Christ's Instructions

[Odë:hgöd]

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038) Rom 13:6a . . Pay your taxes

While it's true that tax dollars often get wasted on fraud, graft, pork, bail outs, ear
marks, foreign aid, endowments, grants, subsidies, and senseless wars; by and
large taxes are necessary if we're to expect essential services like schools, parks,
national defense, law enforcement, fire protection, Medicare, Medicaid, Food
Stamps, foster care, flood control, forest management, FEMA, TANF, SSI, and the
maintenance of infrastructure, etc.

Taxes are also used to pay government salaries, wages, and benefits to
bureaucrats and heads of state. Though such folk are not holy people in the
religious sense, they should probably be regarded as such-- maybe even as angels.
(of a sort)

● Rom 13:6b . . for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to
governing. (cf. Ps 82:1-6 & John 19:11)

Submitted for moderator approval 02/29/2024 @ 03:51 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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039) Rom 13:7 . . Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if
revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Christians don't have to particularly like the folks in high places, but we do have to
afford them the dignity that their positions require in compliance with Rom 13:1-5.

For example: tearing up a US President's state of the union address, banning him
from social media platforms, censoring his comments, falsely accusing him of
colluding with America's enemies, revising existing laws with which to prosecute
him ex post facto, and/or impeaching him contrary to Constitutional law, is not the
Christian way; so don't let Christ catch you participating in those kinds of impious
behaviors.

Submitted for moderator approval 03/02/2024 @ 02:27 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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040) Rom 13:8 . . Owe no man anything.

Some have construed that verse to mean it's a sin to have a mortgage, a car
payment, and/or a credit card balance. However, the Greek word for "owe" is
ambiguous with a number of meanings, one of which is to fail in duty; viz: fail to
meet your obligations.

In today's world; debt is nigh unto impossible to avoid; but debt is acceptable for
Christians just so long as they pay their bills on time. Christ can be neither pleased
nor honored when his followers are known as deadbeats.

NOTE: I live in a country whose motto is: "In God We Trust" and yet hasn't fully
serviced its debts since 2001. These days in 2024 my country's red ink exceeds
+/- 500 Billion dollars which is depicted by a five with eleven zeros after it, i.e.

500,000,000,000

2025's red ink is projected to be +/- 700 Billion

Submitted for moderator approval 03/03/2024 @ 01:14 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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041) Rom 13:12 . . Put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

In the first chapter of Genesis, God made a distinct difference between light and
darkness. I think it is very notable that God labeled the light "good" but He didn't
label darkness good.

I believe that chapter set the stage; in other words: from that point on in the Bible,
darkness typically represents something harmful, distasteful, and/or unbecoming;
while light always represents something tasteful, becoming, and/or beneficial. So
then we could label the deeds of darkness as deeds inappropriate for Christ's
followers, and we could label the armor of light as deeds befitting his followers. In
other words: deeds befitting Christ's followers are their first line of defense in a
world gone mad with evil.

● 1Pet 3:10-12 . .Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue
from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he
must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and
his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who
do evil.

Submitted for moderator approval 03/04/2024 @ 01:44 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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042) Rom 13:13 . . Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and
drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and envy.

"in the day" could be construed to mean "in that day" which would indicate life and
society as it will be in the kingdom God. Well; needless to say, people then won't be
acting like they do now, so maybe we should start preparing for that day by putting
these instructions into enough practice to make them become a habit.

The Greek word for "envy" is somewhat ambiguous. It includes-- along with envy --
jealousy, indignation, and outrage.

The Greek word for "strife" is somewhat ambiguous too. It includes-- along with
strife --quarreling, wrangling, contention, debate, and a whole other bunch of ugly
stuff associated with variance.

"in the day" probably refers to daytime when the sun is up as opposed to nighttime
when the sun is down; which is usually when people are out partying, drinking, and
picking each other up for one night stands.

Though strife and envy can be seen during both day or night, they're listed as
nighttime behavior due to their being shameful.

NOTE: What I find interesting about Christ's commandments is that his followers
have to be instructed how to properly conduct themselves; viz: it's never assumed
they can be trusted to instinctively and/or intuitively know how. (cf. Rom 12:2)

Submitted for moderator approval 03/05/2024 @ 01:34 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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043) Rom 13:14 . . .Clothe yourselves with The Lord Jesus Christ

Clothing one's self with a personage was a figure of speech many years ago which
would correspond in our day to "emulation" which Webster's defines as trying to be
like someone or something you admire.

They say that imitation is the highest flattery. Well; if you'd like to flatter Christ;
then adopt his integrity, his principles, and his core values. But don't guess at
them; learn them, by instruction, from someone that The Lord has empowered for
teaching his ways. (Eph 4:11-15)

Submitted for moderator approval 03/06/2024 @ 01:53 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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044) Rom 14:1 . . Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on
disputable matters.

A strong faith consists of the elements of knowledge, confidence, assurance, and
conviction. A weak faith can be defined as vacillating; viz: one that's not all that
sure whether something is wrong for a Christian; or even that something is right. In
other words: a weak faith lacks the elements of knowledge, confidence, assurance,
and conviction.

Disputable matters are matters of opinion rather than matters of fact. Opinions are
often subjective, biased, and arbitrary, rather than objective, unbiased, and by-the
book. Opinions inevitably invite perpetual debating that never really gets to the
bottom of anything; which, in matters of spiritual significance is strictly forbidden
within the context of the 14th chapter of Romans; because debatable matters are
not matters of doctrine; but rather; matters of conscience.

We're not talking about black and white doctrines and principles here. Those are
not open to debate. We're talking about gray areas.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery" is black and white; while issues like video games,
music, fashions, foods, cosmetics, movies, self defense, gambling, swim suits,
politics, alcohol, tobacco, firearms, fasting, religious art, crucifixes, couture, and
holy days of obligation are debatable. In regards to those areas; let every man be
fully persuaded in his own mind rather than somebody else's mind.

Those are things about which each has to decide for themselves according to the
dictates of their own conscience; and God forbid they should impose their personal
dictates upon others and thus become dictatorial because that's playing God and
usurping Christ's sovereign prerogative to make the rules for his own church.

Submitted for moderator approval 03/07/2024 @ 01:28 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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045) Rom 14:2-4 . . One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another
man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The man who eats everything must
not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything
must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.

If there's a Christian out there sincerely believing in their own mind that fast food,
GMO, high fructose corn syrup, non organic produce, processed foods, grain-fed
beef, raw oysters, sushi, and/or anything fried in lard is sinful; well, more power to
them: but God forbid they should criticize a fellow believer who disagrees.

NOTE: Christians are exempt from Jewish dietary laws because their association
with God is by means of a different covenant than the covenant that Moses' people
entered into with God per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, a.k.a.
The Law.

Submitted for moderator approval 03/08/2024 @ 03:50 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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046) Rom 14:5 . . One man considers one day more sacred than another; another
man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

Common Christian holy days are The Lord's Day (Sunday), Solemnity of Mary the
Mother of God, the Epiphany, Solemnity of Saint Joseph Husband of the Blessed
Virgin Mary, the Ascension Trinity Sunday, Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul,
Good Friday, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, All Saints, the Feast of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ash Wednesday, the Nativity of
our Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas), Easter, and the Sabbath.

If your denomination, or your church of choice, rules that days like the above are
sacred, then for you they are. Whether God himself sees them as sacred is
irrelevant. What matters is whether you are convinced in your own mind that He
does because the focus of the 14th of Romans is upon matters of conscience rather
than matters of fact.

NOTE: The Jehovah's Witnesses' opinions about birthdays, holidays, and holy days
are protected by the 14th chapter of Romans, and forbids debating with them about
it. So I recommend avoiding those topics when in discussions with them.

Submitted for moderator approval 03/09/2024 @ 04:21 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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047) Rom 14:13a . .Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another.

Within the context of the 14th of Romans, "passing judgment" pertains to criticizing
others for refusing to accept and/or comply with your own personal gray-area
beliefs and practices.

48) Rom 14:13b . . Make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle
in your brother's way.

The Greek word translated "stumbling block" means a stub. For example: one year
I cut down a troublesome bush in my front yard and left a bit of a stump sticking up
out of the ground that later damaged my lawn mower when I accidentally ran over
it while cutting the grass; which had grown tall enough to conceal the stump. In
that respect, stumbling blocks are hazards not easily detected.

Within the context of the 14th of Romans, I would equate stumbling blocks to the
clever sophistry that silver-tongued Bible thumpers employ to persuade people to
do things contrary to their convictions and their conscience. Should you get pulled
into a debate with one of those thumpers you'll be frustrated because no matter
how skillfully defended your position, they will continue to oppose it with one
rebuttal after another; so the best track is: put on your best poker face and decline
to argue about debatable issues.

Submitted for moderator approval 03/10/2024 @ 03:04 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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049) Rom 14:14-16 . . I know and am perfectly sure on the authority of The Lord
Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is
wrong, then for that person it is wrong. And if another Christian is distressed by
what you eat, you are not acting in love if you eat it. Don't let your eating ruin
someone for whom Christ died. Then you will not be condemned for doing
something you know is alright.

For example: We may believe that there is nothing wrong with eating freaky,
barbarian foods; but our Christian dinner companion might feel very strongly about
it. Well; sure, we can get by with eating freaky, barbarian foods; but Christ expects
his own to restrain themselves from eating distasteful stuff in front of our Christian
companions in thoughtful and sympathetic regard for their personal sensibilities,
i.e. as a courtesy.

I'm pretty sure this principle isn't restricted to diet, but can be applied to any
debatable issue with the potential to drive an unnecessary wedge between
ourselves and other Christians. For example; if you have friends over for an
evening of entertainment, and know they're uncomfortable with movies saturated
with crime, cruelty, obscenity, vulgarity, deviance, indecency, and violence; then
accommodate their feelings by selecting something you both can enjoy.

50) Rom 14:19 . . Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and
to mutual edification.

The Greek word translated "edification" is somewhat related to the building trades;
and in this instance pertains to structural improvements like a new wing, or a
bedroom, or another floor; and in many instances adds square footage to an
already-existing structure and/or improves its appearance, its value, and it's utility.
Edification then, is just the opposite of demolition, i.e. it builds up instead of tearing
down.

Webster's defines "peace" as a state in which there is no war or fighting; viz:
harmony and mutual concord. In other words: there are times when it's appropriate
to accommodate people's feelings about certain things for the sake of us all getting
along together.

NOTE: An important element in the practice of love is deference; which, in a
nutshell, implies regarding the wishes of others as trumping yours; viz:
voluntary subordination. (Eph 5:21)

Submitted for moderator approval 03/11/2024 @ 01:53 am Pacific Time
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[Odë:hgöd]

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051) Rom 14:20-21 . . Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All
food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to
stumble.

The critters that God lists in the covenant that Moses' people agreed upon with God
per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy as unsuitable for human
consumption aren't intrinsically unsuitable. They're only designated unsuitable for
the Jews because that's how God wants it for a particular people. But outside the
covenant, for everybody else, whatever you'd like to eat can be eaten; all flora and
all fauna; and that dates all the way back to the Flood. (Gen 9:3)

But still; we wouldn't want to invite someone over for dinner serving foods that
they sincerely believe are wrong for them to eat; and thus lead them to
compromise their own personal convictions about what's right and what's wrong for
Christians. Prepare something else that you both can eat without feeling guilty.
That's the Christian way to go about it; it's also the thoughtful way to go about it.

052) Rom 14:22a . . So whatever you personally believe in debatable areas keep
between yourself and God.

The old adage "Let sleeping dogs lie." is certainly apropos in gray-area beliefs and
practices. For example; some folks are comfortable with having a picture of Jesus in
their homes while others think it's wrong. I think it best to consider that issue a
sort of DMZ wherein neither side initiates conflict.
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[Odë:hgöd]

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053) Rom 14:22b . . Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he
approves.

The Greek word translated "blessed" means fortunate and/or well off. The opposite
of that would be like deprived and/or missing out on something worth having.

● Rom 14:23 . . But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his
eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Where there's doubt; it's possible to be wrong even when you're right because it's a
sin to forge ahead when one's conscience is not sure it's okay to do so.

I once knew a Christian who felt guilty just setting foot inside a Block Buster video
store. Was he silly for feeling that way? Not in his mind; and it's your own personal
moral compass that counts in gray areas. Some Christians can't permit themselves
to dine in a restaurant that serves alcohol; while others see nothing wrong with it.
If those two kinds of Christians should perchance dine out together, it's the more
sensitive conscience that determines where to eat.

In other words; it makes good spiritual sense to avoid insisting upon your freedoms
and rights sometimes in order to prevent dragging your fellow Christians into
something that makes them feel guilty and/or uncomfortable.

● Rom 15:1-2 . . We may know that certain things make no difference, but we
cannot just go ahead and do them to please ourselves. We must be considerate of
the doubts and fears of those who believe certain things are wrong.

Webster's defines "considerate" as thoughtful of the rights and feelings of others,
i.e. deferent, gallant, chivalrous, sensitive, yielding, and diplomatic.
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[Odë:hgöd]

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054) Rom 15:7 . . Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to
bring praise to God.

Christians begin as sinners alienated from God.

● Rom 5:10 . . .When we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through
the death of His son

● 1John 4:10 . .This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent
His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

The thing is: God takes sinners under His wing even when they are as stubborn and
rebellious as conceited adolescents. So then; I think we may take it that
disagreement over matters of conscience-- i.e. gray issues --is never a valid reason
to disown one's fellow believer. This calls for benevolence, i.e. the graces of tact,
diplomacy, courtesy, and tolerance.

NOTE: Bringing praise to God speaks of appropriate conduct as opposed to conduct
unbecoming, i.e. avoiding embarrassment to God as bad-boy Christians instead of
Christians that He can be proud of.
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[Odë:hgöd]

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055) Rom 15:27 . . For if the Gentiles have shared in the Israelite's spiritual
blessings, they owe it to the Israelites to share with them their material blessings.

Within the context of Rom 15:25-27, the Israelites to whom Paul refers are not
those who believe and practice Judaism; but those who believe Jesus (a.k.a.
Y'shua) is the Messiah.

It is unbecoming for Christians to support religions that undermine Christ;
especially when it's taken into consideration that 1Cor 16:22 requires Christ's
followers to regard the followers of religions opposed to his as cursed.

NOTE: The Jews' original beliefs and practices were primarily biblical. By the time of
Jesus' day, their religion had become rabbinical, i.e. defined by the Talmud; which
incorporates the Bible but isn't strictly limited to it.
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[Lees]

@Odë:hgöd

Interesting that you label this thread, "Christ's Instructions". Yet in reading through, I find you are really using Paul and other New Testament writers as the basis of what you want to say.

Which is fine, as I recognize Paul received his revelation directly from Jesus Christ. But much of what Christ said in the Gospels during His earthly ministry, if not most, is directed to the Jews under the Law. (Rom. 15:8) And here you make no distinction applying at times to the Church what was for Israel under the Law.

Therefore your title, "Christ's Instructions" is rather deceptive.

Lees

 

[Odë:hgöd]

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056) Rom 16:17-18 . . I urge you, brothers, beware of those who cause divisions
and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.
Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their
own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.

Naïve folk can be characterized as credulous, i.e. easily convinced by slight or
uncertain evidence, viz: non-critical thinkers.

"smooth talk" is the practice of sophistry; defined as a reason or an argument that
sounds correct but at its core is actually false; viz: subtly deceptive reasoning or
argumentation. Sophistry is typically rational, reasonable, and sensible; but the
thing to keep in mind is that faith believes what's revealed to it rather than only
what makes sense to it.

According to Eph 4:11-14 the very reason that Christ endows some of his followers
to speak for him is so that the rest of his followers may have access to true
premises upon which to build their faith and thus achieve the unity for which he
prayed at John 17:20-21.

NOTE: Rom 16:17-18 contains somewhat universal instructions because, with a
little adjustment here and there, they can be incorporated as counseling for just
about every ideology known to man, e.g. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Baha'i,
Protestant, Catholic, Democracy, Communism, Socialism, etc. It's kind of
humorous, in an ironic sort of way, that everybody's ideology warns its adherents
about the dangers of everybody else's ideology.
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[Lees]

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056) Rom 16:17-18 . . I urge you, brothers, beware of those who cause divisions
and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned.
Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their
own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naïve people.

Naïve folk can be characterized as credulous, i.e. easily convinced by slight or
uncertain evidence, viz: non-critical thinkers.

"smooth talk" is the practice of sophistry; defined as a reason or an argument that
sounds correct but at its core is actually false; viz: subtly deceptive reasoning or
argumentation. Sophistry is typically rational, reasonable, and sensible; but the
thing to keep in mind is that faith believes what's revealed to it rather than only
what makes sense to it.

According to Eph 4:11-14 the very reason that Christ endows some of his followers
to speak for him is so that the rest of his followers may have access to true
premises upon which to build their faith and thus achieve the unity for which he
prayed at John 17:20-21.

NOTE: Rom 16:17-18 contains somewhat universal instructions because, with a
little adjustment here and there, they can be incorporated as counseling for just
about every ideology known to man, e.g. Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Baha'i,
Protestant, Catholic, Democracy, Communism, Socialism, etc. It's kind of
humorous, in an ironic sort of way, that everybody's ideology warns its adherents
about the dangers of everybody else's ideology.
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Yes, 'faith believes what's revealed'. And that is based upon the Scripture. It is not based upon what one might believe outside of Scripture.
No, (Eph. 4:11-14) includes all of the Body of Christ. Not just some to speak for Him. I suppose you consider yourself one of the 'some' to speak for Him.

Is Christ's statement in (Luke 12:51) 'humorous' to you?

Ideology? Is that how you see Christianity? An ideology?

Lees

 

[Odë:hgöd]

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057) 1Cor 1:10 . . I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you
and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

Official belief systems-- e.g. the Nicene Creed and/or proprietary church covenants
and statements of faith --are very effective for achieving the unity required by 1Cor
1:10; and should always be imposed upon new people applying for membership in
a local congregation. A church composed of a variety of beliefs and practices isn't a
unified church: it's a forum.

NOTE: I would have to say that after belief in God and His son, the next thing that
church members need to believe in is each other; and if they can't believe in each
other, then I really think they ought to disband. I'm not kidding around about this;
without trust and loyalty a church is just as dysfunctional as any other maladjusted
family.
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[Lees]

Statements of faith are good as they reveal the churches beliefs concerning Scripture. They reveal what that church will divide over. They reveal what that church is united over. And this does help keep unity and harmony within the church.

Hopefully they are correct in their interpretation and understanding of Scripture. For if they are not, they may still have 'unity', but they are united in error. Which is not good. For unity, for the sake of unity, is destructive.

The local church exists in the world and must always test every person and doctrine by the Scriptures. (Acts 17:11) Because heresies will always surface within the churches. This is to be expected so that those who know the Scriptures can counter those heresies and receive the approval of God.

(1 Cor. 11:18-19) "...I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you."

I don't think belief in each other is necessary. For that can result in error just as quickly as unity for the sake of unity results in error. We can love a fellow Christian in the church as he is part of the Body of Christ. But he is just as prone to err in doctrine and deed as all are. But we do not disband the church over that. We remove the individual. (1 Cor. 5:1-7)

Lees