Can I host non-believers at home?

 

Second John 10-11 seems to teach that Christians are only allowed to have other Christians in their home. “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him, shares in his evil deeds.”  Is the apostle forbidding saints to have non-Christians in their homes?

 

To understand this text, we must know what “greeting” contextually means. In verse 9, the brethren were admonished to abide in the doctrine of Christ. If they did not follow His doctrine, John said they would not have God. He then proceeded to take about those who bring teachings that are different from the gospel of Jesus. To receive such a teacher by allowing them to share their “doctrine” without speaking up or defend the gospel of Christ say nothing would be to become a partaker of their evil deeds.

 

If one were to take John’s warning literally, how could a person stay married to a non-Christian spouse? The inspired apostle Paul told children of God who were married to unbelievers to remain in that marriage (I Cor. 7:10-13). Clearly, the context of II John matters if we are to harmonize these scriptures. Can II John apply even within marriages then? Yes! If the unbeliever (whether a spouse or not) teaches things contrary to the word of God and the Christian says nothing, the Christian is sharing in the evil deeds.

 

Let us not forget about the commission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 16:15). God’s people need to teach the lost. Does this mean that Christians can teach nonbelievers in their driveway but cannot teach them in their home? This is obviously foolish. It would be just as wrong to listen to someone teach error without defending Christ’s gospel in a driveway as it would in a home or anywhere else. Remember, our goal is to teach. Even when the church assembles, non-believers may attend (I Cor. 14:23). Sometimes the church met in homes (Rom. 16:3-5). Are we to forbid visitors then? Clearly not. As you can see, our God simply does not want His children to invite false teachers into their home to be influenced by them.

 

                                                                                 Chuck

You cannot be a faithful Christian without repenting 

 

“Christian” is one of those terms used so loosely today that we have people claiming to faithful Christians when they are anything but. This is not new. There were individuals in Sardis that called themselves something they were not (Rev. 3:1). The fact is, one cannot be a Christian and walk in sin. Repent means “to turn away from”. To help make things perfectly clear, a person is not a faithful Christian if they do any of these things:

 

1. Marry someone unlawfully (Matt. 14:4; 5:32; 19:9).

 

2. Are a female preacher (I Cor. 14:34-35; I Tim. 2:11-12).

 

3. Are a member of a man-made religious organization – i.e., a denomination (Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; Rom. 16:16).

 

4. Wear a special title as a religious leader (Matt. 23:7-10; I Cor. 1:12-13; Acts 10:25-26).

 

5. Refuse to belong to a local church that is Christ’s (I Pet. 5:1-2; I Cor. 11:17-18; Acts 9:26).

 

6. Try to follow the gospel and, at the same time, follow the law of Moses (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 8:7-8; 9:16-17). 

 

7. Worship God based on what they like rather than seeing what God has authorized/instructed (John 4:24; Matt. 15:1-9; Col. 3:17).

 

8. Conform to the world via immodest dress, corrupt speech and sexual immorality (I Tim. 2:9; Eph. 5:4; Gal. 5:19).

 

9. Keep returning to the passing pleasures of sin with drugs, gambling, drinking and the like (I Cor. 9:27; I Pet. 4:3; Gal. 5:21).

 

10. Go through life trying to serve two masters (Matt. 6:24; I John 2:15-16).

 

11. Put their earthly family ahead of the Lord (Matt. 10:37; 6:33).

 

12. Serve as an elder in a church when not married or not meeting other qualifications (I Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9).

 

13. Claim to love the Lord yet hate their brother (I John 4:7-8, 20).

 

14. Get married but refused to leave their father and mother (Matt. 19:4-6; Eph. 5:22-33).

 

15. Act kindly toward some people but have prejudices toward others (Gal. 2:11-13; Gal. 3:27-28).

 

16.  One who has accepted the world’s standard for entertainment when it ungodly (Rom. 12:1-2).

 

Many people are fooling themselves by saying they are Christians when they do not live Christ-like lives (I Pet. 2:21). Christians may sin from time to time, but they are required to repent (I John 1:8-10).  Remember, repenting means “to turn away from”. We all need to think about that.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Chuck

A good question

 

Last week, a listener to our weekly radio program called in a Bible question. She said that she had been invited by someone of the 7^th Day Adventist church, and they wanted to know about the practice of keeping the Sabbath. Let’s take a closer look at the doctrine of keeping the Sabbath and the 7^th Day Adventist group.

 

Sabbath-keeping is not a new doctrine

When God gave the law to Moses for the Israelites, they were commanded to keep the Sabbath holy (Ex. 20:8-11). Those who violated that law were to be stoned to death (Num. 15:32-36). When Jesus walked with man, He kept the law concerning the Sabbath (Luke 4:16). This should not surprise us as Jesus lived and died under the Old Law. The Old Law was not done away with until Christ’s death (Heb. 8:6-7; 9:16-17; Col. 2:14).

 

Sabbath keepers after the death of Jesus

Even after Jesus’ death, we read of individuals in the Bible who continued to gather on the Sabbath to worship God. Such people, like Paul, had rejected Jesus and they were caught up in Judaism prior to obeying the gospel (Gal. 1:13). This is why you can read about the apostle going into synagogues on the Sabbath to preach to the Jews (Acts 13:1415:21; 17:2; 18:4). When Paul went to the synagogues to teach after his conversion, he was NOT keeping the Sabbath. The synagogues were filled with lost Jews, and he was preaching with the intent to convert them to Christ.  Sometimes people would listen and obey (Acts 17:2-4; 18:8).

 

No keeping of the Sabbath today

After Jesus died and the New Law (New Covenant) came into effect, (Matt. 26:28), Christians were not required to keep the Sabbath. Saints gathered to worship the Lord on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 16:1-2). God’s people were admonished not to worry about Jews and religious pagans who would now judge them in food, drink, festivals, the new moon or sabbaths (Col. 2:16). Specifically, the Jews would rebuke Christians for not keeping Old Testament rules. God’s children were told not to listen to them (Gal. 4:10-11).

 

Worshipping on Saturday

We need to realize that there is a difference between Christians gathering on a Saturday to worship and the keeping of the Sabbath. We have occasionally held revivals at the church building on a Saturday to worship. But these gatherings do not replace the requirement to assemble of the first day of the week – Sunday (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2. This means that although we gathered to worship on a Saturday, certain practices are reserved for Sunday. Christians remember the Lord’s death by taking the Lord’s Supper on Sundays (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:17-18, 23-26). The church also takes up a collection (I Cor. 16:1-2; II Cor. 9:7). Those things should not be done on Saturday. You can study, pray and sing anytime, as we read Christians doing (Acts 16:25; 20:36; 8:28-35).

 

7^th Day Adventist’s Church

Finally, note that you cannot read about this religious group anywhere in the Bible. Instead, it was started by man in the 1840s. One early leader was Ellen G. White, who claimed to be a prophet. Our only goal is to follow Christ by belong to the church that He built (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28). Since Christ purchased His church with His own blood, we know it began at the time of His death around 33 AD.  Mankind needs to test the spirits to see where they are of God because many false prophets have gone out into this world (I John 4:1). Rather than leaning on personal opinions, we should merely accept what God has made perfectly clear.

 

                                                                                        Chuck

 

Okay, how do we do that?

 

We all know how easy it is to tell someone to do something. The hard part is the knowing how to give instructions. If a person does not know how to do something, then it is a waste of time to instruct them to do so. Though some might not recognize it, God’s people always have enough information when He commands them.

 

Consider this command that James writes: “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you,” (James 4:8). On the surface, it sounds great that God will draw near to us. How do we draw near to God though? Based on what James wrote, knowing how to draw near to God is critical! Without this, He will never draw near to us.  Fortunately, the Bible contains instructs us about many ways we can draw near to God. If we do the things found in this list, God WILL draw near to us!

 

Pray. This has to be one of the most obvious ways to draw closer to God. Christians are admonished to pray continually (I Thess. 5:17).  To get close to someone, you must communicate with them. This is as true of our earthly relationships as it is with our Heavenly Father. James stated that the prayers of a righteous man can avail much (5:16) – a close relationship with God is obviously one of those things.

 

Studying the word of God. Listening to what the Father has revealed will aid in developing that close bond.  When you have the word of God abiding in you, you are strong (I John 2:14). Those who do not take the time to listen to God are clearly not feeding on His word, and the word is what gives strength (Acts 20:28).

 

Staying away from sin.  Those who walk in the light have fellowship with the Father (I John 1:3-7). When one is in sin, they are going away from the Father, not drawing nearer. Pleasing our God and obeying Him will strengthen the relationship (Heb. 11:6).

 

Worshipping.  When saints gather to glorify their God, they are naturally strengthening their bond with the Creator (Acts 2:46-47). God recognizes genuine worship that uses both the lips and heart (Matt. 15:7-9).

 

Telling others about God.  When a person tells others how much they love their spouse, it strengthens the marriage. Similarly, Christians who tells others about their Heavenly Father are drawing near to Him (Acts 7). The Son of God indicated this as expressed in His prayer to the Father (John 17).

 

Developing one’s talents. When children of God use their talents, they are positive examples to those around them. The goal is let our own lights shine and inspire the lost (Matt. 5:13-16). By growing, we become more useful to our Father (II Pet. 3:18).

 

Being faithful to the end. Those who fight the good fight of faith know that they will be with the Father for eternity (II Tim. 4:6-8). After writing that God will draw near to us if we draw near to Him, James wrote the following instruction: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8). Clearly, fostering a relationship with God requires deliberate action.

 

Being with other Christians. Spending time around others who are in fellowship with God will encourage us and help us grow even closer to the Father (I John 1:7). Remember, fellow saints are members of the same spiritual body (Gal. 3:27).

 

    We are told to draw near unto God because God will draw near unto us. Are you preventing God from drawing near to you? Let us do our part and trust that God WILL do His!

 

                                                                                            Chuck

 

What NOT to change in the new year

 

The title of this article might seem negative, but truly there are certain things that we should NOT want to change in 2017. As Christians, we should rejoice in the knowledge that the Lord’s expectations for us will remain constant. Since Christ established His church (Acts 20:28), the work He gave it to do remains the same two thousand years later.

 

The Bible describes the church as the “pillar and ground of truth” – will that change in 2017? It better not (I Tim. 3:15). The same can be said for spreading the good news and edifying the body of saints (Eph. 4:11-12; Mark 16:15-16). If someone argues that these things have changes, we know that something is just not right.  Here is a list of specific things that should not change in the coming year. As you read the list, ask yourself if these things have been changing in 2016.

 

1. Continuing to examine ourselves that we are in the faith (II Cor. 13:5).

 

2. Looking out for spiritual brethren to see if they are wandering from the truth and trying to bring them back if they stray (James 5:19-20).

 

3. Praying earnestly to make a difference in your own life and in the lives of others (James 5:16).

 

4. Living righteously and letting our lights shine (Matt. 5:13-16)

 

 

5. Worshipping our God whenever the saints are gathered (Heb. 10:25).

 

6. Using our abilities so they continue to improve (Matt. 25:14-30).

 

7. Feeding on God’s word to become skillful in teaching it (Heb. 5:12-14).

 

8. Sharing what we have by being hospitable (Rom. 12:13).

 

9. Facing hardships by suffering for doing the right thing rather than compromising (I Pet. 4:14-16).

 

10. Leaving vengeance to the Lord and being kind to our enemies (Rom. 12:19-20).

 

11. Avoiding all sorts of sexual immorality in our own lives and in our entertainment choices (Rom. 1:29-32).

 

12. Guarding our tongue by watching what we say and how we say it (James 3; Eph. 4:29).

 

13. Doing acts of kindness that are not seen by others and being clothed with humility (Matt. 6:1).

 

14. Showing love for our brothers and sisters (II Thess. 1:3).

 

15. Being thankful for our faith in Christ Jesus (Col. 2:7).

 

16. Recognizing our blessings in the Lord (Eph. 1:3-4).

 

If these things did not exist in your life in 2016, then you must see that the Lord expected them and will continue to. Let’s do all we can to remain steadfast on these points in 2017.

 

                                                                                              Chuck