an outcast. It is ironic that in so many churches the social needs of children, teenagers who live with their families, and married couples are readily recognised and addressed, while oftentimes the solo adults are left out (often conspicuously). All too often those who do recognise the social needs of solo adults insist on segregating the solo adults. It makes one stop and wonder: Why?
What single Christians need from their church family
Learning to See Your Single Neighbor
The Bible indicates that there were many unmarried women among God's people that Samson could have chosen to marry, but Samson preferred heathen women. (Judges 14:1-3) This was a pattern that is repeated all too often. Many unmarried Christians are unfriendly or indifferent towards dedicated Christians while gravitating to non-Christians and professed Christians of bad character, and then try to justify unequal yoking by saying they cannot find a Christian (or a Christian of good character), or insisting that they can change someone or that they are in love. (Incidentally, merely saying that you like, love, or hate someone says something about you but says nothing about the object of that emotion, and Bible passages about a hope of leading an unbelieving spouse to the Lord are addressed to Christians who were already married when they converted.)
Samson could have spared himself from a lot of grief by listening to his parents. (Judges 14:3; Ephesians 6:2-3)
Does Judges 14:4 mean it was the will of God for Samson to marry a heathen woman? No, the wording simply makes it clear that God used this as a means of making Samson fulfill God's purpose for him. (Judges 13:5)
Of the three women Samson was romantically involved with, all three were heathens, two of them were prostitutes, and the other behaved like a prostitute. What led to this? Back then it was customary for a groom to have a feast ("throw a party") and invite his closest friends to celebrate his wedding with him, and the choice of guests said something about Samson: Samson's close friends were all heathens. (Judges 14:10-11; Psalm 119:63; Proverbs 13:20; I Corinthians 15:33)