I stood over my 6:15 coffee, bleary-eyed and barely awake, mulling the day’s schedule over in my mind and hoping I hadn’t forgotten anything important. Nonchalantly, I reached for the creamer, and remembered from the day before that it was empty. Mechanically, my reaching and grasping motion continued on autopilot and, lo and behold, someone had refilled the creamer dispenser. No doubt my beautiful wife, who takes care of all the “little” things in our home, had taken the time to complete but one more of the many thankless tasks necessary to keep our family going. It is like that all too often, and to my shame, I fail to say “thank you” nearly enough. “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). The subjective, submissive role of women in the home and in the church has never lent itself to public accolades or front-page recognition. It is unfortunate that we forget the many references Paul makes to our equality of value in Christ where “there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). “Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness” (1 Corinthians 12:22-23). The very nature of a woman’s glory is in her quiet spirit, so that their …

“This scientific age” is an expression that is used frequently to emphasize the accomplishments of science. Indeed, many blessings have come to people through science. But, the world would be better off if its people had put as much emphasis on the saving faith we read about in the Bible as it has put on science. How wonderful it would be if we could freely and truthfully refer to our times as “this faith age”! What Is Science? The word science is from a Latin word that means knowledge or what is known — what is factual. People have become so accustomed to science and the blessings of science, that many fail to recognize the limitations of science. Also, some seem to think everything a scientist says is scientific or factual just because a scientist says it. A scientist may express an opinion knowing that what he says is actually not a proven fact, but merely his view — merely speculation. Opinions and speculations can be called scientism but not science. Unfortunately, many things are called science merely because scientists have expressed opinions regarding such. Likewise, many things are referred to as theology which are mere speculation. True theology is that which is taught in the Bible about God and all that is related to him and his work. Much that is called theology is not in the Bible and is false theology. Paul warned Timothy not to be misled by “science falsely so called” (1 Timothy 6:20). In the Greek text, Paul used pseudonumou gnoseos which literally means “the falsely named knowledge.” …

Just how important is our worship to God? Must we worship God, and does it really matter how we worship God as long as we are sincere? The Scriptures provide the answers for these questions (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Yes, we have an obligation to worship God. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Further, our worship must be from the heart as well as in truth, that is, according to his Word (John 17:17). God did not leave Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Abraham or David without worship instructions. Likewise, neither has God failed to provide worship instructions for the Lord’s church. Not all worship is acceptable to God. Cain’s worship may have been sincere, but it was not by faith; his worship was not the result of hearing and doing God’s will (Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17). Jesus rebuked the scribes and the Pharisees for their vain and useless worship. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9). Worship today also becomes vain and useless when human worship practices are substituted for divine worship. We live under the New …

How does one respond to the charge that the New Testament endorses superstition by its references to demon possession? Demon possession was a real, historical phenomenon of the first century. Spirit entities, known as demons [KJV “devils”] did inhabit and afflict human bodies during that age. Scripture dos not spell out the question of demon origin, though Bible scholars have proposed several theories. Some may be readily dismissed, including the theory that demons were the disembodied spirits of a pre-Adamic race of men who lived in an alleged “gap period” between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. No evidence of any such gap exists and Adam is called the “first man” (1 Corinthians 15:45). Others speculate that demons resulted from the cohabitation of angels with antediluvian women (based upon a misunderstanding of Genesis 6:1-4), but Christ taught that angels are sexless beings, incapable of such unions (cf. Matthew 22:30). Two more plausible views surmise that: (a) demons were the spirits of wicked dead men whom God permitted to leave the Hadean realm to indwell some people;1 or, (b) demons were fallen angels who were allowed to escape their confinement (Jude 6) for a similar purpose.2 Regardless of origin, the New Testament recognizes the fact of first-century demoniacs. As to the nature, demons were spirits (Matthew 8:16) — not physical (Luke 24:39). As to character, they were spiritually unclean, evil and under Satan’s immediate control (Matthew 12:24, 43, 45). Demons were intelligent (Mark 1:24) and could exercise both volition and locomotion whenever permitted (Matthew 12:44-45). Demon possession frequently …

Modern relativistic thinking suggests that we have no rule or standard by which we can distinguish between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral. Hilary Putnam — a Harvard University professor — sums it up when he declares that moral/ethical judgments are “something that we ultimately judge by the ‘seat of the pants’” (Alan Crippen II, ed., “The Train Wreck of Truth and Knowledge,” Reclaiming the Culture, 59). “We must come to see that there is no possibility of a ‘foundation’ for ethics…” (Ibid.) he asserts. Is the professor correct? Are morals and ethics based upon our own subjective opinions? Are there no moral absolutes? Consider for a moment the repercussions of Mr. Putnam’s philosophical extreme. [Author’s note: the following excerpts are very explicit]. The pro-life groups are right about one thing: the location of the baby inside or outside the womb cannot make such a crucial moral difference. We cannot coherently hold that it is all right to kill a fetus a week before birth, but as soon as the baby is born everything must be done to keep it alive. The solution, however, is not to accept the pro-life view that the fetus is a human being with the same moral status as yours or mine. The solution is the very opposite: to abandon the idea that all human life is of equal worth” (Watkins, “Death What A Beautiful Choice,” The New Absolutes, 85). A principal at an elementary school in New Hampshire invited a homosexual men’s chorus …

Parenting is the most important job in which we will ever be involved. The future of our children, the church and the nation depend on how we raise our precious offspring. J. Edgar Hoover stated, There is no synthetic replacement for a decent home life. Our high crime rate, particularly among juveniles, is directly traceable to a breakdown in moral fiber — to the disintegration of home and family life. Religion and home life are supplementary. Each strengthens the other. It is seldom that a solid and wholesome home life can be found in the absence of religious inspiration. It has been said that “between the child and God stands the parent — a separating wall or a connecting link.” It is a must that we realize that it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to train up a child in a way we ourselves are not willing to go. In this study, we will be focusing on mothers. As I see it, a mother’s responsibility falls into three basic categories: training, discipline and example. A mother must be involved in the training of her children. Solomon taught, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6, ASV). To “train” a child is to communicate “the way” to them — “the way he should go.” A mother needs to give her children what can be handled and what is needed to direct them. In training children in …

Biblical Considerations Many conservative religious people have always regarded alcohol as sinful. Some churches oppose the selling of alcoholic beverages close to their buildings or distribute literature opposing the pleasurable consumption of alcoholic beverages at all. Many Christians oppose alcohol on biblical grounds. Old Testament The pleasurable consumption of alcohol is condemned in the Old Testament. Priests were forbidden to consume alcohol under penalty of death (Leviticus 10:8-11). “And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” Civil leaders were also forbidden to drink alcohol lest they pervert judgment (Proverbs 31:4-5). Faithful Jews were not allowed even to look upon wine in its intoxicating state (Proverbs 23:31). Alcohol was reserved for medicinal purposes (Proverbs 31:6). Furthermore, drunkenness was punishable by death (Deuteronomy 21:20-21). Too, Scripture warns against alcohol because it contributes to poverty (Proverbs 23:21). Drinking alcohol demonstrates lack of wisdom as well (Proverbs 20:1). Faithful Jews were further forbidden to be in the company of those drinking alcohol (Proverbs 23:20). Alcohol leads to other immorality and is hazardous to health and safety (Proverbs 23:29-35). It causes God’s servants to err (Genesis 9:21-22). …

In Ephesians 4:30, we read the following words: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” There are many interesting things to study in this simple verse of Scripture. For example, it would be very nice to understand the “sealed” in this passage. Perhaps we will enter into a study of that word at some later time. It would also be beneficial for us to study what is meant by “the day of redemption,” and perhaps we will study that phrase in the not too distant future. But for today we wish to ask the question, what does it mean to “grieve” the Holy Spirit of God? Whatever it means, it must refer to something that is quite serious! The word that is translated “grieve” in this passage comes from the Greek “lupeite,” from “lupeo,” which means to cause distress, heaviness, or grief; to be made to have “sorrow.” The concept of the word is the very same that we experience at the passing of a loved one, or something of such a grave nature. Think about the fact that it is within the capacity of a mere human being to bring grief to the Godhead by the things that we do, or fail to do, or by the things that we believe or fail to believe! It seems to me a thing almost unbelievable that mere human beings have the capacity to grieve the Godhead, and yet we …

Occasionally, we receive some questions about the matter of fasting as it is set forth in the New Testament. We have been asked if Christians must fast in order to be acceptable in the sight of God, and if we are to fast, how do we know when to do so? Answering these questions will allow us to make some general observations regarding the matter of fasting. The first observation is that this was a thing that was done by the Old Testament Jew. And though God, in the law of Moses required only one day of fasting per year, according to Leviticus 16:29-31, the Jews added several other periods of fasting to this one required by God’s law. (See: 2 Chronicles 20:30; 1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Kings 21:9 & 27; and Esther 4:16.) God did not seem to mind that the Jews engaged in fasting more often than he had required under the law, so even under the law, with the exception of the Day of Atonement, fasting was a voluntary exercise and was not a requirement of God. By the time that Jesus began his ministry upon the earth, fasting was quite common among the Jews and especially among a sect called the Pharisees. Some of the Pharisees fasted as often as twice a week, but they did so more for the purpose of showing themselves off to men than they did for dedicating themselves wholly to God for the period of the fast. Jesus …

There is considerable interest in the question, “Is clapping in worship Scriptural?” I heard a brother recently who preached a sermon against the practice, and was approached by the elders who told him that they would not be having him to preach for them anymore. Change agents in the church are introducing two forms of hand clapping into some worship assemblies: as a display of approval and as a rhythmical accompaniment to singing. Why is there such interest in this innovative involvement in the worship services of the Lord’s church? The answer lies largely in the fact that many brethren are not well grounded in the Scriptures. Another factor involves the “baby boomer” generation relentlessly pushing for innovative changes in worship reflective of the growing trend of performance worship that seems to be taking hold in some quarters. These two factors combined, account for the ignorance manifested when brethren give Old Testament references in defense of a question dealing with New Testament worship. Defenders will allude to Psalms 47:1-2; 98:8 and other Old Testament references as authority for the practice. If the Book of Psalms authorizes clapping in New Testament worship, then by the same hermeneutical principle we have authority for shouting, dancing, animal sacrifice and instrumental music in worship. In fact, hand clapping amounts to percussion. By definition “clapping” means, “to strike (as two flat hard surfaces) together so as to produce a sharp percussive noise.” This is the primary definition of “clap” according to Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. …

Since this an election year, we are hearing the word “candidate” more than usual. We’re being urged to vote for this man or that woman and this party or that position. The point of this article has nothing to do with American politics. It’s about another “election.” The New Testament uses the words elect, elected and election twenty times as synonyms for salvation. Peter was no politician, but he taught us the importance of elections — our own! He wrote, “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for it ye do these things, ye shall never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). Jesus said only a few will ‘get elected’ (make it to heaven) (Matthew 7:13-14). More than 70% of Americans believe they will go to heaven, according to one poll, but who is actually on the invitation list to the Lamb’s marriage feast? The disciples once marveled when Jesus explained how hard it is to make it to heaven (Matthew 19:23-26; cf. Luke 13:24). They asked, “Who then can be saved?” — a good question. He said it would be impossible for any to be saved by man, but with God all things are possible. Let us look at several ‘elections’ in the Bible’s book of conversions (Acts) to find what people made good candidates. (The answers may surprise you!) Those Devout in False Religion (Acts 2:1-47). Those gathered in Jerusalem for the A.D. 33 Feast of Pentecost were devout men from every nation under heaven (2:5). Many had traveled quite a distance and sacrificed a great deal to be …