What should a believer do when others speak against fellow believers ?

What should a believer do when others speak against fellow believers ?

Believers often discuss assembly activities and therefore the Christians involved. As always, the fear of God should govern our tongues at such times. Romans 16" TARGET="_blank">Romans 16 shows us the sweetness of Paul’s spirit; his remarks express appreciation for assembly saints and their labors for God. Appreciate God's grace seen in others (Acts 11:23)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 11:23). "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Phil 2:3)." TARGET="_blank">Phil 2:3).

Malicious conversation against fellow saints, particularly overseers, is unacceptable (Eph 4:30-32)." TARGET="_blank">Eph 4:30-32). A response upholding these believers may silence such criticism. At the least, you can express your disagreement by silence or a quiet suggestion that we "speak not evil one of another" (James 4:11)." TARGET="_blank">James 4:11). In addition, privately express your concern to the offender in an inoffensive way that encourages submission.

Deliberate malice to blemish the character of another believer is very serious. Those speaking against others require shepherd visitation (1 Thessalonians 5:14)." TARGET="_blank">1 Thessalonians 5:14). Failure to respond to such shepherding invites the extreme, sad discipline of excommunication as a railer (1 Cor 5:11)." TARGET="_blank">1 Cor 5:11).

J. Smith

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Bible Coloring Sheets

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Is respectable Christian behavior a prerequisite for baptism?

Is becoming Christian behavior a prerequisite for baptism?

Four cases come to mind. If a believer expects himself to be perfect before being baptized, he will wait for the Rapture. At that point, it will be too late to obey the Scriptures. Willingness to unreservedly obey the God’s Word is a sufficient condition for baptism (Acts 2:41)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:41). If a believer carelessly persists in self-will, he is not giving evidence that he is a Christian. For that person, baptism is inappropriate. If, in the third case, a person is obviously unaware of New Testament teaching regarding some aspects of Christian behavior, then patience, support, and counsel are appropriate, but not baptism. If he gladly receives further teaching, baptize him. Fourth, if a person still struggles with an addiction, such as smoking, baptizing him seems inconsistent. Baptism declares that the believer has died with Christ and been raised with Him to walk in "newness of life" (Romans 6:4)." TARGET="_blank">Romans 6:4). This newness of life is not merely a life that has changed, but a life energized by a different kind of power; it is resurrection life. To suffer under the power of a visible, addictive sin denies the power professed in baptism. Apart from daily salvation from the power of sin, any believer could founder. However, to baptize a person who is smoking, for instance, publically states that smoking is acceptable Christian behavior. Some think being baptized will help break their habit. That’s seldom the case. Breaking the nicotine habit is admittedly difficult for some, especially when they have suffered other "more serious" addiction. Perhaps the real difficulty is in confronting the fact that this "lesser" addiction is as unacceptable and sinful as the "more serious" addiction is.

D. Oliver
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Do the Scriptures teach that an overseer is to rule the Church?

RULE
Do the Scriptures teach that an overseer is to rule the Church?

Does “obey them that have the rule over you,” imply that we have rulers in the Church to-day?

Three words are translated “RULE” in the New Testament in reference to oversight:

(1) P0IMAINO (from POIMN, a shepherd), used by our Lord to Peter—”Feed (better, ‘shepherd’) my sheep” (John 21:16)." TARGET="_blank">John 21:16). The word in vv. 1 and 17 for “feed,” is BOSKO; but feeding, though of the first importance, is only one item of shepherding.

(2) POIMAINO also occurs in Acts 20:28" TARGET="_blank">Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2," TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 5:2, “feed the flock”; also in Matt. 2:6," TARGET="_blank">Matt. 2:6, “RULE”—”that shall rule (marg. feed) my people Israel.” (z) PR0" TARGET="_blank">PR0I- STMI, as in 1 Timothy 3:5" TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 3:5 “If a man know not how to RULE his own house, how shall he take care (EPIMELBOMAI) of the church of God?” This word for “take care” occurs only here and in Luke 10:34, 35," TARGET="_blank">Luke 10:34, 35, of and by “the good Samaritan.”

PROISTEMI is used too of the RULE OF THE CHURCH in 1 Timothy 5:17." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:17.

(3) HGEOMAI (from AGO, to lead), to be a leader, to rule (in New Testament this latter only in present participle), is used of Barnabas and Silas—”CHIEF MEN among the brethren” (Acts 15:22);" TARGET="_blank">Acts 15:22); of Joseph—”GovEiuoR over Egypt” (Acts 8:10);" TARGET="_blank">Acts 8:10); and in Hebrews 13:7, 17," TARGET="_blank">Hebrews 13:7, 17, 24 in the expression, “them that HAVE THE RULE OVER” (marg., in two latter verses, “guides,” which seems to do well).

Overseers, then, are shepherds, feeding, guiding, tending the flock; also ruling, but not inthese]fassetiye, domineering way of a Gentile king, “not as lords over God’s heritage,” but with gentle control for the good of the sheep, whom they love, because they belong to the Chief Shepherd who has entrusted them to their care (1 Peter 5:2-4)," TARGET="_blank">1 Peter 5:2-4), and it is for the sheep to be subject to this godly rule.

W.H.

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Can a Church use more than one cup and still show communion?

Some large assembly gatherings use more than one cup. Is this scriptural or should this practice change?

The significance of the "one cup" is that it is "the communion of the blood of Christ" (1 Corinthians 10:16)." TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:16). When we partake of it, we are professing that the one ground of our fellowship with God is the precious blood of Christ. The "one loaf" of 1 Corinthians 10" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10: is the emblem of the oneness of assembly fellowship. This is the greatest chapter in the New Testament dealing with the fellowship of an assembly. Verse 17 very likely means that the "one body" is the Corinthian assembly rather than the large aspect of the Body (Eph 1:22-23)." TARGET="_blank">Eph 1:22-23). In the three Gospel records of the institution of the supper and in the two passages in 1 Corinthians 10:16" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 10:16 and 11:25, it is important that "cup" is singular. Individual cups can never be construed as being a "cup of ... the communion of the blood of Christ." In Acts 2:41" TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:41 and 4:4 as many as 3,000 and later 5,000 met together to break bread. I have never heard anyone explain how such a company could use only one cup in their remembrance of the Lord. "One cup" is most significant and we should maintain this principle to the best of our ability. When necessity demands that several cups are needed, we should not let this deteriorate into individual cups. It should still be "a cup of communion" or a common cup.

N. Crawford

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What does the Bible say about sex before marriage? or premarital sex?

Be the first to give an answer to this question. Write an answer in the comment section below. Please provide your name and if you have a website or blog, be sure to include the URL in your answer.

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Bible activity worksheets

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Is going to the doctor a sign of weak faith?

No.

Some forms of faith-healing teaching states that since God is capable of healing the body as an answer to our prayers it would be sinful or at least showing a lack of faith to go to the doctor. Such teaching is seriously flawed.

Do Christians eat healthy food and call it a lack of faith? Of course we don’t. We believe that a healthy diet, vitamin supplements, exercise, adequate sleep, avoidance of toxic substances such as tobacco and alcohol contribute to a long-life and disease-free lifestyle. Why would going to the doctor be any less of a sound and healthy choice? The fact that God can and does perform miracles of healing does not mean we should always expect a miracle instead of seeking the help of individuals who possess the knowledge and skill to assist us.

If the water pump in your car breaks, do you wait for God to fix it and keep driving until the engine overheats? No. You get a mechanic to replace it right away.

The Bible speaks of health care in a positive light but with the knowledge that it is limited. Isaiah 1:6" TARGET="_blank">Isaiah 1:6 talks about binding up wounds. James 5:14" TARGET="_blank">James 5:14 speaks of anointing the sick with oil. The Good Samaritan poured in oil and wine to the wounds of the man on the side of the road in Luke 10:34." TARGET="_blank">Luke 10:34. Timothy took wine for his stomach infirmity in 1 Timothy 5:23." TARGET="_blank">1 Timothy 5:23. Revelation 3:18" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 3:18 says that the blind should anoint their eyes with eye salve.

Luke is the best-known doctor in the Bible. His vocabulary and mention of various illnesses mentioned in his gospel show us that he was very aware of the meager technology of his day. Although the Great Physician, Christ, was capable of healing what earthly physicians cannot, he does not condemn the use of medical treatments.

The numerous miracles that Christ performed are evidence that God can, and is willing, to heal when all humanly known remedies fail. Mark 5:25-30" TARGET="_blank">Mark 5:25-30 is the story of a woman who spent all that she had on doctors for a bleeding disorder. Her faith in Christ linked her to the power that was in him.

Should a believer go to the doctor? Yes. Should we view medical science as superior to God’s ability to heal? No.

The elders who visit the sick man in James 5" TARGET="_blank">James 5 anoint him with oil and pray for him that he would be raised up again. Although we have much far superior medicine available than mere olive oil, we should have the same prayerful attitude toward healing in our prayers.

The answer to the above question is from the examples of scripture. I’ll now relate a story from a friend from Guatemala who now lives here in the United States. One morning while living in Guatemala my friend Cupertino awoke to see his son with a severe eye infection. Both eyes were “as red as tomatoes and swollen closed.” A simple antibiotic treatment would likely have healed the infection. However, Cupertino had barely enough money to feed his son, let alone visit a doctor. He spent the day working with his hoe out in the fields. Half of the time he worked the soil. The other half of the day was spent in prayer beneath a nearby tree. He poured out his heart in tears to God:

“Lord, you know that my son is at home and very sick. Please heal him.”

When he arrived home, his son ran out to meet him with bright eyes.

After immigrating to the United States, my friend had a severe case of stones in his gall bladder. After suffering a sleepless night with severe pain, he agreed to go to the hospital. After a successful surgery, he was back at work 7 days later. If he had been in Guatemala, he likely would have prayed, just as he did the night he was in pain. The visit to the doctor would not have been an option, let alone surgery. In both instances, he prayed and availed himself of the best help he had available. The lesson is that if you have access to good health care, you should not consider it a lack of faith to take advantage of it.

Shad Sluiter

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Sell Your Christian or Bible Website WTB

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If you have a website that has been useful for sharing the Bible with the Internet audience but now find it difficult to maintain, please contact us at using the Contact link on the left.

Information we would like to know about your site:

1) Costs. How much are you asking to sell your site for?

2) Value. A website is valuable not for it's design, but for it's traffic. We are interested in buying a site that has some value in its assets such: established time online (more than one year), has some traffic (100 or more visits per day), some quality inbound links from other internet sites (such as dmoz or yahoo directory), some subscribers in a mailing list, and some search keywords that are in the first 10 results of Google, Yahoo or Bing (MSN).

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GospelHall.org is a Christian website whose mission is to share the message of the Bible as God's Word. Any websites that we aquire are operated on this understanding.

Shad Sluiter

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Under what conditions would laboring men who planted an assembly step in to guide that flock?

Under what conditions would laboring men who planted an assembly step in to guide that flock?

Two possibilities exist: intervention may be necessary to prevent the destruction of the testimony; intervention may weaken the assembly’s ability to trust God, learning from and of Him through its needs. If intervention increases the assembly’s dependence on the laboring man, this contravenes his God-given role, because he has hindered the development of maturity in the assembly. The rare cases when he judges that he must intervene will be emergencies. He will need spiritual wisdom to determine this, and the principle James states (James 1:5)" TARGET="_blank">James 1:5) indicates his recourse.

David Oliver
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