MISCELLANEOUS DOCTRINAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES
Concerning
the trinity
God is eternally existent in three Persons, God
Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, who, while being one and united,
are not to be melted together (as if the three persons were just names for the
same god) neither are they to be seen as completely separate, as if they were
really three gods. Also, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ are not just
emanations from the Father, but are two individual Persons of the Trinitarian
Godhead.
It is interesting to note that all cults have
without exception rejected the Old Church’s creed of the trinity.
Failure to understand Jesus Christ in
Trinitarian unison with God the Father and/or God the Holy Spirit leads either
to a denying of Christ’s divinity with Jesus being conceived of as merely a
political hero; or to a sweet little Jesus who is not the Jesus that is the
perfect image of that Father God who is a consuming fire.
Failure to understand the Holy Spirit in
Trinitarian unison with Jesus Christ and/or God the Father leads to a
gnostic/subjectivistic understanding of a “holy spirit” that is an impersonal
force, having ideas independent of the other two Trinitarian Persons and which
does not lead the adherent of such a faith to fellowship with Christ and God
the Father. Rather the adherent of such a faith will become a believer in his
own personal “holy spirit” and separated from the fellowship of all true
believers.
Failure to understand God the Father in
Trinitarian unison with Jesus Christ and/or the Holy Spirit, which led the apostles,
and/or failure to understand the distinctiveness of the three Persons of the
Trinitarian Godhead, leads to an abstract god similar to the Muslim Allah
concept, of whose whimsies one may never be quite sure. This leads to a god who
is not interested in building the Church upon the cornerstone, Jesus Christ,
and through His Spirit.
Failure to understand the unison of these three
Persons of the Trinitarian Godhead leads to polytheism.
Concerning tithing and giving in
general (Digest from “Apostasy-now”-site, see connections page)
While 10 % can be taken as a rough orientation
of how much one may give, because of the biblical precedent figure referred to
as “tithing”, tithing had not been practiced as literally in the Old Testament
as many contemporary preachers would like to make others believe. From Dt. 14,
22 it becomes evident that the Israelite did not give 10 % of everything he
got, but only of that which he had as a harvest increase at the end of the
year. Also, he was allowed to eat from that increase-tithe himself before the
Lord and was even allowed to sell some of it in order to buy wine! (Dt. 14,
23-26). The tithe was not entirely for the temple, but was to be used for the
Levites and the poor (Dt. 14, 27-29; see also Nb. 18, 26+28). Tithing was
neither commanded nor observed in the early church. The only one who commanded
tithing of everything one got, not just the yearly increase, was king Saul (1.
Sam. 8, 15+17-18). Literal tithing may serve as an excuse to not let God decide
about everything one has. One gives God His “cut” and uses the rest in an
irresponsible, egotistical manner.
Instead a Christian has to be prepared to sell
everything he has and give to the poor (Lk. 18, 22; see also Lk. 12, 33 and 14,
33). Also tithing is often practiced in a superstitious way that debases God,
turning Him into a Deus ex machina, a slot-machine-god and turning the Church
into a stock market of financial speculating. But Paul says in Rom. 11, 35: “Or
who has first given to Him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?”
Whoever wants to settle the money-issue by observing Mal. 3, 10 only, is a
debtor to keep the remaining 611 Old Testament laws as well, thus falling from
grace (Gal. 3, 19 + 5, 3).
Christians are to give in such a way that their
left hands do not know what their right hands do, i.e. without keeping a track
record of e.g. a literal 10 % “fee”. Otherwise one could just as well
re-introduce the medieval practice of renting pews, which might be even more
honest.
Christians are to give out of a cheerful heart
(2. Cor. 9, 7) and without speculating about the blessings that may or may not
come in return. God meets all our needs and He is the one who possesses the
silver and the gold (Hagg. 2,8). Mature Christians do not fear to suffer
inconveniences as a consequence of a bigger sacrifice. They have learned to
live a simple lifestyle without bragging about this and sounding the trumpet in
front of them (Mt. 6, 16-18) and are thankful for small and big blessings
alike. They are simply living on a higher plane, not irritated by external
circumstances (Phil. 4, 11+12).
It is the responsibility of Christians to not
forsake their assemblies (Hebr. 10, 25), which does not entail attending church
services only but means to support the church financially and with all one has,
talents, time, assets, etc., as well. Also, the oxes who are treading out the
grain are not to be muzzled, but have to be paid wages (1. Tim. 5, 18). Wages
paid to pastors are not to be measured grudgingly and stingily, but are also an
expression of honoring the word of God, which is administered through these
men. On the other hand a pastor has to do all he can in order to not lay
exceeding burdens onto the church that are really not necessary and will not
further the reputation of the church. All expenses, church building
maintenance, staff salaries, support for missionaries and para-church services,
have to be entertained by the church members including the paid staff members
themselves who give their anonymous “tithe” back to the church. Everyone has to
be responsible before God as to what he does with his money. In heaven
everybody will be rewarded openly and everybody will have to give an account
for what he has done, also with his finances.
Integrity is to be defined in accordance with
John 8, 31 as the quality whereby one abides in Jesus’ words and continues
being His disciple. Integrity in that sense causes one to continually keep ones
eyes fixed onto a standard of seeking after truth, while particular insights
concerning the truth as to doctrine and church conduct may change from time to
time. The truly integer person is willing to alter his or her theological views
also in the future, should he or she feel that the standard of seeking after
truth couldn’t be met by where he or she is into at a given moment. The truly
integer person is trusting God that He will honor that attitude and guide him
or her to the right place of ministry after maybe suffering disadvantages for
keeping to that truth-seeking integrity. The integer person is always willing
to cut down on personal views in order to be able to work with a given team.
However, he or she will never be willing to compromise that standard of seeking
after the truth and therefore will continue to be led out again of groups or
currents where he or she realizes that he or she is about to become led astray.
Truly ministering means working towards the
welfare and benefit of those ministered to, not just in theory as a pretense,
but also in practice (deed and truth, 1. Jn. 3, 18). There is no true welfare
or benefit whenever the truth is shunned as embarrassing, inconvenient, or
unpleasant Therefore integrity in ministry means holding to the practice of
continually seeking for the truth at any cost.
Worship should be directed to God and not be
entertainment or celebration of fellowship. That may be done after the Church
service. The texts of the songs should appeal to the head also not just to the
heart. They should be in accordance with what is preached. A preacher will find
it difficult to preach an orthodox message about the attributes of God,
including the awesome and frightful ones, when the congregation is brought up
with songs that refer only to the “cuddly” attributes of a god who is not the
God of the Bible. Also those romantic songs of 18th century pietism
which reflect only the believer’s subjective experiences (“I walk with him and
talk with him...”) are to be avoided if possible. Instead songs that lead the
worshipper’s attention towards God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and their work of
grace, should be used. These are not to be sentimental “love declarations”, but
songs that reflect a warm orthodoxy where the worshipper can get a glimpse of
the awe and glory of the biblical God.
It is not all the same, which style is used.
Styles are not neutral; there are styles, which simply cannot be used for
worship. Some melodies simply cannot bear a good worship text. The Salvation
Army took songs sung in taverns and put evangelistic texts to these, in order
to attract unsaved sinners to open-air meetings. These may be fine to remind
one of evangelism and so on. But for true worship heavier calibers have to be
used. We are talking about worshipping an awesome God, not a neat little Jesus,
so worship should be costly. Excellence in music must be a must and that vision
of worship has to be successfully communicated to all those involved in worship
without falling into the extreme of making excessive, unrealistic demands.
Sometimes a simple song sung by a solo voice without any instrumental
accompaniment may lead the whole congregation into an absolutely awesome and
unforgettable atmosphere of worshipping in truth and Spirit, while a
sophisticated choir sometimes can spoil everything. Liturgical worship is a
good, costly worship, but liturgy fetishism is to be avoided as well. Still, a
liturgical form has the advantage of giving the worshipper a sense of security.
He will not have to fear unpleasant surprises, such as a sudden, overpowering
and manipulating multi-sensory stroke or another gimmick of that kind. Liturgy
gives consistency and security, but it may also quickly revert into an odious
display of religious bigotry, when the spiritual standard in the church goes
down. Liturgy is costly also in the sense that it places the liturgist under
the responsibility to uphold a personal strong spirituality without falseness
and hypocrisy, which quickly would be sensed by the congregation.
The “flesh” is not a part of man, but man as a
good creation of God seen and “used” independent from God. “Flesh” means that
man takes what should be given to God and places it under his own rule.
Sexuality gives man the most thrilling opportunity to dedicate himself to the
visible, tangible world, finding momentary fulfillment in his natural
existence. Gratitude towards the creator for creation on one side and demonic
greed to possess and be possessed on the other side are here not very far from each
other.
Sexuality is good within the boundary set by
God, namely marriage, and those who regard it as impure per se should question
themselves whether they are in fact impure (Titus 1, 15). While the term “sin”
in evangelism has to be freed from its popular main connotation with “sex”, it
has to be borne in mind that sexuality has the biggest power to draw a believer
towards a lifestyle in war with the Spirit (Gal.5, 17), sowing to the flesh
(Gal. 6, 8).
The relationship between spouses is compared to
that of Christ and His Church. Marital infidelity is therefore comparable to
unbelief in and rebellion towards the Christ-Church covenant. While the latter
involves rebellion towards God “only”, the former hurts the life of the person
betrayed, too. Christ does not reject His Church in spite of its manifold
failings. A husband should not fail his wife, allowing as much as his mind to
play with infidelity; even if she is unresponding, indifferent and unrepentant;
lest his prayers be hindered. The wife should honor her husband as the Church
honors Christ, even if he may not reflect very much of Christ according to her
opinion.
Marital infidelity is against God’s very nature
of a loving and caring sheep-owner (2. Sam. 12, 1-10).
Homosexuality is not a deviation one is born
with, but one which is acquired during one’s life (Rom. 1, 27). In today’s
occident, which is becoming more and more heathen again, homosexuality
increases as the knowledge of God decreases (Rom. 1, 28). Homosexuals
are not more sinful than those indulging in heterosexual promiscuity. This has
to be borne in mind in order to avoid a hypocritical moralist approach to
homosexuality. Just as everybody else who is not saved through faith in Christ,
the homosexual is a sinner for whom Christ died, against whom the wrath of God
has been revealed and who will be lost eternally. Once a homosexual becomes a
Christian, he or she is to repent of all sins, including the practice
of homosexuality, and does not have any excuse for not living a sanctified
life according to biblical standards. In other words, it is
not possible to continue being a homosexual and at the same time
claim to be a born-again Christian.
Pornography is for many a “root of
bitterness... causing trouble” (Hebr. 12, 15). Pornographic images are engraved
in one’s mind once an effort has been made to look at them and are easily
recalled once that person becomes “bitter” in his walk with God. The person
using pornography is not a neutral spectator, but a fornicator, because he
approves of those being photographed, becoming worthy of death thereby himself
(Rom. 1, 32 c). Because man in his sinfulness requires ever more perverse
things, pornography is also at the root of child molesting and such more
“spectacular” sins.
Paul admonishes to “flee from youthful lusts”.
This admonition has to be given, especially to young singles in a church. BUT:
Many youth pastors then commit the fault to go on talking endlessly about
sexuality, ignoring the law-sin mechanism described in Romans 7 (the more one
becomes confronted with God’s ways, the more the flesh is provoked to
counteract, the more one places his finger on the wound spot, the more it is
wounded). Paul does not do so, he instead is quick to continue the verse by enumerating
all the good ALTERNATIVES that will prevent one from thinking too much of sex
anyway: “Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace
with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.“ (2. Tim. 2, 22). The more young singles are put to work in
down-to-earth heavenly things, the less they will be tempted by those torturing
“youthful lusts”. Idleness and constant neurotic contemplation of how much one
has to keep from impurity will only lead to more narcism (sensual occupation
with one’s self) and sinfulness in thoughts and therefore to even more torture.
Those practicing, advising or consenting to
abortion are breaking the 5th commandment “You shall not murder”
(Ex. 20, 13). Medical analysis often fails, and many geniuses of centuries past
would have become aborted, had their mothers gone to a present day doctor. Life
is holy, including that of handicapped persons. There are no lives unworthy to
be lived, no matter how painful, short-lived, limited they may be. Those
setting themselves up in the position of judges to judge which life is worthy
and which not, are trying to replace God. The antichristian society wants to
replace God by the state. The philosophy standing behind abortion is in fact
fascism. Fascism, too, granted itself the right to define which lives are
worthy and which are not. The step from seemingly self-chosen abortion towards
obligatory abortion in cases defined by the state is very small. The
Baal-worship of antiquity is also similar to this kind of international heathen
fascism. Contemporary abortion is the first step to the soon-coming revival of
the heathen practice of sacrificing humans, which will form an intrinsic
element of the near-future world religion imposed onto all mankind.
According to the Bible, it is not the mother
who has the right to decide about her womb, but God has formed a human life in
her womb which is as such completely independent from her. The mother does not have
any right to interfere with what God has planned. Human life is not an
outgrowth of family planning biased or not towards the demands of an
antichristian society, but a direct creation of God, completely independent
upon man’s willing and running. This is also seen in the many cases in the
Bible where children were born to infertile parents.
The (un) ethics lying as a foundation for
abortion unfailingly leads to other like unethical practices, such as
euthanasia, “discarding” of low weight infants, possible future cloning of
humans and (if things are not demonic enough yet for the Antichrist to enter
the stage and all true Christians to become raptured) possible future organic
interdependence with injected microcomputers controlled by external computers,
which will lead to a swallowing up of the human life with the machine; the
ultimate tower of Babel.
Concerning
consumption of alcohol
While it is true that Jesus himself drank wine
and the modern health movement with its theories concerning food is condemned
as demon-inspired (1. Tim. 4, 1-4; Hebr. 13, 9; Col. 2, 21), alcoholic
beverages can hardly be described as “food”. Alcohol may be consumed for
medical use (1. Tim. 5, 23). Alcohol
consumption should be very moderate (1. Tim. 3, 8; Eph. 5, 18) and none should
be judged for having the freedom for such moderate consumption (Rom. 14, but
note here is no mention made about alcohol, only of “food” and “drink”) or for
“tasting” (Col. 2, 21). Those having the freedom for moderate alcohol
consumption should restrain from alcohol for the sake of “weaker” brethren
(Rom. 15, 1). The Lord’s Supper may today be held with grape juice (which could
not be conserved in Jesus’ days), in order to accommodate ex-alcoholics who
might have a problem sipping natural wine. Heavy taxation of alcoholic
beverages (such as in countries like Norway) is desirable in order to protect
the weak members of society from violence and social distress inflicted by
potential drunkards. Total prohibition, however, has led to opposite results.
The original command of dominion over creation
given to Adam cannot be fulfilled by fallen Adam, also not by the restored
Adam, according to a naive reconstructionist view of Christians doing
everything better. Man has now forever lost his capacity of exercising wise
dominion over creation. Therefore his interference with creation often leads to
catastrophic results.
What is more, even if man now had Adam’s
original dominion-capacity; God never told Adam to interfere with creation in
such a way as to alter the very origin of it. God saw that everything was good,
but the modern Pharisee knows everything better than God and therefore also
wants to make creation better. Instead of seeking wisdom from above for the just
administration of resources already at hand, he changes the genetic code of
plants and animals.
The world hunger problem could be resolved by
other means. If for example the heavy import taxation of the rich countries
would be decreased, farmers in poor countries could have a chance to sell their
crop on the rich countries’ markets and thereby work themselves out of poverty.
This present day protectionism is completely against God’s will. Genetic
engineering is the snake that the rich countries want to give to the poor
countries instead of a bread. Genetic engineering will produce results that
cannot be ascertained fully at this point.
Genetic manipulation of human DNA will lead to
a new form of racism.
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