Church vs. Politics

Duty Idea this time is pretty dusty. The idea that Christians don't really have time to do politics. Before my brothers and sisters go to getting on me let me explain. I have found it very hard to try to verbalize how I feel about politics, the governing of this world. I was studying old Christian writings by an author named Origen from a book titled "Contra Celsus". I don't know that all of what Origen had to say would be palatable, but I do agree with his stance on Christians in the political arena.

Celsus was very anti-Christ, in the book Celsus urges Christians to "take office in the government of the country, if that is required for the maintenance of the laws and the support of religion."  Origen's response was this, "But we recognise in each state the existence of another national organization founded by the Word of God., and we exhort those who are mighty in word and of blameless life to rule over Churches. Those who are ambitious of ruling we reject; but we constrain those who, through excess of modesty, are not easily induced to take a public charge in the Church of God. And those who rule over us well are under the constraining influence of the great King, whom we believe to be the Son of God, God the Word. And if those who govern in the Church, and are called rulers of the divine nation--that is, the Church-- rule well, they rule in accordance with the divine commands, and never suffer themselves to be led astray by worldly policy. And it is not for the purpose of escaping public duties that Christians decline public offices, but that they may reserve themselves for a diviner and more necessary service in the Church of God--for the salvation of men. And this service is at once necessary and right. They take charge of all--of those that are within, that they may day by day lead better lives, and of those that are without that they may come to abound in holy words and in deeds of piety; and that, while thus worshipping God truly, and training up as many as they can in the same way, they may be filled with the word of God and the law of God, and thus be united with the Supreme God through His Son the Word, Wisdom, Truth, and Righteousness, who unites to God all who are resolved to conform their lives in all things to the law of God.

This helps me understand that Christians are working with an international group that was founded by our Lord on Pentecost through the words of the apostles from the Holy Spirit and the overseers have all they can do to guard or watch out for the Church of Christ, the Church Jesus bought with his blood. They didn't have time in the New Testament to get into political affairs. I think if we take care of what our King wants us to he'll take care of the rest.

Read 1Cor. 1:16 , God is already in control of political things, lets work in the world for the King through his Kingdom.

If you rec'd a email notification of this post, it's not because I think you needed it, I just added some more email addresses to the notification list.

Climbing your way to Hell

The dusty idea is that hell is a place that is very easy to go to. Please read the rest of this post to understand where I'm going.

There are a bunch of people climbing there way to hell everyday. Well, why do I say climbing since most people usually talk about descending into hell? It's because you have a lot of obstacles to climb over to make it into hell. If you have Godly grandparents you have to climb over them, Godly parents also. You have to climb over Christians that are trying to convince you to become a Christian. You have to climb over Gospel preachers. You have to tell the Father that His plan is something I'm not willing to consider. You have to tell Jesus that his blood simply isn't that important. Whatever reason you have to keep climbing is more important than his own blood. You have to tell the Holy Spirit that his efforts in bringing about the holy scriptures over hundreds of years through the prophets and the apostles is of no value to you and its something you're just not ready to study and examine. You also have to set aside and overcome the call of the blood stained hill of Calvary, the invitation of the bride and the Spirit, ignore the suffering Jesus did, God's love for you. Walk over, set aside, circumvent, by pass, go around, look over, the blood of Jesus, he tasted death for every man. You have to walk over Mount Calvary, the blood that ran into the dirt and rocks. You have to climb over the greatest sacrifice that ever happened. If you can circumvent all of that, you deserve your reward.

The Purpose of Mankind

The dusty idea, what is the purpose of man? This one is growing more dust everyday. We are losing sight of this one all the time. Have you ever been in a group of people and someone have the complaint and question, "This life is terrible, everything is going wrong for me, why are we even here if this is all there is ?" So the question remains in a lot of people's mind's, what are we suppose to be doing here? Are we suppose to be here, breathing up air because its here, eating food and providing ourselves with pleasures? Is it all about me and what I can have or what I want and can obtain? Sadly enough I know people that this covers their entire thought process as to why we're here. They're pleasure mad, studying what to do to get the next big thrill or how can I be pleased in an even bigger way. People want to leave the joy of God by escaping through movies, tv, alcohol, drugs, sports, sex etc.....

Purpose of human beings since the garden of eden should have been to please God and regain a full relationship with God such as Adam and Eve enjoyed with him before the fall. Before death and sin entered the world. Jesus Christ has given us the opportunity to do just that. Now what are your ambitions in this life? Some people have just decided that they don't want to be saved, or try to regain that full relationship with God.

One of the the things that has happened is people have let the joy of God escape them and have substituted pleasures of the world for the joy found in God. The joy found in God is everlasting, the pleasures found in this world are only a temporary mist.

If you have any thought about your eternal destiny and want to take your salvation seriously you'll get to know Jesus. When we become Christians we become "Christ-Like". This is where we find our initial explanation of what we are doing here. When we become Christians and are buried with Jesus in baptism we become born again. If we are looking for eternal salvation we should emulate Jesus.

Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (ESV)

This is the whole purpose of man that plans to seek eternal life. To try to follow in Jesus' footsteps we're going to have to seek and save that which is lost, even if that means yourself first. Save yourself and then others.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. (KJV)

Solomon, before his fall into idoltary, gave us what the whole duty of man is in this life. If you're not seeking to save that which is lost, you're not fulfilling the duty of man.

People understand when they're on a 90 day trial period at work that they'll be reviewed or judged by the employer at the end of their time. They get to keep their job or they're going away. When your trial period is over here on earth, will God want to keep you on? Have you done the job he left for you to do here on earth, to seek and save that which is lost?

Observance of the Lord's Supper

Dusty idea today is the New Testament, first century Church took of the Lord's Supper every Sunday, why have some denominations stopped?

There are probably three primary ideas about This memorial that the Lord himself instituted before he was nailed to the cross.

(1.) The communion need not to be observed at all. They contend it was a cultural phenomenon of the first century, and thus not binding today. Denominations that believe this don't question that the first Christians did this, they just don't think that its necessary today.

What the Bible says-This is refuted by explicit testimony of the New Testament. Paul instructed the saints in Corinth that as long as they ate of the elements of the sacred supper, they would proclaim the Savior's death "TILL HE COME" (1 Cor. 11:26). Sorry this rates as a no-brainer. If we are to do this until Jesus comes back we need to be doing it now. He has not returned.

(2.) Some say the frequency is of no importance. You can serve the supper at any time, daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even annually. They believe you have to take it sometime, but it's their personal choice. Nothing about commands from the Holy Spirit through the Apostles
or their examples binds us today.

What the Bible says-This probably covers the greatest segment of people that profess Christianity. The time frame is irrelevant. These folks, though obviously sincere, overlook, I believe, something important. The issue of authority - what does the New Testament actually authorize? Hopefully we can assume that the concept of authority is important to most Christians. Some argue that there is authority for observing the Lord's Supper on days other than Sunday. The main passage used for this is Acts 2:46.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and
breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with
gladness and singleness of heart.

The term "daily" denotes how often the disciples were meeting in the temple. Grammatically daily doesn't modify "breaking bread". There is no support for "daily... breaking of bread" here regardless of what bread signifies in this text.

The "breaking bread" in this passage is not a reference to the Lord's supper, evidenced by the fact that the phrase is paralled with "eat their food" in the same clause. Food translates in the Greek "trophe" which essentially means nourishment. This word is employed sixteen times in the Greek Testament and never is it used of the communion. The communion wasn't designed as a nourishment for the body.

There is no evidence from the Bible or historical references that Christians partook of the Lord's supper on occasions other than Sunday.

To finish his point read through (3.)

(3.) The Lord's Supper is to be eaten Sunday, and the communion is restricted to that day, everytime Sunday comes around.

What the Bible says-Acts 20:7, On the first day of the week, when the disciples were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking..... etc.. Here we glean the reason the disciples gathered together, "to break bread". They had no other reason to meet.
Acts 2:42, They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. We see from these passages that the gathering together was centered around the Lord's supper, the fellowship and prayer came from gathering together for that.
I Corinthians 11:18-For in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. We have too much Biblical evidence and non-biblical evidence to prove that the Church met on Sunday to wonder when Paul is talking about here.
I Corinthians 11:20-Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. Paul goes on in vs. 22-30 of the same chapter, explaining again how and why they were suppose to partake of the Lord's supper when they met and not make a pot-luck out of it.
I Corinthians 16:2-On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper, so that no collections be made when i come. Paul says that while you are gathered together on the first day to take up a collection and save up money for the saints.

Here is an account of the worhip of the early church from Justin Martyr (138-161 A.D.) written about 156 A.D. I fully recognize this isn't from the Bible and shouldn't be treated as holy scripture. It is however an historical look from someone that was a Christian in how the weekly services were carried out. It is taken from his writings "Apology 1" chapter 67.

CHAPTER LXVII -- WEEKLY WORSHIP OF THE CHRIS- TIANS.
And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.

Is There Dust on the "Rapture?"

Since this blog is about dusting things off and taking a look at them, I afraid we're not going to find a lot of dust on this one. It's not very old as far as Christian doctrine goes.

The rapture doctrine's origin is usually credited to John Nelson Darby, he had written down this theology by 1827. (1800-1882). There has been a story around that the rapture doctrine came from the "utterances" of Margaret McDonald in a Scottish church about 1830. More than likely she was just repeating what she had heard from John Darby. This is a complete assumption on my part since Darby had written these things down 3 years earlier and they were in proximity of each other.

There are six key parts to the premillennial doctrine of the rapture.

(1) The "second coming" of Christ is different from and after "the rapture," we believe the Bible distinguishes between the rapture and the second coming of Christ and they do not occur simultaneously. (Hal Lindsey's book 131)

(2) The rapture will be secret, "in the rapture, only the Christians see Him - its a mystery, a secret. When the living believers are taken out, the world is going to be mystified." (Ibid 131)

(3) Only the righteous will be raised at the time of the rapture. The wicked will be raised at the end of "the millennium."(Ibid 130-31)

(4) The church will be in Heaven for a period of seven years (during the Great Tribulation). "your presence during this last seven-year period in history is entirely up to you."(Ibid 127)

(5)Events on earth will continue. "These believers will be removed from the earth before the Great Tribulation - before that period of the most ghastly pestilence, bloodshed, and starvation the world has ever known."(Ibid)

(6) Many will be led to Christ after this. "We need to understand that during the seven-year Tribulation there will be people who will become believers at that time."(Ibid 132)

What the Bible says.

Referencing the first key part:

For the second coming of Christ the Bible uses the words "caught up" (harpazo or rapture by premillenialist), "coming" (parousia) and "appearance"(epiphaneia) interchangeably. The Lord will destroy the lawless one "with the brightness (epiphaneia) of his coming (parousia). (2 Thessalonians 2:8)....This "coming" (parousia) is at the same time he catches up (raptures) the saints. (1 Thessalonians 4:15,17) Jesus won't return a third and a fourth times; there's just the second coming. These events Christians being "caught up" and the second coming of Christ, are not separated by 1007 years (1000 year reign and 7 year tribulation), as premillennialists contend, but they will happen at the same time.

Referencing the second key part:

When he comes for the saints there won't be anything secretive. "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God." (1 Thessalonians 4:16). "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth and works therein shall be burned up." (2 Peter 3:10)

Nothing quiet here, the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God, also the heavens are going to pass away with a great noise. All this when the Lord returns. The secretive part of the premillienialists comes from the phrase, "come as a thief in the night", which just simply means they you don't know when he's coming. Another example of this comes from Matt. 24:43. Another good example is 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4.

Referencing the third key part:

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which ALL who are in the graves will HEAR his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)

Referencing the fourth, fifth and sixth key parts:

There will be no fourth, fifth and sixth parts. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall ALWAYS be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) Scripture plainly says we won't be with the Lord seven years. We will always be with the Lord after his second coming. There aren't any other "comings". At his coming (parousia) the earth will be destroyed, 2 Peter 3:1-12. There will be no second chance to be saved then, for at His coming all shall be judged and receive either eternity in heaven or in hell, Matt. 25:31-46. Call his coming what you will, "second coming" or "rapture", either way he's only coming back one more time. We need to know that and be ready.

Dusting off Church Music

Dusty idea today is that we don't need any additions in our singing to praise God. We use our voices and play the strings of our heart.

There are two types of music used within what is recognized by the denominational world today as Christianity. First type is A Cappella, the 2nd type is instrumental. We need to understand what these terms mean.

A - A is a preposition. It is the same in Latin, Italian and Spanish, as the latter two derive from the first. In Spanish the translation comes to English as "of." In Italian, the translation in English is "from." It makes no difference to the point here, because if something is "of" a place, it is what can come forth "from" a place.

Cappella - In Italian "Cappella Sistina" translates Sistine Chapel. Therefore Cappella translates Chapel.

Instrumental - Singing accompanied with mechanical musical instruments.

So from antiquity we find the music in the church as A Cappella, which is known to be sung without mechanical instrument accompaniment. That's right, only vocal music was found in or coming out of church buildings.

Mechanical instruments were not introduced until after 600 A.D. This is too late to be part of the faith which was delivered one time for all: Christianity (Jude 3).

However when the reformation occurred, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Spurgeon, and Zwingli are all on record in opposition.

"I have no objection to a piano being in the church building, provided it is neither seen nor heard" (by Wesley from Clarke's Commentary, Vol. 4, page 684)

" Musical instruments in celebrating the praise of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, the restoration of the other shadows of the law. The Papists, therefore, have foolishly borrowed this, as well as many other things, from the Jews."
John Calvin's Commentary, Ps. 33.

Charles H. Spurgeon, recognized as one of the greatest Baptist preachers that ever lived, who preached for 20 years to thousands of people weekly in the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle, London, England, did not have musical instruments in the worship. (M.C. Kurfeest, Instrumental Music in the worship, page 196).

Instruments were not widely accepted in the denominational world until about the 18th century. The acceptance is about 1700 years too late to be the one church and one faith of Christianity.

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Lets take a look at scriptural references to see if what the Father has to say contradicts the wisdom of man in this area.

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians doesn't leave any room for anything but singing.

Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Ephesians is a different matter. We have the command to "psallo" to the Lord. Psallo is a Greek word. It was translated as "making melody". Its definition is to "pluck" or "play". There is definitely room for an instrument here, or so it appears.
This is where the majority of denominations stop. The person that has ears to hear will read on and see the writer also names the instrument to be played, its the heart. Actual Greek translation of that last part of the verse: "singing and stroking to the heart of you to the Master."


For the sake of debate, lets assume for a moment that this does allow a mechanical instrument (even though it doesn't). Because the word here "psallo" is plural, and this is a command (imperative mood), if there is an instrument allowed, then everyone must be playing that same instrument, or those not so doing are disobeying the command. In other words, if the organ is authorized, and only one person plays the organ, that one person is the only person who is not sinning.

David played a harp..... The same authority used to add instruments to worship (the Old Testament) also demands the use of animal sacrifice. If we were to use the animal sacrifices today, we would be denying the need of the blood of Jesus. Yet we are told that if we try to keep that law, and fail in one point, we are guilty of all. To keep old testament musical instruments we would probably need to keep having animal sacrifices as well. Not only does this trod under foot the Son of God, its makes it impossible to receive forgiveness and get to heaven.

In a final thought here, the Apostles gave the things contained in the worship service. That was during the 1st century A.D. For the sake of argument the book of Revelation was written, depending on who you ask, between 68 A.D. and 95 A.D. In either suggested timeline the effect is the same. When Jesus sent his messages to the seven churches of Asia, at that time they were using A Cappella music in their services, we see from the information above that music wasn't introduced historically until after 600 A.D. Christ said in Rev. 2:26 to hold fast to that which they had already, echoing what Jude 3 says about contending for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

To Be a Roman Soldier........

This isn't a dusty idea today its just something I was thinking of.

Oh to be a Roman soldier told to go out and watch a dead mans tomb. I can imagine what kind of sigh probably came out of the guards mouth when he got the exciting news that he was going to get to go watch a sealed tomb. History tells us that usually there were four in a guard unit. I can just see these four guys getting joked at for having to leave their normal bed to go out and guard a dead man. To the right we can put an image with the Roman soldier of the day. This is what the guards wore in the first century A.D. Probably rather formidable looking in the day. Some of these guys nailed our Lord to the cross. Who knows could possible be some of the same guards guarding the tomb that did the Sanhedrin's bidding that day.

Matthew 28:2-4

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.

Hard to invision this guy with the throwing spear and the short sword as fainting or being so afraid that they freeze up. But I have to still say I envy those guards somewhat. They were the closest people to the Lord as he resurrected. Saw and heard the initial rumblings. Is it possible that they even saw our Lord come forth from the tomb.....

Oh to be a Roman guard on a boring mission to watch a dead man.....