Christ's Commandments

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157) Gal 6:1-2 . . Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of
Christ.

That's a tough one because it can be applied any number of ways. I would
say (broadly) that if you let someone's burden become your burden
(whatever their burden might be) then the other guy won't feel so alone in
his bad luck due to no one even caring enough about him to bother
understanding what he's going through.

It's human nature to shun people with problems so they don't drag us into a
world of inconvenience and/or negativity. But that is not what I call fulfilling
the law of Christ; which reads thusly:

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you
must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another. (John 13:34-35)

The love that is defined by "As I have loved you" is a kind of love willing to
suffer inconvenience, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, and disgrace for
the sake of another.

Love isn't a fault-finding attitude; it's a supportive virtue: it doesn't only feel
your pain, it gets involved in your pain. Church can be the loneliest place on
earth when nobody cares enough about you to get involved in your pain; but
instead would just as soon not know about it. Sadly, there is about as much
love for one another in modern churches as there is amongst an audience of
strangers at the movies.

158) Gal 6:6 . . And let the one who is taught the word, share all good
things with him who teaches.

That directive makes good sea sense in areas that don't have a professional
clergy. How is a poor preacher to study and prepare his lesson plan, look
after church business, attend board meetings, do counseling, and visit the
sick while he's spending most of his time and energy earning a living to
support himself and his family and to provide a roof over their heads?
Church members who feel that their pastor and his associates are valuable
contributors to their spiritual needs should reciprocate and help provide for
their material needs. It's only fair.

Americans are so greedy for bail-outs, reparations, stimulus funds, and
entitlements that they forget that somebody, somewhere has to cough up
the money for all that. Well, nobody in church is entitled to a Spirit-endowed
pastor; no, he's a gift from God (1Cor 12:4-11, Eph 4:7-13) and pew
warmers would do well to show their appreciation to Christ and their pastor
by chipping in to help support the man and his family. A Spirit-endowed
pastor isn't a freeloader; no, he's an inspired tradesman who deserves
compensation. Would you work for free, without wages and benefits? Then
don't expect him to.

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159) Gal 6:7-9 . . Don't be deceived into thinking God is a silly old fool. A
man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his flesh, will, of the
flesh reap corruption; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit
will reap eternal life. Let's not become weary in doing good, for at the proper
time we will reap a harvest if we don't lose heart.

The koiné Greek word for "corruption" is phthora (fthor-ah') which means:
decay; viz: decadence. Without some means to preserve them, meats and
fruits go bad. The very same thing happens to one's character when
Christians make a habit of indulging the propensities of their base nature--
psychological entropy sets in and they become decadent. In other words:
holiness can't be taken for granted; it has to be nurtured or it'll go bad.

Is "the one who sows to please the Spirit, will, from the Spirit, reap eternal
life" saying it's possible to earn one's way into heaven? Answer: No; eternal
life isn't a location; it's a state of being. What I mean is: eternal life is both
a power and a nature. It's what causes some Christians to undergo amazing
personality changes as per Rom 8:11.

The life spoken of as per Galatians 6:7-9 is the fruit of the Spirit; which
consists of the elements of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. (Gal 5:22-23)

Love is from the koiné Greek word agape (ag-ah'-pay) which means:
affection and/or benevolence. Love is just the opposite of a hard, insensitive
heart.

Joy is from chara (khar-ah') which means: cheerfulness

Peace is from eirene (i-ray'-nay) which means: quietness, calm, at rest,
content, satisfied, free from mental and/or emotional conflicts.

Longsuffering is from makrothumia (mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah) which means:
stable under pressure, composed, not easily disturbed, a disposition to bear
injuries patiently.

Gentleness is from chrestotes (khray-stot'-ace) which means: usefulness (to
others), viz: moral excellence (in character or demeanor) e.g. kindness and
goodness.

Faith is from pistis (pis'-tis) which means; persuasion; viz: credence,
confidence, conviction. A person of faith is also faithful; viz: reliable and
trustworthy.

Meekness is an editorial insertion not found in the koiné Greek manuscripts.

Temperance is from egkrateia (eng-krat'-i-ah) which means: self-control; as
opposed to incontinence, which Webster's defines as: inability to restrain
one's carnal appetites.

Those are all elements of the divine nature; which Christians should,
according to Peter, make an effort to experience right now, in this life,
before they expire and pass on. (2Pet 1:2-11)

But it's important to note that the fruit of the Spirit is supernatural; in other
words: this is something that God alone controls; viz: it's dispensed rather
than cultivated. The fruit is compensation for making a conscientious effort
to please God. One day in heaven, everyone will experience the fruit of the
Spirit; but in order to do so now, Christians have to guard against becoming
decadent.

†. Eph 5:8-9 . . You were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the
Lord : walk as children of light: for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness
and righteousness and truth.

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160) Gal 6:10 . .So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all
men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

Those who are of the "household of faith" are actually kin; viz: siblings; and
like they say: Charity begins at home.

Some churches have what they call a deacon's fund. What that's for is to
assist members who are down and out and/or in dire straits. Contributing to
that fund easily qualifies as sowing to the Spirit; and what I would call a
"wise" investment.

And don't overlook your church's senior citizens. Some may be getting up in
years and finding it difficult to even maintain their own homes and yards
anymore. Chores may not seem like much of a holy calling; but pitch in
anyway if for no other reason than that it's neighborly.

161) Gal 6:11-16 . .Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh
try to compel you to be circumcised, simply that they may not be persecuted
for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the
commandments themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that
they may boast in your flesh.

. . . But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord
Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the
world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor un-circumcision, but a new
creation. (cf. Acts 15:5-32)

Some Christians truly believe it's possible to be an adherent of both Judaism
and Christianity at the same time (e.g. Messianic Judaism). No, that's
against the rules. Judaism must be abandoned if one is to take up
Christianity because human sacrifice is illegal under the terms and conditions
of Israel's covenant. If you try to take up both religions at the same time,
the one will invalidate the other.

162) Eph 2:11-22 . .Therefore, remember that formerly you who are
Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the
circumcision-- that done in the body by the hands of men --remember that
at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in
Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and
without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far
away have been brought near through the blood of Christ . . Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people
and members of God's household

Christians are prone to forget; and one of the things they forget is that their
religion didn't begin with the Roman Catholic Church; no, it was founded by
Yhvh's people; and the purpose of Gentiles hearing the Gospel is not so they
can replace the Jews as Yhvh's chosen people, but rather, so they can join
them and share in their blessings.

†. Rom 11:17-18 . . If some of the branches have been broken off, and you,
though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now
share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, don't boast over those
branches. If you do, consider this: You don't support the root, but the root
supports you.

†. John 4:22 . . Salvation is of the Jews.

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163) Eph 4:1 . . As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received.

What if a believer refuses to live a life worthy of their calling? Will they be
lost? No; believers have eternal life, which is a kind of live that cannot die;
therefore, it's impervious to the wages of sin.

†. Rom 6:23 . . The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
in Jesus Christ our Lord.

People with eternal life have 100% immunity from prosecution.

†. John 5:24 . . I assure you, those who heed my message, and trust in God
who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins,
but they have already passed from death into life.

164) Eph 4:2 . . Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, putting up
with another in love.

Humility is one of those virtues that people love to talk about; but rarely
ever seem to exemplify.

The koiné Greek word is a tongue twister. It's tapeinophrosune (tap-i-nof
ros-oo'-nay) which means: humiliation of mind, viz: modesty; which
Webster's defines as: free from conceit and/or vanity. I don't know if you've
seen the movie AMADEUS but one thing Tom Hulce's character, Mr.
Wolfgang Mozart, sorely lacked was modesty.

Conceit is defined as: excessive appreciation of one's own worth or virtue;
viz: a too-high opinion of one's self; viz : a master-race mentality.

Vanity is defined as: inflated pride in oneself or in one's appearance; viz:
narcissism and/or self adoration.

Cosmetics and figure-shaping undergarments don't really qualify as the kind
of vanity that Paul is talking about; which is a kind of vanity that goes way
beyond just trying to look your best.

Sinful vanity is an ugly creature. It's self aggrandizing. Vanity isn't gentle
either, on the contrary, vanity can be quite cruel, thoughtless, competitive,
given to rivalry, indifferent, and insensitive; and vanity abhors associating
with people whose station in life is decidedly below its own; and God forbid
someone below themselves should have the nerve to correct either their
conduct or their knowledge.

Patience is a jewel. It's defined as: the power, or capacity, to endure without
complaint something difficult or disagreeable. Patient people seem to have a
predilection for retaining their composure while under stress. These make
the best leaders because they don't get flustered when everything around
them is disintegrating into chaos.

Patience is very useful when it comes to "putting up" with certain kinds of
rather annoying Christians who seem to have a knack for getting on people's
nerves.

During my forty years working as a professional welder, I encountered
numerous fellow employees whose skills and performance were excellent;
but nobody could work with them. They were just too difficult.

God forbid that Christ's followers should ever be "difficult". It is rather to be
desired that they be civil, courteous, thoughtful, sociable, agreeable, helpful,
approachable, accommodating, affable, rational, reasonable, temperate, and
self-controlled. Christians around whom everybody has to walk on egg shells
all the time, are in sore need of a personality make-over if they're to ever
have any realistic expectation of associating with God.

†. Matt 5:9 . . Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called sons of
God.

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165) Eph 4:3 . . Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the
bond of peace.

Peace is what everybody wants but seem thoroughly unable to attain and
that's because their souls are infected with inner conflicts. Some of the
"desires that battle within you" are conceit, vanity, and impatience; which
inevitably lead to one's failure to keep a civil tongue in their head.

†. Col 4:6 . . Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt.

†. Mark 9:50 . . Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it
salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.

†. Jas 1:26 . .Whoever considers himself spiritual, and yet does not keep a
tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

†. Jas 3:5-12 . . See how whole forests are kindled by little fires! And the
tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our
members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of
reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

. . .With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have
been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing
and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring
send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my
brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both
bitter water and sweet.

By far, the most toxic tongues I have ever been subjected to by Christians
have been those on internet forums. Supposed followers of Christ whack
each other with the Bible as if Samson were decimating the Philistines with a
burro's jaw bone, and pontificate their interpretations as if they were
infallible and speaking for God ex cathedra; yet all the while without the
slightest consideration for what their choice of words might be doing to
people's feelings.

†. Rom 3:13 . .The poison of a deadly snake drips from their lips.

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166) Eph 4:17-19 . . So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you
must no longer live as the pagans do, in the futility of their thinking. They
are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God
because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their
hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to
sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for
more.

Sensuality and the life of God are diametrically opposed to each other. The
one is carnal and the other is spiritual. The one does whatever comes
natural, and the other does whatever pleases God.

Paul said that pagans live as they do because of the hardening of their
hearts which doesn't always refer to ones emotions-- those can be roughly
defined as one's bowels (e.g. 2Cor 6:12, Php 1:8, Php 2:1, Col 3:12, et al).
Hardening of the heart takes place at the core of one's being; the very
attitude of the morrow of their bones; for example the heart of the Pharaoh
who opposed Moses and Aaron in the book of Exodus.

Some things are said to be scratch-resistant, fire-resistant, mold-resistance,
UV-resistant, rust-resistant, and so forth. Well; a hard heart is God
resistant, really God-resistant. If the highway to Hell could be said paved
with sensuality, then the substrate upon which the pavement is laid could be
depicted as hard hearts; for example:

†. Zech 7:11-12 . . But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the
shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made
their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the
words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets:
therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts.

167) Eph 4:20-24 . .You, however, did not come to know Christ that way.
Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth
that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to
put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be
made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created
to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The koiné Greek word for "desire" is epithumia (ep-ee-thoo-mee'-ah) which
means: a longing.

Epithumia by itself doesn't indicate sinful desires. The very same word
describes the Lord's personal longing to dine in the company of his apostles
just prior to being crucified. (Luke 22:15)

The kind of longings in view are "deceitful" which is from the koiné Greek
word apate (ap-at'-ay) and means delusion, which Webster's defines as: a
persistent false psychotic belief regarding the self, or persons or objects
outside the self, that is maintained despite indisputable evidence to the
contrary-- in other words: deceitful longings are delusional longings.

For example the old saying "The grass is greener on the other side" which of
course is an unreasonable expectation. Some people sincerely believe that
they would be happier if only they had more money. Well; sad to say,
money can be guaranteed to buy you neither love nor happiness. Delusional
longings get people to chasing after brass rings that may or may not satisfy;
viz: sometimes the dream is better than the reality. Meanwhile, their life
clock is winding down while they're in pursuit of those brass rings and they
are steadily becoming more and more secular and unspiritual. Paul "insists"
that Christ's followers avoid squandering their time and energy chasing after
delusional longings; viz: keep their feet on the ground and their heads out of
the clouds.

168) Eph 4:25-26 . .Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully
to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Lying to outsiders is one thing, but lying to your fellow believers is
absolutely taboo because it's really no different than lying to Christ because
his church is his body. (Eph 1:22-23)

†. Matt 25:40 . . Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of
these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

169) Eph 4:26a . . In your anger do not sin.

Anger isn't eo ipso evil. It's how one handles their anger that matters. Anger
can be a very useful tool when it's applied by somebody who knows what
they're doing. For example:

†. Mark 3:5 . . And when Jesus had looked round about on them with anger,
being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man:
Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored
whole as the other.

170) Eph 4:26b-27 . . Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
and do not give the Devil a foothold.

Ol' Smutty Face is no slouch. You just start holding a grudge, or fly off the
handle at the inappropriate time, and you and the Devil will be roped
together on the Eiger where your common goal won't be the summit of a
mountain in Switzerland; but worse: disunity in the body. No fuming!

171) Eph 4:28 . . He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must
work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have
something to share with those in need.

Isn't is just amazing that early Christian church members were active
criminals? Yes, right there in the Ephesian church were thieves. Ironically
Paul didn't order the Ephesian Christians to not steal, no, of all things; he
ordered them to stop stealing; and not only to stop stealing, but to stop
stealing for a living!

You'd think church would be the one place on earth where you'd be safe
from crime, but not so. Back in the 1970's I sang bass in the choir of a
monster Baptist church in San Diego. The 90+ member choir would meet in
a rehearsal room and the ladies would all leave their purses in there when
we moved out to be seated in the loft. The room had a very sturdy door and
was always securely locked when we left the room.

Well, one Sunday morning when we returned to the room, that Fort Knox
door and its lock were smashed open and all the ladies' purses were rifled.

Does cheating on your taxes count as theft? (chuckle) If the Ephesian
Christians needed to be told to stop stealing, then modern Christians even
more so; don't you think?

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172) Eph 4:29 . . Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say
be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those
who hear them.

"helpful" is from the koiné word oikodome (oy-kod-om-ay') which means: to
build up (as opposed to tearing down).

"foul or abusive" is from the koiné Greek word sapros (sap-ros') which
means: rotten, i.e. worthless (literally or morally) viz: inappropriate.

For a science project in Biology of my sophomore year in high school (1959),
I laced together a string of seven neck vertebra from a cow I found dead out
in a pasture. I kind of did the project in a hurry and didn't clean the
decaying flesh off the bones very well before taking the project on the bus to
school and kids complained. Some Christians' language is just as offensive
as those bones.

†. Rom 3:13a . .Their throat is an open sepulcher

It's not advisable to open a sepulcher seeing as how the contents are no
doubt going to be quite odious and in a state of decay; especially in locales
where the remains weren't cremated or treated with formaldehyde.

173) Eph 4:30 . . Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were
sealed for the day of redemption.

The koiné Greek word for "grieve" is lupeo (loo-peh'-o) which means: to
distress; to make sad. There's a lot being said these days about human
rights abuses, while very little to nothing is said about abusing God's Spirit;
which is no doubt far more common. (cf. Gen 6:6-7)

Seals aren't always a mark or a tattoo or an impression made in wax with a
signet ring. Sometimes a seal is merely a vocal validation. For example:

†. Matt 3:16-17 . . And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway
out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw
the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a
voice from heaven, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well
pleased.

In other words: God vouched for Jesus' credibility by sending His spirit to
mark him out, and also by a solemn pronouncement. By that method; God
himself personally sealed Jesus' mission; viz: signed off on it; so to speak.

†. John 6:27 . . Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to
eternal life; which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has
placed his seal of approval.

Christ's followers are singled out by the Spirit too; but not with a visible bird
or an audible voice, but rather; by the Spirit's occupation inside their very
bodies. Christ's followers can't see the Spirit for themselves of course; but
God can see it and that's really all that matters anyway in the long run.

174) Eph 4:31 . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and
slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior.

It wasn't the Lord's wish that Ephesian Christians avoid all bitterness, rage
and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice; no; on
the contrary, he wanted the Ephesians to "get rid" of them.

"bitterness" is from the koiné word pikria (pik-ree'-ah) which means: acrid,
poisonous, and/or toxic (literally or figuratively)

"rage" is from the koiné word thumos (thoo-mos') which means: passion (as
if breathing hard). Passion is just the opposite of reason; and as everyone
knows, emotions are incoherent; so it's to be expected an emotional person
is not acting rationally. This is a kind of conduct that Paul says brings sorrow
to God's Spirit.

"anger" is from the koiné word orge (or-gay') which means: desire (as a
reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy,) violent passion,
ire, (by implication: punishment)

People overcome by orge typically want some satisfaction; even to the point
of at least your ruin; if not your death.

"harsh words" is from the koiné word krauge (krow-gay') which means:
outcry.

Outcrying is what protestors do; in other words: assertive, in-your-face
confrontational demands.

"slander" is from the koiné word blasphemia (blas-fay-me'-ah) which means:
to vilify. Webster's defines "vilify" as: (1) to lower in estimation or
importance, and (2) to utter slanderous and abusive statements against;
viz: defame and/or denigrate.

A statement need not be false in order to qualify as slander; it need only to
be unnecessary; viz: you'll often hear people say: Well, I was only telling the
truth. Were they? No, that's a ruse. In reality, they're insensitive; and they
don't care who gets hurt by their thoughtless remarks.

The Lord notices the words people say, and he also takes note of the spirit in
which they say them.

†. Matt 12:36 . . But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day
of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.

"malicious behavior" is from the koiné word kakia (kak-ee'-ah) which
means: badness, i.e. (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or
(passively) trouble:

Malice usually includes the element of "spite" which Webster's defines as :
petty ill will, or hatred, with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart.
Compare that to the koiné word for "persecute" in the eighth Beatitude
which means, literally: to pursue; viz : to stalk, to hound, to harass.

Webster's defines "thwart" as: (1) to run counter to so as to effectively
oppose or baffle ; viz: contravene, and (2) to oppose successfully; viz: to
defeat the hopes or aspirations of; in other words: to deliberately get in
someone's way; block, discourage.

Boy I'll tell you, that Ephesian church was as rough-hewn and crude as the
old logging community of Stump Town (now Portland) out here in the
Oregon of the 1800's. They cussed, they brawled, they bad-mouthed, they
held grudges, they were thieves, they were arrogant, they were toxic, they
were immodest, conceited, vain, and impatient, walked unworthy of their
calling, and they were splintered into cliques.

I've heard more than one expositor boast that the Ephesian believers
represent Christ's church at its spiritual peak; but I thoroughly disagree.
Yes, there were some outstanding individuals, but by and large the
congregation's spiritual condition was decadent, deplorable, despicable, and
unbecoming.

BTW: where is the Ephesian church today? It's gone, just like Christ warned
it would be.

†. Rev 2:5 . . Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write . . I have
somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember
therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or
else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his
place, except thou repent.

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175) Eph 4:31-32 . . Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving
each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

(chuckle) that resembles a line from one of Bill And Ted's adventure
movies: "be excellent to each other"

Within the context of the letter Paul wrote and sent to the Christians residing
in the ancient city of Ephesus; the objects "one another" and "each other"
are exclusive; viz: the comments refer only to one's fellow Bible-believing
Christians rather than the world at large. So if you're unwilling to be kind
and compassionate to outsiders; at least be so with people at church so as
to help prevent church from becoming a hostile worship environment.

The koiné Greek word for "kind" is chrestos (khrase-tos') which means:
employed; viz: useful.

Chrestos is found in only seven places in the New Testament, and without
exception implies being beneficial to others for their own good rather than a
selfish purpose of your own.

The word for "compassionate" is eusplagchnos (yoo'-splangkh-nos) which
means: sympathetic.

Webster's defines sympathy as: 1) an affinity, association, or relationship
between persons or things wherein whatever affects one similarly affects the
other, 2) inclination to think or feel alike: emotional or intellectual accord, 3)
feeling of loyalty: tendency to favor or support, 4) the act, or capacity, of
entering into or sharing the feelings or interests of another, 5) sensitivity,
and 6) heart; as in "have a heart".

Eusplagchnos would make a good substitute for a word found in one of the
Lord's beatitudes.

†. Matt 5:7 . . Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

"merciful" is from the koiné Greek word eleemon (el-eh-ay'-mone) which
means pretty much the same thing as eusplagchnos: compassionate and
sympathetic.

In my dad's final months of battling with a terminal cancer back in the late
1960's, he was in a great deal of pain and discomfort which made it difficult
for him to sleep. In fact, he couldn't sleep in a bed at all. He sat on a small
stool and rested face-down with his forehead on a coffee table in the front
room.

One day, as we were driving to our week-end ritual of coffee and donuts on
a Saturday morning, he complained that his third wife (call her Rosa)
seemed indifferent to his condition. He remarked that he didn't want
sympathy, just some understanding. Well, I was both perplexed and
amused; and asked him: Dad, how can Rosa possibly appreciate your
feelings without being sympathetic?

Dad was stumped. The problem was, he never knew his own father; and his
mother abandoned him with relatives when he was just a toddler. My dad
was a tough, self reliant old ex-Navy farm boy who himself was thoroughly
unable to sympathize with anybody. In his prime, Dad was a brutal man,
given to outbursts of rage and purple epithets. He was defensive, combative,
thoughtless, and quite cruel to animals too. In my dad's mind, sympathy
was for panty-waists not for "real men" but there he was in old age, dying of
a terminal cancer; and starving for compassion-- something he'd wanted all
his life but could never admit.

It used to be that Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts were trained to be useful to
others as just simply a matter of good deeds and good citizenship. I don't
know, maybe they still are; but I've known lots of churchians who were
totally useless to others because they're infected with an ugly spirit of
conceit, rivalry, and indifference. Far from being kind and compassionate;
those Christians are actually sociopathic and don't even know it.

The word "forgiving" is charizomai (khar-id'-zom-ahee) which essentially
means: to grant as a favor; viz: gratuitously

Webster's defines gratuitous as: 1) given unearned or without recompense,
2) not involving a return benefit or compensation or consideration, 3)
costing nothing: free, 4) not called for by the circumstances: unwarranted,
5) complimentary, 6) gratis, and 7) voluntary. In other words; charizomai
seeks no reciprocation; it never says "you owe me one"

Sailors are oft heard to say that the sea is very unforgiving: meaning it
allows no room for error or weakness. Christians ought not be like the sea.
We ought to be the most forgiving people on the planet; and not because we
expect others to reciprocate; but just because we enjoy being gratuitous.
For some Christians though, being nice is an effort.

Eph 4:31-32 isn't easy. What we're looking at there is not just good
citizenship; no, what we're looking at is something divine in both its nature
and its conduct.

†. Php 2:1-2 . . If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort
of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my
joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of
one mind.

The koiné Greek word for "bowels" is splagchnon (splangkh'-non) which
means: an intestine. Your gut is the very place where you "feel" pity and/or
sympathy for others-- that is; if you're capable of those kinds of feelings;
not everyone is.

176) Eph 5:1 . . Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

One's dad is probably the most important role model a kid can have, that is,
if he's a good man; otherwise, he'll just be another bad influence. It's pretty
kool when a kid can look at its dad and honestly say, from the bottom of its
heart: "Dad; when I grow up, I want to be just like you".

In this case, the imitator isn't a pretender; no, he's not a stand-up comic
mimicking a famous celebrity. What we're talking about here is duplication;
in other words: God's children shouldn't just act like Him, they should
reproduce Him; so that when the angels observe God's child at work or at
play, they can say: "Yep; that kid sure takes after his old man; he's a chip
off the olde block"

===========================

 

[WebersHome]

Continued From #128

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177) Eph 5:2 . . Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself
up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Christ's love goes way beyond just being friendly and helpful. His is a
sacrificial kind of love; in other words: it's protective and supportive at the
cost of deep expense to himself.

178) Eph 5:3a . . Among you; there must not be even a hint of sexual
immorality

I've lost count of the number of celebrities I've seen on television talk shows
shacking up with people and boasting about their babies while in reality
those children are illegitimate and nothing to be proud of at all.

When my sister got knocked up by a sailor boyfriend back in the late 1950's
at the age of seventeen, our parents whisked her off to an aunt out of state
to avoid the disgrace. My sister gave up her baby to adoption right out of the
womb and nobody back home was any the wiser; but today, who really
cares anymore?

FYI: The illegitimacy rate in the USA during 2007 was almost 40% of total
births and it's no longer illegitimacy; now it's labeled Non-marital
Childbearing. (chuckle) a rose by any name is still the same flower.

My wife once belonged to a woman's group in a mega-church we attended
back in 1980. One of the ladies was married to an assistant pastor whose
duties included counseling married couples. She told my wife you wouldn't
believe the amount of adultery that goes on among married church
members, and she wasn't talking about your average rank and file pew
warmers either; no, her husband counseled church members a whole lot
higher up the food chain than that.

That church was very impressive and had something like 4,000 members on
the books. It's budget in 1980 was over $16,000 per week. (The
buying power of $16,000 at that time was comparable to the buying power
of roughly $45,000 in 2015). To look at that church with its buildings, its
property, it's programs, its membership numbers, its music, its missionary
outreach, and its whopping budget; you would think it housed the holiest
collection of saints on earth. But no; behind the scenes, behind the façade,
behind the curtain, behind the pulpit; there was moral decadence. (cf. Matt
23:27-28)

†. Ecc 3:16 . . And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment,
that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was
there. (cf. Matt 23:27-28)

179) Eph 5:3b . . nor any kind of impurity, or of greed

It's so easy to assume that naughty fantasies and porn-like behavior are the
impurities that Paul is talking about; but any behavior associated with sin is
an impurity. So then, maybe you're an usher in church; but are you
dishonest? And maybe you sing in the choir, but are you a malicious gossip?
And maybe you attend mid-week prayer meetings; but do you deny your
children even common courtesy and their fundamental human rights? And
maybe you teach Sunday school, but do you go over the speed limit, feed
parking meters, J-walk, and drift through stop signs? And maybe you even
stand in the pulpit; but do you have a drinking problem?

Webster's defines "greed" as avarice; which is an excessive, or insatiable,
desire for wealth or gain. Greed is associated with biblical covetousness. Just
simply wanting money isn't sin. It's wanting money simply for the sake of
accumulating it that's covetousness. Ben Franklin once said a penny saved,
is a penny earned; but to greedy people a penny saved is a penny stock
piled. Were you to ask a greedy person to name the dollar figure that would
satisfy them, they would likely respond: "more"

180) Eph 5:4 . . Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking,
which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

The koiné Greek word for "foolish talk" is morologia (mo-rol-og-ee'-ah)
which means silliness; viz: buffoonery.

Webster's defines a buffoon as: 1) a ludicrous figure; viz: a clown, and 2) a
gross, and usually ill-educated stupid person; viz: an ignoramus. I think I
would put gross high on the list of undesirable buffoon-type behaviors. It's
okay for kids to be gross, but thoroughly unbecoming for a mature adult.

The word for "coarse joking" is eutrapelia (yoo-trap-el-ee'-ah) which means
witticism in a vulgar sense; viz: ribaldry. Double entendres would probably
fall into that category along with suggestive remarks.

The word for "thanksgiving" is eucharistia (yoo-khar-is-tee'-ah) which
means: gratitude; viz: grateful language.

You know "thank you" is not a dirty word. Christ's people should never take
the attitude that just because somebody is doing their job that they don't
deserve recognition.

One of my favorite romantic comedies is "No Reservations" starring
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart. Prior to filming, Catherine took a
job waiting tables to get a feel for working as a waitress. On several
occasions, patrons didn't even look up at her nor speak in a cordial tone
when they ordered. It struck her as remarkable that the people whom she
was serving had absolutely no inclination to even so much as acknowledge
her as a fellow human being.

A believer friend of ours once related to my wife that in the restaurant where
she worked, a church group would meet once a week. They were noisy, they
made a mess, they overstayed, and they ordered practically nothing but
coffee and tea. They never left a tip; not one time. Those churchians were
just as miserly and ungrateful as cranky old Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles
Dickens' A Christmas Story.

†. Heb 12:28 . . we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have
grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear

According to Webster's, one of the aspects of graciousness is generosity--
apparently without which, one cannot serve God acceptably.

===========================

 

[michael56]

Carry each others burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ Gal 6:2

 

[WebersHome]

Continued From #129

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181) Eph 5:5-7 . . For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or
greedy person-- such a man is an idolater --has any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with futile words, for
because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Therefore do not be numbered among them.

That directive follows Eph 5:3-4; which lists things that are "improper for
God's selected people" and "out of place" viz: inappropriate, unbecoming.
(cf. Rom 12:1-2)

So then, what if a believer is impure, greedy, silly, gross, vulgar, ribald,
ungracious, uncivil, idolatrous, and immoral? Will they be disowned and sent
off to Hell? No, of course not. Believers have been emancipated: they have
100% immunity. Hell is for disbelievers, not believers.

†. John 5:24 . . I assure you; those who listen to my message, and believe
in God who sent me, have eternal life. They will never be condemned for
their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

†. Gal 5:13a . .You, my brethren, were called to be free. But do not use your
liberty to indulge the base nature

To send a believer to Hell for being impure, greedy, silly, gross, vulgar,
ribald, ungracious, uncivil, idolatrous, and immoral would be inconsistent
with the principles of redemption; which is from the koiné Greek words
exagorazo (ex-ag-or-ad'-zo) which means: to buy up; and from lutroo (loo
tro'-o) which means: to ransom, and from apolutrosis (ap-ol-oo'-tro-sis)
which means: to ransom in full.

Christ sacrificed his life to ransom sinners in full from hell while they were
sinners; not after they first cleaned up their act.

†. Rom 5:6-9 . .Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a
good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His
own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since
we have now satisfied justice by his blood, how much more shall we be
spared God's wrath through him!

When ransomed sinners are impure, greedy, silly, gross, vulgar, ribald,
ungracious, uncivil, idolatrous, and immoral; they put themselves at risk of
discipline (1Cor 10:1-15, Heb 12:5-13) an untimely death (1John 5:16) loss
of reward (1Cor 3:13-15) and the status of yard debris. (John 15:1-7) but
never hell.

That wayward son in Luke 15:11-32 was maybe out of touch with his father,
but he never stopped being his father's son. There are some ties that just
can't be broken.

†. Rom 8:15-16 . . For you have not received a spirit of bondage again to
fear; but you have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we call out:
Abba! Father. The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are
God's kin.

†. Eph 1:4-7 . . He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having
predestinated us unto the adoption of sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His
grace, wherein He made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the
riches of His grace.

†. 1Thss 5:9 . . God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive
salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Redeemed sinners are already citizens of the kingdom.

†. Col 1:13 . . He has rescued us from the power of darkness, and translated
us into the kingdom of His dear son.

The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). However, a higher law overrules the
wages of sin.

†. Rom 8:1-2 . .There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ
Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free
from the law of sin and death

182) Eph 5:8-9 . . For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the
Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth)

Some Christians just can't seem to get it through their thick skulls that when
somebody pins the Christian label on themselves, they're supposed to act
like one.

†. Matt 5:16 . . Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

†. Rom 6:1-2 . . Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? God
forbid! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

†. 2Tim 2:19 . . Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.

†. 1John 1:6 . . If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in
darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.

183) Eph 5:10 . . Find out what pleases the Lord.

This particular process of discovery has to include researching the Old
Testament or one's finding will be incomplete.

†. Rom 15:4 . . For whatever things were written before were written for our
learning

†. 1Cor 10:11 . . Now all these things happened to them as examples, and
they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have
come.

===========================

 

[WebersHome]

Continued From #131

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184) Eph 5:11-12 . . Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of
darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of what
the disobedient do in secret.

For an example of this directive: Genesis is mute about the despicable things
that the Sodomites lusted to do to the two men lodging at Lot's house. It's
as if the author drew a curtain over Sodom and said: This is just too
shocking. I'm not going to spell out what the people of Sodom had in mind
that night. You will just have to use your imagination.

Jude simply, and concisely, says that they were utterly unchaste; even to
the point of having their way with innocent visitors. (Jude 1:7)

I think it's fair to ask just exactly how one might "expose" shameful deeds
without at least identifying them and/or describing them to some degree.

The koiné Greek word for "shameful" is aischron (ahee-skhron') which
means: indecorum.

Webster's defines "indecorum" as: impropriety. In other words, despicable
acts should never be described explicitly in polite company, nor in the
presence of children; which quite obviously precludes the use of a pulpit for
explicit descriptions since congregations are an amalgam of men, women,
wives, dads, moms, and underage children.

I don't think the Lord's directive forbids any and all mention of despicable
acts. In other words, his directive doesn't say that I cannot tell polite
company that the Bible condemns the conduct of pedophiles, gays, lesbians,
transvestites, and porn stars just so long as I don't start describing, in all
their lurid detail, the revolting things they do to, and with, each other in
private and/or on film or in front of an audience.

FYI: There's a relatively new kind of impropriety on the rise called
"upskirting' wherein voyeuristic men, and young males too, position a
digital camera, or a device with similar capabilities, where it can take a
photograph up inside a woman's, and/or a girl's, dress. Men have even
upskirted girls as young as 13.

So far the practice hasn't been ruled a sexual crime; just an invasion of
privacy. But God forbid any man, or boy, wearing the Christian label amuses
himself in that manner. It's not gross; but it is unbecoming; and most
certainly unloving too.

†. 1Thes 5:22 . . Abstain from all appearance of evil.

In other words: even if something isn't necessarily immoral; if it looks bad;
don't.

===========================

 

[WebersHome]

Continued From #132

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185) Eph 5:14 . .Wake up, O sleeper! . . rise from the dead, and Christ will
shine on you.

Some Christians just don't care. They don't think obedience to their Lord's
commandments is all that important. They're indifferent, half-hearted, half
baked, asleep at the wheel, off-reservation, in their heads, in their own little
world; and totally oblivious that they're being of no use to Christ at all.

186) Eph 5:15 . . So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who
are wise.

"Wise" of course meaning to live your life in such a way that it counts for
Christ instead of only counting for yourself and/or counting for the world. For
example: if you get pulled into the worlds of corporate management and
political activism; I can just about guarantee that your life is not counting for
Christ because those are really big distractions and sometimes its players
have to play dirty to survive.

187) Eph 5:17 . .Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's
will is.

Item 186 can't be obeyed when one is neglecting item 187. In other words:
Christians are not supposed to fly by the seat of their pants, but rather, fly
by instruments: viz: fly intelligently; and that entails reading a driver's
manual before attempting to operate a car, so to speak.

Moses told Yhvh's people that there is no need to go on a special "golden
fleece" quest to discover what the Lord's will is; either out in space nor
across the ocean in a foreign land. No, the Lord's will is easily accessible
between the covers of even the cheapest second-hand Bible on the shelves
of a Good Will store. But no Bible-- no matter how cheap, nor how
expensive, nor what version-- is of any real use if it's not studied; and I
suspect a good number of Christians avoid systematic Bible study because
they fear it will expose them for the plastic saints they really are.

188) Eph 5:18 . . Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

If more Christians would comply with that decree there wouldn't be so many
of them in Alcoholics Anonymous. I've heard of studies indicating that some
people have a genetic weakness for alcohol. Nevertheless, genetic or not,
drunkenness is sin and Christians are under orders to subdue it.

†. Col 3:5 . . So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.

Eph 5:18 doesn't forbid drinking; only getting drunk. Why do people get
plastered anyway? Isn't it to make themselves feel good and better able to
cope with life's difficulties? Alcohol therefore could be said to be an antidote
to one's existence.

†. Prv 31:6-7 . . Liquor is for the dying, and wine for those in deep
depression. Let them drink to forget their poverty and remember their
troubles no more.

Some of us seem born with a melancholy disposition but that's really not the
same. Real depression will literally drive you to suicide. I know because I've
been there.

So in that respect, pills and alcohol are a crutch. I'm not saying a crutch is a
bad thing; I mean, after all, God created Eve as a crutch for Adam so then if
all crutches are bad, then women are bad too. No, crutches per se are not
bad; it's one's choice of crutch that matters; e.g. cocaine,
methamphetamine, alcohol, valium, Prozac, overeating, etc.

God's Spirit is supposed to be a crutch for believers; but His effectiveness as
a crutch is found only in something called the fruit of the Spirit.

†. Gal 5:22-23 . . The fruit of the Spirit is joy, peace, and self control

Two elements of the Spirit's fruit that have a powerful influence on a
believer's well-being in life are Joy and Peace; which are obtained out of a
bottle for only a short time; and are actually chemically dependent rather
than supernaturally dependent.

But joy and peace come at a price.

†. Eph 5:9 . . For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness
and truth

In other words; should not expect to obtain the Spirit's joy and peace when
their conduct is unbecoming.

189) Eph 5:19 . . Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs: singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord

That verse is actually pretty good justification for a church choir; but I really
think it should also be used to justify hymn books in the pews too so the
congregation can sing together. And make very sure the object of your
music is Christ and/or his Father rather than other kinds of celestial
personages; e.g. saints and angels.

190) Eph 5:20 . . Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The essential point to note is that Spirit-filled believers give thanks to God
the Father rather than to Mary the so-called Mother of God (cf. Rom 8:15
and Gal 4:6) and they give their thanks in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ
rather than in the name of a patron saint.

===========================

 

[WebersHome]

Continued From #133

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191) Eph 5:21 . . Submit to one another out of respect for Christ.

The koiné Greek word for "submit" is hupotasso (hoop-ot-as'-so) which
means: to subordinate (as a verb) which is just the opposite of dominance,
equality, and/or rivalry and competition.

A workable synonym for the kind of submission we're talking about here is
"deference" which Webster's defines as: (1) respect and esteem due a
superior or an elder, and (2) affected, or ingratiating, regard for another's
wishes; viz: honor.

Deference doesn't demand it's rights; rather: deference waives them.

This isn't about a pecking order. It's about regarding others as not equal to
yourself, but actually better than yourself; and it pleases Christ to do so;
besides just being just plain old good Christian manners.

†. Matt 18:3-4 . . Whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven.

Little children in that day were minors who had little or no social status at all
to speak of. If somebody abused a minor; it was just too bad since there
were no Child Services bureaus to defend them. Minors were typically among
the ruled rather than among those who do the ruling; and they got like zero
to-none respect from their elders.

In other words, an imperious believer-- one that's assertive, bossy, take
charge, demanding, argumentative, quarrelsome, impudent, conceited,
domineering, confrontational, manipulative, reactive, independent, non
negotiable, opinionated, obstinately or intolerantly devoted to their own
opinions and prejudices, stubborn, and insistent upon their own way --is
definitely a failure at subordinating themselves to their fellow believers in a
manner consistent with the Lord's instructions.

192) Eph 5:22 . .Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

The koiné word for "submit" in this verse is the very same one we just
discussed, and never means that wives take orders from their husbands like
in some sort of military hierarchy. We haven't changed the subject; in point
of fact we're actually being redundant because what we're talking about here
is deference rather than obedience. An attitude of deference is mandatory
for Christians on both sides of the gender aisle-- both men and women.

We should emphasize that these instruction are only for Spirit-filled couples.
They're not for the average rank and file pew-warming couple, nor for the
world's couples at large.

First of all; Spirit-filled wives walk in the fruit of the Spirit; which is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self
control. That alone filters out most wives. And they also speak to themselves
with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs; making music in their hearts to the
Lord rather than going around with a grumpy disposition all the time with a
cross look on their face.

Spirit-filled wives don't strive for equality, nor do they compete with their
husbands as rivals for supremacy, nor do they have to be right all the time.
And most importantly, a Spirit-filled wife treads lightly on her husband's
feelings.

A wife that's independent, quarrelsome, complaining, fault-finding, chafing,
hostile, violent, carping, dominating, manipulating, critical, thin-skinned,
defensive, assertive, aggressive, thoughtless, insensitive, loud, stubborn,
difficult, cruel, confrontational, and harboring a "I am woman! Hear me
roar!" mentality is not the Lord's concept of deference.

A deferent wife is gracious, cordial, affable, approachable, temperate, genial,
sociable, ready to turn the other cheek, generous, charitable, altruistic,
tactful, sensitive, sympathetic; and above all coherent, reasonable, and
rational rather than incoherent, emotional, and reactive.

===========================

 

[AuphirahQueen]

Re: Continued From #133

-
191) Eph 5:21 . . Submit to one another out of respect for Christ.

The koiné Greek word for "submit" is hupotasso (hoop-ot-as'-so) which
means: to subordinate (as a verb) which is just the opposite of dominance,
equality, and/or rivalry and competition.

A workable synonym for the kind of submission we're talking about here is
"deference" which Webster's defines as: (1) respect and esteem due a
superior or an elder, and (2) affected, or ingratiating, regard for another's
wishes; viz: honor.

Deference doesn't demand it's rights; rather: deference waives them.

This isn't about a pecking order. It's about regarding others as not equal to
yourself, but actually better than yourself; and it pleases Christ to do so;
besides just being just plain old good Christian manners.

†. Matt 18:3-4 . . Whoever humbles himself as a little child is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven.

Little children in that day were minors who had little or no social status at all
to speak of. If somebody abused a minor; it was just too bad since there
were no Child Services bureaus to defend them. Minors were typically among
the ruled rather than among those who do the ruling; and they got like zero
to-none respect from their elders.

In other words, an imperious believer-- one that's assertive, bossy, take
charge, demanding, argumentative, quarrelsome, impudent, conceited,
domineering, confrontational, manipulative, reactive, independent, non
negotiable, opinionated, obstinately or intolerantly devoted to their own
opinions and prejudices, stubborn, and insistent upon their own way --is
definitely a failure at subordinating themselves to their fellow believers in a
manner consistent with the Lord's instructions.

192) Eph 5:22 . .Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.

The koiné word for "submit" in this verse is the very same one we just
discussed, and never means that wives take orders from their husbands like
in some sort of military hierarchy. We haven't changed the subject; in point
of fact we're actually being redundant because what we're talking about here
is deference rather than obedience. An attitude of deference is mandatory
for Christians on both sides of the gender aisle-- both men and women.

We should emphasize that these instruction are only for Spirit-filled couples.
They're not for the average rank and file pew-warming couple, nor for the
world's couples at large.

First of all; Spirit-filled wives walk in the fruit of the Spirit; which is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self
control. That alone filters out most wives. And they also speak to themselves
with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs; making music in their hearts to the
Lord rather than going around with a grumpy disposition all the time with a
cross look on their face.

Spirit-filled wives don't strive for equality, nor do they compete with their
husbands as rivals for supremacy, nor do they have to be right all the time.
And most importantly, a Spirit-filled wife treads lightly on her husband's
feelings.

A wife that's independent, quarrelsome, complaining, fault-finding, chafing,
hostile, violent, carping, dominating, manipulating, critical, thin-skinned,
defensive, assertive, aggressive, thoughtless, insensitive, loud, stubborn,
difficult, cruel, confrontational, and harboring a "I am woman! Hear me
roar!" mentality is not the Lord's concept of deference.

A deferent wife is gracious, cordial, affable, approachable, temperate, genial,
sociable, ready to turn the other cheek, generous, charitable, altruistic,
tactful, sensitive, sympathetic; and above all coherent, reasonable, and
rational rather than incoherent, emotional, and reactive.

===========================

AQueen is in conflict I shall not be assertive at this moment or speak directly!!! A woman is docile in personality! AQueen chuckles!!!!

 

[WebersHome]

AQueen is in conflict I shall not be assertive at this moment or speak
directly!!! A woman is docile in personality! AQueen chuckles!!!!

Christianity isn't for everybody. If it's rules and its principles seem too strict
and/or narrow-minded; perhaps you'd be more at home with Buddhism or
Yoga meditation.

====================================

 

[blue_ladybug]

Christianity isn't for everybody. If it's rules and its principles seem too strict
and/or narrow-minded; perhaps you'd be more at home with Buddhism or
Yoga meditation.

====================================

ummm, christianity isn't like a country club where you pick and choose who to accept and who to deny.. Christianity is for everyone and anyone who wishes to be one..

 

[WebersHome]

-

christianity isn't like a country club where you pick and choose who
to accept and who to deny.. Christianity is for everyone and anyone who
wishes to be one

I didn't say Christianity is exclusive; I said it isn't for everybody; viz:
Christianity isn't everybody's cup of tea; which is why some folk might
be more at home with Buddhism or Yoga meditation.

==========================================

 

[WebersHome]

Continued From #134

-
193) Eph 5:23-24 . . For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the
head of the church, his body, of which he is the savior. Now as the church
submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in
everything.

People-- Christians, no less --have tried to circumvent that commandment
by quoting Paul to refute Paul; for example:

†. Gal 3:26-28 . . For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with
Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man,
there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

But if we were to make Gal 3:26-28 a rule in civil affairs; then Christian
marriages would be same-sex unions; and that, to say the least, is quite
laughable.

If a Christian wife cannot treat her husband with the respect due him in
accordance with Eph 5:23-24 then she should at least try to treat him with
respect in accordance with Eph 5:23-24; in other words; treat her husband
the way she would treat Christ were he the one sharing a home with her.

They say familiarity breeds contempt; and I'm afraid that a good number of
Christians have gotten so accustomed to thinking of Christ as a sibling that
they've forgotten he's primarily a monarch.

Though both husband and wife are equals as believers, and equally Christ's
subjects, they are definitely not equals as man and wife. A Christian wife
who humiliates her husband in any way literally humiliates Christ when she
does so; and gives herself away that she's neither walking in the Spirit nor
filled with the Spirit.

Men and women have very different needs as regards to respect. Shaunti
Feldhahn, author of "For Women Only" relates a survey taken among
segregated groups of men and women with this question: Given a choice;
would you rather be disrespected, or would you rather be alone and unloved
in the world? The majority of the ladies chose disrespect rather than living
alone and unloved in the world, while the majority of the men chose to live
alone and unloved rather than be disrespected.

A young bride just starting out, and not caring how important respect is
to her husband, will have no trouble turning her marriage into a living hell
for men without even half trying.

So then, what's one thing that every Spirit-filled wife can do to please
Christ? Simple. Respect her husband. And don't respect him only if he earns
your respect: no, respect him all the time just as you'd respect Christ all the
time were he your husband. A wife cannot expect a husband to love her
unconditionally when she won't make an effort to respect him
unconditionally.

A very disturbing display of husband-wife disrespect took place in my own
home. My wife and I used to baby-sit for a couple at church whenever they
were away. When they came over one night to pick up their kids, my son
and theirs were playing a really good Nintendo game. The daddy informed
the kids it was time to go, and in customary kid-fashion they ignored him
and kept playing their game. So he became gruff and ordered them out to
the car.

His wife then proceeded to come down on him like the wrath of God and
exclaimed: You're yelling at them in front of the Webers! Well, guess what?
Mrs. Self-Righteous-Christian was lecturing her husband in front of the
Webers; and if you could have seen the look on his face you'd know that her
husband was not going to get over the effects of his wife's public scolding for
a long while to come; if ever.

You know, kids get used to their parents demeaning them in front of others.
To kids, it's just a fact of life. However, I seriously doubt there's a husband
on earth who can get used to his wife demeaning him in front of others.

†. Prv 14:1 . . A wise woman builds her home; a foolish woman tears her
home down with her own hands.

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[Viligant_Warrior]

Christianity isn't for everybody. If it's rules ...

Mind detailing these "rules" for us so we all know them and make sure we don't break them? Sheez, I hate what that happens!