Providence Baptist Church, May 14, 2006
POSTED WITHOUT EDITING
Again, I mention this point as we go through these commandments, we will see what God expects of us. We will see how far short we are of what is required of us to be holy even as He is holy. Leviticus 20:7, 1 Peter 1:15, 16. The purpose of pointing these hundreds of sins a day a day, in almost every thing we do, is not to discourage us. Rather, it is that we might better see the need of our Mediator, and better understand what he has done for his people, as well as how to please him.
We are required to be holy, and the commandments define holiness:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who
knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in
him.
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many;
and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time
without sin unto salvation.
1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on
the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness:
by whose stripes ye were healed.
1 Peter 3:18 ¶ For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being
put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Our conscience is clear in all our sin only because of the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, and purged our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Hebrews 9:9, 14, 9, 10:2, 22.
Many times, our clear conscience leads to easy sin and disregard for Gods requirements upon his people.
The Second Commandment
Let me open with the Westminster Larger Catechism (http://www.freepres.org/WCFLarge2.htm)
Question 107: Which is the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6)
Question 108: What are the duties required in the second commandment?
Answer: The duties required in the second commandment are, the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God has instituted in his Word; particularly prayer and thanksgiving in the name of Christ; the reading, preaching, and hearing of the Word; the administration and receiving of the sacraments [we will discuss the diffeence between sacraments and ordinances at another time]; church government and discipline; the ministry and maintenance thereof; religious fasting; swearing by the name of God, and vowing unto him: as also the disapproving, detesting, opposing, all false worship; and, according to each one's place and calling, removing it, and all monuments of idolatry.
Question 109: What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment?
Answer: The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counseling, commanding, using, and anywise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; tolerating a false religion; the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature: Whatsoever; all worshiping of it, or God in it or by it; the making of any representation of feigned deities, and all worship of them, or service belonging to them; all superstitious devices, corrupting the worship of God, adding to it, or taking from it, whether invented and taken up of ourselves, or received by tradition from others, though under the title of antiquity, custom, devotion, good intent, or any other pretense: Whatsoever; simony; sacrilege; all neglect, contempt, hindering, and opposing the worship and ordinances which God has appointed.
[Presbyterians are a good group to talk about tradition, for some of their actions are carried on without any Scriptural warrant, but by tradition alone.]
Question 110: What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment, the more to enforce it?
[Why the strong statement attached to the second commandment in order to enforce it?]
Answer: The reasons annexed to the second commandment, the more to enforce it, contained in these words, For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments; are, besides God's sovereignty over us, and propriety in us, his fervent zeal for his own worship, and his revengeful indignation against all false worship, as being a spiritual whoredom; accounting the breakers of this commandment such as hate him, and threatening to punish them unto divers generations; and esteeming the observers of it such as love him and keep his commandments, and promising mercy to them unto many generations.
There are many assemblies gathered today professing great love for the Lord, yet in their actions, they clearly HATE HIM.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love;
even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in
his love.
Our commitment to his commandments determine whether we love or hate him.
The second commandment is more detailed than the first. It is given in two parts: no image to be made, and no worship of forbidden images.
Basically, it deals with the proper manner in which the Father must be approached. It covers the Old Testament Tabernacle, all of its furnishings, the altar, and how each of these things apply to the Gospel Church and in the lives of the Elect. Let me start with some spiritual applications presented by the tabernacle and the offerings. Then we will move to practical applications.
Again, a study in each commandment could be a year long, so we will only consider a few of the applications.
This commandment deals with the lawful approach to God. The obvious meaning is there can be no idols nor graven images used in the worship of God.
Leviticus 19:4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God. 20:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not: 5 Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people.
We developed this in the past. R.J. Rushdoony develops the idea that Moloch worship is state worship carried out in the state school system. At least read the Institutes vol. I. Pp. 30-40.
When we were in OK last year, a man from Mississippi mentioned to me about coming to speak on the War of Northern Aggression. I asked Bro Sprinkle about a book I could read that would give me some background on that war.
He pointed me to Discussions, vol IV, by Dabney.
I will not say that was a mistake, but Dabney really stirred me up.
In that book, there are several 1876 missiles by Dabney to
the Virginia Superintendent of State Schools concerning THE STATE
FREE SCHOOL SYSTEM. Since I read those letters, I have become
an even stronger opponent of the State School System.
Dabneys letters were in 1876. We can only imagine what has
taken place in the State School System in the past 125 years.
After reading Dabney, I cannot resist trying to wake Christians up to the anti-Christian stance of the State School System every time I get close enough.
Dabney tells us that the North passed off the lie that education would lead to knowledge and morality, yet as education increased, so did stupidity and the Norths prison population. The 1800s education system in the North was politically correct State anti-Christian education without God, as must be presented in the State School System today. (Discussions, p. 202.)
As a result of Lincolns war (brought about by his invasion of Virginia), the Norths education system was forced, at the points of bayonets, upon the South, giving the South the huge increase in stupidity and prison population.
Thus, the North gained the spoils of war?control of the educational system. The North forced the South to indoctrinate its children with the Norths constitutional heresies, its hatred for Christianity, its lying creed of Radicalism which was a gospel of hate, murder and the utter falsification of history and fact and falsification of constitutional law. It is obvious that the Federal Government is only against slavery that does not serve its purpose. (The Rule of Law only applies when it can be used to silence those who oppose evil in high places. It does not apply to those in high places as they justify their disregard of law.)
Dabney points out that as there cannot be in any soul a non-Christian state which is not anit-Christian, it follows that any training which attempts to be non-Christian is therefore anti-Christian. (Discussions, p. 221.) Which means that non-Christian education, such as found in the government education system, is a violation of the total of Scripture.
The public has been indoctrinated by the state education system to believe and live by constitutional heresies, and its gospel of hate, murder and utter falsification of history. Now the state is working hard to indoctrinate the public in anti-Christian family beliefs, such as fornication, adultery, and sodomy. And Christians allow that indoctrination of their children in state schools.
The sodomites are hard at work training up a generation of government educated young people who will see nothing wrong with sodomy:
There was a distressing article in the WORLD magazine, 5/13/06.
There was a picture of a second grade class putting on a skit for the Gay Pride and Family Diversity assembly. It showed a female, I think, with a butch haircut hugging some second genders who had huge smiles.
Under the radar
POLITICS: Gay-rights groups are quietly but aggressively advancing
their agenda. By Lynn Vincent.
WHILE THE NEWS MEDIA focused on immigration last week, California Democrats focused on completing the transmutation of public-school social science curricula into a punctuated series of pro-homosexuality tracts. On May 3, the state Senate education committee held hearings on SB 1437, a bill that would require K-12 students to study the contributions of "people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, to the economic, political, and social development of California and the United States of America, with particular emphasis on portraying the role of these groups in contemporary society."
SB 1437 would also prohibit text-books, materials, or activities that "reflect adversely" on gays and lesbians and nix the inclusion of "any sectarian or denominational doctrine or propaganda contrary to law."
In plain language: Only tolerant portrayals of homosexuals allowed; religious dissent will not be tolerated.
While the national conversation has this year focused on soaring
gas prices, border security, and digging for presidential scandal,
the gay agenda is marching on. Homosexual activists now
are working under the radar," said Robert Knight, director
of the Washington, D.C.-based Culture and Family Institute (CFI),
an affiliate of Concerned Women for America. ...
Statehouse observers expect SB 1437 to pass, muscled through by
a 25-14 Democratic majority. One likely result of the law would
be the revision of all instructional materials relating to marriage
and family: For example, those defining marriage as between a
husband and wife would be purged?or amended to include portrayals
of same-sex marriage.
At the May 3 hearings, SB 1437 supporters said the bill was necessary
so that gay students would feel safe and well-represented. Opposition
witnesses said the changes would amount to compulsory indoctrination
on a controversial issue properly left to parents.
Education committee members didn't buy that argument and passed
SB 1437 on an 8-3 party-line vote. The bill now heads to the Senate
floor.
There is a violent war being waged for the hearts and souls of the upcoming generation, and Christians refuse to face the fact that the primary battle ground is in the education system, as well as in the entertainment system. Our children are being trained in the ways of the world, and to serve other gods. Should we be surprised when they serve those other gods when they get older?
The voices for righteousness may be few in this violent war for the hearts and minds of this generation of young people, but I intend to be one of those who raises his voice at every opportunity.
If you think I cannot let that dog lie, read Dabney, and you
will also cry out at every opportunity. Christians must see State
Education in the same Scriptural light as Dabney saw it: It is
an anti-Christian activity.
May 21, 2006
Part 2
May 21, 2006
These first 4 commandments have many implications, so these lessons are longer. However, from the forth on, they are not so long.
The second commandment deals basically with images that represent a god or especially the true God. Thus, the reason God did not appear to the people in a form was to prevent them from being able to make some kind of image.
Deuteronomy 4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, 18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: 19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
This law does not forbid engravings, pictures and artwork in general. It forbids using these things as an aid in worship. (Pictures of Jesus used below.)
Man can only approach God on Gods terms; there can be no medication between God and man except that which is ordered by God, the man, Christ Jesus. If the terms of mans approach to God are determined by man, then the terms of mans life and prosperity are also determined by man rather than by God. The only lawful approach to God is on his terms entirely and by his grace. (RJR, 65.)
Biblically, the treason that carries the death penalty is idolatry, or treason against God and his law-order:
Deuteronomy 17:2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant, 3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded; 4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel: 5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you.
The reason being that a society that permits departure from the true religion is headed for death. Today, treason is against the State which has established itself as god. Toleration of another law-order is death to the established order. Muslim states recognize this fact; thus, any effort to undermine their religion is considered treason, and the whole of society sets out to kill the treasonous in the name of their god.
Open contempt and warfare from outside against Gods law and people (the Gospel Church, such as in the Sudan), is not as serious as subversive warfare on the inside against His law and church, such as in the US. Open warfare from the outside only strengthens. Subversiveness from the inside is destructive:
Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
The logical implication here is that those who offer good solutions to lifes situations apart from Gods law are more dangerous than the oppressive, all powerful state, and more dangerous than even the Muhammadans who have vowed to kill Christians.
From what I understand, a required subject in all Christian Colleges is pastoral psychology, and it is the most popular:
Psychology is an academic and applied field involving the study of the human mind, brain, and behavior. Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity, including problems of individuals' daily lives and the treatment of mental illness.
Notice that it is not a study of Gods mind as found in his word, and the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity. That is called THEOLOGY.
I would like to take the time to read the whole of the Humanist Manifesto, but I will only give a sentence from three points:
FIRST: In the best sense, religion may inspire dedication to the highest ethical ideals. The cultivation of moral devotion and creative imagination is an expression of genuine "spiritual" experience and aspiration.
We believe, however, that traditional dogmatic or authoritarian religions that place revelation, God, ritual, or creed above human needs and experience do a disservice to the human species. ...
THIRD: We affirm that moral values derive their source from human experience. ...
FOURTH: Reason and intelligence are the most effective instruments that humankind possesses. ...
If you will pay close attention to men such as James Dobson and Bill Gothard, and the vast majority of preachers today, you will find that their good solutions to lifes situations have far more to do with human behavior than with the word of God. They are committing BIBLICAL TREASON against God.
THESE MEN ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN Osoma BenLauden, for they offer another god, the god of human inelegance.
I am not at all advocating killing those who commit treason against the True God. It is sad, however, that Christians do not have the motivation to at least defend the total of Gods word with applied sound Biblical wisdom.
THE ALTAR
The Tabernacle and everything included in it, especially the altar, dogmatically tell us that there is no approach to God the father for salvation nor in prayer apart from the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Everything points to him and his work for the redemption of the elect. It is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29. We are washed of our sins in his blood. Revelation 1:5.
The proper view of the altar reveals Gods demand for justice. The altar requires justice according to Gods law against sinners, which Christ fulfilled in his substitutionary death for his people. However, death being fulfilled for us in Christ does not set aside the requirements of justice and law upon us. Rather, his grace tells us that his law is valid, and grace provides the necessary power to fulfill the law in our lives. Philippians 2:13.
It is by his free grace that the individual, the family, the church and society will follow the steps laid out in his word for his people.
The death of Christ in the place of the sinner places the requirement for restitution, even capital punishment, under the second commandment.
Societys antagonism against restitution and capital punishment is the result of the churchs ignoring the need of the substitutionary death of Christ for his people. Those who oppose restitution and capital punishment as required by God oppose the cross of Christ, and deny the validity of the altar which required the blood of an innocent victim in place of the sinner.
Moreover, Biblical restitution and capital punishment means safety for the righteous. Resistance to the death penalty gives life to evil. Wicked men now are rewarded to rob, rape, kidnap and murder by being rewarded with free room, board, education and medical care for life. It means that good men are denied their right to live.
Numbers 35:33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it. 34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the LORD dwell among the children of Israel.
Showing unjust mercy to the law-breaker is a death sentence upon the law-keeper. Mercy cannot be shown to both the law-breaker and the law-keeper.
SACRIFICES.
Among the many things taught to us by the sacrifices required upon the alter is this: The greater the responsibility, the greater the sin.
Leviticus 4 gives four levels of offerings for sin. 1) sin in the high priest, 2) sin in the whole of the people, 3) sins in the civil rulers and 4) sins of the individual.
The only level I will develop is the first, sin in the high priestthat is, the sins of the religious leaders. Leviticus 4:3-12.
Thus, the religious leaders hold the most responsibility before God. Clearly, the cause of our social problems today, and the reason for Gods obvious hand of judgment at work today is not because we have wicked men in authority. The cause is that we have unfaithful, even wicked Christian religious leaders ? they are unfaithful to all scripture that have been given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, or right living. 2 Timothy 3:16. (RJR. 81, 82.)
When religious leaders fail to faithfully proclaim Gods total word, particularly his law, social anarchy will develop; that is, lawlessness as defined by God. As anarchy progresses, man made laws must become more oppressive against the just and the unjust. In Isaiah chapters 1-3, God rebukes his people, and lays great responsibility on the leaders.
Isaiah 1:23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them. 24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies: 25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin: 26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city. 27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness. 28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.
In fact, as a result of the sins mentioned in chapters 1 & 2, chapter three tells us that children will be exalted to places of authority, and the young will rebel against the older.
The bankers have corrupted the money supply because the people want easy credit.
Isaiah 24:2 And it shall be, as with the people, so with the
priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid,
so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as
with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury,
so with the giver of usury to him. (Also Jeremiah 5:31.)
Part 3
I have been reading through Usshes Annals, and encountered this statement where Israel ment God at Sinai, paragraph 195:
195. When Moses went up into the mount, God declared to him that he would renew his covenant with the Israelites. He declared that he would bind them to himself by a law and that he would favour and love all those who would observe and keep that law. This they readily agreed to. God gave them two days to prepare and sanctify themselves to receive that law. He forbade everyone except Moses and Aaron to approach the mount. Afterward God came down to the mount in great majesty as they all watched and trembled at the sight. {#Ex 19:1-25}
Gods people are thus bound to him by his law, the commandments, which did not void the promise of grace made to Abraham 430 years earlier. Galatians 3:17.
The second commandment reads,
Exodus 20:4-6 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
REQUIREMENTS
An overlooked requirement of the second commandment is found in Exodus 23:24:
24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.
Exodus 22:20 He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.
Serving the gods of the pagans had a terrible price on it:
Whoever offered sacrifice to strange gods instead of to Jehovah alone, was liable to death. ...; he shall be banned, put under the ban ..., i.e., put to death, and by death devoted to the Lord, to whom he would not devote himself in life (cf. Leviticus 27:29, and my Archäologie, §70). (Keil, Delitzsch)
Exodus 23:32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
Making a covenant with them and their gods would imply the recognition and toleration of them, and, with the sinful tendencies of Israel, would be inevitably followed by the worship of idols. (Keil, Delitzsch)
Ver. 32. Thou shalt make no covenant with them, &c.] A covenant of peace, a league, a confederacy, so as to take them to be their allies and friends; but they were always to consider them as their enemies, until they had made an utter end of them; though the Gibeonites by craft and guile obtained a league of them; but the methods they took to get it show they had some knowledge of this law, that the Israelites might not, or at least would not, make any league or covenant with the inhabitants of the land of Canaan. This may be also extended to marriage covenants, which they were forbid to make with them; which yet they did, and proved a snare to them, for this brought them to makes a covenant with their gods, and serve them, which is here also forbidden:
nor with their gods; making vows unto them, promising to serve them, if they would do such and such things for them. (John Gill)
Paul reiterates the second commandment:
2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God is to be cast down. It is no stretch here to say that everything includes more than just personal thoughts.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
But rather reprove them. By our lives, conversations, and all areas of influence reproving the unfruitful works of darkness is the business of Christians. Our lives should be a standing rebuke of a sinful world, and they we be ever ready to express our disapproval of its wickedness in every form. Disapproval can be expressed simply by refusing to partake of the evil deeds. (Barns Notes.)
But rather reprove them; or convince them, viz. not only by your words, #Le 19:17 Mt 18:15, but especially by your actions, which being contrary to them, will both evidence them to be, and reprove them as being, works of darkness. (Matthew Poole)
GOD REQUIRES WARFARE.
This commandment requires not only avoiding the gods of this world, but it requires Godly warfare against them. We are to be at war with all who are at war against God and His son, the Word of God. That does not mean taking up arms, as the followers of Muhammad do. It does mean not supporting, as much support as possible, all things opposed to the Lord God and his Christ. It does mean doing all within our Biblical power to stop the actions of wicked men and their organizations.
NOTE:
The Life of an 'American Taliban' in a U.S. Jail
All Things Considered, June 16, 2006 · Michele Norris talks with Tom Junod, whose article about John Walker Linnn appears in the July issue of Esquire magazine. Junod focuses on what Lindh's life is like in prison, where he is serving a 20-year sentence.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5491616
The young man, 25 year old John Walker Lynn, grew up in a wealthy upscale neighborhood in California. He converted to Islam, and trained with the Taliban in Afghanistan, and was captured by the US Military. The US sentenced him to prison for illegally aiding the Talaban.
Tom Junod wrote the article which is in the July issue of Esquire. The title of the article is Can America and Islam Co-Exist? Tom was unable to interview John, but he talked with his family, friends and with other Muslims who had served time with John, and were now free.
Tom points out that John is a scholarly young man who has become an extremely pious Muslim, even waking himself up at midnight to do the optional Muslim prayer that makes him closer to God.
Part of his sentence is a gage order. He is forbidden to speak arabic. However, if another Muslim greets him in Arabic, he will answer back in Arabic. He then gets the hole for punishment.
He did take the radical oath of Jehad in Afghanistan. He entered into Muslim as a youngster, yet he did it as because of what he wanted.
Here is Micheles question to Tom that caught my attention (5:55):
What was that that he wanted?
I think he wanted purity, and thought that he could not get that in the United States. So he went to travel. In the Koran there are verses saying what a Muslim should do, and what a Muslim should do is leave his home leave his coutry and take up and defend Muslims in other parts of the world, and I think that John followed that perscription to the letter. (6:15)
So in the end, do you posit this idea that Lynn is somewhat of a litmus test for how America, a country that is seeped in Christian traditions will eventually deal with Islam, the central question posed in your article, Can America and Islam Co-Exist? Why is Lynn so important in that question
He is almost the perfect Muslim, and he is this white kid from the suburbs of California. He became this symbolic person, and I think that the persecution of John was in some way symbolic, that this was the way we are going to deal with this challenge. And if American ideals and dreams of Muslim purity came to a collision in the person of John Walker Lynn, I think that American ideals of freedom came off the worse for it.
Comment:
Here is a very intelligent and well-to-do white young man from California suburbia. What was he looking for? Purity! However, he felt he could not find it in the US, so he went overseas. There he found Islam, and committed himself totally to its strict rules as found in the Koran.
Why could he not find purity in the US? How many Christian churches today emphasize and preach purity, and the strict Christian life as required by the Gospel of Christ?
Should we blame John and the strict Muslims with their Koran for the growth of Islam, or should we blame those who profess to be Bible Believing preachers, teachers and followers with their irrelevant brand of Christianity. It offers no purity nor real purpose in life.
A) We are required to be at war against the Muslims, and other pagan religions, including UnBiblical Christianity. But Christians have fled the field of battle, and are losing the war against the false religions. Our war is a war of ideas. It is the conflict between Gods Holy Word and the ideas and words of men.
We have been going to a Chiropractor since we got back from OK. Part of the treatment has been a massage. The young lady who does it was raised in a Christian home and school, yet she dressed just like the pagans. She has lost the war for the purity that people like John Walker are looking for.
B) We are required to be at war against things like any education system that teaches our children a corrupted god or to serve other gods. We dealt a little with humanist education in our introduction. (If just professed Christians would stop supporting the anti-Christ education system, it would totally collapse within weeks.)
C) We are to be at war against wicked and corrupt men in high places who force humanistic laws upon us.
Here is Jennie Chancys assessment of the races in this last election in Alabama:
The primary election here ended the day before yesterday, and Tom Parker lost his bid for Chief Justice. We were outspent eight to one. Drayton Nabers' campaign spent about 5 million dollars on his re-election bid and ran a terrible smear campaign against Tom. Tom is still an associate justice on the Supreme Court (it's a six-year term), but it is not going to be pleasant for him to sit on the bench with people who slandered him during the campaign, so be in prayer for him! The good news is that Jean Brown lost her bid to get back onto the Supreme Court. She is the one Tom beat two years ago. She tried to get back on this time around, but her opponent, Glenn Murdoch, won. He called Matt to ask for advice when he considered running for the seat, and Matt gave him some strategies for beating Jean Brown from the 2004 campaign. Even though Jean Brown had higher name ID, Murdoch beat her handily by reminding people that she had been booted off the court two years ago for voting to oust the Ten Commandments! So that was a victory. Now we just pray that Murdoch will be a good ally for Tom rather than just becoming another cog in the machine (which is what two conservatives who ran with Tom two years ago have done :- ).
And, as you may have heard, Roy Moore lost his bid for governor. Matt and I were not surprised at all by that. His campaign was very poorly managed from the start, and Judge Moore did not have the funding to really compete with Gov. Riley (whose entire message was "Alabama is doing fine, so why change anything?"). Judge Moore did not even get as many votes as Tom Parker did in this election. It was a sobering wake-up call for the Christians who worked for him. All the talk shows yesterday were full of Christians asking how Judge Moore could have lost when he is so popular and so well-known. The simple answer is that he was (like Tom) totally outspent. Oh, and Karl Rove (Bush's lackey) was helping out Drayton Nabers and Gov. Riley. He wanted to keep moderate Republicans in office. He worked with Jean Brown two years ago as well, but we had plenty of funding in that campaign and managed to win by a narrow margin. This time he helped scare away all the conservative PACs, who donated instead to Riley and Nabers. The other problem is that very few churches in Alabama were willing to tell their members how to vote. Some of the biggest ones kept citing 501C3 restrictions -- basically admitting they are gagged by the government. If we'd had the backing and active support of even two or three of the biggest churches in Montgomery and Birmingham, it could have turned the election--the numbers were that close. It's a judgment on the Church that so many godly candidates lost due to the cowardice of pastors. May God raise up more men who will teach the truth and show Christians how to obey God's Word fearlessly!
These Religious leaders who refused to take a stand against wickedness in high places, and for godliness grossly violated the second commandment. But no one seems to care, as long as the federal money keeps coming in.
God calls them dumb dogs who cannot bark. Isaiah 56:10. They love the money that has been given them to keep silent. But we are to be at war against the god of mammon.
Mark 4:18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
D) We are to be at war against false teachers by comparing their teachings with Scripture and refusing to support them. Acts 17:11.
>There are enough godly charity works that we dont have to support ungodly charity works such as the Red Cross.
>There are enough faithful missionaries that we dont have to support men who corrupt Gods word.
>There are enough good books that we do not have to purchase trash.
>There are enough good movies that we do not have to support trash.
Sadly, there are not enough good men willing to pay the price for an elected office nor Christians to support them, so God gives liars, thieves and cheats to rule over us.
E) We are required to do all within our Biblical power to recognize and bring down any unbiblical actions and organizations. We are to throw down these altars to the false gods, replacing them with godly works and organizations. The poor we have with us always, and social welfare is to be carried by Gods people.
Law is a form of warfare. (RJR, 94.) The wicked, including the Muslims, recognize this as they wage warfare against the Christian foundation of this nation with unbiblical laws.
We cannot seek co-existence with evil without declaring war against God. If we are not with God, we are against him. Matthew 12:30.
God has given each of us an area of warfare. Find it, and get busy. My warfare is carried out with the pen ? a computer, desk top publishing program and a printer.
And each person in here has a unique area of warfare. Find it, and fulfill that area of responsibility.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that
is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for
I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them
that love me, and keep my commandments.
December 10, 2006
Part 4
Those who teach that the Ten Commandments are not for us today
simply do not understand the implications of Gods Ten Words,
which are given for our good. Deuteronomy 10:12
Or the fallen nature may gladly hear, agree to and even submit
to the simple Ten Words, yet get offended, resist or outright
reject the many Biblical implications built upon those Ten basic
Words. Antinomian teachers have cut their followers off from the
blessings covered in the Ten Words. We are attempting to develop
many offensive implications.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments
Deuteronomy 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
The Second Commandment is presented in three ways:
1) From a reason for I the LORD thy God am a jealous
God
2) by a threat visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon
the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that
hate me
3) by a promise shewing mercy unto thousands of them that
love me, and keep my commandments.
1) This commandment is against all making of images for religious service. Their can be no similitude of any creature above the earth, beneath nor under the earth viewed with the intent to worship or aid in religious service.
2) Men are forbidden to make either similitudes or likenesses, which includes engraving from wood, stone, silver, or any substance to be used as an aid in worship. This also includes paintings.
(I have been in homes where a picture of Jesus hangs, and the folks told me the picturers helped them focus on the Lord when the pray!! I have heard Christians say that they use images or paintings as reminders. Churches especially are guilty of hanging pictures of God throughout their meeting places.)
3) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: No sort of religious worship, service nor reverencevenerationis to be given to them, whether that service is as a reminder, a mediator or worship of the image itself. Rome uses images as a mediator. The Crucifix is also a gross violation of this commandment. Other religious use images as gods.
Aaron made the calf and said, These by thy gods, O Israel...
Jereboam told Israel they could worship the Lord God under the
images of the calves, so they did not need to go to Jerusalem.
The sin of Jeroboam from his time till the end of the 10 tribes
was the standard of evil used by God to judge Israel.
2 Kings 17:21 For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin. (15:9, 18, 24, 28, &c.)
Both of Aaron and Jerboam were attempts to worship the Lord God with the aid of an image of a calf. Egypt worshiped the god in the form of calf.
The reason for this prohibition is given: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, as a husband is jealous over his wife.
Jealousy makes one suspicious of even a wrong glance at our spouse by another. It causes us to be sensitive of wrong actions by others toward our spouses. A very jealous person will go overboard, and will view every possible circumstance of his spouse as an inclination to another person:
Proverbs 6:34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
God is depicted as Israels husband; he is a jealous God. {#Ex 20:5} Idolatry is spiritual adultery and merits death. (TWOT)
This human emotion of jealousy is attributed to God to show that he will not admit anything suspicious in his service, and warns us that whatever evil comes upon the one doing wrong is justly deserved.
This commandment is not only to forbid making and worshiping images. It is to forbid all manner of grossness in the external worship of God, and to command exactness and preciseness in that worship, both outward worship and inward worship. He must be worshiped only by and through means as prescribed in his word. In the Old Testament, this required exact compliance to the ceremonial laws, no more and no less. It forbids all will-worship and superstition in worship. It forbids all honoring of him by rules taught by men, and not by himself.
Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men
In the first commandment, the worship of any idol is forbidden. In the second, the true worship of the true God is required, and false worship forbidden. The first commandment defines who must be worshiped. The second commandment defines how he is to be worshiped.
He must not be worshiped as the heathens worship their false gods, nor in any other means that men might devise to themselves. He must be worshiped only in the manner he defined in his word.
Thus:
1) God must be served inwardly in the heart by good thoughts, intentions and motives, as required by the first commandment. He must be served outwardly, confessing him before men, served in proper external service, worshiped in words and suitable actions. This commandment requires proper approach to God the Father in prayer (through Christ alone); it requires proper attitude in the sacraments or rather the ordinances, ceremonies, &c. When these things are not seen or properly followed, when they are added to or taken from, this commandment is broken.
Note here than when the ordinances, or sacraments are believed to have religious, mystical powers, they violate the Second Commandment. They must not be seen as anything more than obedience to Christ as required by scripture. [Law unsealed, bottom of p. 71.] Also attributing mystical powers to a passage of Scripture. (My first wifes father could blow out fire. He would use a Scripture and blow on the burn, and the fire would be gone. He renounced that ability, and lost it.)
If we tie the presence of the true God or some special dispensation of grace to some special place (including this church building) or thing, we are no better than those who look to the ordinances/sacraments, images, relics, or statues, and suppose that God has a special dispensation of grace available through those things?we grossly violate this command.
John 4:20-24 (v. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.) The purpose of a building is for the public gathering of the saints to be encouraged through common fellowship and through the preaching of the word. Ephesians 4:12, Hebrews 10:24, 25.
The reduction of the Christian religion to a church building is a modern heresy. Religions domain is every area of life and thought ? it is whether we eat or sleep, whatsoever we do.
Christ is now our tabernacle, and all true worship must be through him alone.
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
This is an important point to remember as you read the Old Testament, Ezekiel especially ?CHRIST IS THE NEW AND PERFECT TABERNACLE. There is a teaching based on the last few chapters of Ezekiel that says that there must yet be a physical temple built where God will dwell and men must worship. It is a heresy of the worse sort, for belief in such building to come for worship of God is a gross violation of the second commandment.
We must avoid unscriptural adoration of things used in worship, such as buildings, and even the elements of the ordinances.
2) External worship and service must always be in accord with Gods word, and not after what is pleasing to men. We must not add to what he requires, nor take from it:
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
This extends to all ordinances, worship itself, and also to the manner of worship. It all must be done according to Gods command only.
A vast amount of modern worship is a clear violation of this command. For one thing, many modern worship meetings have women leading the worship and praise team. 1 Corinthians 14:34, 1 Timothy 2:11, 12.)
3) This commandment controls our spiritual service due to God. All external service is required to be spiritual. Let me also say that all of life and thought must be considered worship and spiritual. 1 Corinthians 10:31.
There must not be in us any physical understandings of God. That is, he must not be an image in our imagination:
Deuteronomy 4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves;
for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake
unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16 Lest ye corrupt
yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any
figure, the likeness of male or female,
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought
not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or
stone, graven by art and mans device.
Wheras the first commandment dealt with internal worship of God, this commandment deals with the external. It forbids the making of images, and bowing before them.
Leviticus 26:1 Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
We say, We do not make images, nor bow down to them and we feel we have fulfilled the Second Commandment. However, we must follow through its FAR REACHING implications:
The basic thought is that we must not worship God as the heathens worship their gods. Deuteronomy 12:3-5. This command forbids any and all worship of God that is contrary to his total word, just as thou shalt not commit adultery is used to forbid all manner of uncleanness.
The pagan gods come under many names: education, sports, material goods, money.
This command forbids using the worlds means to worship God. It forbids adding to or altering his word in any way in order to justify worldly manners of worship, which is a very common practice today. It forbids altering his word to justify worshiping God in ways that appeal to our reason that seem right to us.
Deuteronomy 4:23-25. V. 25 When thou shalt beget children, and childrens children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the LORD thy God, to provoke him to anger:
It is the natural, fallen nature to use the worlds means to worship God. While Moses was on the Mount, Israel tried to imitate Egypt in building the calf through which to worship God.
Romans 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
December 17, 2006
Part 5
Deuteronomy 12:1 These are the statutes and judgments, which ye shall observe to do in the land, which the LORD God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it, all the days that ye live upon the earth. 2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: 3 And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4 Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God.
Different between First and Second Commandment
Deuteronomy 12:2-4 forbids two things: Making images to the false gods, as used by the Canaanites Baal, Ashtaroth, and trying to worship the true God in the manner used by the Canaanites. Israel not only tried to worship false gods in the high places and groves (violation of the First Commandment), but Israel tried to worship the true God using heathen means, using their high places rather than worshiping him at Jerusalem (violation of the Second Commandment).
2 Chronicles 33:17 Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only.
Hence, the Second Commandment is totally different than the First.
Deuteronomy 12 goes on to say that it is sin to that even enquire how the pagans worship their gods, v. 30.
Deuteronomy 12:30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise.
The God of the Scriptures will only be served as he requires, but we must not add to or detract from his requirements, v. 32.
31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God: for every abomination to the LORD, which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
This commandment clearly forbids studying various religions. Our time should be spent studying the true religion as fond in Scripture.
A major danger of sending our children to pagan institutions for their education is that they will be taught the way pagans serve their gods.
Islam studies required in California district Course has 7th-graders
memorizing Koran verses, praying to Allah
(WND, January 11, 2002)
In the wake of Sept. 11, an increasing number of California public school students must attend an intensive three-week course on Islam, reports ASSIST News Service.
The course mandates that seventh-graders learn the tenets of Islam, study the important figures of the faith, wear a robe, adopt a Muslim name and stage their own jihad. Adding to this apparent hypocrisy, reports ANS, students must memorize many verses in the Koran, are taught to pray "in the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful" and are instructed to chant, "Praise to Allah, Lord of Creation."
"We could never teach Christianity like this," one outraged parent told ANS. [But the parent was not outraged enough to remove her children from that pagan institution.]
Elizabeth Christina Lemings, a teacher in the Byron, Calif., Union School District, was unaware of the course until her seventh-grade son brought home the handouts. Obtained by ANS, the handouts include a history of Islam and the life of Mohammad, its founder. There are 25 Islamic terms that must be memorized, six Islamic (Arabic) phrases, 20 Islamic proverbs to learn along with the Five Pillars of Faith and 10 key Islamic prophets and disciples to be studied.
"We can't even mention the name of Jesus in the public schools," Lemings laments, "but ... they teach Islam as the true religion, and students are taught about Islam and how to pray to Allah. Can you imagine the barrage of lawsuits and problems we would have from the ACLU if Christianity were taught in the public schools, and if we tried to teach about the contributions of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Apostle Paul? But when it comes to furthering the Islamic religion in the public schools, there is not one word from the ACLU, People for the American Way or anybody else. This is hypocrisy."
ANS reports that students are to pretend that they are Muslims, wear Muslim clothing to school, stage their own jihad via a dice game and pick out a Muslim name (to replace their own) from a list of 30.
When asked what they thought about the course, students described it as "fun," while others described Islam as "a pretty culture." Joseph Lemings, 12, told ANS, "the jihad was like playing a video game." ...
Thus, the impressionable seventh graders in the California public schools were required to violate the Second Commandment, and professing Christian parents permitted their children to be indoctrinated.
(Type in Required Islamic studies, and you will get over 1 million sites, with many of those sites pointing to major colleges offering degrees in Islamic studies. But no degrees in Christian studies at those colleges. The Petro dollars are coming back to the US to destroy Christianity, and replace it with Mohammadism.)
Here are only three of many examples of using pagan means to worship God:
I. Exodus 32:1-7. V. 5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
Aaron assured the people they were worshiping the Lord God, though they were using heathen means to worship
Psalms 106:19, 20,They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. 20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
In other words, Aaron presented the calf in Exodus 32:4, as an image of Jehovah God who brought them out of Egypt. In Exodus 32:5, Aaron proclaimed a feast to the LORD. Aaron imitated the Egyptians in their service to Apis, their bull god. V. 6, Aaron offered the offerings required by Jehovah before the calf. Aaron was not denying Jehovah God; rather, he was using the heathen means learned in Egypt to worship Jehovah God.
II. Judges 17:1-13, (v. 13 Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I have a Levite to my priest.) 18:4, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest. V. 6, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way wherein ye go.
Keil says here that the image was to be a likeness of Jehovah God, as Aaron had done at the Mount. Thus, Micahs silver image was not considered a god, but a means of improving his familys service to Jehovah God. He even hired a Levite to be his priest who enquire of Jehovah God for him. Micah was not an idolater. Rather, he sought to serve Jehovah God in an unauthorized way.
Judges 17:6, In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Israel had no king. They had departed from following Gods word. Churches who do not recognize Jesus as King will do whatever it takes to draw and keep a crowd. And by Jesus as King, I mean that we do all that is commanded of us. Matthew chapter 7, Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Worshiping God in a manner that might seem right to us, yet not commanded by God, or using heathen means of worshiping God are condemned in the strongest way by God. Deuteronomy chapters 4 and 12.
III. 1 Kings 12:28, Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
Jeroboams motive was not to introduce a new god to Israel. His motive was to offer a more attractive and convenient way to worship Jehovah God, so the people would not go to Jerusalem for lawful worship, and going there, they might return to Rehoboam.
As we mentioned previously, from 1 Kings 12 on, the sin of Jeroboam was the standard of evil for the 10 tribes of Israel, e.g., 2 Kings 10:29, Hosea chapters 8 & 10. Jeroboam used the worlds method to keep his followers.
Neither Aarons, Micahs nor Jeroboams images were considered gods; rather, the images were used to direct the worshipers attention to Jehovah God. Accordingly, neither Aaron, Micah nor Jeroboam violated the First Commandment, but they clearly violated the Second. Deuteronomy 12.
Though all three meant to worship the true God, they changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made with hands. Romans 1:23, Acts 7:40-42. Their guilt was not in completely departing from Jehovah God. Rather, their guilt was in attempting to worship Jehovah God in a manner used by the heathens.
Using the worlds means to worship God is sin. It IS NOT worship of the true God.
Unauthorized methods of worship include things as Christian Rock as well as much of contemporary Christian music?its purpose is to appeal to the base fallen nature. The Second Commandment is violated when the emotions are used to get people to commit to salvation or to religious service.
Some time ago, I read of a mega-church sent their music director to Las Vagus to learn how to draw a crowd. Sadly, all the mega-churches I know of use the worlds means to draw a crowd, which is a gross violation of the Second Commandment.
Someone from Rick Warrens Saddleback Church posted a video of a Worship Concert. It had teens doing a full Las Vagus type show, including 4 teen girls doing very immodest, sexually suggestive dance moves. The only difference between these kids and a Las Vagus show was their dress. The song was Our God is an Awesome God. And like almost all Contemporary Christian music, it made excellent immodest dancing music.
The video can be viewed at extremetheology.com.
Here is the comment found on the web site:
Is this really worship to the one true God of the Bible or is this worship to one of those pagan sex gods? You be the judge?
UPDATE: Apparently Saddleback is now embarrassed by their 'hoochy-dancing' and has pulled the original video [from youtube.com]. However, someone was able to get a hold of a copy of this video and re-post it. You can still view it or download it [at the web site]
The site shows one frame from the video of 4 teenage girls 'worshiping' God with their very sexually suggestive dance moves.
The Extreme Theology site continues:
Is this how God wants us to worship him?
After seeing this, Is there any wonder why Saddleback's worship with its 'hoochy-dancing' is so appealing and attractive to unbelievers? Saddleback is offering jiggly-dancing and sexual stimulation at church and calling it worship.
Matt. 7:17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20 years ago, this kind of dancing would have been unheard of in a church. If it had taken place in a church, the pastor of the church would have been replaced, or the vast majority of the people would have left the church.
Moreover, Ricks book, The Purpose-Driven Life is being marketed as though it were the Bible:
What on earth am I here for?
The most important question you can ask in life is, what is my
purpose? Why am I here? What on earth am I here for? ... (From
Ricks book store at pastors.com)
January 14, 2007
Lesson 6
Let me open with a quote from Rushdoony:
1. There is a God.
2. He has spoken to us in his word.
3. He means what he says.
4. Do we believe this?
If we do not believe this, then I am wasting your and my time.
Deuteronomy 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, 10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
This commandment deals with the lawful approach to God.
The worlds methods of trying to approach the Lord God depend upon the flesh and appeal to the flesh. The commandment is broken in doctrine and practice when something is added to his service which he has not commanded. (We will list many things in the next lesson, which is the last in this commandment.)
Colossians 2:18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God. 20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
Even Christians can get caught up in will-worship, which falls under the second commandment.
Will worship is defined by Matthew Poole:
1. In arbitrary superstition, or human invention, or selfwilled religion, rather than Divine institutions; as all the ancients, and almost all the moderns, do interpret that word, it having no good, but an ill character; accounting the compound word here which we render will-worship,
WHAT is here termed will-worship, eyeloyrhskeia, signifies simply a mode of worship which a man chooses for himself, independently of the revelation which God has given.
Will worship is simply worship which one prescribes and devises for himself, contrary to the contents and nature of faith which ought to be directed to Christ.
All of life must be considered worship of the Lord God. Will worship is serving God as best fits within our own will, not within Gods word.
Colossians 2:18, describes a manner of worship that proceeds from the fleshly mind. If a group of worshipers do not have clear Scriptural justification for what they preach and practice, they are in sin according to the second commandment.
Churches such as Saddleback use 'hoochy-dancing' and sexual stimulation in the name of worship that appeals to the flesh, all in the name of reaching the lost. These are involved in the sin of will-worship. It is certainly appealing to the flesh, but hateful to the Lord God. These groups only offer more bondage to the flesh.
The list is endless, and sickening to those of us who believe Scripture, of how churches use the worlds means to attract people to their worship services. Using the worlds means to serve God only feeds the appetites to follow the world, and our children will be willing followers.
The Washington Post, B1. 12/15/06. A Window on Religion And Tolerance.
A class of 50 high school students took a field trip to the Washington National Cathedral, the Islamic Mosque and culture Center and a synagogue. But they did not go to a Christian Church, no doubt because of the separation of church and state.
Two of the pictures at the top of the page these captions:
First, Kellie Burkinshat, left, and teacher Amy Buckingham
prepare to enter the Islamic Mosque and Culture Center.
The picture shows the females covering their heads.
Second, Graig L. Sumberg, executive director of the 6th
and I Historic Synagogue in Washington, displays tora scrolls
to Wootton high School students Imad el-Amine, second from left,
David Ducey, Saba Bader, Doug Elliott and Yalda Jafari. Honukkah
begins tonight.
When will Christians wake up that the number one goal of the state is to separate Biblical Christianity from America, and the state is having great success as new generations come along.
The message we hear is that there is only one god, but many roads to him: Buddhas religion, Mohammads religion, Jewish religion. Anything except Jesus Christ as revealed in Holy Scripture. And the state will not only support but sponsor anything that bypasses Jesus Christ.
Even those professing to believe Scripture yet seek to approach Jehovah God through any means other than through the finished work of Christ are no better off than the followers of Mohammad.
Though one may pretend to worship the true God, yet when using false means to worship the true God, he is an idolater. The church today is given over to idolatry.
1/12/07, WorldNetDaily reported that U.S. Navy chaplain Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt was court-martialed and ejected from military service because he prayed in Jesus name, when a superior ordered him not to use Jesus name.
We are seeing the results of that idolatry all around us as our once Christian nation is now on the verge of being a totally secular, pagan nation. It is on the verge of becoming another oppressive Soviet Union of 25 years ago. (NYT, January 14, 2007, Military Is Expanding Its Intelligence Role in U.S. This is why we now have a Military man heading up the civilian spy agencies.)
I think we can safely say that there will be a woman president within the next 8 years as Gods hand of judgment increases against his sinful people who insist on determining for themselves what is right and wrong.
Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.
It is a mark of Gods judgment for women to replace men in places of authority in the home, in the church and in society in general.
When I became pastor at Linden Baptist Church, there was a man who seemed to be the outstanding pillar in the church. He was the number one man on the pulpit committee that invited me to the church. He was an ideal man to have in the church, for he was always available when there was a need.
He push mowed the grass at the church, which had a large yard around it. He push mowed the grass at my house when I was in bed with back problems for a few weeks.
He did fine for several years, until I was teaching through the London Baptist Confession in SS class. When we got to the chapters dealing with Gods Calling, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification and Saving Faith, his wife asked me if babies who die go to heaven. I told her that the Bible does not speak clearly on the subject, but considering Scriptural implications, Gods mercy and justice, my personal opinion was that they did, but Scripture just does not say.
She wanted a clear and firm yes, for they had lost twins as soon as the twins were born. My answer did not satisfy her, so she got up and walked out of the building and never came back. Her husband was able to attend the church for a few more months, but the pressure was too much for him, so he left also. I had suspicioned that she controlled the family, and my suspicion was confirmed.
Why did the wife control the family?
The reason is another lesson, and makes a good sermon, especially to young people. Let me give the very short summery of it.
Scripture teaches that premarital sex places the man into bondage to his wife if he marries the woman he had relations with. That problem can be corrected by the man after marriage if he will follow Gods word. The situation with the man at Linden proved the validity of Gods word in this area.
Moving on.
Lawful images permitted in the Second Commandment:
Pictures of visible, understandable, historical creatures and events, as long as they are not used in religious service.
Exodus 31:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. 6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;
This is an interesting and enlightening passage. Filled with the Spirit is here defined as God given wisdom, understanding and knowledge to do what God has given us to do. Here Bezaleel was filled with the Spirit of God so he could go do his occupation, which was building, and carving images.
Being filled with the Spirit is simply being equipped by God to do what he has given us to do, whether that job is building a church, painting a picture, digging a ditch, putting in a septic system, cleaning floors and sinks, mowing grass, rearing and training our children, being a good wife or husband. It includes, but is certainly not limited to, preaching and teaching Gods word.
We see that Bezaleel was given Gods good Spirit so he could carve images out of wood and stone. Solomon made images of lions for his use. The gifts of engraving and painting are given by God, the same as he gives the gift of preaching or teaching his word.
Images depicting Moses giving the law as fond in many court
houses, including the Supreme Court, are not unlawful.
January 28, 2007
Part 7
Deuteronomy 5:8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, 10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Now let us look at unlawful, or forbidden images which are against the Second Commandment:
> Pictures and images that are obscene and against Christian modesty are primarily against the Seventh Commandment, for they lead to mental adultery. (Immodest dress and actions are against the Seventh Commandment.)
> Pictures and images upon which men place too much time in curiosity or expense.
> We should also include abstract art, for these things do not reflect Gods creation, but reflect some mans vain, wild, and many times corrupt, imagination. Abstract art emanates from man, not from God.
> The most obvious sin against the Second Commandment is any picture or image that is put to religious use, or that is given any religious significance.
It is reported that Augustine, speaking on Psalms 113 after his conversion from Rome, said, He who worshippeth and prayeth toward an image, is an idolater: for, who, saith he, worshippeth and prayeth towards an image, who is not affected with it as if it heard him. (Law, 73.)
In other words, why pray toward a picture or image if one does not think the image hears and answers the prayer?
> Every image or picture depicting God (and Christ). God was very careful to tell us that his only true revelation is in his Word.
Deuteronomy 4:15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: 16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,...
God is an infinite Spirit, so any similitude of him would be turning the glory of the invisible God into some visible and corruptible creature.
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Isaiah 9:6 tells us that Christ is The mighty God, The everlasting Father.
John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
Let me ask: Does the Second Commandment apply to God the Son as it does to God the Father? What are we going to do with the small images that are made to look like baby Jesus?
Though the Son was all man, he was not a mere man with one nature. He was the God-Man, and this command says that to depict him as a natural man is sin. It is impossible to properly represent Christ, for he is the everlasting Father. ANY depiction of Christ must be a figment of someones imagination.
> Is there any difference between presenting the Son under an image of a lamb or a young man, the Holy Ghost under the image of a dove or tongues of fire, is their any difference between those images and Presenting God the Father as an old man? The dove upon Christ and the tongues upon the apostles was not the Spirit taking those forms. These images were simply physical representations of the actions of the Spirit.
God forbids any conceivable or imaginable likeness between God and anything we can invent.
Isaiah 40:18 (To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?), 25 (To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.). As we saw in Deuteronomy 4, any image or picture depicting God, or Jesus, must be presumption, a produce of mans imagination.
We must assume that the images to Baal and Ashtroeth that Solomon established were not considered the gods themselves, but only set up on the honor of those gods. 2 Kings 23:13. Nor were Manasses chariots to the sun supposed to be the sun. 2 Kings 23:11.
When any thing of external worship that is due only to the true God, is given to any other, it is worship of devils, even though that object is not meant to deprive Jehovah God of what is due him. Exodus 32, Deuteronomy 32:15-18, Psalms 106:19, 20, 37.
[End]
Part 8
We are discussing unlawful, or forbidden images which are against the Second Commandment.
We closed last week with this statement:
When any thing of external worship that is due only to the true God, is given to any other, it is worship of devils, even though that object is not meant to deprive Jehovah God of what is due him. Exodus 32, Deuteronomy 32:15-18, Psalms 106:19, 20, 37.
Psalms 106: 19 They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image. 20 Thus they changed their glory into the similitude of an ox that eateth grass.
Isaiah 40:18 ¶ To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?
Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
WHAT ABOUT THE ANGELS as seen in the Old Testament?
In their Old Testament appearances, we see them always ready for Gods service. But they were forbidden for any religious purpose.
Revelation 19:10, 22:8, 9 8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. 9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Though an image or painting may be lawful, such as images of angels or saints, they are made unlawful when any religious meaning is given to them. Some expect images to help them pray, or even to heal. Though they do not worship the images, they see seek aid from the one represented by the image.
(Horrible images in Brazil.)
In Numbers 21:4-9, Israel spake against God as they murmured against Moses, accusing Moses, that is God, of bringing them out of Egypt to kill them in the wilderness. The Lord then sent fiery serpents among the people to bit the people. Many people died. The people confessed their sin of speaking against the Lord, and asked Moses to pray for them. Moses did, and the Lord told Moses to make an image of a fiery serpent, set it on a pole, and all who were bitten would look on it would live. John 3 tells us that that image was a type of Christ being lifted up and giving life to all who would look to him by faith would live.
Now, this was an image made at Gods command, but as the years went on, Israel gave a religious significance to the image. Many years later, Hezekiah had to destroy it.
2 Kings 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
We are told that Christians have no business looking after, studying about nor even mentioning the names of heathen gods ? Cupid, Venus, Apollo, Jupiter, &c. What edification can they have?
Psalms 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Valentines Day is coming up, and we will hear a lot about Cupid. So let me mention some things about Cupid.
In Roman mythology, Cupid is the god of erotic love; that is, the god of sexual desire, especially the feelings of anticipation of sexual activity. It is not only the state of arousal and anticipation, but also the attempt through whatever means of representation to incite those feelings. Cupid is represented in things like Pornography, immodest dress, immodest music; that is, the things from which we are to protect ourselves and our children. Things that raise inordinate desires:
Colossians 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Inordinate affection, or affection that is without restraint. Ezekiel 23:11 connects inordinate love with whoredoms.
Evil Concupiscence, or a strong evil desire or passion, or in Pauls context, an unlawful yearning or longing.
Cupid is the pagan god of these evil passions and yearnings.
Cupid is said to be the son of Mercury, or Hermes, and Diana, or the son of Mercury and Aphrodite, or Venus.
Cupid's cult was closely associated with that of Venus, with Cupid being worshipped as devotedly as she. Additionally, Cupid's power was supposed to be even greater than his mother's, since he had dominion over the dead in Hades, the creatures of the sea and the gods in Olympus. Some of the cults of Cupid suggested that Cupid as son of Night and Hell mated with Chaos to produce both men and gods, making the gods the offspring of love.
Christians have not business even mentioning Cupid, who is illustrated as a naked boy.
Section 9
Exodus 20: 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Psalms 16:4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.
Psalms 16:4 expands on the Second Commandment, which clearly identifies as sin when any education facilities require students to study any religion other than Christianity, or even introduces them to false religions.
This Commandment speaks to all external ordinances, such as doctrine, worship, government, discipline. It commands that these things be kept pure, according to Gods Word.
It covers all external obedience to the law-word of God:
* Right manner of receiving the truths of God.
Mark 4:24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
* Right manner of reverence in worship, hearing the word of God. (In speaking with others about the Word of God, at times they may roll their eyes in dismay. Violation of Second.)
Note: Those who refuse to hear the truth of Gods word violate the Second Commandment.
* Submitting to the government and discipline of the house of the Lord, not only on the Christian Sabbath but on all occasions, for proper discipline is part of our outward worship.
Hebrews 13:17. (Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.)
* Right use of the sacraments, or ordinances, and worthy receiving of them.
1 Corinthians 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
We have already mentioned that those who give a mystical value to various religious practices, including The Lords Table violate this commandment.
(One of our children goes to a church where they are taught that the Lords table is not remembrance, but a means of grace.)
* Praying externally (internal prayer covered in the First Commandment).
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
* Outward confession of sin when necessary (secret sin, confess to God alone; sin against individual, confess to God and individual; sin that has become public, confess to God, individual(s), and publically to church or to those affected by the sin). (James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.)
* Vowing, swearing, fasting, &c. when required by providence.
Ecclesiastes 5:4 When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
* Pure public service of God, and right manner of doing duties vs. duties done in hypocrisy, for God will not be worshiped thusly in any duty.
Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
* Private duties in the family.
Ephesians 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
* Christian fellowship.
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
* All our worship and service must be directed to the Father through the Son, for nothing can reach the Father except through the Son. Romans 5:2, Ephesians 1:6, 2:18.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
* Requires right means in all of Gods public service, educating young men for the ministry with proper instruction and accommodations. Thus, it requires purging the Gospel Church of unqualified leaders, of compromisers of Gods word and corrupt ministers, 1 Timothy 3:6, 10, 4:12, 5:22, 2 Timothy 2:2, 24, Titus 1, Ephesians 5:11,
1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
2 John 1:10 ¶ If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
Men who are placed and kept in the ministry must have the God given ability of teaching. (D.L. Moody saw his qualification as being able to draw a crowd. That is the major qualification of leaders today, it seems.)
* Dissociating from and even removing corrupt members. 1 Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:6.
We are not to eat with those listed: fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner... V. 11. (Also, 1 Corinthians 6:10.) The word railer is an interesting word. It is listed with the fornicator, covetous, idolater, drunkard and extortioner. We are forbidden to even eat with those caught in these sins. The context implies that we should not partake of the Lords table with them.
Or a railer. A reproachful man; a man of coarse, harsh, and bitter words; a man whose characteristic it was to abuse others; to vilify their character, and wound their feelings. It is needless to say how much this is contrary to the spirit of Christianity, and to the example of the Master, who when he was reviled, reviled not again. (Barnes Notes)
Railers, such as used their tongues intemperately and scandalously, to the prejudice of others reputation. (Matthew Poole)
In Romans 13:13, this sin is listed with strife and envying.
Psalms 101:5 Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
1 Corinthians 5:11 at the very least excludes those listed from the Lords Table, if not requiring excommunication.
Those corrupted by false doctrine, who promote envy, strife and division, and who undermine the pastors authority are forbidden. 1 Corinthians 3:3, 2 Corinthians 11:13.
2 Thessalonians 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
Hence, churches without discipline violate this commandment.
The vast majority of modern churches today are in gross violation of the Second Commandment with not only unqualified leaders, but corrupt members.
Violation also include:
* meritorious causes of pardon and justification other than only through the blood and merits of Christ?I can do these religious activities in order to make me more accepted by God. A very popular and well known Baptist preacher, who is now dead, taught in his old age that a Christian could earn merit with God by his good works. Of course, his goal was to have the largest Church in the world, so he offered incentives to get his people to work.
* more officers in the Church, or His house, than appointed by Scripture, e.g., bishops (Scripture identifies a bishop as a pastor, 1 Timothy3), cardinals, &c. This raises serious questions about trustees, an office not called for by God, but by the state for an incorporated church.
* more ceremonies in worship than called for by Scripture. There are well known Christian groups that go through a great deal of ceremonial rituals in their worship services, ceremonies totally uncalled for in Scripture.
* more holy days (not holidays) than God instituted (some would place Christmas and Easter in this category.)
* equating other things with Gods word that control religious practice, e.g., traditions of men. Deuteronomy 4:2, Matthew 15:3-6 (3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?), Colossians 2:8.
Writing in 1675, James Durham tells us that at one time, exchanging gifts on New Years day was a common practice. It was a heathen custom, and dedicated to the devil-god, Janus. Christians who observed it were excommunicated. Law unsealed, p. 83, 84. During that time of history, the church declared a fast to be kept on New Years day to bewail the heathenish practices, and those practices included sports and lewd idolatrous practices.
(New Years day has been taken over by heathenish practices,
particularly sports and drunkenness. Football and partying. Thanksgiving,
a religious holiday, has been changed into a day given to the
pagan worship of sports.)
March 11, 2007
Part 10
Violations also include:
Misinterpretations and misapplication of Scripture, prayer in an unknown tongue, truth mixed with error.
The belief that one worships God only at a particular building, a church building, neglect of practices of known duties of worship, failure to speak up for Christ when a testimony is called for.
Serving God with superstition by duties he never required, e.g., pilgrimages to such and such place. (You can be more spiritual by visiting the Holy Land. It is natural to want to be able to do some religious activity to gain merit with God, other than Christs merit, or to even impress other Christians.) I will admit, I would like to visit the Holy Land, but not to draw closer to the Lord.
Prayer:
Note that the Second Commandment deals with proper approach to the Father, which is through Jesus Christ alone. Thus, all prayer falls under this commandment.
* The most obvious sin is attempting to pray or expecting the Lord to hear prayer that is not offered through the work of Christ. John 14:13, 14.
*Belief that it is holier to pray in one particular place than in another, or that a particular posture is better than another. Importance is given to the number of words in prayer, repetition of prayers
Is The Lords Prayer offered through the work of Christ, or is it simply a religious ritual. There are those use The Lords Prayer as a formal ritual to be repeated often, evidently feeling there is some religious merit in doing so.
*Neglect of this necessary duty of prayer. Luke 18:1, men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
*Not being humble when we pray. 1 Peter 5:6.
*Forgetting the necessity of the Spirits help in prayer. Romans 8:26.
*Not praying for those in public service ministers before and as they preach, missionaries, public servants. Acts 6:4, 1 Timothy 2:2.
*Slighting prayer in our families and in secret.
* Slighting the Spirits work through prayer.
* Not praying in all things. Ephesians 6:18.
* Failure to pray for the conversion of sinners. Romans 10:1.
* Failure to pray for Christs kingdom to come here on earth as it is in heaven.
* Expecting gifts instead of grace when we pray. Wandering mind and sleeping when we pray.
* Less concern for others in prayer than for ourselves. Philippians 2:3.
* Hypocracy when others pray that is, we seem to be joining but are far from their prayers.
Preachers should not try to present Gods word without proper prayer for it to do an effectual work. They must not offer Gods word without faith that it will do it will not return void. Isaiah 55:11.
Not waiting for an answer, nor observing whether they have been answered or not. Galatians 6:9. Failure to be thankful in all things, particularly in answered prayer. Romans 1:21.
Praise: Failure to ask the Spirit to enable us to pray and praise the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:15, Psalms108:1. Praising the Lord in hypocrisy not with the whole heart, preforming it only with the lips, maybe just to fit into the group we are identifying with. Praising him with our whole heart results in our daily lives praising him. Psalms 9:1.
In the college age youth group I was in after I got out of the service there was a young lady who worked for a Christian radio station. The station would host gospel sings. She would tell us of how wicked the gospel singers were out of the public eye. They were in gross violation of the Second Commandment as their private lives did not reflect their public praise. We come to church and sing praises to the Lord, but does our life outside the church reflect that praise?? Psalms 86:12, 108:1, 119:7, 138:1, before the gods will I sing praise unto thee that is, before the civil rulers we are to praise God.
WND AT THE WHITE HOUSE Bush lives Christian faith, doesn't impose it, Snow says. WorldNetDaily, 12/16/06.
Hillary hires faith guru. WorldNetDaily, 12/16//06.
Praise teams in the worship services!!! Many of the so called praise songs of our day are empty, written by hypocrites who live double lives. I know a young lady who moved out of her home in rebellion to her father, yet a church she attended asked her to be their worship leader.
Failure to praise God through Christ.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Hypocrisy in singing the praises penned by others without being in the same frame of mind, or spirit, as they were when they wrote those praises we simply say the praises without our heart being in them. Our affections not on the One whom we are praising. Failure to praise him for his former mercies and deliverance, and his present goodness. Psalms 111
After we praise the Lord, we fall right back to our carnal self, thinking and/or acting with envy, strife and divisions.
1 Corinthians 3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Scripture: Giving unwarranted importance to one word or passage of Scripture over another. All Scripture is given by God, and all is equally profitable for our instruction. 2 Timothy 3:16.
Circumstances: Preferring one circumstance over another, without any warrant (God may be moving us), or discontentment with where providence has us. Philippians 4:11.
Right duties in the wrong way ? selfish ends, hypocrisy, formalitythat is, depending on formality to make our worship or service more acceptable.
Failure to deny our own strength in our attempt to discharge our God given duties. 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Worship: Lack of reverence in worship; lack of zeal against error or false worship, and to maintain true worship. Putting in or keeping in unworthy ministers and teachers, and keeping worthy men out of the ministry. 2 Peter 2:1, 2. Tolerating errors in the church and in the home. Also the lack of discipline and true teaching in the home with those under our responsibility, including the work place. If we have the authority to enforce Gods word, then if we do not, we violate the Second Commandment.
Preaching: Sitting under the preaching/teaching of the Word without a hunger and desire, and lot laying aside those things that would hinder us. Acts 10:33, 1 Peter 2:1-3. Going to hear the word of God with prejudice?that is, our mind is made up, so dont confuse me with the facts of Gods truth. Looking for a church to confirm what we want to believe rather than to learn what God requires of us. Deuteronomy 10:12.
How many shop around for a church that will tell them what they want to hear, contrary to Gods truth? Coming to hear the preaching without an expectation and desire for the presence of God, meeting with him, and expecting to hear from him; coming out of custom and not of respect and honor of God. Not looking to God, nor receiving the word as Gods word, but mans. (How many times have your pastor and I heard, That is just your opinion, when we knew we were presenting the clear truth of Gods word, whether in preaching or in personal counsel? Those people were in gross violation of the Second Commandment.)
Ezekiel 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. 33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.
It is especially sad when the people tell us that they know we are telling the truth, but they cannot tolerate it, or their wives will not tolerate it. I had a woman get up in the middle of SS class as we were going through the London Baptist Confession because I said that the Bible does not clearly tell us what happens to babies who die in infancy. She had lost twins, and she wanted a pastor who would assure her they were in heaven. She never came back. Though her husband stayed around for a few months, he went with her to a more likeable church.
Many others have told me that they know I was telling the truth, but they could not abide by it.
One that hits us all sleeping when we should be hearing the Word.
Hearing but not understanding the word. Matthew 13:13. Though the speaker may be at fault for speaking over the heads of the hearers, the hearers are required to be past the milk of the word. Hebrews 5:11-6-3. Hebrews also speaks against seeking after novel teachings and entertainment from the word. Acts 17:21.
The first time I was given a responsibility to teach adults was in about 1970. I have been amazed since over the fact that adults who have been saved and faithful in church for many years are generally only able to understand the bare basics of Scripture. They just cannot get past the milk stage, and strong meat seems to gag them.
Then upon hearing the word, WE soon forget it. (Forbidden, Psalms 50:6-23, v. 17..) Sadly, thought I have written thousands of theological articles over the years, I can tell you very little of what I have written. In fact, I can read many of the past articles, and wonder who wrote them. No faith, reverence nor fear of violation mixed with hearing (reading) the word.
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Any reaction against reproofs of the Word. Not comparing our lives with the preached word. Applying the word to others instead of ourselves. How many times do preachers hear this as people go out from a message ? I sure wish ..... had heard that message; he sure needed it. When all the time it was meant for the person speaking. Also, attributing wrong motives to the preacher in the message he offered.
Seeking after knowledge rather than how to make our service more effective; making no application of the Word for ourselves; feeling we have done our religious duty by church attendance rather than by doing what we understood from Scripture. James 1:22, 25.
Though the same truth, expression and scripture is cited by two speakers, the truth is received from one over the other because of his stature in mans eyes. James 2:9. Following after a preacher because of his winning ways and personality rather than for his faithfulness to Gods word. Churches build around human leadership rather than around sound doctrine are in gross violation of this commandment. 2 Timothy 4:2-4. Not comparing what we hear with the Scriptures. Acts 17:1.
Immodest apparel that does not support our profession of Christ. Things that divert the attention from the preaching thoughts (even good thoughts), reading, talking, observing our surroundings.
The Sacraments are covered under the Second Commandment.
We have mentioned the Lords Table, but now let us examine it a little more under this commandment.
Though the Reformed Community agree on just about everything, the Lords Table and baptism are areas of great controversy, and have been since the Reformation.
Sacraments
The sacraments are an area of disagreement in the Reformed community the Presbyterians and the Baptist. I must say that I generally have found more kindred spirits among the Presbyterians than I have among the Baptist.
I was in the Navy Seabees. However, we had a closer relationship with the Marines than we did the Navy.
There are all kinds of arguments that children should be included in the sacrament along with their believing parents. However, the arguments I read have been from history, not from Scripture. I see the Scripture clearly on this: It says, let a man examine himself... 1 Corinthians 11:28.
Pastor Sprinkle speaks on the importance of the Lords Table each time we partake, so there is no need to spend time in this area, though there are many points we could make. In addition, The London Baptist Confession chapters 28, 29, 30, cover the Lords Supper and Baptism. So I will only mention a few things about these subjects.
The Lords Table is a reminder of 1) what he did for his elect, 2) his promise to return for his elect (it is for our consolation, Hebrews 6:18), and 3) it is a call to examine our hearts for secret and open sins. 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
There are some in the Reformed community who boarder on Romanism, as they imply that it is the literal body and blood of Christ of which they are partaking. Furthermore, some give the Table undo mystical value, saying that it transfers grace to the communicant. The Lord strengthens faith as we obey his word, whether that word is in the Table or in our every day activity.
We must be careful not to take away from nor give the Lords Table more value than what is given by the Lord himself, or we will be found subtracting from or adding to the word of God.
Sins in the Lords Supper.
First, failure to properly appreciate what Christ did for us.
Second, failure to have a right frame of mind, and examine our hearts.
Third, leaving the Lords Table with a irreverent and carnal spirit. Forgetting what we have done, and falling immediately to loose words or thoughts.
Fourth, Failure to make a proper distinction between the Lords Table and a regular table. Ezekiel 22:26.
Fifth, but knowingly allowing the Lords Table to be polluted by those unqualified to take it. 1 Corinthians 5:3-5.
Sixth, failure to examine ones self, and partake accordingly. 1 Cor 11:28. How many seek to examine others: They should not be doing this.
How about baptism?
This is the second area of sometimes heated discussion.
As a pastor, I was confronted with a family who wanted me to baptize their children. I did a through study on the issue, and published it in 64, 8 ½ x 11 pages. I traced the issue from 100 AD to the present, and to my surprise, found that Calvin himself said there was no Scriptural justification for the practice.
One of my favorite statements is by Charles Hodge:
The difficulty on this subject is that baptism from its very nature involves a profession of faith ; it is the way in which by the ordinance of Christ, He is to be confessed before men ; but infants are incapable of making such confession ; therefore they are not the proper subjects of baptism. Or, to state the matter in another form : the sacraments belong to the members of the Church ; but the Church is the company of believers ; infants cannot exercise faith, therefore they are not members of the Church, and consequently ought not to be baptized.
In order to justify the baptism of infants, we must attain and authenticate such an idea of the Church as that it shall include the children of believing parents. ... (Charles Hodge , 1797-1878, Systematic Theology, v. III, pp 546, 547. Charles Hodge was the principal of Princeton Theological Seminary between 1851 and 1878. He was one of the greatest exponents and defenders of historical Calvinism in America during the 19th century. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Hodge. Wikipedia, the free encyclopeda.)
The issue of paedobaptism was the cause of the persecutions of the Inquisitions of the 1500s, led by Zwingli and other of the Reformers against those who would not support paedobaptism. Both the Papists and the Reformers, even Calvin, admitted that Scripture does not support paedobaptism. (Though admitting there was no scriptural support, Zwingli said that to fail to keep Romes infant baptism would cost them their followers.) So the Reformers appealed to reason, offered analogies and called forth assumptions, but they gave no clear Scripture connecting Old Testament circumcision and New Testament baptism. Rather, they made an assumed connection, and built upon that assumption, typified by Hodge above.
Let me give just a short overview:
First, according to Matthew 28:19, 20, baptism follows teaching the gospel.
Second, baptism typifies the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Romans 6.
Third, baptism identifies us with Christ, and sets us apart from the world for Christs service.
Fourth, baptism is a public declaration of faith in Christ: if thou believest... Acts 8:36.
Fifth, baptism is symbolic of putting on Christ. It speaks of our close union with him. Romans 13:14.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Accordingly, it is our holy walk that shows we have put on Christ.
How is the Commandment broken in reference to the sacraments?
First, when we attribute too much to the sacraments. Such as, feeling they are absolutely necessary for salvation, or that they in some way make us acceptable to God. Ephesians 1:6 (We are accepted in the beloved, in Christ.)
Second, when grace is supposed to issue from the sacraments themselves. Grace, the desire and power to please God, comes from the Spirit alone.
Third, when our walk does not correspond with our identifying with Christ in our baptism.
Fourth, when baptism and communion are given more importance than preaching and praying.
Fifth, when we seek more for, or give more weight to the baptism of water than we do the baptism of the Spirit defined as more desire and power to please God. Or desire more or give more weight to the bread and wine than we do the word of God.
Sixth, placing more importance on them than on works of mercy, charity, &c.
We esteem then too little when we:
First, seem then as empty signs, without respect to what they represent.
Second, when God is not reverenced in them properly, or we see them as common things.
Third, when we do not delight in them.
Fourth, when we respect them more when administered by one man over another.
Fifth, being more desirous of the signs than of what they represent.
Sixth, when we fret or weary because we have been detained.
Seventy, not receiving edification by what is done and what is said.
Eighth, not encouraging, mourning for nor testifying against those whose walk does not correspond to their identification with Christ in baptism or the Lords supper. 1 Corinthians 11:29, Galatians 6:1.
Ninth, with our baptism, we publically agreed to take up Christs cross and follow him. Failure is sin. Luke 9:23, Philippians 3:8. Thus, we sin when we do not adorn our profession of faith, exhibited by public baptism, with sound doctrine in all things. Titus 2:10.
(Law unsealed, p. 104. The context there is baptism as an infant, and then reminding the adult of that baptism trying to keep him on the godly path. However, reminding an adult of the baptismal covenant and trying to get him to remain faithful to that covenant is like trying to get a son to pay off his fathers debt after the father is dead. The son did not make the covenant, so how can he be held accountable to it? We are by our baptifm bound to take up the crofs. However, the individual is not the one who bound himself, but his parents tried to bind him. How binding is that? How much sin is in one not fulfilling an agreement made for him without his knowledge? I get to be 21, and the bank comes to me and says, You owe us for the house your parents are living in, because they borrowed that money in your name when you were 8 days old. They promised you would pay it when you got old enough to do so. How can one claim spiritual ties with the Heavenly Father based upon what someone else did without the individuals knowledge? How can one claim a birth-rite if he has not been born from above?)
Fasting
Fasting falls under the Second Commandment. It is not a piece of immediate worship as prayer, but used as it is helpful to some other duty, such as prayer, humility, &c. Acts 13:2-4.
There are public reasonsThe king of Nineveh proclaimed
a fast when Jonah preached destruction, and the Lord turned from
his judgment upon them. Jonah 3:4-10. Esther requested her people
fast for three days and nights for God to give her favor in the
kings sight. Esther 4:16.
There are private reasonsDavid seeking the life of his child.
2 Samuel 13:16. Daniel sought Gods face in prayer and fasting
for wisdom to answer the king. Daniel 9:2, 3.
There are personal reasonshumbling ourselves, Psalms 35:13.
There are spiritual reasonagainst spiritual enemies, Matthew
17:21.
There are cases in all these when fasting with prayer is to be seriously practiced. Thus when we avoid or discount this important aspect of the Christian faith, we violate the Second Commandment.
If we do it in hypocrisy or mock others who do it.
We can give too much merit to fasting, and make it a religious worship in itself. Isaiah 58:1-7.
Or we can look on it as unneeded in our Christian life to help us be more like Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:5, 2 Corinthians 11:27. Sin by not considering fasting with delight.
Then we must be concerned about the right motive with secret examination. To be seen of men is forbidden. Matthew 6:16.
Fasting to gain an advantage over others is forbidden. Thinking it makes us more spiritual than others is forbidden. Isaiah 58:4.
The end of the Second Command requires some thoughts.
The threatened results of violation of the Second Commandment are the strongest of any commandment. The 4th would be second strongest.
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
First, God is a jealous God ? visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children... Though God may for a time forget the breach of this command, he sais he will remember, and the children will pay the price, even unto the third and fourth generation. Ezekiel 18.
The punishment may not be temporal, but it is promised to go as far as the fourth generation. Jeremiah 32:18. Psalms 47:4 says, He shall choose our inheritance for us... Thus, we neither know the time nor events of the results.
Sadly, it is not the violators who are punished. It is the children. The iniquity of the fathers is upon the children, not the fathers. However, the children cannot claim unjust punishments, whether temporal or spiritual. The children have deserved them, either by original sin or by participating in the sins of the fathers. None innocent are plagued, yet we are all plagued. Therefor, read our own sins into our plagues. Ezekiel 18.
We must remember that the law is a general law. God is sovereign in his mercy and grace. I am sure about everyone in here can see how Gods sovereignly given grace freed them from the sad results of their fathers sins. God is at liberty to break off the results at any time, or to extend them as long as pleases him.
We do know that 1 Peter 1:18 that through Christ, the redeemed can break away from the vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers... That is, they do not have to follow their fathers into the idolatry spoken against in this commandment.
[I have noticed that it normally takes a couple of generations to break the hold of the fathers sins.]
How do the sins reach the children?
God may deny and withhold his grace from the children, which he is not obligated to confer. (Note that baptism does not obligate Gods grace on adults nor on children.) The result is that the children not only follow the parents folly, but may increase in it, as did Cains and Esaus children. Psalms 49:12, 13.
Why does God threaten the children?
To make sin seem exceeding sinful. To more affect the sinner, knowing part of his punishment is against his children.
Holiness
Throughout Scripture, holiness is defined as being separated from the world and sin and devoted to the Lord. Numbers 16:38, Deuteronomy 7:6, Leviticus 20:7, 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Holiness in vows. Numbers 30. A man is bound by his oath. A man can void his wifes or unmarried daughters vow within 24 hours after he heard it. A widow is bound by her oath.
Holiness in diet resulting in good health is defined in Leviticus 11. It is interesting that holiness in diet is in the same passage as are consulters with familiar spirits and wizards, who are to be put to death. Leviticus 20:22-27. (RJR, 87)
Holiness in dress. Cross-dressing is an abomination to the Lord, such as women in the military. Deuteronomy 22:5. It includes all efforts to place women in mens jobs in the work place. According to Isaiah 3:12, women in authority is a mark of Gods judgment. Garments of mingled materials are forbidden. Deuteronomy 22:11.
Holiness involves the use of our finances. We mentioned this under the first commandment.
them that hate me... Where Gods holiness is loved, God is loved. Where Gods holiness is hated, God is hated. His holiness cannot be separated from his person. We cannot serve two masters a god who overlooks sin and a God who commands holiness.
It is a serious error to associate holiness with worship, as we do each time we gather together. Worship itself is not holy. There are many even today who are worshiping in sin. That is, they are trying to approach a god without Christ. Holiness does not refer to worship but to God in all his ways and in all his being. Holiness is all activity. Gods house of worship is found in the home, church, school and at work. John 4:23. In fact, the normal place of worship was in the home. (RJR, 70)
It is the blood of Jesus that gives access to the throne of God, not a physical location. Hebrews 10:19-22.
How much different are we at church than we are at home? In the work place? Why do we consider this building more holy than our homes? Than our work place?
IF GOD IS NOT HONORED IN OUR HOME AND IN OUR WORK PLACE, WE HAVE VIOLATED THE SECOND COMMANDMENT.
love me, and keep my commandments. Clearly, the outward effects of love, the proof of love is spelled out. This doctrine is held closely in the New Testament: John 14:15, 14:21, 1 John 5:3, 2 John 1:6.
To those who love him is given this gracious promise: shewing mercy unto thousands...
Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. 2 His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.
Note that though every sin has hatred of God stated in it, this sin of corrupting his worship is listed as special enmity against God.
Proverbs 20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. As he sees the results of his corruption coming to pass in his children.
Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.