Should the Church Promote Social/Recreational Activities?

"What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you...Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat (the Lord's Supper), wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come" (1 Cor. 11:22, 33-34).

Based on this one verse, as well as the pattern of scripture, how can we justify the incorporation of social and recreational activities into the local church's work? Where is the New Testament authority for the local church's sponsoring of chicken dinners, pizza parties, softball leagues, basketball nights, gymnasiums, fitness centers, etc?

QUESTION #2: Is Baptism Essential for Salvation?

"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned" (Mk. 16:16).

"Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Ac. 2:38).

"And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Ac. 22:16)

"For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27).

"There is also an antitype which now saves us--baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (1 Pet. 3:21).

Based on these verses, is baptism just an "outward sign of an inward grace," or is it essential for salvation? Must one be baptized to be saved? I think the answer is clearly 'YES,' but I would like to know what you think.

QUESTION #1: Is Denominationalism Right?

Ephesians 4:4-6, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

1 Corinthians 1:11-13, "For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, 'I am of Paul,' or 'I am of Apollos,' or 'I am of Christ.' Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or where you baptized in the name of Paul?"

John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth," and in vv. 20-21, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the orld may believe that You sent Me."

Based on these three simple passages of scripture, how can we possibly justify denominationalism? And if it is not justified, can we justifiably participate in it? How should we react to these verses of scripture?

The Parable of the Two Sons

"But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go, work today in my vineyard.' He answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he regretted it and went. Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, 'I go, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?' They said to Him, 'the first.' Jesus said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to yout hat tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.'" (Mt. 21:28-31)

Jesus spoke this parable to the self-righteous Jewish leaers. These religious leaders viewed themselves as holy, but in reality they had not given their hearts to God. Outwardly, they looked pious, but inwardly, they were "full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness" (Mt. 23:27). These arrogant men condemned the tax-collectors and harlots, yet they themselves were separated from God because of their own sinful hypocrisy.

Jesus' point in this parable is simple: it is better to be a sinner who repents and does what is right than it is to be a religious fraud. The one brother wickedly rebelled against his father's command, but afterward he recognized his error and obeyed. The other brother acted like he would obey, but really he never intended to follow through.

The lesson is a powerful one, and I hope that you get it. You may go to church every Sunday and you may pray before every meal, but have you given your whole heart to God? Are you outwardly obedient but inwardly rebellious? If so, Jesus condemns you in this passage.

Or perhaps you are the sinner who, until now, has refused to obey the commands of God. Won't you, like the good brother in this parable, turn from your rebellion and submit to the Father's will while you still have breath in you? Have faith in God, repent of your sins, confess Christ as Savior and be baptized for the remission of your sins. If you do these things, you will be saved!

If you have any questions, please let me know.

Building a House

I'm currently building a house in Beattyville, KY. The construction process began back in November, and while there have been periods during which the building process progressed rapidly, the building process has, for the most part, been slow. I have learned in all of this that when you build a house, expect delays. It may rain for an entire week and halt progress completely. There are all kinds of inspections that have to take place, and it can be a chore just to get the inspectors to your property, so you have to wait on them. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the point: it takes time to build a house; it's a lot of work.

At the same time, professional contractors can finish a house in less than a month. They work on it every day. They know exactly what they are doing, and they are so well-organized that the delays don't affect them as much.

Spiritually speaking, we are all building a house. On an individual level, our spiritual growth is compared to the construction of a house (1 Cor. 3:11-12). Christ is the foundation (vv. 11), and different materials are used to build the house. One fact that we must recognize about constructing our spiritual house (spiritual growth) is that the process takes time. A person doesn't become a mature Christian immediately. Rather, one grows from being a babe in Christ to being mature in Christ (Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Pet. 2:1-3). We must nurture our spiritual man, and we must utilize the tools that God has given us so that our spiritual house can be constructed properly.

On an individual level, we encounter delays in our spiritual growth, especially early on. We face peer-pressure (1 Pet. 4:3-4), false teachings that may set us back (2 Tim. 2:17-18). Our former life may tug at us, calling us back to perdition and sin (Lk. 9:62). Just as literal storms hinder the construction of a house, so also do these metaphoric storms hinder our spiritual growth. But there is good news here: the more professional we become as spiritual construction workers, the more easily it will be to overcome these setbacks and to push through them.

What are the lessons here?

1. Be patient as you grow in the faith. I remember when I was first converted, I looked at the Bible and thought to myself, "I will never understand any of this," but sure enough, after years of study, I have developed a good understanding of the word of God (not that I know everything, because I don't). Growth takes time.
2. Recognize that setbacks and delays will happen. Satan will do all that he can to hinder and/or reverse your spiritual growth. Be ready.
3. Use the tools that God has given you. This is huge. In the literal construction business, you have to have the right tools to be efficient. Just the other day, I decided to tie up a few loose ends on some siding work we had done, but I didn't have the tools I needed, and so I couldn't do the work. God has given us all the tools we need (2 Pet. 1:3) to build our spiritual house. We have the avenue of prayer (Heb. 4:16), the local church (Eph. 4:16), and of course, we have the word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Use these tools.

I know that one day, my house in Lee County will be finished. I look forward to that day when I can move in and start my new life there. It is such an exciting process and I am enjoying every minute of it. But do you know what I am more excited about? My spiritual growth...and even more than that, I am excited about the day when I will cast off this temporary house and put on the eternal house spoken of in 2 Corinthians 5:1-2: "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven."

Is Haiti Being Punished By God?

I'm sure by now that you have heard of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that has struck Haiti. Great damage has been done to the infrastructure of Haiti, and it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Haitians have died as a result of this natural disaster. During times like these, we ask ourselves, why did this happen?

Many religious people might argue that the earthquake is an expression of God's indignation towards the Haitians. In other words, because of the sins of the Haitians (I have heard that it is a very ungodly place), God punished them by sending the earthquake.

But can we really make such a claim?

Let's turn to Luke 13:1-5. Here we find an answer to this question. The text says, "There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but uless you repent you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower of Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.'"

When we witness tragedy, it may be tempting to say that God is punishing the wicked people who are involved. Many today may say this about the earthquake in Haiti. I know that this same reasoning was tossed around when Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans. But according to Jesus in Luke 13, it is really not our place to make such claims.

John 9 is another great text to consider here. In John 9:2, the disciples' asked Jesus, "'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' Jesus answered, 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.'" Again, we see that suffering is not always the result of personal sin. In this case, the man was born blind that the works of God might be revealed in Him.

Perhaps the earthquake has struck Haiti so that the works of God might be revealed there. I'm not suggesting that miracles are going to be performed in Haiti, but certainly, this is an opportunity for God's people to show the love of Christ to those people there. We can send financial relief. Perhaps missionaries and evangelists will utilize this opportunity to reach out to the Haitians.

In any case, the tragedy in Haiti reminds us all that God is mighty and infinite in power. As we noticed in Luke 13, instead of exalting ourselves and pointing our judgmental finger at the Haitians, let us instead acknowledge that we are all sinners in need of God's grace.

Having said all that, I also want to point out that it is possible that God is indeed punishing the Haitians. The fact is, God does judge wicked nations. Just read the prophets (Isaiah-Malachi) and even certain parts of the book of Revelation, and this point will be obvious to you. So yes, it is possible that God is judging Haiti, but again, can we as people know the mind of God in this matter? No.

So much more could be said about this subject, but I'll end the article here. May God bless the Haitians during this time of tragedy, and may we do all that we can to help them.

Are Miracles Performed Today?

We read in the Bible of the many miracles performed by the apostles and early Christians. They healed the lame (Ac. 3:1-9), raised the dead (Ac. 20:9-12), spoke in different tongues and prophesied (Ac. 19:6; 1 Cor. 14), and others could be listed.

There are many religious people today who claim to have these same abilities. We hear of healing services where multiple people are supposedly healed during the service. In many of these charismatic churches (i.e. Pentecostal, Church of God, Assembly of God, etc), there are people leaping over pews, rolling in the aisles and speaking gibberish which they claim to be tongues, all of which is allegedly the result of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I have even heard of "holy laughter." I think most of us recognize how silly some of this is, but is it all fake? What about the claims of divine healing, prophecy and tongue-speaking? Does the Bible give us any kind of answer? Yes, it does!

First of all, we need to understand the purpose of miracles. As we're going to see, miracles were not intended to be a means of profit, nor were they merely a source of excitement for Christians. According to God's word, the purpose of miracles was to confirm the word of God.

Mark 16:20 says, "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs."

Hebrews 2:3-4 says, "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?"

Both of these passages clearly identify the aforementioned purpose of miraculous gifts. They bore witness to, or confirmed, the word of God. What does this mean? Well, the law of Christ had never been preached before. It was new to the world. In Luke 24:47, Jesus told the apostles tat "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Imagine the apostles teaching this new law to thousands upon thousands of Jews (and later, the Gentiles). The apostles are telling all of these people that they have to repent and seek salvation in Christ. Who is Christ? Why do we need to change? How do we know that what you're saying is true? I mean, think about it...would you change your whole life simply because someone told you that this Jesus guy died for your sins? Of course not!

But what if they healed a lame man? What if they gave sight to a man who had been blind from birth? What if they raised the dead? What if they prophesied and spoke in your native tongue miraculously? Then you might start to believe them. Hey, these guys must be from God...and if they're from God, then what they're saying must be true. Jesus is the Lord!

That's what miracles did in the first century. They confirmed the word.

So now we have two questions to answer in order to determine whether or not miracles still exist. Number one, has the law of Christ been fully revealed in that it no longer needs confirmation? And number two, does the Bible teach that the miracles would cease when the law of Christ was fully revealed, or confirmed?

First of all, I think most of us understand that the New Testament canon is complete, and has been completed since the latter part of the first century. Matthew through Revelation comprises what we call the New Testament, and most of us agree that any addition to it would be heresy (from men, not God). And the New Testament actually confirms this point.

2 Peter 1:3 says, "As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue."

Jude 3 says, "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

These two verses seem to indicate that, in the first century, the entire will of God was indeed revealed. It was ONCE for ALL delivered to the saints, and ALL things that pertain to godliness have been GIVEN to us. This law of Christ has been given to us in the form of writing, or scripture (Eph. 3:3-5). Scripture is able to make us "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

Is there ongoing revelation? Well, according to these verses, the answer is No. There is no need for ongoing revelation. We have all that we need to be complete in Christ!

But this point alone doesn't necessarily prove that miracles have ceased. All it does is tell us that the purpose of miracles has ceased. And the burden of proof, I believe, is on me to prove that they have ceased. That brings us to our second question (and the main point of the article): does the Bible teach that miracles would cease when the law was fully revealed?

The answer lies in 1 Corinthians 13.

The members of the Corinthian church had the ability to perform miracles, but these miracles were the cause of much division within the church (really, it was their pride and selfishness that caused them to divide, but they manifested these wicked attitudes through the use of miracles). In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul reminded them that while there were many spiritual gifts, they were to conduct themselves as the unified body of Christ. In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their misuse of the miraculous gifts. Instead of using these gifts to promote edification (in the infant-state of the church where they didn't have completed New Testaments like we do today), they used them to exalt themselves.

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul reminds the Corinthians of the supremacy of LOVE over miraculous gifts, and he plainly tells them that these miraculous gifts would cease (but love would endure).

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Cor. 13:1-2). You see, Paul is emphasizing the supremacy of love. Love is more important than the gift of prophecy, more important than tongues, more important than miraculous knowledge and miraculous faith.

Of course, in verses 4-7, we find the famous definition of faith, "Love is..." But in verse eight, Paul again returns to the subject of miraculous gifts. "Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away" (vv. 8-10).

The inspired apostle clearly tells us that miracles were not intended to last forever. They would cease and come to an end. In other words, a time would come when there would be no miraculous gifts. When would that happen?

The miraculous gifts were said to be in part (vv. 9). Verse 10 says, "But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." The miraculous gifts (which were in part) would cease and vanish away when the perfect, or complete, came.

That brings us to yet another question: what is the perfect?

And when did it come?

It is my contention that the perfect is the fully-revealed word of God (in complete, or perfect form). My reasoning goes back to the purpose of miracles and the wording of this passage. Miracles existed to confirm the word of God, right? Yes, we established that. Here in 1 Corinthians 13, the in part (incomplete) is tied to the perfect (complete). It's like a pie. A slice of apple pie relates to the whole apple pie. If miracles existed to aid in the revelation of the word of God, then the perfect here in 1 Corinthians 13 must be the complete word of God.

So Paul is basically saying that miraculous gifts would vanish away when the word of God was fully confirmed and revealed. After all, when the word was fully revealed, the purpose of miracles would cease. Do you see the point?

Some argue (and this is the only other interpretation of which I am aware), that the perfect is Jesus, and so they have miracles ending when Jesus returns. First of all, this seems to make Paul's whole point kind of meaningless, but beyond that, there is, within the text, a rebuttal of this interpretation. At the end of the chapter, in verse 13, Paul says, "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." After saying that miracles would cease, Paul says that faith, hope and love abide, or continue. Here's the question: will faith and hope continue after the return of Christ? No. There will be no need of hope in heaven (Rom. 8:24), and faith will end when we see Christ and heaven (Heb. 11:1). This "return of Jesus" interpretation of 1 Corinthians 13 cannot be reconciled with these points. Faith and hope would continue after the confirmation of the word, but it will not continue after the return of Christ.

So are miracles performed today as they were in the first century?

No.

And this is my conclusion only because it is what the word of God says.

Am I wrong? If so, tell me. Answer my arguments. Show me from the Bible that I am wrong.

I'd love to hear from you.