What do I do if my Christian friends have different standards for their children?

Is there a way for believing parents to have standards for their children that differ from the standards of other assembly believers without belittling those other believers?

If joy really depends on obedience to Christ (John 13:17)," TARGET="_blank">John 13:17), then Christian parents will want to model and teach their children submission to Gods Word. "The fear of man bringeth a snare" (Proverbs 29:25)," TARGET="_blank">Proverbs 29:25), so obeying truth because of what others think confuses the crucial lesson of personal accountability to God. Parents set the standard for their child and explain in a manner appropriate to the childs maturity the Christian truths that influence this decision. If the child points out that another assembly family doesnt do the same thing, the parents have at least two truths to model: personal accountability to God; personal responsibility to others. Modestly, a Christian parent must uphold what He understands from Gods Word. Thats personal accountability to God. Personal responsibility to others includes showing respect for them. This may mean recognizing that they too want to please the Lord, want the best for their family, or are perhaps dealing with circumstances of which others are not aware. It may mean simply expressing respect, yet admitting an inability to understand their decision. By responding in a way that makes his children feel superior to the children of "that other bunch" or makes the other parents seem less spiritual, a parent has not "honored others" (1 Peter 2:17)" TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 2:17) or modeled biblical standards.

D. Oliver
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What is the meaning of "one flesh"?

This was God’s intention at the institution of marriage (Genesis 2:24)." TARGET="_blank">Genesis 2:24). It expresses the oneness of a married couple. In this seminal statement, the Lord points out that a man leaves his role of obedience to his parents (although still responsible to honor them, Exo 20:12) to assume headship of a new and distinct relationship. At marriage a new family unit exists that had never existed before. This newly-formed oneness, involves a physical union, the culmination of marriage, but it involves more than that. Four of the five New Testament passages that refer to "one flesh" (Matthew 19:5, 6;" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 19:5, 6; Mark 10:8;" TARGET="_blank">Mark 10:8; Ephesians 5:31)," TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:31), quote the original statement and are passages that teach about marriage. The fifth (1 Corinthians 6:16)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 6:16) is part of Paul’s teaching about fornication (v 18). He states that one who "is joined to an harlot" is "one body." Then he cites the Lord’s original intention (Genesis 2:24)" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 2:24) regarding "one flesh." The promiscuous relationship with a harlot is a physical union, but not the physical union God intended in marriage. "One body" does not include the intended intimacy and oneness of a unique relationship within marriage. "One body" is merely an external relationship. "One flesh" is both physical and relational, expressing the inseparable closeness of Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:31, 32)." TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 5:31, 32). This can never be expressed outside marriage.

D. Oliver
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How can I maintain a pure life while trying to reach out to people who are not saved

How can I be scripturally "safe" as I contact neighbors socially with the gospel?

Avoid both condemnation and compromise. When, for conscience sake, we decline some activities with a "No thank you, I'm a Christian," we unnecessarily condemn others by implying we are better than they. "No, thank you," is quite sufficient! Joining in any activity or function where our Lord would be unwelcome or would not go compromises God's truth. This renders any witnessing ineffective (Matthew 5:16)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 5:16).

Be friendly and kind; show interest in them; build a relationship with them. Shopping, helping with a project in the yard, or inviting them to a family picnic does not compromise Christian principles. One-on-one contacts, rather than neighborhood group activities, provide a better opportunity to speak of spiritual things.

Right from the start, as you seek to build a relationship, show how much you appreciate your salvation, thus making salvation as attractive as it is (1 Peter 2:9)." TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 2:9). Draw them to Christ. This will also preserve you from situations that could damage your testimony.

When discussing salvation, don't attempt to tell all at once. One point clearly made now and further points later are more effective. Promote two way conversations.

Stress that the Bible is God's Word. Show them verses as you discuss them. Eventually emphasize that sin bars them from heaven and results in eternal judgment. A primary objective is to help them recognize they are lost. Then they will appreciate the Savior's substitutionary death for their sin.

J. Slabaugh

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In Ezekiel 28, is the Garden of Eden the same as the home of Adam and Eve

In Ezekiel 28," TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28, is the Garden of Eden the same as the home of Adam and Eve?

This page was adapted from an answer at Truth and Tidings Magazine by David Oliver.

The Garden of Eden in Ezekiel 28" TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28 is the same as Genesis 2" TARGET="_blank">Genesis 2 and 3. Like Isaiah 14," TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 14, Ezekiel both compares Satan and the king of Tyre and also exposes "the hand behind the throne," Satan. Perhaps people talked of the perfection, wisdom, and beauty of the king of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:12)," TARGET="_blank">Ezekiel 28:12), but God uses those same words to describe Satan. Figuratively speaking, he was adorned with rich and rare gems in creation (v 13). He had the highest rank in God’s spirit creation, the winged cherub that defended the throne of God and had full access to the immediate presence of God (v 14). Though Satan was perfect, iniquity (due to pride, v 17; see also vv 1-10) "was found" in him (v 15). His abundance caused his problem, because he allowed it to fill him with pride; therefore, he was expelled from God’s presence and cast down to the earth (vv 16, 17). God now speaks to the king, so filled with abundance and likewise so lifted up with pride, yet he would be cast down in shame before other kings (v 17).

However, the statement about Satan’s being in Eden is out of chronological order. Perhaps it precedes the other statements in order to emphasize the greatest affront to God; in Eden Satan acted as a spoiler, attacking what God valued. So, God describes the king of Tyre as a spoiler of what should have been for God (v 18a). This was the immediate reason God razed his kingdom to the astonishment of all (vv 18, 19).

D. Oliver

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Should Christian

Should Christian’s take a fatalistic view of political elections?

Godly living includes subjection to governmental authority (Romans 13:1;" TARGET="_blank">Romans 13:1; Titus 3:1)" TARGET="_blank">Titus 3:1) and prayer for the salvation of rulers and all men (1 Timothy 2:1-4)." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 2:1-4). The Lord Himself was interested in the affairs of the political world (Luke 13:1-3, 32; 19:12-14)," TARGET="_blank">Luke 13:1-3, 32; 19:12-14), but the only specific involvement is His teaching that His disciples pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth" (Matthew 6:10)." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 6:10). We are therefore concerned about God’s will being carried out in governments, including in elections. To this end we pray.

To be fair, though, the argument that Christians shouldn’t vote because they might be opposing God’s will in an election is weak. By the same logic, a Christian could hardly dress himself for fear of violating God’s will on a given day that he wear black shoes instead of brown shoes. We seek to know God’s will, pray for it, and do it. If it were right for Christians to vote, they should seek to ascertain God’s will for an election, pray for it, and vote accordingly. The weak link in that statement is not the difficulty in ascertaining God’s will, but the premise. Christians shouldn’t voluntarily vote.

D. Oliver
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what are the Gates of Hell?

“What are the Gates of Hell?”

This phrase is used only once in the Bible, Jesus speaking to Peter about the Rock on which He would build his church, and “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 16:18) These gates are clearly a force trying to “prevail” or win over the Church. So . . .

what can it be?

First of all, the word for hell here is the Greek word “Hades” which is also translated “grave”. Revelation 20:13" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:13 tells us that Hades holds dead people, and delivers them up for the final judgment, so it is like a prison. It is given as the place where the rich man in Luke 16 ended up, burning in flames. In Revelation 6:8" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 6:8 Hades comes as a person, following along behind Death on a pale, sickly green horse, so the prison has a ghastly warden.

We can look at these “gates” then in two related ways. One is as a devil-manned fortification trying to capture and hold conquered prisoners. Many verses - such as 2 Timothy 2:26" TARGET="_blank">2 Timothy 2:26 - talk about the devil holding people captive.

The other is based on the ancient custom of conducting all governmental business in “the gates” of the city, the place where the judges and legislators sat. In that case “the gates” represent more generally the authority structure of the devil as he commands his minions to try to undermine everything Jesus and His Church are trying to do. Perhaps not much difference when all is said and done, since the Savior’s business is freeing prisoners from Satan’s grasp.

So what about Jesus and His Church? Acts 2:31" TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:31 tells us that the Savior’s soul could not be held in Hades, just like His body could not

be held in the tomb. He crashed those gates open, raided the Enemy, disarming him (Colossians 2:15)" TARGET="_blank">Colossians 2:15) and leading the Captor captive (Eph. 4:8 1)." TARGET="_blank">Eph. 4:8 1). Jesus and His Church are seen, frankly, laughing at Hades’ weakness and defeat (1 Corinthians 15:55)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:55). We read that the Lord Jesus now has the keys to those gates (Revelation 1:18)." TARGET="_blank">Revelation 1:18). With those keys in hand He has all authority in every place, and expects His Church to extract as many prisoners from the devil’s clutches as possible while there still is time.

C. T. Studd was a wealthy young man in the 1800s who was also a world-class athlete in cricket. He turned his back on all of that and gave his life to missionary work on two continents, seeing people saved. A couplet he wrote expresses his keen awareness of the role the Lord Jesus gave the Church with regard to these “gates” and what he intended to do about it with the time and money he had:

“Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.”

When it comes to winning lost souls the Church has full authority and power to see them “delivered … from the power of darkness, and … translated into the kingdom of His (God’s) dear Son.” (Colossians 1:13) Hades’ gates can’t defeat us but must give way time and time again. If you are not saved, I hope and pray that you will be among those we can see sprung out in time.

Alfred Corduan

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What time of day should the church celebrate the Lord's Supper?

Why is the Lord’s Supper kept on Lord’s Day morning when according to the Book it was always celebrated in the evening?

The hour for the observance of the Passover was definitely laid down by Jehovah. It was to be “in the evening” ( Exodus12:6)," TARGET="_blank">Exodus12:6), but no such order is given for the celebration of the Supper. No doubt, our Lord instituted His supper at the close of the paschal feast, but He neither enforces the time on the Apostle, nor does Paul in 1 Corinthians 11" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 11: . When he reminds the Corinthian saints that it was “the same night that He was betrayed” that our Lord took the bread, etc., the emphasis seems clearly on the proximity to His betrayal, rather than to the fact that it was eventide. In other words, it was not the time of day, but the time in relation to what was to follow.

Christianity is not a system worked on a time-table, like Judaism—”Ye observe days and months and times and years” (Galatians 4:10)." TARGET="_blank">Galatians 4:10). Certain ceremonialists are intensely occupied with the time of the observance, the colour, etc., of the bread (it must not be white, and it must be unleavened!), the kind of wine (it must be “unfermented”). But this verges at best on a mechanical imitation. One wonders why these good folk do not insist on reclining on couches, as no doubt our Lord and His disciples did, or at any rate observing the Lord’s supper on the very day He instituted it. Nothing we can make in the way of bread or wine could adequately represent the holiness or purity of Christ. To interpret the leaven of the Old Testament by literal leaven is not an intelligent understanding of the types. An Old Testament type refers to a New Testament reality. No, we are not to examine the table to see if there be any leaven or “ferment” thereon, but ourselves, lest there be any old leaven of wickedness in us, or malice or untruth.

The early disciples may always have broken bread in the evening, but if so, it was for convenience sake (as they were working all Lord’s Day, as all other days), and that is quite have never heard that any teaching is supposed to depend on evening communion. But how the legal mind of man loves to enforce its enactments on all! “Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath madç us free and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage,” and if men insist on legislating where the Word of God does not, let us not follow them or be moved by them.

W.H.

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How do we know that we have God

How do we know that we have God’s full revelation to us?

Hebrews 1:1-2" TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 1:1-2 informs us that God’s revelation through various instruments and in varying parts has been fulfilled and finalized in the coming of His Son.

If anything further remains to be written, it must stem from His personal teachings and must have his personal authority. Before going back to heaven, the Lord previews the Spirit-inspired writing of the gospels - and Acts, their sequel (John 14:26)," TARGET="_blank">John 14:26), the epistles which amplify His teachings (16:13a), and the Revelation (16:13b). Significantly, this final book includes a curse on anyone who adds to that book (Rev. 22:18)." TARGET="_blank">Rev. 22:18).

Although not all agree with this interpretation, Paul clearly states that the gifts of knowledge and prophecy will become outdated by the coming of "that which is perfect," or complete (1Co. 13:9, 10)." TARGET="_blank">1Co. 13:9, 10). The gifts of the New Testament apostles and prophets (12:8-10a, including "discerning of spirits" and 28) were initial and were unnecessary when the writing of the Word of God had been completed.

In contrast to the existing 66 books of the Bible, recognized as canonical within the first century of their writing, the apocryphal books affixed to the Old Testament were added by the Council of Trent in 1545. Their addition was part of an attempt to combat the Protestant emphasis on the teaching of God’s Word. Other attempts to add to the Scriptures are equally distinct from the inspired volume.

D. Oliver
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