Christ's Instructions

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
123) 1Cor 16:13a . . Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be men of courage;
be strong.

The Greek word for "men of courage" basically means to act manly; defined by
Webster's as: (1) having qualities generally associated with a man; viz: strength
and virility, and (2) appropriate in character to a man.

These days; progressive politics (a.k.a. woke) would have us to believe that things
like manliness, strength, and virility are toxic, viz: threats to public health and
safety. Well; all I can say to Christian men is: DO NOT permit progressive politics to
define your manhood or you'll just end up a sissy boy and thus useless for standing
firm in the faith; instead your stance will become flexible, i.e. influenced by
evolving social customs
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
124) 1Cor 16:14 . . Do everything in love.

The Greek word translated "love" in this instance doesn't necessarily indicate
fondness or affection but does indicate benevolence; defined by Webster's as the
disposition to do good, e.g. generosity, charity, altruism, compassion, and
sympathy, i.e. thoughtful, cordial, affable, genial, sociable, cheerful, warm,
sensitive, hospitable, considerate, tactful, diplomatic, accommodating, cooperative,
kind, courteous, lenient, tolerant, patient, helpful, civil, approachable, and friendly,
etc.

I would imagine that "everything" includes the business of managing a Church.

If a church officer's management practices tend to be more Machiavellian than
Christian, then maybe he really ought to consider stepping down and finding
himself a seat in a pew rather than a chair on the board. I mean it; this is not
something to take lightly. 1Cor 16:14 isn't optional; it's mandatory.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
125) 1Cor 16:15-18 . .You know that the household of Stephanas were the first
converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I
urge you, brothers, to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the
work, and labors at it. I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus
arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed
my spirit and yours also. Such men deserve recognition.

Paul and his associates depended pretty heavily upon the hospitality of local
believers for accommodations and daily necessities. Congregations do well to follow
the examples of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus either by opening their
homes to genuine missionaries or by funding their stay in a motel, providing them
with some pocket money, and possibly a rental car too.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
126) 1Cor 16:20 . . Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Kissing was a common form of greeting in the old world; and still is in the Middle
East and certain parts of Europe; but here in America-- a super-sized
racial/cultural/ethnic amalgam of customs from all over the globe --it's wise to
dispense your kisses with discretion. Some of us don't even like to be hugged, let
alone bussed; and if you should perchance try to make physical contact with an
autistic Christian, you're liable to cause them a panic attack; so go easy on the
touchy-feely stuff.

* The people to whom Paul referred as "one another" are one's fellows unified with
Christ. We're not required to be religiously cozy with outsiders.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
127) 1Cor 16:22 . . If anyone love not The Lord, let him be accursed.

One's love of The Lord is exemplified by loyalty. (John 14:15, 14:21, 23-24)

Does a Muslim have to be a terrorist to be accursed? No; they only have to be a
loyal follower of Muhammad ibn `Abdullāh instead of a loyal follower of Jesus
Christ; same goes for Atheists, Nonreligious, Baha'i, Buddhists, Chinese
Universalists, Confucianists, Jains, Kabbalah mystics, Shintoists, Spiritists, Taoists,
Zoroastrians, Jews, Sikhs, and Hindus-- they're all accursed and there is nothing to
be gained in arguing about it.

How many people am I talking about? Well, as of mid 2014, worldwide there were:

550,000 Scientologists
1,500,000 Mormons
8,200,000 Jehovah's Witnesses
18,479,257 Seventh Day Adventists
7,794,000 Baha'i
515,951,000 Buddhists
451,292,000 Chinese Folk Religionists
8,424,000 Confucianists
974,597,000 Hindus
5,567,000 Jains
14,142,000 Jews
1,673,590 Muslims
2,819,000 Shintoists
24,918,000 Sikhs
14,183,000 Spiritists
8,660,000 Taoists
196,000 Zoroastrians
828,594,000 Nonreligious
692,111,000 Agnostics
136,483,000 Atheists.

The grand total of just those categories alone is 5,3387,550,257

If those figures are in the ball park, and if conventional Christianity is the reality;
then a minimum of at least 75% of the world's 2014 global population of 7.2 billion
people wasn't unified with Christ.

NOTE: Scientology-- not actually a religion --coerced the IRS for an exemption
as such.

Joseph Smith's movement is a spin-off; in other words: there's some conventional
Christianity in it, but comprises only a portion of it. The rest of Mormonism is extreme,
to say the least.

Neither do Jehovah's Witnesses qualify as Christians in the conventional sense.
Charles Taze Russell's movement is a spin-off too. There's some conventional
Christianity in the Watchtower Society's doctrines, but comprises only a portion of
Russell's doctrines; and his slant on it is very peculiar.

BTW: An informative book that I personally consider an essential volume in every
Christian's library is called "Kingdom Of The Cults" by Walter Martin.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
128) 2Cor 2:6-8 . . The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for
him. Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be
overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for
him.

The cause for which Paul wrote that piece was a guy in the Corinthian church
sleeping with his stepmother (1Cor 5:1). Paul had instructed the congregation to
not only hold the man's feet to the fire, but also to ostracize him.

Some time had passed since then, and the man was apparently regretting his
actions, and broken off the illicit relationship with his kin, so it was time to let him
back into the group. No doubt the humiliation of it all had a tremendous impact
upon his attitude-- probably upon the congregation's too because at first their
attitude wasn't all that good about it either. (cf. 1Cor 5:2)

Here in America scolding and ostracizing a church member would probably just
make them resentful rather than contrite. (cf. Ps 51:17)

FAQ: Does 2Cor 2:5-10 support the Watchtower Society's shunning and/or
Scientology's disconnection?

REPLY: Those organizations practice vindictive forms of ostracizing that oftentimes
destroy friendship bonds, destroy family ties, destroy marriage vows, and even
endanger careers.

Christian ostracizing is pretty much limited to fellowship, i.e. congregational
functions, e.g. worship services, communion, prayer meetings, banquets, etc.
Extreme shunning practices put Christians in jeopardy of failing to comply with
Christ's instructions per Matt 5:44-48. (cf. 2Thess 3:14-15)

* A rough-hewn example for us to think about is located in the 15th chapter of
1Samuel wherein king Saul disobeyed God's instructions to utterly destroy Agag.
Afterwards Saul entreated Samuel to accompany him to church but the prophet
refused until the king fully admitted he was in the wrong.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
129) 2Cor 2:10-11 . . If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have
forgiven-- if there was anything to forgive --I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for
your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his
schemes.

One of the opposition's tactics is to create disunity in a church. Sure enough when
that happens-- as when one portion of the congregation believes in judging and
ostracizing while the other doesn't --people start taking sides and the church will
end up divided into cliques and factions. According to the lord and master of New
Testament Christianity, a house divided against itself cannot stand.

Paul mentioned that his extension of forgiveness was "in the sight of Christ". There
exists some controversy as to the exact meaning but I think it's just saying that
Paul's forgiveness of that man was done in accordance with Christ's approval; to
the end that the Corinthians all go along with it, i.e. stand together as one in their
compliance with the apostle Paul's decisions.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
130) 2Cor 5:20-21 . . We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were
making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to
God.

There's two different aspects to reconciliation. One is a criminal justice kind of
reconciliation (e.g. Rom 5:6-11, Rom 6:3-11, 1John 2:2) and the other is a
fellowship kind of reconciliation. (e.g. Gen 4:1-7, Gen 5:22-24, Gen 6:9, Gen 17:1,
1John 1:3-7)

For example, a man and his wife may not be speaking to each other; and sleeping
in separate beds; but they're still married: they're just not getting along; in other
words, they're out of fellowship with one another. It's God's wishes that His own
walk with Him in fellowship while they're waiting for their departure; and the
Corinthians weren't doing very well at it.

In order to restore diplomatic relations between themselves and their Father above,
that congregation had to knuckle down and deal with sin in their midst in
accordance with their superior's wishes rather than their own. Compare Josh 7:2-26
where Moses' people couldn't win anymore battles until they first dealt with a sin in
their midst.

It's ironic that a fully functioning Christian church like the one at Corinth was in
need of reconciliation with God. How many Christian churches are just like that
today? They pride themselves in being Spirit-filled congregations, yet their
congregational attitude is completely out of touch with Christ. Yes, Christian
congregations are oftentimes out of touch and need to come to their senses and
reconnect or else they risk becoming like the church at Laodicea where the central
figure of Christianity is depicted outside the building banging on the door trying to
get someone's attention to let him in. (Rev 3:14-22)
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
131) 2Cor 6:1-2 . . As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace
in vain; for He says: In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of
salvation I helped you. I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of
salvation.

Salvation is a project similar to tearing down a house and building it back better.
Well; the Corinthians had undergone the demolition phase in concert with Christ's
crucifixion and resurrection; but they were stuck in the rubble, so to speak.

Well; Paul said, in so many words; that they shouldn't wait till the afterlife to begin
building back better, rather, God wanted them to begin now, in this life.

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--
living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."
(1Pet 4:3 cf. Rom 6:1-14)
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
132) 2Cor 6:14-18 . . Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for
what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion
hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel? and what agreement hath the temple of God
with idols?

. . . For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said: I will dwell in them,
and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate-- saith The Lord --and touch not
the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye
shall be my sons and daughters --saith The Lord Almighty.

Those instructions clearly prohibit intermarriage between Christians and non
Christians. Failure to comply is not only grossly disobedient, but it's unwise and can
have tragic results; for example:

● Gen 6:1-2 . .When men began to increase in number on the earth and daughters
were born to them, the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful,
and they married any of them they chose.

If we posit that the "sons of God" were believers and the "daughters of men" were
not; then it would appear that back in Noah's day, believing men threw caution to
the wind and built themselves harems of unbelieving women. What happened to
those believing men when it came time for the Flood? Well, for one thing; they had
lost their piety.

● Gen 7:1 . .The Lord then said to Noah: Go into the ark, you and your whole
family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.

None of the other sons of God in that day were righteous; hence they weren't
invited aboard the ark. All of those men-- whose women were chosen based solely
upon sensual allure sans any spiritual prudence whatsoever --perished in the Flood
right along with everybody else.

Another incident is located at Nehemiah 13:23-31; which led to the break-up of homes
because the Jews had entered into forbidden marriages. (Josh 23:11-13, Deut 7:1-6)
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
133) 2Cor 7:1 . . Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse
ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness
out of deference to God's will.

Webster's defines "deference" as affected and/or ingratiating regard for another's
wishes. Deference is the opposite of resistance, rebellion, defiance, indifference,
stubbornness and/or doing things your own way.

Contaminations of one's body would include things like drug addiction, alcoholism,
adultery, promiscuity, gluttony, eating blood, etc.

Contaminations of the spirit likely refers to things that influence one's thinking
and/or have an effect upon the personality; for example: Critical Race Theory, the
political philosophies of Carl Marx, Mao Zedong, and Vladimir Lenin, Planned
Parenthood, Liberalism, LGBTQ sex education, transgender propaganda, anti
Semitism, certain kinds of television and/or internet entertainment, etc.

* The promises are those listed at 2Cor 6:14-18.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
134) 2Cor 8:11-15 . . If the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to
what one has, not according to what he does not have. Our desire is not that others
might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.

. . . At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their
plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: He
who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have
too little.

* The equality we're looking at here has nothing to do with banning private
property and/or mandatory distribution of wealth; viz: this is about generosity
rather than politics, so please don't attempt to defend and/or promote Socialism
with this passage.

It's inevitable that some churches would be disadvantaged compared to others. For
example: here in the USA's big cities, churches have no lack of resources to take
care of themselves; while small town churches are barely scraping by. The
charitable thing for the big-city church to do is take a small town church under its
wing, like any normal person would a needy relative. The idea here is to moderate
the small church's disadvantages and keep things closer to a level playing field, so
to speak, i.e. fair vs. unfair.

NOTE: "if the willingness is there" tells me that church officers should not pressure
and/or shame their people into sharing their abundance, viz: should not attempt to
break down their resistance; like talking people into buying cars and vacuum
cleaners, so to speak.

The directive is an excellent passage for debunking the so-called Faith Promise;
which is a popular scheme for seducing congregations into pledging money they
don't have while expecting God's providence will somehow provide it. That is not
the Lord's way. By means of Paul, the Lord says to help out with what you already
have, not what you hope to have later; I mean: it is not His wish to copy ENRON's
mark-to-market accounting practices and/or futures trading with pork bellies and
soy beans.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
135) 2Cor 9:7 . . Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not reluctantly or under compulsion for God loves a cheerful giver.

Towards what end is the giving spoken of in the New Testament? To finance
ambitious building programs? Well; Christians back then met in homes. Did their
contributions go towards obtaining more homes to meet in? No.

Within the context of the New Testament; giving in the early church was charitable.
It met needs rather than expenses; and those needs were typically congregational
rather than universal; viz: their charity went towards those amongst themselves
and/or other congregations that were hungry, sick, injured, homeless, alone,
helpless, missionaries, full-time-church officers, orphans, widows, abandoned,
and/or oppressed, etc.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
136) 2Cor 10:7 . . If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should
reconsider that we belong to Christ just as much as he.

It's amazing that any Christian's ego would be so inflated as to think themselves
holier than an apostle, However, there are some people out there infected with a
pretty bad case of conceit who are up to it.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
137) 2Cor 13:5 . . Examine yourselves, whether you're in the faith; test your own
selves. Don't you know of your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, unless
you're all reprobates?

The only proof-positive way for individuals to know for sure whether Christ is in
them is by getting it from the horse's mouth.

● Rom 8:15 . .The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.

The Greek word translated "testifies" means to corroborate; defined by Webster's
as: to support or help prove (a statement, theory, etc.) by providing information or
evidence.

This kind of support usually isn't public: it's private. In other words: it's one on one,
spirit to spirit, heart to heart. Needless to say then, this kind of corroboration is
supernatural rather than academic which is why Paul said to test "your own selves"
rather than testing others because it's on an individual basis, i.e. no one but you
and God together can do this for you.

Smokey the Bear says: Only you can prevent forest fires, whereas scripture says:
Only you can know whether Christ is in you.

* Quite a bit of delusion, self deception, and outright dishonesty goes on in this
area of Christianity and I'm afraid there's not much can be done about it for now.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
138) Gal 1:8 . . Though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto
you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

The Greek word for "accursed" in that passage basically has to do with banishment,
shunning and/or disassociation.

An application of this, within the epistle to Galatians, is 5:4 where it says:

"You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you
have fallen away from grace."

Whenever Paul spoke of "law" he was usually referring to the five books of Moses
per Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. So, in a nutshell; the
anathema clearly applies to people who insist that it's necessary to comply with the
Ten Commandments to appease the wraith of God, e.g. Acts 15:5.
_

 

[Tha:yo:nih]

.
139) Gal 5:1 . . Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us
free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

The yoke of bondage about which Paul wrote pertains to the covenant that Moses'
people agreed upon with God per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy;
which is described by Acts 15:10 as "neither our fathers, nor are we, able to bear"

A very serious problem with that covenant is that it allows neither pardon nor
atonement for willful disobedience.

● Num 15:30-31 . . Anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien,
blasphemes The Lord, and that person must be cut off from his people. Because he
has despised The Lord's word and broken His commands, that person must surely
be cut off; his guilt remains on him.

FAQ: David knew that an affair with married Bathsheba would be adultery. How
then was God able to let him off with a mere rap on the knuckles, so to speak,
seeing as how that covenant was David's religion? (2Sam 2:13)

REPLY: David was a man of faith and also a prophet. He was spared a full cup of
the wrath of God by means of Jesus' crucifixion. (Rom 3:21-26 & 1Pet 1:10-11)

FAQ: Jesus was crucified ex post facto. How then was it legal to apply his cross to
David retroactively?

REPLY: Jesus was designated, and scheduled, to give his life for the sins of the
world very early-on: prior to anything created. (1Pet 1:18-20 & Rev 13:8)
_