Walking With Christ

Webers.Home · Sep 25, 2021

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• Eph 5:22 . .Wives, submit to your husbands as to The Lord.

"as to the Lord" probably means that women ought to revere their husbands
with the same degree of courtesy, civility, and respect that they would give
Christ were he their spouse.

The Greek word for "submit" in this verse is the very same for submit in Eph
5:21, and never means that wives take orders from their husbands as if
marriage were a totalitarian arrangement. 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.

Deference is agreeable, approachable, tactful, and diplomatic. Deference
isn't confrontational, demanding, assertive, militant, dominating, nor always
clamoring "I am woman! Hear me roar!"
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Webers.Home · Sep 26, 2021

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• 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.

Christians, no less, have tried to circumvent that requirement by quoting
Paul to refute Paul; for example Gal 3:26-28

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

Though both husband and wife are equals as believers, and equally Christ's
subjects, they are definitely not equals as man and wife though they be one
flesh; just as Christ and his Father are not equals though they be one God.
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Webers.Home · Sep 27, 2021

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• Eph 5:25-27 . . Husbands love your wives, etc.

The English word translated "love" in that passage is conjugated from the
Greek verb agapao (ag-ap-ah'-o) which is a very easy kind of love to
practice because it's more about conduct than affections. Agapao-- unlike
phileo (fil-eh'-o) --doesn't require that we like people or be fond of them.

Examples of agapao are: kindness, courtesy, greetings, civility, loyalty,
thoughtfulness, sympathy, loyalty, lenience, tolerance, patience, charity,
long-suffering, deference, hospitality, generosity, etc.

This is very fortunate because some wives are impossible to like. However,
the command to love one's enemies also applies in a man's relationship with
a difficult wife who's just as much his enemy as any other.
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Webers.Home · Sep 28, 2021

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• Eph 5:28-33a . . Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own
body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church-- for we
are members of his body.

. . . "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to
his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery--
but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also
must love his wife as he loves himself,

That, of course, is a practical application of the so-called golden rule; which
first shows up in the Bible at Lev 19:18, applied at Lev 19:34, and reiterated
at Matt 7:12 and Luke 6:31.

The very opposite of the golden rule would be for a husband to do unto his
wife the very things that he does do not enjoy being done to himself; either
by word or by deed.

I'm not a qualified marriage counselor, but in my unprofessional opinion,
were couples to practice the golden rule in their association with each other,
it would go a long ways towards preventing their relationship from becoming
a cold war instead of a home.

There are toxic wives out there who do not deserve their husband's
affections; and in fact have done all in their power to destroy them.
Nevertheless, it is his Christian duty to continue looking after her, and to
treat her well as if his very life depended upon it in spite of the fact that she
may be someone he deeply regrets courting.
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Webers.Home · Sep 29, 2021

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• Eph 5:33b . . The wife must respect her husband.

The Greek verb for "respect" is phobeo (fob-eh'-o) which essentially refers
to fright; and is used just that way in numerous places throughout the New
Testament.

Some translators render phobeo as "reverence" which Webster's defines as
honor or respect; felt or shown; which means that wives don't especially
have to like their husbands in order to respect them, nor even have to
admire them. An attitude of respect will do in lieu of felt respect. In other
words: the Christian wife would do well to stifle the disgust she feels for her
husband and be civil.

"You have heard that it was said: You shall love your neighbor, and hate
your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who
persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in
heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends
rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love
you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax-gatherers do the same?"
(Matt 5:43-48)

"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also
love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you,
what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same." (Luke 6:31-33)

I overheard a female caller on radio imperiously announcing to Dr. Laura
that she couldn't respect her husband. So Dr. Laura asked her why. The
caller responded: Because he doesn't deserve it. So Laura asked the caller:
Have you earned your husband's love? The caller retorted: I don't have to
deserve his love. It's a husband's duty to love his wife just as she is.

So Laura pointed out that the caller was practicing a double standard. She
demanded that her husband love her unconditionally, while refusing to
respect him unconditionally. And on top of that; had the chutzpah to dictate
the rules of engagement regardless of how her husband might feel about it;
thus making herself not only impossible to like, but also quite difficult to live
with.
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Webers.Home · Sep 30, 2021

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• Eph 6:1 . . Children, obey your parents in The Lord, for this is right.

The Greek word translated "obey" in that verse is interesting. It's hupakouo
(hoop-ak-oo'-o) which means to pay attention; viz: to heed; to mind.

The primary reason given for children minding their parents is simply that
it's the right thing to do.

The parents of the command are "in The Lord" in other words, this rule
doesn't pertain to kids with secular parents; which is a good loop hole
because there may come times for kids to disobey their parents out of
loyalty to a higher power. (cf. Matt 4:10, Matt 10:37)

Incidentally, have you noticed how little the respect that parents get from
their insolent progeny in modern television sit-coms, Hollywood movies, and
advertising? It's a reflection of modern American culture's attitude towards
doing what's right. Kids today are encouraged to do what's wrong in their
homes instead of doing what's right. Modern entertainment trains children
how to be demonic instead of divine.

Kids that mind their parents are usually much the happier for it. The brats
and the rebellious typically end up living in a home that's more like Hell than
Heaven.
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Webers.Home · Oct 1, 2021

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• Eph 6:2-3 . . Honor your father and mother-- which is the first
commandment with a promise --that it may go well with you and that you
may enjoy long life on the earth.

The promise doesn't guarantee long life; it promises that, should you
perchance survive to a ripe old age, they'll be good years. In other words;
though a demon seed may live long and prosper, that doesn't necessarily
mean they'll have a pleasant time of it. Things like happiness, peace, love,
understanding, and contentment may end up eluding them every step of the
way.

The Greek word translated "honor" in Eph 6:2 is timao (tim-ah'-o) which
means to prize, viz: to fix a valuation upon; to revere, to think highly of.

The very same word is used at Matt 15:4-6 where Jesus related the fifth
commandment to caring for one's dependent parents. Compare that to 1Tim
5:4 where it's said:

"If a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to
put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying
their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God."

I should point out that one's parents need not be deserving of honor. They
only need to be one's parents; whether good parents or bad parents makes
no difference. Compare that to Lev 19:32 where respect for senior citizens is
required merely because God says so. The citizen need not earn people's
respect; all that's required of them is old age.
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Webers.Home · Oct 2, 2021

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• Eph 6:4 . . Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them
up in the training and instruction of The Lord.

Too often the first half of that verse is omitted and the focus swung entirely
upon the second. Well; let's break ranks and include the first half for a
change because a daddy's parenting style has far more effect upon a
growing child than his religion.

To begin with: despotism, tyranny, and unfairness are not The Lord's way of
raising kids; but rather; his way is the manner of a shepherd; and "good"
shepherds aren't cruel to their flocks.

Maybe you don't burn your kids with cigarettes, pour Tabasco sauce in their
eyes, or lock them in a hall closet without food and water for two days; but
do you ignore their opinions, demean them with denigrating labels, ridicule
them, threaten their lives, work them as slaves without compensation, deny
them things just so you won't appear to indulge them, and/or say "no" to
their requests for no good reason than that you don't want to seem weak
and under their control?

Do you routinely abuse their human rights, and/or relegate them to the level
of livestock rather than bona fide human beings with feelings and a mind of
their own? Do you nurture within them a feeling of importance, of belonging
in your home, or do you make them feel like an invasive species and/or an
uninvited guest? Kids pick up on things like that.
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Webers.Home · Oct 3, 2021

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• Eph 6:5-6 . . Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and
with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to
win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the
will of God from your heart.

The Greek word translated "slaves" is doulos (doo'-los) which is an
ambiguous word that can mean slaves by either voluntary or involuntary
means.

The first would be something like an indentured slave; which Webster's
defines as a contract binding one person to work for another for a given
period of time. Jacob is a good biblical example of indentured slavery. He
sold fourteen years of his life to uncle Laban in exchange for Rachel's hand
in marriage. (Gen 29:18, Gen 29:27)

The practical application applies to giving one's employer an honest day's
work for an honest day's pay. But pay is not really the primary issue.
Subordination is the primary issue, and has been in this epistle since 5:21.
Believers may not like the idea, but they are not independent agents with
Christ.

"You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God
with your body." (1Cor 6:19-20)

So then, God's men and women ought to serve workplace employers with a
conscientious regard for their indentured-slavery status with Christ; which is
really difficult for American believers because their country has such an
abhorrence for slavery and such a high regard for freedom, revolution, and
independence; and when they're mistreated and/or treated unfairly, they
react; which is not always a good thing for Christians to do.(1Pet 2:18-19)
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Webers.Home · Oct 4, 2021

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• Eph 6:7 . . With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men

"good will" excludes grumbling and foot-dragging. Compare Jonah's service
to the Lord . Now there is a primo bad example if ever!
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Webers.Home · Oct 5, 2021

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• Eph 6:9a . . And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not
threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is
in heaven,

I have yet to discover a passage in the Bible either condemning or forbidding
slavery. I'm not saying there are none; it's just that as for myself, I have yet
to run across one. But I have discovered passages related to the treatment
of slaves.

"in the same way" hails back to Eph 6:7 where it says:

"With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men"

Note that herein masters are not required to liberate their slaves; rather, to
treat them with good will; roughly defined as benevolent interest or concern,
i.e. kindness and charity.

In a situation where both the slave and his owner are Christians, things
become just a bit complicated because they're siblings together in God's
family (Gal 3:28). Therefore, Christ's law is to be exemplified by both the
slave and his master.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has
no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)

A slave owner willing to sacrifice his life to protect his slaves would be an
unusual master; but that is the very thing expected from him when he's a
Christian and his slaves are Christians; and should probably be the attitude
of a Christian supervisor towards his Christian employees: which is the
attitude of a good shepherd rather than that of a self-serving predator.
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Webers.Home · Oct 6, 2021

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• Phil 1:27 . .Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of
the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about
you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending
as one man for the faith of the gospel.

"conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ" is talking
about Christian social skills, e.g. kindness, courtesy, tact, diplomacy,
tolerance, lenience, civility, encouragement, sympathy, compassion, etc.

Those kinds of behaviors have the effect of bonding people instead of
alienating them. When people are bonded, they are more likely to pull
together instead of working independently and/or against each other.
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Webers.Home · Oct 7, 2021

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• Phil 1:28 . . In nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an
evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Followers of classical Christianity are much hated by a number of opponents
for a variety of reasons-- some political, some moral, and some religious:
e.g. Islam, Communism, Totalitarianism, Marxism, Leninism, Socialism,
Collectivism, Liberalism, and Machiavellian dictators and despots.
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Webers.Home · Oct 8, 2021

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• Phil 2:1-2 . . If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,
if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any
tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like
minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.

"unity" is a buzz word among liberals and cheap politicians; but Christ's
directive in no way pertains to those folks. No, the above is limited to a very
narrow cross section of society whom Jesus labeled: "those you have given
me" (John 17:9). It is they for whom The Lord prayed for unity. (John
17:11, John 17:21-22)

The Greek word for "tenderness and compassion" 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. Splagchnon is easy to imitate, but not so easy to
duplicate.
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Webers.Home · Oct 9, 2021

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• Phil 2:2-3 . . Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves.

If there is at least one place on earth where Christ's followers should be on
the same plane with each other it's church; but that's not always the case as
human nature values status, and prone to rivalry.

Some people aren't content with mediocrity; no, they have to be head and
shoulders above the crowd, they have to be admired: they have to be feted,
they have to be heard, they have to be noticed, they have to be somebody,
they have to be a mover and a shaker, they have to be up in an ivory tower;
they have to have their finger on the pulse; they have to be in the limelight.
And above all; they have to be right because it is totally contrary to conceit's
nature to be wrong about anything; even superfluous minutiae.

If you should find yourself in a position around your church, whether as an
usher or a cook for men's Saturday morning prayer breakfast, make sure
your heart's in the right place because there is coming a performance
evaluation for the Lord's sheep where some of the elite are going to be very
embarrassed when they're exposed for the ambitious achievers they really
are.

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness, and will expose the
motives of men's hearts." (1Cor 4:5)

An especially bad case of "vain conceit" is on display at 3John 1:9-10
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Webers.Home · Oct 10, 2021

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• Phil 2:4 . . Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also
to the interests of others.

The "others" in that verse are exclusive. Paul's directive pertains only to the
fraternity to whom he penned his letter; viz: "saints in Christ Jesus . .
together with the overseers and deacons" (Phil 1:1)

Seeing as how The Lord expressly forbids selfish ambition amongst his own,
then before proceeding to implement an idea, be very sure to ponder all the
possible ramifications of your actions first; and for sure avoid Machiavellian
thinking that asserts the end justifies the means. Also to be avoided is the
tiresome excuse that what you're doing is for the greater good; which has a
lot in common with collectivism wherein the individual has little to no value.

Stepping on people's toes, and/or thwarting their ideas so that yours prevail,
fails to satisfy the law of Christ; which requires his followers to have the
same care for their fellows as Christ cares for them (John 15:12). It also
fails to satisfy the Golden Rule which says: So in everything, do to others
what you would have them do to you. (Matt 7:12). Always looking out for
No.1 just simply isn't very nice.
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Webers.Home · Oct 11, 2021

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• Phil 2:5-8 . .Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: who,
being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to
be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross.

That's an interesting contrast between Christ and Adam. He and his wife
made a definite grab for equality with God. (Gen 3:4-5)

It's just amazing how well Christ played down his origin and conducted
himself as a common man. Even the people with whom Jesus grew up in his
home town were highly doubtful Jesus was so well connected because there
was really nothing particularly distinctive about him to indicate he was a
divine aristocrat.

"They said: Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we
know? How can he now say: I came down from heaven?" (John 6:42)

And his cousin John had no clue that Jesus was the very person for whom he
was the forerunner.

"I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize
with water told me: The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and
remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I have seen and I testify
that this is the Son of God." (John 1:32-34)

During the thirty years leading up to Jesus' public ministry, he could've
easily made a name for himself, but didn't because that wasn't his superior's
time for it.

"I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him
who sent me." (John 6:38)
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Webers.Home · Oct 12, 2021

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• Phil 2:12 . . As you have always obeyed-- work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling

Some people's interpretation of that passage pretty much echoes Santa
Claus' holiday practices. For example the lyrics from the classic jingle: Santa
Claus Is Coming To Town.

You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I'm telling you why:
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list, and checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty and nice:
Santa Claus is coming to town.

He sees you when you're sleeping,
He knows when you're awake,
He knows if you've been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake!

There's no grace in that song-- none at all --no generosity, no altruism, no
kindness, no charity, no love, no peace, no understanding, no sympathy, no
patience, no tolerance, no courtesy, no compassion, no forgiveness, viz:
there are no gifts in Santa's bag; only merit awards for those who prove
themselves worthy enough to deserve them.

But we know from other passages that an exemption from the sum of all
fears isn't a merit award, rather; it's a totally free-of-charge rescue from the
wrath of God by means of the ransom that Christ himself paid with his own
life's blood rather than out of the sinner's pockets, so to speak. In point of
fact the Greek word soteria, from which is translated "salvation" means
rescue, i.e. remove from peril.

But now once the sinner is removed from the peril of the sum of all fears,
he's expected to begin developing a rapport with God and a life of piety
(a.k.a. holiness) which serves an altogether different purpose in the plan of
salvation.

The phrase "fear and trembling" was one of Paul's favorite colloquialisms; for
example:

"For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and
him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling."
(1Cor 2:3-4)

And another:

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with
eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will
of God from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to The Lord, and not
to men" (Eph 6:5-8)

"fear, and in trembling" doesn't mean Paul recommends shivering in terror
and anxiety like a frightened gerbil; but that a believer's attitude should be
free of pride, arrogance, and conceit, i.e. free of a superiority complex
and/or a master-race mentality; for example:

Paul was very courteous to the Corinthians, and came to them not as a
celebrity even though he was one of The Lord's hand-picked apostles and
they were a bunch of pagan heathens at the time who deserved nothing but
the cold shoulder. Paul's attitude rubbed off on the Corinthians because they
in turn deferred to Paul's associates with fear and trembling just as he had
treated them all at one time.

"I had boasted to [Titus] about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But
just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to
Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the
greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with
fear and trembling." (2Cor 7:14-15)

So then, what we're talking about here with "fear and trembling" is honor,
respect, submission, deference, and reverence rather than terror and
anxiety; and it's actually one of the Beatitudes.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt
5:3)
_

Webers.Home · Oct 13, 2021

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• Phil 2:14 . . Do everything without grumbling or debating

It used to be an unwritten rule in the US Army that GIs could complain all
they wanted just so long as they did what they were told. Well; Christ isn't
pleased with that.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men." (Col 3:23)

The problem with grumbling is that it's an attitude of rebellion; for example:

"And the people spoke against God and Moses saying: Why have you
brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and
no water, and we loathe this miserable food." (Num 21:5-6)

Well; long story short, God punished the people's grumbling by sending a
swarm of deadly reptiles among them, and many bitten by the reptiles died
because their venom was wasn't just lethal, it was 100% fatal.

The word for "debating" is dialogismos (dee-al-og-is-mos') which is
sometimes translated "evil thoughts" for example:

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." (Matt 15:19)

Dialogismos sometimes keeps people awake at night as they obsessively re
wind and re-play a conflict with somebody over, and over, and over again in
their heads.
_

Webers.Home · Oct 14, 2021

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• Phil 3:1 . . Finally, my brethren, rejoice in The Lord.

The Greek word translated "brethren" is adelphos (ad-el-fos') which is a
masculine noun for a male relative. But its use is flexible. Adelphos can also
include one's female relatives too; I mean; after all, men and women are all
siblings around the table in God's home. And when Paul wrote to a church,
he oftentimes used the word adelphos to address the entire congregation.

NOTE: In the beginning, Man consisted of male and female (Gen 5:32).
Treating the those genders as if they are two distinctly separate species is
very wrong because they aren't and they never were. Some women are
chafed when they're included among male nouns and pronouns in the Bible,
but we're Christians so we accept it and we move on.

Rejoicing "in The Lord" is way different than rejoicing in yourself; which is
vulnerable to one's mood and/or circumstances. The Lord once told his
disciples that they shouldn't rejoice that demons obeyed them; but that their
names were written in Heaven. (Luke 10:20)

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things
above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on
things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will
appear with him in glory." (Col 3:1-4)

That passage could be said to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

When peace like a river attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say:
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
(Horatio P. Spafford, 1828-1888)
_

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