Lies Men Want to Believe – Part 8 (by Walt Henrichsen)

“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.” 2 Thessalonians 3:14 Because some New Testament commands are cultural, you must decide which commandments apply to you and which do not, is the eighth and final lie I wish to call to your attention. The number of people I know that consider all New Testament commands obligatory are few. I suspect there are a number of reasons for this. First, most New Testament commands are not affirmed by reason or conscience, such as honoring your parents, women covering their heads when they pray, and men not taking fellow-believers before the civil court in litigation. Furthermore, because conscience is pliable, what violates the conscience in one generation is affirmed by conscience in the next. Second, when justice is defined by equality, biblical prohibitions appear unjust. People reason that it is unjust for past mistakes to keep people from doing what would otherwise be appropriate. For example Joe and Sue married when young and immature, and decided to divorce. It is unjust to conclude that they cannot find the “right” spouse and remarry. Culture plays an inappropriate role in the life of the church, resulting in people wanting to appear tolerant rather than biblical. You conclude that a command such as foot washing is impractical in today’s culture where we wear shoes, and the command to lift your hands in prayer only appears once in the New Testament and is therefore not important1. Such conclusions may appear harmless to you, but what you have done...

Are You Listening?

Listening seems to be a simple enough concept.  We have ears to facilitate one of our senses — we use them regularly.  We know all about it.  Hear and respond with our mouth.  It is important in our everyday activity.  We converse with others and realize that without hearing our ability to communicate is severely diminished.  So it is with God. But the scripture takes us to a different understanding.  James writes, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). God said, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”  (Luke 9:35). The relationship with God is rooted in listening to Him through His Word. Listening is a significant concept in the scriptures.  As a verb, “hearing” or “listening” appears over 1600 times in the Bible! It means to receive or hear and understand a reported noise.  It implies a silence and stillness in order to hear.   It has a responsibility component, implying obedience to what is understood. So, how to listen?  The Psalmist writes:  “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalms 46:10). Listening is the quiet, still activity of intent fully slowing ourselves down, closing off the outside distractions and pressures and being still before God and His word and then applying. The culture values business, action and running.  But listening requires silence and stillness.  How?  It must be intentful.  Jesus went to a quiet place to pray and listen in the morning to get perspective.  He provides the example worth emulating. Men in the marketplace, caught up in the pace of life, in order to survive the chaos and gain the perspective only the...