Why We Gather at the Table: A Lord’s Supper Devotion

At least on two different occasions we are told in scripture to obey and be subject to our rulers and authorities.  The implication of the command to obey those of authority over us:  our government, the police officer, bosses, parents, Elders is to obey their directions.  The scriptures do not give us a choice in this matter.  We are simply told to obey.

Our responsibility in obedience is not based upon how many or how few of man made rules and laws there are by the people in authority over us.  Our responsibility to God is to always obey.

Because you and I became a Christian, we agreed to follow the standard the Lord established in our lives and to stop following the standard upon which we once lived our lives.

The apostle Paul lived by quite a different set of rules before he met Jesus and he wrote about this in his letter to Titus.

Tit 3:3-7 “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

When we entered into God’s grace within our lives and more so when we enter the assembly to gather around the Lord’s Table:  To what authority do you submit?

Certainly we come around the Communion Table to remember Jesus in our lives, but there is much more to it then that. 

We come to this table to submit to the authority of Jesus Christ in our lives.

“And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.“

It is also stated this way; “In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.“

This is a command.  These words of Jesus, read in Luke 22:19 and from Paul in 1 Cor. 11:25 are a command we are directed to follow. 

You see it was first Jesus who commanded us to be here.  It was Jesus who commanded us to take of the bread and drink from the cup.  When we concentrate of Jesus at this time and not our worldly lives; we are recognizing that it is only by the Lord’s authority and power that we are saved.  Why?  Because;

Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

How self-centered and selfish of us to neglect being around the Table our Jesus prepared.  If we can not be here because of our love for Jesus and what He does for us, then at least we can be here out of obedience to Him as Lord of All.

You see it is His love that compels us as Christians, but it is His command that demands our presence.

Let us all in quite meditation, follow the command of Jesus; blocking out of our minds what happen yesterday, what is going to happen for lunch, what songs we have song or will sing, the person sitting near you, and focus on the mercy, the grace, the great love, the needed death, the cross of Jesus and his resurrection over deaths power as we remember that we do this solely for Jesus.

Are We Really Following the 1st Century Pattern?

Some facts to think about concerning the Church Assembly of the First Century.

Dress: (Not fancy attire of suits, ties and high class dresses)

Males = A cloth head cover which extended to the shoulders, a tunic undergarment covered by a loose fitting mantle outer garment with a four inch leather belt or cloth girdle and sandals.

Females = A cloth head cover which extended to the shoulders, a tunic undergarment covered by a loose fitting mantle outer garment and sandals.

Place: (Not carpeted buildings with comfortable padded pews and air conditioning)

Synagogue court yard, Caves, Catacombs, Private homes, River banks, and Schools

Reason: (Not five acts)

Praise God (Psalm 148:5)

Supportive concern for each other (Heb10:24)

Communion (1 Cor. 11;26)

Time: (No set weekly time given or implied by scripture)

Assembly was logically held in the early morning or late evening because most Christians were peasants, slaves, servants or haired workers during the day.

Teachers: (Not just males)

All who had a lesson; Male or female.  (1 Cor 14:26)

Song Leaders: (Not just males)

No God designed or authorized position of worship authority.  All who had a song lead their song; Male or female. (1 Cor. 14:26)

Communion Servers: (Not just males)

God, according to scriptures, has not designed or authorized any all male communion service.  All who attend the assembly took part in the communion be they males or females.

If salvation is based on a “restitution” system then none could be saved – My study of MDR.

If salvation is based on a “restitution” system then none could be saved – My study of MDR = Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage: By Guy Lewis

My premise concerning my study of this topic is that all of the scripture covering divorce and remarriage in the New Testament must agree with each other and that if any passage of scripture does not seem to agree with another then it is mankind’s opinion that is wrong and not scripture.  I will take a simple look at each of the passages of scripture that is concerned with the issue of divorce in the New Testament and look at the simple language of what it has to say and see if we can not see the simple message offered and if it in fact agrees with all other passages of New Testament scripture.  Therefore, I hope to show that there is no prohibition on remarriage of divorced person and that Paul was not contradicting Jesus in 1 Cor. 7 when he said that divorced person’s do not sin if they marry.

De 24:1-4 “1 When a man taketh a wife, and marrieth her, then it shall be, if she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some unseemly thing in her, that he shall write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man’s wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, who took her to be his wife; 4 her former husband, who sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is abomination before Jehovah: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.” (ASV)

First off we must understand what the Law of Moses had to say about divorce and see if we can understand why this Law was given. 

In verse 1 the Hebrew word for “unseemly thing” is “ervah” which means indecency or nakedness or shame, that the husband shall give her (the wife) a bill or certificate of divorcement or divorce and send her out of the house.  This verse implies that there was a need of the Hebrew nation to protect the wives from just being sent out or being put out of a house by the husband and being discarded and destitute with no way to provide for themselves.

Verse 2 provides the remedy of the destitution indicated in verse 1.  That she may be the “wife” of another man.  This is a legal wife before God and before man.

Verses 3 and 4 says that if the second husband finds some “ervah” with her and divorces her or he dies, the first husband is bared from taking her as his wife again.   This is said to be an abomination before God and therefore a sin.  This may have been done to protect the woman from a wicked ex husband as or an effort to keep the nation pour in their bloodlines, but I am not sure but might be indicated by the use of the term “cause the land to sin” in verse 4.

Now this was the Law of God handed down through Moses to the people of Israel, concerning divorce and remarriage. 

Mt 5:17-20 “17 “Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfil.  18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished.  19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  20 For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (ASV)

Jesus did not come to destroy the Law of Moses.  Jesus did not come to change the Law of Moses.  Jesus says in verses 17 to 19 that He did not come to do away with the Law of Moses and that whoever keeps and teaches the Law will be great in the kingdom of heaven.  Jesus did not come to change but to keep the Law.  In verse 20 Jesus says that keeping the commandments is not an outward show it is a matter of ones heart that matters most.

Mt 5:31-32 “31 It was said also, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:  32 but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.”  (ASV)

 

These two verses must be read in the same context as the rest of the verses in this section of the Sermon on the Mount such as Matt. 5: 17-20, Matt. 5:21-22 and Matt 5:27-28.  Verse 31 says simply that the Law of Moses says to give a certificate of divorce (i.e. divorce your wife not just send her out or put her away).  Jesus was saying in verse 32 that to (apoluo) send her away or put her out would make her an adulteress because to survive she would have to join with another man who could support her or become a prostitute.  The only way she could be an adulteress was if she was still married.  So the word (apoluo) in this text can not mean divorce or she would not be an adulteress.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and she would have been free to remarry whom ever she desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.  Therefore the correct translation of (apoluo) in verse 32 is send out or put away and not to divorce.  This translation is in keeping with and fits with all other passages in the New Testament concerning MDR.

Mt 19:9 “9 And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her when she is put away committeth adultery.”  (ASV)

 Once again in verse 9 Jesus was saying that to (apoluo) send away a wife or put a wife out and marry another would cause adultery because of being still married.  So the word (apoluo) in this text can not mean divorce or there would be no adultery.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.  Therefore the correct translation of (apoluo) in verse 9 is send out or put away and not to divorce.  This translation is in keeping with and fits with all other passages in the New Testament concerning MDR.

 Mr 10:11 “11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her:”  (ASV)

Again the word (apoluo) in verse 11 does not mean divorce in this passage either but to put away without divorce thus causing the adultery because the two are still married.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.  It is interesting to note that here Mark also tell us to whom any adultery is committed against and that is the wife who is put away and not the new person married.  This is the only passage that specifically tells us this information.

Lu 16:18 “18 Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth one that is put away from a husband committeth adultery.”  (ASV)

Once again the word (apoluo) used in verse 18 does not mean divorce in this passage either but to put away without divorce thus causing the adultery because the two are still married.  Because to divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law.

Mt 16:18-19 ”18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (ASV)

What does Jesus mean when He tells the apostles that what they “DO” require on earth will be required in heaven and what they ‘do not” require will not be required in heaven?  Jesus is speaking directly to Peter in this passage but He was also talking to the other eleven by the context.  See the context of the nature of the conversation in:

Mt 16:13-16 “13 “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” 14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (ASV)

Jesus started the conversation out by addressing all the disciples not just Peter.  Peter just happens to be the one who answered for the group. (Also see John 20:23 where Jesus tells the disciples that whom ever they forgive on earth will also be forgiven in heaven.)

Jesus was talking about the new kingdom or church once it was established in Act’s chapter two.  Jesus was not addressing the apostles concerning events prior to the establishment of the church in this conversation because they were still under the Law of Moses.

Now the question is “Which of the apostles”, if any, established rules concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage after the church was established in Acts chapter two.

Ro 7:2-3 “2 For the woman that hath a husband is bound by law to the husband while he liveth; but if the husband die, she is discharged from the law of the husband.  3 So then if, while the husband liveth, she be joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if the husband die, she is free from the law, so that she is no adulteress, though she be joined to another man.”  (ASV)

This passage is talking about a MARRIED couple not a DIVORCED couple.  So if she is still a married wife to the husband and she joins with another man then yes she become an adulteress because she was never given a divorce according to the Law because to divorce according to (Deuteronomy 24 which Jesus did not change) would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever she desired.

1Cor 6:9-11 “9 Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.” (ASV)

This passage is important because it says that no matter what your sin, verses 9 and 10 the blood of Jesus and the Spirit of God washes you clean; sanctifying you and justifying you.  This means you are made new again.  Made whole again.  Your prior sins are washed away as if they never happened.  In the book of Hebrew it says that God remembers your sins no more.  This is what verse 11 is also saying.  What ever the sin, including adultery according to verse 9, it is wiped away and remembered no more by the blood of Jesus.

1Cor 7:27-28 “27 Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. 28 But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.” (ASV)

Paul in verses 27 and 28 is clearly saying that if you are divorced and you remarry you have not sinned.  In verse 27 the word loosed (which is released in the NASB) indicates that one was married or attached to another (wife by the passage) so that they could not be released from her.  In the Greek it is number 3080 is translated “seek release or to be loosed.”  Whereas in the Greek number 3089 is also translated “Are you released or loosed?” within the same verse.  Two different Greek words have been translated into the same English word release in the NASB or loosed in the ASV in verse 27.  Also in the KJV and the NKJV this word is “loosed”.  In the NIV this word is “divorced” and “unmarried” respectfully.  In the RSV and NRSV the word is “free.”

The Greek word with the number 3080 = lusis meaning a loosing (by divorce) or released.

The Greek word with the number 3089 = luo meaning to loose, to release, to dissolve: – annuls, break, breaking, broke down, broken, destroy, destroyed, loose, loosed, putting an end to, released, removed, take off, unbind, untie, untied, untying.

Therefore, with this in mind, Paul, the inspired writer, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, said in verse 28 that divorce person’s, who choice to, have not sinned if they remarry. 

This does not violate Matt. 19:9 because Jesus never changed or altered the Law of Moses.  Divorce according to Deuteronomy 24 would have ended the marriage in the eyes of God and man and both the man and woman would have been free to remarry whom ever they desired because that was the Law and Jesus did not come to change the Law

1Tim 4:1-5 “1 But the Spirit saith expressly, that in later times some shall fall away from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 through the hypocrisy of men that speak lies, branded in their own conscience as with a hot iron; 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by them that believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it be received with thanksgiving: 5 for it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer.”  (ASV)

In this passage, Paul tells Timothy that a time will come where people, false teachers, will tell other people they can not marry.  In verses 1 through 3 we see this clearly.  And as we have seen, if we apply usage of “put away” for the Greek word (apoluo) and not divorce, then all of the passages commonly referred to marriage and divorce fit together without any problem.  Also when we use “put away” for the word (apoluo) we have not reason to refuse anyone the right to remarry provided they were legally divorced from their prior spouse.  We will not be one of the people Paul warns Timothy about in verse 3 when we use the proper meaning for the Greek work (apoluo) in our translations.

Summary:  The Bible does not prohibit remarriage, but wants people to remain as they are or marry. 

The over all context of 1 Corinthians 7 is to remain in what ever state you are in but that you have not sinned if you can not stay unmarried or if you decide to seek marriage.  Jesus did not change or alter the Law of His time; he explained it in simple understanding to get it back to its simple meaning.  No where in the Old Testament Law or the New Testament is the Bible saying an unmarried person (never married, widowed, or divorced) can’t marry. 

By the direct authority of Jesus to the apostles:  Jesus leaves it up to them to set policy on this matter.

Yes God’s plan from the beginning was that it was “not good for man to be alone.”  Yes God hate’s divorce but that does not negate the fact that God Himself said that it was not good for man to be alone. 

As I have shown, all the New Testament passages agree and none are in conflict with each other with this translation.  The apostle Paul established the rules of the new church or kingdom concerning marriage, divorce and remarriage by the authority of Jesus Himself and Paul said that “if you are divorced and remarry you have not sinned.”

Who are we to continue to rule where God has already ruled in this matter?

Original study was completed on 5/26/2007 and the Updated to this study was completed on 6/27/09

Divorced Without the Truth

Divorced Without the Truth

My only son turned against me

Divorced me without the truth

He doesn’t know me and doesn’t care

Even though I was not allowed to be there -

To know him because of her

I can’t forget the way I feel

The way I felt that day -

But I’m still waiting – all these years -

Waiting for him to know me
Waiting for me to know him

I wonder what he is doing -
In or out of Army service.

The only question left – is why -
Why can’t we know each other?

Why divorce without the truth?

Son

No matter what or how

You have always been –

In my heart, prayers and dreams –

Still.

 By Guy Lewis

Saturday, June 27, 2009

 

Why I am going to stop posting on the Bible Topic Threads on the Pleonast site

“Why I am going to stop posting on the Bible Topic Threads on the Pleonast site!”

I have decided to follow the clear directions of Paul to Titus as written in Titus 3:9-11

“But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.  Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.”  NKJV

Paul says discussions of this type are UNPROFITABLE and USELESS.  Paul also told Titus that after talking with people, if they still held onto their closed and narrow mind set – to leave them to their divisive sin.

So that is where I will leave these conversations with the sincere prayer that all involved will open their hearts and minds to read the simple message of God’s word without continually following fear based narrow minded opinionated warped traditional rules that God never made and strive to keep such opinions out of their Bible studies from now on. 

The conversations seem to mostly pat each other on the back to see how restrictive we in the church can make God’s simple instructions. 

A majority of the posters of this site seem to knowingly and willfully cause harm to young Christians by creating unjustified suspicion, frustration and anger instead of coming to the conversation with the goal of seeking God’s truth.  Most posters come to these conversations with closed minds thinking they already have ALL truth and are not willing to listen or open their eyes to the simple message of scripture. 

It seems to me that most of the CONSERVATIVE posters of this site are just as LIBERAL as the PROGRESSIVE sect of the church who also enjoy twisting scriptures to fit their preconceived notion of what they want to be right instead of just following the simple and easy message of the Bible. 

Salvation and Bible scriptures are not hard to understand and they do not require a degree in Greek nor narrow minded views to see the purely simple message that God wants all of us to enjoy.

You may or may not agree with my assessment of the trash talk that takes place on the Bible Topic threads of this site and that is ok.  I accept you as you are.

God is not looking for ways to keep people out of heaven otherwise He would not have given His Son that we might be reconciled back to Him.  Think about it.  It is not hard to see or understand.

So I bid good bye to the divisive threads and may common sense and God’s Love someday guide these conversations.

Hugs and blessings, Guy

Pharisee Disorders Identification Test

Am I a Religionoholic?

This quiz can help you learn more about your use of religion and whether you may have a religion problem. I call this test the PDIT (Pharisee Disorders Identification Test) and this test has been developed by me.

Choose one answer for each question, and then write the number in parentheses next to your answer on the line to the right of each question.

1. How often do you have to find fault with another persons understanding of a Bible teaching?	_____
(0) Never (1) Monthly or less (2) 2 to 4 times a month (3) 2 to 3 times a week (4) 4 or more times a week
2. How many times have you accepted another’s opinion of scripture that restricts or controls people rather then looking up the Biblical facts and coming to your own understanding?	_____
(0) 1 or 2 (1) 3 or 4 (2) 5 or 6 (3) 7 to 9 (4) 10 or more
3. How often do you have conversations about other congregations concerning if they are scriptural and if you can or can not fellowship with them?	_____
(0) Never (1) Monthly to Annually (2) Weekly to Monthly (3) Daily to Weekly (4) It is up to me to defend the Bible always
4. How often during the last year have you opened your mind to the possibility that silence does not necessarily forbid but that it might only mean that God has no opinion on the matter?	_____
(0) Always(1) Often (2) Once (3) A few times (4) Never, I must defend the Bible always
5. How often during the last year have you failed to help others because it would or might require funds from the “Church Treasury”?	_____
(0) Never (1) Less than monthly (2) Monthly (3) Weekly (4) Daily or almost daily
6. How often during the last year have you sat in church on Sunday and during the week passed judgment on other people as sinners and therefore untouchable and unworthy of your time?	_____
(0) Once or less (1) Monthly (2) Weekly (3) Daily or almost daily (4) Church funds are not for sinners
7. How often during the last year have you gone about doing good for the soul sake of others without regard for your own wants?	_____
(0) Daily or almost daily (1) Weekly (2) Monthly (3) less then Monthly (4) Never
8. How often during the last year have you gone about doing good for the soul sake of others outside of your church without regard for your own wants?	_____
(0) Daily or almost daily (1) Weekly (2) Monthly (3) less then Monthly (4) Never
9. How often do you cause unjustified suspicion or bitterness in others when you share what you believe concerning church or the Bible?	_____
(0) Never (1) Less than monthly (2) Monthly (3) Weekly (4) Daily or almost daily
10. How often do you feel the Bible needs to be defended even though Jesus said not even the Devil will prevail against His church?	_____
(0) Never (1) Less than monthly (2) Monthly (3) Weekly (4) Daily or almost daily
Now add up the numbers in all the boxes. Write the total here.	_____

If the total is 8 or more, you may have a religion problem. You may want to talk with your mental health professional or an abuse counselor to get help.

What Causes Religionohism?

Religionohism is caused by a combination of factors:  environmental, peer, traditional and psychological. Religionohism often runs in families. This is partially due to constant repetitiveness of Religionohism training.

Although family up-bringing is often involved in many cases of Religionohism; children of religionoholic parents do not necessarily become religionoholics. In addition, people with no family history of the disease can develop religionohism.

Environmental factors that may affect this development of abuse and religionoholism include:

• influence of family and friends;
• cultural attitudes and practices;
• ease of obtaining beliefs from hearsay; and
• blindly following others word for Biblical things

When people become dependent on religion their brains change in ways that keep them dependent, such as having over-powering cravings for the control of others who do not agree with them or see things their way.  These things make the disease worse.  Religionoholism is strongly associated with self-righteous attitudes, verbally violent outbursts, strong cravings to make opinion law and emotional abusive behavior.

To be free from Religionoholism, one must take an active role in learning how to live with the following characteristics in their life.

• Do good unto ALL people – even those who are not of your faith;
• Hold fast to what the scriptures say and not to what preachers say;
• Be hospitable with a humble heart;
• Be gentle and not argumentative;
• Be open-minded to other’s thoughts and concerns;
• Stop being full of pride about your own opinions’ of scripture;
• Become the Good Samaritan in everything you do;
• Examine yourself daily to see if you are acting as Jesus did or as your will desires; (remembering that Jesus went about doing good)
• Smash your ego, self-centeredness, and self-righteousness before you push anymore people away from God with your arrogance.
• Pray and mean it in the morning, night and throughout the day that you be shown what God’s will is for you in every step you take in life;
• Remember that the Bible says that if we say we love God; yet show disrespect to the other people in our lives (even when they are not like us) – then WE are liars;
• Do goodwill unto ALL people – even those of your faith who do not agree with your understandings or opinions.

Hugs and blessings,

Guy

In Memory of Nathan Paul Ing

 Message from the Ing family:  “Nathan was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in December 2006. He waged a valiant battle against this cancer for 2 1/2 years. Cancer claimed his body, but will never touch his SPIRIT!”

 

Nathan Paul Ing
Life on Earth: 10/10/01 – 6/16/09
Life in Heaven: ETERNAL!

ING, NATHAN PAUL, 7, was born October 10, 2001 and returned to his Heavenly Father June 16, 2009 with his loving family by his side. Nathan attended the Hebron Lane Church of Christ. Among those who preceded him in death include his great-grandparents, Russell and Anna Martin, Frances Ing and Lillian Osborne. He leaves to cherish his memory his parents, Paul Jr. and Missy Ing; sister, Marissa Ing; grandparents, Bobby and Sissy Osborne and Paul and Pinky Ing; great-grandparents, Fred and Louise Bryant, Mary Ing and William Osborne; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other family and friends. Funeral service will be conducted by Ron Halbrook and Steven Deaton noon Friday at Schoppenhorst, Underwood and Brooks (Preston Hwy. at Brooks Road) with interment in Mount Eden Cemetery. Friends may pay their respects 2-8 p.m. Thursday at Schoppenhorst.

God Speed Nathan Ing – 06-16-09 03:30pm EST

Godspeed Nathan – 06-16-09 03:30pm EST

Nathan Paul Ing

10-10-01 — 06-16-09

Message from the Ing family

“Nathan peacefully passed from this life at 3:30pm. He is now eternally safe in the arms of Jesus. Funeral arrangements will follow. Thank you for your love and prayers.”

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/nathaning

Is eating food a sin in the church building?

Is the matter of eating physical food a sinful issue in the church building like some in the brotherhood preach and withdraw from others for doing?

The following is the single verse of text used to justify this doctrine: 

1 Corinthians 11:22 “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.”

The whole text of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 is talking about attitudes and not physical food. One small part of this whole text can not be taken out to prove a point that Paul was not making and did not make.

If the logic used to forbid eating in a church building taken from 1 Corinthians 11:22 means that we can have a doctrine of no eating in a building we worship in what-so-ever, then Peter is the devil and Paul sinned at Troas. After all Jesus said to Pater “Get behind me Satan” in Mt 16:23 and Mr 8:33 also in Acts 20:11 where Paul ate in the very room he preached in during the day and then preached some more after he finished eating a meal.  If it is ok and sound doctrine to take one verse from the letter of 1 Corinthians 11 and come to the conclusion of no food in the church building then it is the same sound logic to come to the conclusion that Paul sinned in Troas and Peter is Satan for the same reason.

I say this because if the logic used for 1 Cor. 11:22 is true concerning eating in a building then the same logic must also be true for both Peter and Paul according to the verses listed herein.

Furthermore, if the verses stated herein of Peter and Paul are not correct according to the conclusions stated above, then the interpretation of the brotherhood about no food in a church building based upon 1 Corinthians 11:22 is also not correct.

The truth on this topic is a simple case of what do the scriptures really say in total context of the versus of the complete context of scripture and not in what we want a single verse to mean in order to prove an controlling and opinionated doctrine of men.

It is not sound Bible study to take one verse out of the total of scriptural verses which contain it and base a doctrine around that one verse. The verse must be considered in context to the whole of the passages of scripture it belongs to and in accordance with the reason the text was written at the time by the author.

Another example of the fallacy of the doctrine of no food in a church building can be seen in the book of Jude.  If eating a meal in the assembly was a sin according to Paul, then the all the Christians that are being addressed in Jude 1:12 are in sin.

Therefore, according to the simple and clear message of Biblical text and sound Biblical study along with logical reason; the policy and doctrine of forbidding meals in the church building is wrong and false when taught by the brotherhood. 

Study by Guy Lewis; Monday, June 15, 2009

BORN AGAIN AMERICAN

Worth your time as an American to watch and listen.

http://www.bornagainamerican.org/

BORN AGAIN AMERICAN
By Keith Carradine       

Just a workin’ man without a job
It got shipped off to China via Washington, D.C.
And I know I’m nothin’ special, there are plenty more like me
Just the same
I thought I knew the rules of the game

I stood up for this country that I love
I came back from the desert to a wife and kids to feed
I’m not sayin’ Uncle Sam should give me what I need
My offer stands
I’ll pull my weight you give me half a chance

I went up to a congressman and said to him “you know
Our government is letting people down”
He said he’d need a lot of help to buck the status-quo
I said there was a bunch of us around

I’m a Born Again American, conceived in Liberty
My Bible and the Bill of Rights, my creed’s equality
I’m a Born Again American, my country ‘tis of me
And everyone who shares the dream from sea to shining sea

My brother’s welding chassis at the plant
He’s earning what our granddad did in 1948
While CEOs count bonuses behind the castle gates
How can they see
When all they care about’s the do re mi

It’s getting where there’s nowhere left to turn
Not since the crash of twenty-nine have things been so unfair
So many of our citizens are living in despair
The time has come
To reaffirm that hope’s not just for some

The promise of America’s surrendering to greed
The rule is just look out for number one
But brace yourself ‘cause some of us have sown a different seed
A harvest of the spirit has begun

I’m a Born Again American conceived in liberty
My Bible and The Bill Of Rights
My creed’s equality
A Born Again American, my country ‘tis of me
And everyone who shares the dream from sea to shining sea

It’s clear my country’s soul is on the line
She’s hungering for something that she lost along the way
The principle the framers called upon us to obey
That in this land
The people’s will must have the upper hand

I felt the calling once before and took a sacred vow
And faithful to that vow I have remained
I hear the calling once again, my country needs me now
And to her cause I have been re-ordained

I’m a Born Again American conceived in liberty
My Bible and the Bill Of Rights, all people living free
A Born Again American, my country ‘tis of me
And everyone who shares the dream
From sea to shining sea
And everyone who shares the dream
From sea to shining sea
A M E R I C A

http://www.bornagainamerican.org/