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Head Covering (2)

Posted on by korgrocker

“A man dishonours his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. But a woman dishonours her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.”
1 Corinthians 11:4-6 NLT

Through the lens of 21st-century Britain, we’re on contentious ground, because today men and women have a different perspective from that prevalent in 1st-century Greece. Yesterday, we considered the importance of men honouring their head, Christ, by not wearing any form of headgear while they were praying or prophesying. However, wearing hats was quite commonplace when I was growing up, with no particular religious significance. Although hats of various shapes and styles were worn, they were always removed in the presence of anything considered religious, such as within a church building. This is something that has followed me even to this day, as it has with most men of my generation. And a hat was also “doffed” in the presence of a woman, as a matter of respect.

For women today, wearing any form of head covering, regardless of its style, is mainly considered a fashion statement. However, my mother’s generation always wore a hat or headscarf to church, and failure to do so was not acceptable. 

In both situations, the unwritten rules regarding head coverings were followed in accordance with the verses we read in 1 Corinthians today. We should note that both men and women were allowed, and even expected, to pray and prophesy in a church meeting; however, there were particular rules that had to be applied. This was not a liturgical necessity, but connected to an important spiritual principle, that of respecting a man or woman’s “head”. In the case of men, this was Christ. In the case of women, this was a man, in accordance with 1 Corinthians 11:3, “But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God”. 

In 1 Corinthians 11:5-6, Paul uses the word “dishonours”, as applying to a lack of respect, hiding away in a person’s heart, a lack of submission to our God-given order. The order is: God the Father, God the Son, the man or husband, and the woman or wife. The veil or covering on the head of a believing Corinthian wife showed that she was under the authority of her husband, and therefore under submission to God.

In 1 Corinthians 11:10, we read something about angels. “For this reason, and because the angels are watching, a woman should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority”. The holy angels, who are in perfect and total submission to God, expect that we, as followers of Christ, be the same. I don’t believe it is just women who have been singled out here because I’m sure angels are watching men as well. So from these verses and others, we know that God sees what is in our hearts, and angels see the outward manifestations of our heart attitudes. Hebrews 12:1 reads, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”. A sobering verse, I think we all agree. 

However, in today’s society, with its more relaxed and permissive attitudes, these verses on the importance of head coverings remain relevant. If there is no outward show of hats, there must still be the inner attitude of submission, whether male or female. There was the story of the small boy whose teacher repeatedly told him to sit down. In the end, he complied but muttered under his breath, “I’m still standing up inside”. This is the sort of attitude that God sees as sinful when accompanying our prayers and prophesies, whether in church or without. Philippians 2:5 opens a door to the right attitude of submission to God – “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had”. There is no other way. We read on, “[Jesus] humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names” (Philippians 2:8-9). That is true submission to God and His order.

Dear Father God. We understand Your teaching on submission and pray for the grace to implement it in our lives. We confess our sins and pray for forgiveness, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Head Covering (1)

Posted on by korgrocker

“A man dishonours his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. But a woman dishonours her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head. Yes, if she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair! But since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head shaved, she should wear a covering.”
1 Corinthians 11:4-6 NLT

In the next few verses in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul continued his teaching about headship. To recap, 1 Corinthians 11:3 reads, “But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God”.  The principle that everyone has a “head,” or someone to whom they are accountable, is fundamental to believers, and Paul wrote that men are accountable to Christ, who is their Head. So, how is this to be shown? In the Corinthian culture, there was much importance given to honour and shame, with a person’s behaviour significantly contributing to this. In our societies today, there is little that outwardly shows a man is a Christian. However, for those in leadership or a position of authority in some denominations, there is a dress code. For example, a minister or a priest can be distinguished by something we call a “dog collar”, a white band that goes under a shirt collar and covers up the top button. In a church service, individuals with a particular role can be seen wearing a cassock, a long, black or red-coloured garment. Senior members of the clergy also have a particular style of hat, which is worn in ceremonial circumstances. In the Church of Scotland, an elder can be seen wearing pin-striped trousers with a black jacket and tie, or, in previous years, wearing a suit with tails. But all of this applies in professional religious environments. In non-conformist churches and denominations, there is no such uniform, and leaders are indistinguishable from the laity. 

So, in public, what is there to distinguish a man who is a Christian from the rest of society? There are certain dress codes that a male believer should not adopt, of course, and one of them is the modern tendency for some men to dress as women. In recent years, much has been made in some Christian circles for men to be men, standing up and portraying the role that God has given them. But Paul particularly addressed the situation in a church service, when a man should display his reverence for his Head, Jesus, by not covering his own head. This level of strictness has been abandoned in some contexts, with baseball caps appearing in worship bands, etc., but this probably displays a lack of teaching rather than a deliberate attempt to dishonour Christ. 

Another thing worthy of note is that men had the opportunity to pray and prophesy. Paul wrote, “A man dishonours his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying”. For us men, our head is Christ, and we must have an attitude that is befitting and honouring to Him. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to” (Philippians 2:5-6). Sadly, today, the attitude of humility before God can be hard to find. Often, there is a matey-ness present in our relationship with God, regarding Him almost as an equal, a friend, but without an attitude of awe and a holy fear. 

It may be a time for us men to do a spiritual check-up, and consider how we honour Jesus with all that we are, our minds, our bodies and our souls. Psalm 96:8-9, “Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendour. Let all the earth tremble before him”. In that context, we should never bother to cover our heads. They would not be seen because we would be on our knees, our heads bowed, worshipping Jesus.

Dear Lord Jesus, our Head in the Godhead. Please forgive us for our lack of reverence, we pray, and instead we worship at Your footstool today. Amen.

Headship

Posted on by korgrocker

“I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you. But there is one thing I want you to know: The head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.”
1 Corinthians 11:2-3 NLT

Paul outlined an important principle in 1 Corinthians 11:3 about headship. However, first, we must define what “headship” means in the context of Biblical teaching, discipleship, and spiritual authority. Paul wrote that the ultimate Head of everything is God Himself. One of the mysteries of the Trinity is the order contained within it, and we read that God was the head of Jesus Christ. But that is obvious to anyone reading the Gospels and Jesus’ time on earth. There was a Father-Son relationship in place, and the first time this emerged into public display was after Jesus’ baptism by His cousin John. We read in Mark 1:10-11, “As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy””. Jesus often made references to His Father in Heaven, and this is portrayed in places such as John 14:31 – 15:1. “But I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going. I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener”. The respect and awe that Jesus demonstrated in His relationship with His Father in heaven were evident for all to see.

Paul also wrote that the head of man is Christ. This means that Christ is the ultimate authority and source of spiritual life for men, something that we male believers need to take extremely seriously. It defines an order that cuts across some popular misconceptions, because it puts the spiritual life of a man centrally in his relationship with God. So a believing man, regardless of his relationship with anyone else, is responsible and accountable to Christ for all that matters in his life. No one else has the authority to usurp that order. 

The last thing that Paul highlighted in 1 Corinthians 11:3 was the principle that a man is the head of a woman. Such a thought is, understandably, difficult for women today to embrace because it is so counter-cultural in its concept and application. In Ephesians 5:21-24, Paul wrote, “And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Saviour of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything”. Once again, Paul wrote that a man is the head of a woman, in this case, his wife, and the word “submit” emerges in the text. But the man’s role in all of this is contained in the next two verses in Ephesians. “For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word”. This principle of laying down one’s life for another is central to the relationship between a man and a woman, particularly when they are married. But we should note that the “church” contains both men and women (and children) and there is a need for every believer to nurture their spiritual lives in their relationship with Christ.

What is the impact of this hierarchical order on believers today, and in a society that promotes equality between the sexes? Firstly, male believers have a responsibility to look to Christ as their head, looking to Him for all aspects of their lives. In their decision-making. In their spiritual lives. Being accountable to Jesus for all that they do. Secondly, regarding women, they should not extend the principle of spiritual authority beyond what Paul’s teaching actually says. Men do not have a dictatorial right over a woman, although some men think they do. The principle of loving wives is a sacrificial one, and makes the man responsible for his wife’s well-being. However, there are many single women in society today who are quite comfortable with their singleness and have applied the principle of Christ’s headship to their spiritual lives. Without the opportunity of a male figure in their lives, they perhaps, when needed, should seek out the spiritual advice of their father, or pastor or some other male leader in their church or fellowship. But that is advice that applies to everyone when God’s counsel is required. 

One other thing, some churches have female pastors. Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:12, “I do not let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly”. I don’t believe that having a female pastor leading a church is ideal, particularly if the pastor is on their own. However, sometimes, when a male leader is absent from a church leadership, a woman will step into the role, and God will use her to lead His church. God will anoint such a woman for the task of a leader or a pastor. 

Dear Heavenly Father. In this emotive and misunderstood area of Christian relations, we pray for Your guidance and leadership at every step. We love You, Lord, and worship You today, with a grateful heart for all that You have done for us. Amen.

Role Models and Red Lines

Posted on by korgrocker

“I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”
1 Corinthians 10:33 – 11:1 NLT

Do we pilgrims have any “red lines” in our lives? Is there anything about what we do, how we spend our time, and govern our thoughts, that is non-negotiable and something that we would not be prepared to abandon? Paul had his faith in Christ and all that that entailed. His “red lines” included his desire to share the Good News about Jesus with everyone he met, his life of prayer and devotion to God, and his pastoral care for the churches he founded. He was not distracted by family needs, particularly by marriage, as we read three or four chapters before in our verses today. Paul was a driven man, totally devoted to his “red lines”, which didn’t even stop when he was imprisoned. His life was structured yet flexible enough to adapt to any situation or circumstance that he encountered. He wrote to the Philippians, “Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:11-13). 

At the start of our new chapter in 1 Corinthians 11, Paul encouraged the Corinthians to imitate him because he was a Christ-imitator. This might have been difficult for some in Corinth, because different preachers there had their own followers. In 1 Corinthians 3:4-5,  Paul wrote, “When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world? After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us”. But Paul wasn’t looking for people to follow him, or perhaps even to behave like him. He exhorted the Corinthians to imitate his devotional life and his works of service. Not everyone could preach like Paul. Not everyone had his theological training, refined and powered by a miraculous and personal encounter with Jesus. However, they could establish the structures and principles that would guide them on their journey to Heaven. And regarding the last verse of 1 Corinthians 10, we read about Paul’s desire to introduce everyone he could to God’s saving grace. “I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved”.

Paul developed the same thoughts in Philippians 2, something that we pilgrims would do well to read and re-read. Regarding our relationships with others, this is what he wrote in verses 3-4, “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too”. And then he followed it with, “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had”. We, too, must imitate Christ in all that we do.

So, back to our “red lines”. Most people need to install some form of structure in their lives as they go about their daily business. There is an observation that I often hear from retired people, in that they never know what day of the week it is. The structure afforded by employment has gone, and unless they put something else in place, the days will merge into a featureless mist of wasted time and opportunities. We pilgrims would be well-advised to spend time in days that otherwise will drift away from us by reading our Bibles and praying to our wonderful Heavenly Father. For me, this is a “red line” so important that, if circumstances prevent me from having a “Quiet Time”, my day loses its lustre. There is something significant about turning our thoughts to the Heavenly realm in prayer and meditation at the start of a day, and asking for a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit to empower me for the day ahead. And then I personally try to supplement my morning devotions with a prayer walk when I can bring other issues before God, and look for opportunities to introduce people to Jesus. Another “red line” for me is attending church on Sundays, as well as prayer meetings and Bible studies if available, and if my circumstances allow. But we are all different, and we must all ask God for His guidance and help to establish some spiritual “red lines” in our lives, remembering that there is no condemnation for any of God’s children.

Dear Heavenly Father. There is no substitute for spending time with You, and we are so sorry for the wasted days when our humanity gets in the way. Please help us establish good habits in our busy days, when we can structure our lives around You and Your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Glory Be To God

Posted on by korgrocker

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Don’t give offence to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.”
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 NLT

In Christ, we are free. Jesus said that in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free”. A bit later on in John’s Gospel, Jesus also said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10). However, there are several considerations that have so far emerged in the 1 Corinthians letter, as we enjoy the freedom we have been granted in our “rich and satisfying life”. 

The first is that everything we do should be done with God in mind. For the Corinthians, this initially focused on food offered to idols, but Paul expanded this to include everything we are involved in, adding a catch-all. In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul wrote, “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything”. This can be true in several ways, as we are adept at forming habits, which can be both beneficial and detrimental. Because of sin, bad habits often prevail, and we must be vigilant to avoid falling into this trap.  

Another consideration is the impact our behaviour has on other believers. Paul particularly highlighted offending Jews and Gentiles, something very sensitive in those days, because the church in Corinth would have had people from both backgrounds in the church there. In modern churches here in the UK, there is no longer the same issue, but we must still be aware of other sensitivities. In the church I attend, there are several lovely Nigerian families, but their culture is very different to mine, and because of that, I have to be very sensitive to their backgrounds. 

Yet another consideration concerns offending the church of God. This is very easy to do, as we mix with other fellowship groups, movements and denominations. There are a plethora of beliefs in Christianity, and some are deeply cherished by their adherents. I used to live near a family with cessationist beliefs that clashed with my own continuationist beliefs, and care had to be adopted as we discussed the things of God. And then there are differences in liturgies and even versions of the Bible, with some Christians including the books of the Apocrypha in their churches, even though most don’t, something that can perhaps cause a conflict in theology.

So Paul’s approach was to try his best to please everyone. But in many ways, this was something that Paul wasn’t very good at, if the physical abuse he suffered is anything to go by. The overriding factor for Paul was the phrase, “I do what is best for others so that many may be saved”. The sad thing was that most people in the Mediterranean lands, as is the case today throughout the world, have a different view of what is best for them. People generally prefer to live their sinful lives without anyone pointing out to them the eternal consequences of such a choice. And so believers will experience pushbacks from the very people who would benefit from their message of the Good News about Christ.

Today, it is the behaviour of Christians that speaks the loudest to the unbelievers in our society. There is an old saying, “Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words”, and although only partly true, this has a point. A common objection heard from those invited to attend a church service is that the congregation there is full of hypocrites. A sad indictment, which unfortunately can be true. But Jesus said, “In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16). Paul wrote about the connection between our salvation and good works in Ephesians 2:9-10, “Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago”. It is a fact that in the UK, most charities have a Christian influence, as the good deeds being performed by Christians demonstrate their faith in God.

But in all that we do, we do it for the glory of God. This includes not only our good deeds but also the way we conduct our lives. Paul wrote, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). A believer who lives their life trusting in God will shine like a beacon in a world that is lost and dying. They will be a beacon that will shine with God’s glory everywhere.

Dear Heavenly Father. Please help us shine for You today, so that Your glory is reflected everywhere we go. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Meat Conclusion

Posted on by korgrocker

“If someone who isn’t a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if you want to. Eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. (But suppose someone tells you, “This meat was offered to an idol.” Don’t eat it, out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person.) For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should I be condemned for eating it?”
1 Corinthians 10:27-30 NLT

1 Corinthians 10 is a chapter rich in references to idolatry and the issue of food offered to idols. It even contains a warning about the behaviour of the Israelites as they slowly journeyed to the Promised Land from slavery in Egypt. But in our verses located towards the end of the chapter, we see Paul reaching a conclusion. He said that if the food before him, regardless of its source, can be eaten with thanks for it being offered to God, then the only potential harm in eating it is if, by so doing, it would offend someone with a weaker conscience. We’re back to the principle of loving others, looking out for them, and preferring them to ourselves, a principle that should be deeply ingrained in Christians everywhere. However, the issue of food offered to idols doesn’t impact believers today in the same way it did in First-Century Greece.

To the Jews, however, quite rigid laws apply for the consumption of meat. Such laws determine which types of meat can be eaten and which can’t, and they also apply to how the animal must be slaughtered. Adherents to Islam have a similar set of rules and regulations. So we end up with meats that are “kosher” or “halal”. Jewish dietary laws, known as “kashrut”, were given to the Jews for several reasons, including a divine commandment in the Torah, to maintain Jewish identity and separateness, and to elevate the act of eating into a religious ritual. 

Peter faced a dilemma when he had a vision from God concerning the consumption of animals. Peter was staying in a place called Joppa, a city located on the coast, approximately 40 miles north of Jerusalem. At the same period when Paul had his Damascus Road conversion, Peter was travelling around, eventually ending up in Joppa. During his journey, he performed many miracles and saw many turn to Christ. In Joppa, there was a woman called Tabitha (or Dorcas in the Greek), who became ill and died, and we read in Acts 9:39-40, “So Peter returned with them; and as soon as he arrived, they took him to the upstairs room. The room was filled with widows who were weeping and showing him the coats and other clothes Dorcas had made for them. But Peter asked them all to leave the room; then he knelt and prayed. Turning to the body he said, “Get up, Tabitha.” And she opened her eyes! When she saw Peter, she sat up!” But here was Peter, still staying in Joppa, when he had a vision, which we can read about in Acts 10:10-13. Peter “ … was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them””. Peter’s response was in the next verse, ““No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean”. The voice in Peter’s vision then said, “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean”. Paul must have reached the same conclusion about meat and its origins at some point on his post-conversion journeys, and he was able to advise the Corinthians accordingly. 

“Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean”

We pilgrims can learn a lesson or two from all of this. Sometimes, it is easier for believers to isolate themselves as far as possible from worldly things. Such behaviour may not involve certain types of food, but it will include our relationships with people who aren’t Christians. Therefore, we tend to avoid contact with unbelievers whenever possible. But if we do so, how can we share the Gospel —the Good News about Christ —with those who need to hear it? That was why Peter received the vision. He obviously received God’s intended message, because we read what he said to the Gentile Cornelius, and those gathered with him, in Acts 10:28, “Peter told them, ‘You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. But God has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean”. And so it is with us. So, when we meet someone today, we do not recoil in case we become corrupted by the encounter, but instead we consider the person before us as a potential child of God. We reach out to them, in any way that we can, looking for an opportunity to tell them about Jesus and His saving grace.

Dear Father. You have ordained our lives of service, and we don’t want to do anything that gets in the way of sharing Your Good News. Please lead and guide us, we pray, to the places where we need to go and in the relationships we need to make. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Earth is the Lord’s

Posted on by korgrocker

“You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.””
1 Corinthians 10:23-26 NLT

In Psalm 24:1, the Psalmist David wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him”. Paul quoted this verse in 1 Corinthians 10:26, with the thought behind it that God has created everything in the world, and nothing in His creation can be considered harmful. But there is another thought here, and that is that the earth belongs to God. Obvious, really, because He created it all in the first place. Starting with nothing, and at the beginning of time, God spoke. We read, “Then God said …,” which appears seven times in Genesis 1, once for each day and twice on the last day, the second time when His words applied to the creation of human beings. They were something special in all God’s creative miracles, because human beings were made in His image, “to be like us”. 

How does that make us feel? When we overlay God’s ownership of the world and all that is in it, including human beings, on top of current world events and activities, we can only feel a deep sense of sadness. Human beings, created by God “in His image,” have sinfully and systematically trashed His creation. And, worse, through that sin, human beings have trashed themselves. What does God feel about such behaviour? The Garden of Eden, a utopia here on earth, a paradise truly lost, has been forgotten by most, but ever since, mankind has tried to create its own equivalent. They tried with the Tower of Babel, as we read in Genesis 11:4, “Then they said, ‘Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world””. Ever since, efforts have been made to create a place called utopia, which typically describes an imagined community or society that possesses highly desirable or near-perfect qualities for its members. Philosophers such as Plato, More, Bloch and many others have described such a place, and successive governments and nations have tried to implement it, but their results have produced nothing more than chaos and confusion. No one can duplicate God’s creation, no matter how hard they try. And it is indicative of the arrogance of sinful man that they would even think about doing so. 

However, there is hope for the future, because God has a plan. Through Jesus, sinful mankind has the opportunity to be redeemed from the consequences of their sins. “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (Ephesians 1:4). God’s plan involves creating a new people, and His patience in this season of grace is giving time for this to achieve the numbers He requires. Romans 11:25b, “… Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ”. In 1 Peter 2:9, we read, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light”. God is creating again, and this time He has begun with human beings who love Him, believe in Him, and desire to spend eternity with Him. 

The climax to God’s plan appears in Revelation 21:1-2, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. This has to be a wonderfully perfect world, a new earth to replace the one that sinful man has trashed. And we see how wonderful it will be when we read the next two verses in Revelation 21, “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever””. 

Many unbelieving people today think that they will die and go to Heaven. The ones they have left behind can frequently express their belief that these loved ones look down on them, as though such a thing is a given fact. But nothing can be further from the Biblical truth. Believers will spend eternity in God’s presence and ultimately He will dwell with them in the new Jerusalem, located on the new earth, as described in the Book of Revelation. And we find out the qualifications for the inhabitants of the New Jerusalem when we read Revelation 21:27, “Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life”. 

We pilgrims, believers in Jesus, washed in His Blood, forgiven of our sins, true children of God, have our names recorded in that most important Book, the Lamb’s Book of Life. We do our utmost to convince others of the importance of this, because once they pass on from this life, it will be too late.

Dear Father God. You own everything in and on this world, and we are so grateful. You are still on Your throne, regardless of the attempts of sinful man to declare otherwise. We pray for our loved ones that they, too, will come to faith in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Freedom?

Posted on by korgrocker

“You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others. So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising questions of conscience. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.””
1 Corinthians 10:23-26 NLT

Paul was still writing about the grace of God and how the Corinthians had interpreted it in relation to their lives. As a recap, meat was available for consumption in the marketplaces, having previously been offered to an idol. Some in the Corinthian church believed it was acceptable to eat it, while others disagreed. But now Paul used the argument of the believers there—“I am allowed to do anything”—to make a point. And for good measure, he made his point twice. There was a misunderstanding about God’s grace among the believers in Corinth that went something like this: “If all my sins are forgiven, and I am not under the law of Moses, I must be free to do anything I please”. Paul’s response was clear. Although he didn’t endorse their reasoning, he countered it by saying, “not everything is beneficial”. And this is true even today. Take smoking cigarettes, for example. There is nothing in the Bible that explicitly says you mustn’t smoke, but it is obviously not a good idea because of the impact of the cost on a person’s life (and that of their family) and their long-term health. 

This opens up the whole situation of salvation. If, after making a decision and coming to faith in Christ, a person subsequently continues to commit sins, even if they repent of them afterwards, and ultimately reaches the end of their life, what happens to their soul then? Some people believe that they will be accepted into Heaven anyway, but others are not so sure. 

But this is looking at salvation from the wrong angle. Going back to Jesus Himself, we start with John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life”. In Ephesians 2:8, Paul wrote, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God”. To King Agrippa, Paul said, “I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do” (Acts 26:20). 

And then we turn back to what Jesus said to a Jewish lawyer, replying to his question about the greatest commandment. “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).

So, although Christians, in theory, have the freedom to do as they like, this freedom must be viewed through the lens of God and His Word. So, back to the example of our smoker. He or she has the freedom to smoke, but what would be the impact on their bodies (temples of the Holy Spirit) and their friends and family? And, more importantly, what would God think about such a habit?

And so we turn back to the Bible, and read what Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” (Ephesians 2:4-5). We love God, and we strive to do our best to please Him and show Him our love. And that means we set aside our freedom to do as we please, preferring God’s way to our own in all things. Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us”. The most important freedom that we have is the one to choose to follow God, all the way into Heaven, to be at His side.

Dear Heavenly Father. Thank You for Your patience and kindness, helping us on our journey to Glory. You care for us so much, and so we turn to You in love, with thankful hearts, to worship You today. Amen.

God is Jealous

Posted on by korgrocker

“What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?”
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 NLT

Paul asked two questions: “Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?” Taking the first, Paul had already stated that it is impossible to worship demons, in the form of idols, and worship God at the same time. Doing such a thing, Paul said, would be in danger of rousing “the Lord’s jealousy”. Many years before, the Israelites had been told: “You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you” (Exodus 34:14). 

However, we know that jealousy is a sin; so, what does it mean when the word is connected with God? In a human sense, jealousy is a negative emotion we feel when we look at something someone else owns and express a desire to own it ourselves. Jealousy can lead to theft or worse, just for the opportunity to own something we cannot afford to buy. Or jealousy can apply to how we feel about another person’s job, or their ability to do something we can’t. Earlier in Exodus, we read, “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. …” (Exodus 20:4-5a). Notice that God is jealous when someone gives to another something that rightly belongs to Him. Worship, praise, honour, and adoration belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it. Therefore, God is rightly jealous when worship, praise, honour, or adoration is given to idols.

The second question Paul asked was: “Do you think we are stronger than he is?” Of course, the answer is that we are not. But the implication is that by thinking we can involve ourselves with the worship of demons, we are effectively putting ourselves in a place where we think we know best, leaving God out of the situation. This is a dangerous place to be, because our God will not tolerate this, and, with His anger aroused, we are facing a slippery slope that could ultimately end in hell. 

What do we pilgrims make of these two questions? We should first remember our place as God’s children and who our Heavenly Father is. We read Psalm 147:4-5: “He counts the stars and calls them all by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension!” We only have to read Genesis 1, and we find how great God is, so we can never say we know better than He does. God knows more than anyone the importance of worshipping Him, because if we don’t, we will find ourselves worshipping something that ultimately could turn out to be a demon. Those of us who are a bit older will remember Bob Dylan’s song ”Gotta Serve Somebody”, which uses the phrase to mean that everyone must ultimately serve either “the devil or the Lord”. 

We worship God, not because He needs our worship, but because of who He is. Within us is an inbuilt desire to worship, and all because we are created in God’s image. We must never forget who God is and why we need to focus our worship and praise on Him. We turn to Jesus, God’s Son, and remember what He did for us. We remember the time when we nailed our “old man” to the Cross of Calvary, so that Jesus could release our “new man, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness”. How can we not turn our praise and worship, our awe and adoration, to our Heavenly Father?

Dear God. Please help us refocus our hearts and minds on You today, so that we can give You the worship You deserve. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Cup of Demons

Posted on by korgrocker

“What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons. You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons, too. You cannot eat at the Lord’s Table and at the table of demons, too. What? Do we dare to rouse the Lord’s jealousy? Do you think we are stronger than he is?”
1 Corinthians 10:19-22 NLT

It is one thing to think that the food we are eating is acceptable because it was offered to an idol, a lump of stone or metal, and totally inanimate. But if the same food had been offered to a demon, then we would be in a totally different ballpark. Well, Paul was very clear when he wrote our verses today about the association between idols and demons. 

The Bible records much about demons. Jesus walked around Israel, casting out demons from people, people who were oppressed and possessed by these malign beings. In Matthew 8:28, we read, “When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area”. The rest of this account can be found in the following verses. Jesus, being the Son of God, had authority over these beings and was able to cast them out, and there are many other examples recorded in His ministry.

But what is, or was, a demon? The Biblical definition is found in Revelation 12:9 “This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels”. So a demon was an angel who had chosen to rebel against God, along with satan, and was excluded from Heaven. They then had to live somewhere, and Earth with its inhabitants became the obvious choice. In general terms, a demon is typically described as a malevolent supernatural being or evil spirit.

In Paul’s time, idol worship was common, and people generally would not have made the association between what they were worshipping and the force or influence behind it. Paul observed that there has to be a distinction between anything related to demons and a believer’s life in Christ. Demons, as spirit beings, have the ability to take possession of a physical body. This cannot happen to a child of God, since the Holy Spirit resides in the heart of the believer in Christ. 

When Paul referred to the “cup of the Lord” and “the cup of demons”, he wasn’t literally alluding to drinking cups of something supplied by either. He was instead building on the picture he was referring to in a previous verse in 1 Corinthians, “When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? …” (1 Corinthians 10:16a). The message is clear. It isn’t possible to be a believer in Christ and a follower of the devil or one of his demons at the same time. 

So, what does all this matter to us pilgrims today? It matters a great deal because demons didn’t all disappear at the end of the First Century. They are still with us today, and we need to be aware of their malign influence. They may not be able to possess a child of God, but they can still do much harm by leading them into sin. In Colossians 2:15, we read, “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross”. Paul warned the Ephesians, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). These evil rulers, authorities and spirits are demons. We need to be aware of them, discern their presence, and resist their influence. Paul gave the Ephesians a defence plan, based on the individual items worn by a Roman soldier, and when in place, there is no demon that has any power over us. 

Dear Heavenly Father. We pray “deliver us from evil”, and we pray that again this morning and every morning as we go about our mission as Your children. We pray for Your Spirit to be with us and protect us every step we take. In Jesus’ name. Amen.