The Story Chapter 15 / Can You Hear Him Now?

Verizon Wireless created one of the most memorable marketing campaigns ever in 2005.  In their commercials a so-called ”test man,” accompanied by a crowd of network engineers, travels the country asking the simple question, “Can you hear me now?” in an ongoing exercise to determine the reliability of the mobile phone carrier’s network.

The “catch phrase” caught on.  The company’s market share went up and employee turnover went down.  It seemed people could relate to the struggle to connect.  Folks were tired of dropped calls and unreliable communication systems.  And Verizon sent a message that they wanted desperately to connect with its subscribers and wanted its subscribers to be able to connect with each other.

At the risk of selling Him short, God has done the same.  Even when the Kingdom had split in two, He kept sending His message.  He gave the people of the Divided Kingdom some 208 years to decide whether they would “accept” or “reject” His call.  He sent His own “technicians” to get the message out.  We call them “prophets.”

 

The job of the Verizon technician is unique.  But not nearly as unique as the task given Hosea.  Hosea, himself a prophet, appeared in a down time in the nation of Israel.  The reality is that people often hear best when things are at their worst.  So Hosea signed on with God. But God gave him a most unusual assignment.  Hosea’s life would be his message.  He was to marry a prostitute named Gomer and love her.  What an incredible request!  (Just imagine a young man with a seminary degree in hand trying to explain that one to a pastor search committee.) 

The tough assignment was made even more difficult as Gomer left Hosea.  She would conduct her ‘transactions’ with customers and all the time in her mind believing they were the ones supporting her.  In reality, though, it was Hosea who continued to care for her and provide for her necessities even during her times of unfaithfulness.

God tells Hosea to go and demonstrate his love for her, so he does.  Now picture this scene, as ugly as it is: Hosea pays some Hebrew “pimp” for some time with his wife, Gomer.  When she enters the room expecting her next customer, she comes face-to-face with her husband.  It is then that Hosea tells her again he loves her and wants her to come back home.

It’s the lived-out message that Hosea later gives in words.  And it’s the same message God sends today.  He loves us—even in our extreme unfaithfulness. And he wants us to come back home, even though we have abandoned him. But much like a call on your cell phone, you can hit the “accept” button or the “reject” button.  You have the power to send God to voicemail and make him wait.  Or you can answer his call today.  The people of Israel had 208 years to pick up and they never did.  The network is clear.  The message is reliable.  Can you hear him now?

What's the big deal about sex before marriage?

Q: What does the Bible say about having sex before marriage?  What is the big deal?

A:

Sex before marriage, living together, marriage in the Bible

Fornication is used mostly in the King James Version and comes from the Hebrew word which means “to have illicit sexual relations.”  Other versions (NIV, NASB) use the words “promiscuous” or “prostitute” depending on the context.  The whole word means “sex you shouldn’t be having.”  In the Bible, lawful sex (sex you never have to feel guilty about) is inside a married relationship.

*  Genesis 2:24 = “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”  This passage makes very clear that marriage requires both leaving one's birth 

family and cleaving to one's spouse.  In other words, there is supposed to be the beginning of a couple at some definite point in time. One of the major problems with co-habitation prior to marriage is that no covenant has been made between the couple in the presence of God and of godly witnesses.  Sex is designed to be within the marriage covenant.  Marriage is defined as a marriage “covenant” specifically in Malachi 2:14.  A “covenant” is not something entered into lightly, but is a contract with ceremony, oaths taken, and witnesses present.  Marriage is such a commitment that is made between a couple and God.  Most of the time we think of marriage as a covenant before two people… it is not.  It is between the couple and God.  Honestly, this means that a marriage done before a judge or a justice of the peace or notary is a little bit different because God is not involved (but that is my legalistic side coming through and is a whole other discussion). 

*  Exodus 22:16-17 = “If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to give her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.” This passage also makes it clear that sex with someone with whom one is not married is a sin.  Even if the man chooses not to marry the girl or marriage is refused him, he must pay the bride price anyway.  Why?  Because what they did was reserved for married people and he must pay for the woman even though he cannot have her as his wife.

*  Psalm 45 is an entire Psalm about the wedding ceremony.

*  Song of Solomon 1-8 is all about sex inside of marriage.  The groom does not get to enter the bride’s “garden” until after marriage.  Yes, the “garden” means what you think it does.

*  Hebrews 13:4 = “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”  This verse describes a marriage bed that is “pure.”  The purity in the verse is described as honored by all, undefiled, absent adultery and other immoralities.  As a side note, the Greek word (a very descriptive language) for the person who has sex outside of marriage is “pornos.”  This word is used for prostitutes as well.  Also, the Greek word for “marriage” is one that is in a broad range of words that describes important relationships that are entered into such as memberships and other associations.  This means it is not something that just happens, but is an intentional association.  Even the Hebrew word denotes an entire state of being and was a basic social unit that is entered into by some, but not all. 

Sociological and Psychological Statistics on “Living Together”:

*  The number of unmarried couples living together soared 12-fold from 430,000 in 1960 to 5.4 million in 2005.

*  More than eight out of ten couples who live together will break up either before the wedding or afterwards in divorce. 

*  About 45 percent of those who begin cohabiting, do not marry. Another 5-10 percent continue to live together and do not marry.

*  Couples who do marry after living together are 50% more likely to divorce than those who did not says US Attorney Legal Services (not a Christian source!)

*  Only 12 percent of couples who have begun their relationship with cohabitation end up with a marriage lasting 10 years or more.

*  A Penn State (not a Christian source!) study reports that even a month’s cohabitation decreases the quality of the couple’s relationship.

Here are some more statistics relating to the children of cohabiting parents.

*  Children of cohabiting parents are ten times more likely to be sexually abused by a stepparent than by a parent.

*  Children of cohabiting parents are three times as likely to be expelled from school or to get pregnant as teenagers than children from an intact home with married parents.

*  Children of cohabiting parents are five times more apt to live in poverty, and 22 times more likely to incarcerated.

Troy Borst

Christian Education Minister

If you have a question about Scripture, please email me at troy.borst@newbeginningscctampa.org

Praying for the Kingdom: Chiapas

COUNTRY

Chiapas (Mexico)

DESCRIPTION

Chiapas is the southernmost state in Mexico. Since 1994, the leftist Zapatista paramilitary group has used Chiapas as a base for its anti-government activities. Many indigenous Chiapans are descended from the Maya and are largely marginalized by the government. Catholicism in the region is blended heavily with traditions from indigenous religions. Category: Hostile Nation Religion: Folk Catholicism 64.5%, Christian (evangelical) 21.9% Ideology: Mixture of folk Catholic syncretism and liberation theology Head of State: Governor Juan José Sabines Guerrero Evangelicals in Chiapas face prejudice, harassment and expulsion from their villages, as well as attacks against their churches and private property. Opposition to evangelicals is mostly due to their refusal to participate in syncretistic community religious events that involve pagan rituals and heavy drinking. Evangelicals are considered a threat to local political and religious leaders’ control. VOM provided support to a group of displaced Chiapan Christians.

The Story Chapter 14 / Pay Attention to the Ripple Effect

The decisions you make and the actions you take affect those around you.

Rehoboam learned that lesson the hard way.  Rehoboam followed his father Solomon to the throne of Israel.  Solomon had exacted harsh labor on the people.  A delegation, led by Jeroboam, went to the new king and asked him to take away the harshness.

In private, Rehoboam asked his elder council what he should do.  They advised that he become a servant to the people, lighten their load, and the people would always be faithful servants to the king.

His circle of younger friends gave him just the opposite advice.  They told him to work the people harder.  He liked that idea, told the delegation his plans, and wound up with a divided kingdom.

At one time or another all of us are impacted by someone else’s decisions or actions.  When we suffer the negative consequences of another’s wrongheaded decision, God can redeem the situation.  Although Rehoboam wound up ruling only two tribes—Judah and Benjamin (as opposed to Jeroboam’s rule over ten tribes)—it was through Judah that Jesus came to us.  God can work, and often does what seems to us as his best work, in situations that seem the most difficult.

We should always consider how our decisions and actions affect those around us.  In “systems thinking” it is said that “you are the highest leverage point in any system you are in.”  More simply stated, you can make a difference. You are more “powerful” than you think you are––no matter your station in life.

Clint Eastwood’s film Invictus tells the story of Nelson Mandela’s use of the South African rugby team to help heal a nation divided by apartheid.  In one scene of the movie he explains to a team member, “Reconciliation starts here.  Forgiveness starts here.”  He knew his actions would have a ripple effect on those around him.  Eventually the blessing of that “ripple” washed across the nation.

Rehoboam made a bad decision, but it was really his father Solomon’s actions that divided the kingdom.  He forsook the one true God and chased after other “gods,” he neglected to serve the people and instead forced them to work harder, and he was focused on himself, as reflected in his accumulation of wives, gold, and horses in direct disobedience to God’s counsel.  His son Rehoboam was merely living out consequence of those decisions and actions.

Learn from Solomon’s mistake.  Love God first.  Love others second.  And serve those that do not yet know God.  You will be surprised to see how far your ripple will travel.

Thinking Evil Thoughts

This question came in response to our Share the Gospel class on the 4 Spiritual Laws. The four Spiritual Laws are:

1. God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life. (John 3:16, John 10:10)

2. Man is sinful and separated from God. Therefore, he cannot know and experience God's love and plan for his life. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)

3. Jesus Christ is God's only provision for man's sin. Through Him, you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6, John 14:6)

4. We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (John 1:12, Ephesians 2:8,9, John 3:1-8, Revelation 3:20)

QUESTION:

If you think evil thoughts, is that sin?

ANSWER:

The answer to this question is yes. Actions are sin, but so are attitudes and thoughts. This is one of the hard parts about describing “sin” to anyone in law #2. Sometimes we all have different definitions of what “sin” is or what a “sinner” is. Sin is anything that is contrary to what God has for us which includes actions, words, attitudes, thoughts, decisions, etc. Hebrews 4:11-13 shares with us that everything we do and say and think will one day be judged. That is why law #3 is so important because through Jesus Christ our sins are paid for.

Here are some Bible verses:

Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

Psalm 10:4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Proverbs 15:26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.

Isaiah 59:7 Their feet rush into sin; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are evil thoughts; ruin and destruction mark their ways.

Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.'"

Hebrews 4:11-13 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Troy Borst

Christian Education Minister

If you have a question about Scripture, please email me at troy.borst@newbeginningscctampa.org

Praying for the Kingdom: Cuba

COUNTRY	Cuba
DESCRIPTION	In 2008, Fidel Castro turned leadership over to his brother, General Raul Castro, and Cuba’s relationship with the United States appears to be improving. The Cuban government seeks to control most aspects of Cuban life through the Communist Party, government bureaucracy and state security. The Ministry of Interior is the principal organ of state security and control. the country is now run by General Castro and a team of Communist Party loyalists. Raul is slowly implementing economic reforms, and Category: Restricted Nation Religion: Christian 56.5%, Non-Religious 25.0% Ideology: Communism Head of State: President General Raul Castro Ruz The constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but religious groups experience interference, harassment and discrimination, and their leaders are sometimes imprisoned. Cuba considers church growth a threat to regime stability. The Religious Affairs Office, an arm of the Cuban Communist Party, actively tries to control churches through surveillance, infiltration and harassment of church leaders. Pastors understand that their congregations are infiltrated and monitored by government agents. Cuban law prohibits the unauthorized assembly of more than 12 people. Many Christians meet in unregistered house churches even though they have been strictly regulated since 2005. VOM is involved in repairing house churches and supporting evangelistic teams.
RELATED LINKS	Persecution.com Story - Cuba: Persecution Increases Persecution.com Story - Cuba: The Faceless Enemy Persecution.com Story - VOM: Secret Christian Work PrisonerAlert Prisoner - Carlos Lamelas BiblesUnbound Operation - Cuba-Intensifying #3 BiblesUnbound Operation - Cuba-Intensifying #2 BiblesUnbound Operation - Cuba - Intensifying

The Story Chapter 13 / Don’t Forget to Wish For the Best

A Minister tells the following story:

Over a recent Thanksgiving holiday I did my version of Black Friday shopping.  I slept in, had breakfast, took a shower, and then met up with my wife and son who had left the house before 6:30 a.m.  I was rested, fresh, and full of energy.  After facing the frantic shoppers all morning they . . . well, they didn’t look so good. 

At one point of the mall madness I was leaving Sears and saw it.  Right there in front of me.  A Sears Wish Book.  I hadn’t seen one in years and it brought back some memories. 

The first Sears Wish Book was printed in 1933.  (I don’t remember that. I looked it up.)  Over time it has diminished in size and was even discontinued at one point.  It was revived in 2007, but the one I saw was nothing in size compared to the books I remember from my youth.  Children today don’t really need one.  They have the Internet and their high tech toys to cruise the information highway to identify their holiday “wants.”  But “back in the day” the Sears Wish Book helped us answer the seasonal question: “If you could have anything for Christmas, what would you ask for?” 

Every year my brother and I would look through the catalogue and either dog-ear a page or circle our choices in pen.  We didn’t want Santa to miss our requests. 

You may not need the Sears Wish Book today, but you have some wishes too, don’t you?  Next Christmas how would you answer the question, “If you could have one thing in the world, what would it be?” 

Solomon had to answer that one.  He asked for wisdom.  And God gave it to him.  But by the end of his life he had accumulated more and more: more gold, more horses, more wives.  He had it all and wanted more.  In the midst of all these gifts he lost sight of the Giver.  He turned away from God and lost it all. 

Another King gave us another path to follow.  He had it all and gave it all . . . for us.  In the Christmas season, or any season for that matter, you can guard yourself from the tyranny of too much stuff by giving.  Simply give so that others can simply live.   That’s what the King born as a baby in the manger did. 

And my wish?  That you visit the manger and find Him.

NBCC IS AN UPWARD SPORTS CHURCH

WE ARE ALL IN!

NBCC IS AN UPWARD SPORTS CHURCH

Upward Sports, the world's largest Christian sports league for kids, has become the place to play fun sports for over half a million families in the United States and Canada. Last year, nearly 550,000 K5 through sixth-graders had a great kids basketball, kids soccer, kids flag football or kids cheerleading experience through one of over 5,000 leagues and camps.

By providing a fun sports experience based on healthy competition, Upward Sports Leagues help kids develop skills for the sports arena and values for life. Upward Sports uses the universal language of sports to connect with kids at a critical age and help them discover and build athletic skills, values, self-confidence and a life-long love of the game. That’s why our youth sports leagues and kids sports camps provide them with the best sports experience possible!

At Upward Sports, families matter. Our leagues give families all the benefits of participating in team sports while protecting them from hectic travel schedules and the win-at-all costs mentality that burns out young athletes. With just a one-hour practice and one-hour game each week, our leagues conveniently fit into busy family schedules.

Upward Sports partners with around 2600 local churches to provide first-class, organized and welcoming kids basketball, kids soccer, kids flag football and kids cheerleading leagues and camps.  New Beginnings Christian Church is one of those partners!

 

At NBCC, we focus on Upward Soccer.

You can get involved with Upward in many ways:

Sign up your kids and grandkids to PLAY Upward Soccer

“On the Ground” Advertising Volunteer

“On the Web” Advertising Volunteer

Coach

Referee

Greeter and Information (Game Day)

Concession Worker (Game Day)

Set-Up and Clean-Up (Game Day)

Half-Time Coordinator (Game Day)

Referee Coordinator

Coach Coordinator

For more information, email Troy Borst

Evil Spirits From the Lord

QUESTION:

I was reading in 1 Samuel 16 and in verse 14, it says that The Spirit of the Lord departed Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him. I did not know that the Lord would send an evil spirit. Is that right or is there a different translation?

ANSWER:

Well, it is a fine line between God “sending” an evil spirit and “allowing” an evil spirit to enter Saul. God on purpose removed His Holy Spirit from Saul which left him empty (see Matthew 12:43-45). He also allowed an evil spirit to enter Saul and allow it to torment him. To be honest, in Jewish theology (and in some Christian circles) there is no difference between God allowing something to happen and God doing it. God is sovereign and therefore if something happens, He allowed it or did not stop it. It is the same thought as in the life of Job. God allowed Satan to take his family, give him boils, etc, but the whole books speaks of God doing it to Job.

In the end, this is a complicated question.  In the end, we see that in ALL THINGS our God is sovereign and does allow evil to happen, but NO, He does not CAUSE it.

Perhaps the small study below will help you think through the issue…

“an evil spirit from the Lord” (3x in OT) + “God sent an evil spirit” (1x in OT)

[1 Sam 16:13-18] [1 Sam 18:10-11] [Judges 9:23]

1 Samuel 19:8-10  Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. He struck them with such force that they fled before him.  9 But an evil spirit from the LORD came upon Saul as he was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand. While David was playing the harp, 10 Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, but David eluded him as Saul drove the spear into the wall. That night David made good his escape.

What do these above verses describe that was a spiritual reality for King Saul?

How do we reconcile these passages with James 1:12-14 which seems to state the opposite?

What do we notice about evil spirits in relation to God in Mark 1:23-27 and Mark 5:7-9?

What do we notice about evil spirits in relation to people in Acts 19:13-17?

In view of the Old Testament and New Testament, does God really send evil spirits to torment people and harm them? 

Troy Borst

Christian Education Minister

Praying for the Kingdom: Colombia

 

COUNTRY	Colombia
DESCRIPTION	Colombia is plagued by violence, but the government has made progress toward improving security since 2002. A number of paramilitary groups as well as FARC guerrillas vie for power in the southern region of Cordoba, a significant coca cultivation area that is strategically important to the drug trade. Colombia has the world’s second highest number of internally placed people, numbering 3 million. Category: Hostile Nation Religion: Christian 94.4%, Non-Religious 2.4% Ideology: Marxist terrorism (FARC) Head of State: President Juan Manuel Santos Calderon Guerrillas and paramilitary groups target religious leaders who oppose their drug activity. The church is also a target because when guerrillas and paramilitary fighters become Christians, they quit fighting and drain the organizations’ manpower. Many pastors have been assassinated or fled the country. Paramilitary and guerrilla groups have openly committed murders in public streets and on buses. Still, Christianity continues to grow in the country. VOM supports a prison ministry, provides tools to evangelists who serve in hostile areas and prints and distributes Christian literature.
RELATED LINKS	Persecution.com Story - Colombia: Pastor Martyred Persecution.com Story - Colombia: Rebels Kill Widow Persecution.com Story - VOM: 1 Million NT's Mailed BiblesUnbound Operation - Colombia-Stability 3 BiblesUnbound Operation - Colombia-Stability 2 BiblesUnbound Operation - Colombia-Stability 1 Be-A-Voice Prayer Bulletin - Colombia Widow Killed Be-A-Voice Prayer Bulletin - FARC Closing Churches

The Story Chapter 12 / What to Do With Your “Third Week of March”

When Pope John Paul died, a man named Rogers Cadenhead quickly registered the web address www.BenedictXVI.com, thinking this might be the name chosen by the new pope.  When Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope, he did choose the name Pope Benedict XVI, causing some to question what the Vatican would do to get the rights to that domain name.

Cadenhead didn’t ask the Vatican for money.  Instead, in a humorous manner on his blog he suggested a few things he would trade for:

1. Three days, two nights at the Vatican hotel.
2. One of those hats (referring to the bishop’s hat).
3. Complete absolution, no questions asked, for the third week of March 1987. [1]

Wonder what Rogers did the third week of March in 1987?  Me too, but does it really matter?! Most of us have at least a week for which we’d love to have total forgiveness. 

We discover in The Story that David did.  One day when the army is at war, David, who is the commander-in-chief of the nation’s military, neglects his duties and stays behind.  He sees Bathsheba, seduces her, gets her pregnant, murders her husband, and tries to cover up his actions by deceiving his general and soldiers.  Then he marries Bathsheba and she bears their child.

It looks as if David will get away with all of this.  But he doesn’t.  God sends his prophet Nathan to confront David by telling him a story about a poor man with one lamb.  David knows something about sheep and shepherds, so he listens.  Nathan says that the poor man has a rich neighbor who needs to slaughter a lamb to feed a guest, but instead of taking one of his many sheep he steals the poor’s man’s one lamb. 

David is incensed and says that man should be put to death.  Nathan then declares, “You are the man!”  At that moment David must have wished he had bought a domain name that he could swap for absolution.  He may have wanted to make excuses.  Explain things away.  Blame it on Bathsheba for taking a bath in broad daylight where he could see.  But instead of making excuses, David confesses. “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Sam. 12:13). 

And God did with David’s sin what he will do with yours and mine.  He put it away (Psalm 103:12-13).

You can do what David did.  Whatever your “third week of March” might be, sit down with it, yourself and God.  Confess your sin.  And then let another shepherd from Bethlehem forgive it.  That’s better than any domain name you might secure.

---

[1] http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/American_who_owns_BenedictXVI.com_wants_%22one_of_those_hats%22

Suicide: the Unpardonable Sin?

QUESTION:

Is suicide the “unpardonable sin?”  If someone commits suicide… do they automatically go to Hell?

ANSWER:

Is suicide a sin?  Five to seven deaths may be considered suicides in the Bible. The biblical writers do not specifically state that such deaths are acts of sin. This probably is due to the fact suicide would be included under the law that forbids murder in the 10 Commandments. Some would be considered justifiable, such as that of Samson. He actually asked God to give him the strength to destroy the building he was in, an act that would kill the enemy as well as himself. 

Suicide was practiced as martyrdom by Christians during the Roman persecution. They would put themselves in situations where they knew they would be killed so they could die for the faith. Many of these believed martyrdom was a guarantee of entrance into heaven. 

Augustine was the first theologian to declare a distinction between suicide and martyrdom. He said suicide is an act of murdering oneself, a decision in direct opposition to God's will. Suicide, along with adultery and apostasy, came to be seen as unredeemable. Thomas Aquinas later classified suicide as a mortal sin that cannot be forgiven. Because of this, the Roman Catholic Church for many years refused to conduct funerals for people who took their own lives. In recent times, the Catholic Church has modified this view, stating that suicide is no longer viewed as a reason to deny a Catholic funeral, unless it would cause a public scandal. Protestant leaders Martin Luther and John Calvin did not declare suicide to be an unforgivable sin. 

The only sin the Bible declares to be unforgivable is that of blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31-32). Bible scholars debate what this sin actually is. The basic meaning is that of denying the work of the Holy Spirit. Since the Holy Spirit is the person of the Trinity who convicts of sin and offers God's forgiveness for sin, to reject the work of the Holy Spirit is to reject forgiveness--by definition, the unpardonable sin (to refuse to be pardoned is unpardonable). A related sin is the "sin unto death" in 1 John 5:16-17. This is a reference to rejecting Jesus Christ and the salvation he alone provides. 

Suicide, for Christian doctrine has by and large held that suicide is morally wrong, despite the fact that no passage in Scripture unequivocally condemns suicide. Although the early church fathers opposed suicide, St. Augustine is generally credited with offering the first thoroughgoing justification of the Christian prohibition on suicide.  He saw the prohibition as a natural extension of the fifth commandment: 

The law, rightly interpreted, even prohibits suicide, where it says ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ This is proved especially by the omission of the word ‘thy neighbor’, which are inserted when false witness is forbidden in the commandment there is no limitation added nor exception made in favor of any one, and least of all in favor of him on whom the command is laid! (Augustine, book I, chapter 20) 

Suicide, Augustine determined, was an unrepentable sin. St. Thomas Aquinas later defended this prohibition on three grounds. (1) Suicide is contrary to natural self-love, whose aim is to preserve us. (2) Suicide injures the community of which an individual is a part. (3) Suicide violates our duty to God because God has given us life as a gift and in taking our lives we violate His right to determine the duration of our earthly existence (Aquinas 1271, part II, Q64, A5). This conclusion was codified in the medieval doctrine that suicide nullified human beings' relationship to God, for our control over our body was limited to us(possession, employment) where God retained dominium (dominion, authority). Law and popular practice in the Middle Ages sanctioned the desecration of the suicidal corpse, along with confiscation of property and denial of Christian burial. 

The Protestant Reformers, including Calvin, condemned suicide as roundly as did the established Church, but held out the possibility of God treating suicide mercifully and permitting repentance. Interest in moral questions concerning suicide was particularly strong in this period among England 's Protestants, notably the Puritans. Nonetheless, the traditional Christian view prevailed well into the late seventeenth century, where even an otherwise liberal thinker such as John Locke echoed earlier Thomistic arguments, claiming that though God bestowed upon us our natural personal liberty, that liberty does not include the liberty to destroy oneself (Locke 1690, ch. 2, para. 6).

Troy Borst

Christian Education Minister

If you have a question about Scripture, please email me at troy.borst@newbeginningscctampa.org

The Marks of Jesus

QUESTION:

In Galatians 6:17 it says, “Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”

What does that verse mean?

ANSWER:

There are two ways to interpret that verse depending on your Christian background:

For Protestants, we see him describing the marks on his body because of the beatings, shipwrecks, etc that he has gone through. All of that was for the Gospel and because of Jesus and so it is the “marks of Jesus” on his body because of his apostleship (because of Jesus). 2 Corinthians 4:10 uses the same language and speaks of the same thing.

For Roman Catholics, they may or may not agree with the above interpretation, but some of them may see in what Paul says that he experienced the “Stigmata” which are the “marks of Jesus” on believers in that they have a wound in their side and marks on their hands and on their feet and sometimes forehead. There is no basis for this in Scripture anywhere. St Francis of Assisi was the first one to claim he had the stigmata if I remember correctly.

So in interpreting the verse, yes, Paul is talking about being beaten in prison and being stoned and that the Galatians should not question his authority as an Apostle because “he has the bruises to show he is an apostle."

Troy Borst

Christian Education Minister

If you have a question about Scripture, please email me at troy.borst@newbeginningscctampa.org