Archive for November, 2012

Gender Bias — Definitely: Part Four (Co-opting Caesar)

Thursday, November 29th, 2012

I hope that you did not think that I would leave Caesar alone. I fully intend to interact with Caesar, but not on his terms: not, as a politician. In fact, there is no way to remove Caesar from the equation. First, as Christians, we have a direct commandment to honor Caesar. It is a commandment that comes from the highest source that was made available to us, as provided by the Father God.

Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money.

And they brought unto him a penny.

And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?

They say unto him, Caesar’s.

Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s.

When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.

(Matthew 22:15-22)

Also, as pertains to our relationship with the rulers of the world, we received further instructions about how we acknowledge their appointed place in our lives. The apostle Paul gives us this further insight into these sorts of required relationships, for the children of God . . .

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely:  Part Four –

…

Posted in Gender Bias | No Comments »

Kingdom of God: Part Eighteen (Absorption)

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Now, each one of us needs to take some time to explore our own need. To begin the process, take a moment to absorb the following Scripture.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

(Revelation 3:14-21) In light of that Scripture, let us consider only our position in the LORD. Let us be selfish, for a moment.Ooh; somebody is feeling hyper-religious, aren’t they?

“

What is this stuff about being selfish,” they ask. “Of course that can’t be right. Everyone knows that we should be ready to perform our service to God in the same fashion as was done by the prophets and apostles of olden times. For instance, we need to perform as recorded in this Scripture; don’t we,” they ask, with a look and a tone that bespeaks assurance that they are speaking absolute truth. They speak as one who is sure that the entire world will say, yes, to what they have just pronounced.

To add to the inevitability of receiving the, as they think, only possible response, yes; they resort to authority. Wherefore they continue, by saying, “Please pay attention to these words: seeketh not her own.” Then they try to bring the full weight of their authority to bear, as they quote Scripture.

– Explore the Kingdom of God:  Part Eighteen –

…

Posted in Kingdom of God | No Comments »

Gender Bias — Definitely: Part Three (Centralized Control)

Thursday, November 8th, 2012

Please take some time to consider a reason for the incident in the church that is described below. As you do; the main thing that I want you to think about is this: Why did God have to press the members of the church to such a rigorous pattern of compliance? Also consider this: Was the resulting upheaval, in some fashion, an avoidable outcome?

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it, at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much?

And she said, Yea, for so much.

Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

(Acts 5:1-11)

To get a little closer to the matter of control in the church, as it is set above human convenience; we will share an event of the life of Jesus. If you really think about the event, you might come to the conclusion that there are certain things that are made to go wrong, so that the glory of God can be highlighted. Actually, that is not too far from being correct; but, it is more than, that these things are just a burden for us. In fact, it is a way of lightening our load; in that, it places the burden on God to provide perfection for mankind, as opposed to placing the burden on mankind to be able to reconcile imperfection. For that reason, we should draw back, somewhat, from our angst about any present perception of peril. Take a look at the following Scripture, and see if you can determine what the true message of the event is.

– Explore Gender Bias — Definitely:  Part Three –

…

Posted in Gender Bias | No Comments »