Monthly Archives: November 2020

Articles, Bible, Education, Prophecy, Sexuality, Teaching

Issues Facing the Church: A Common Act No One Talks About – Part 01

It is a most common practice that stretches back to millennia. Yet, when a high-profile television personality was caught doing it on Zoom – not realising the camera was still ‘On’ – he was sent home in disgrace to have some ‘personal time.’ Many people, including Christians, want to ask about this subject but are afraid to ask. How do we handle it from a Biblical perspective?

The ‘subject’ is masturbation, also known as ‘self-stimulation.’

Before we address the issue itself, be assured that it will be handled in a pastoral manner. The goal is to help, not hurt nor condemn, people along the way. No doubt, some who read this article are engaged, casually or regularly, in this practice.

It’s time to have a much needed chat. What are we to make of it?

First, by definition, masturbation (from now on referred to as SS – ‘self-stimulation’) is ‘stimulation of the genitals by hand for sexual pleasure,’ in order to reach a climax – ejaculation or orgasm – without the involvement of their spouse or partner. It is a form of solo-sex. It is mostly done by men but woman can do it, too.

What do we know about this practice? It is a very widespread, involving young and old, single and married, Christian and non-Christian. The fact that people are delaying marriage in our sex-saturated popular culture – with plenty of visuals – means that SS is being done at record levels. With 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns, one can imagine that possibilities.

SS provides a quick and easy ‘release’ if one is feeling aroused but does not have a sexual partner available. It is even considered ‘safe-sex:’ you cannot get someone pregnant or contract STDs (sexually-transmitted diseases) by SS. Furthermore, on the surface, it appears that the Bible is silent about it.

The one Bible story that seems to refer to it involves Onan and Tamar in Genesis 38:9. His older brother, Er, who married to Tamar first, was so wickedness that the Lord slew him. As was the prevailing custom at the time, when a man died childless, his brother married the widow and the first child born was dedicated to the deceased. It is called Levirate marriage and described in more detail in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. It was a form of familial social welfare. Onan did not want to ‘do his duty’ so he spilt his seed en route to Tamar. As a result, the Lord slew him, too — Genesis 38:10.

In times gone by, preachers used this story to scare the daylights out of people if they practiced SS – or even contemplated doing so. Some referred to SS as ‘onanism.’

Yet, in all honesty, the reason Onan was judged was his failure to fulfil the mandate.

Does this mean that it is okay to practice SS? Let us consider the following:

1.       Human sexuality, as the Bible and particularly the New Testament teaches, is an expression of physical love to our spouse. The command that husbands ‘love their wives’ (Ephesians 5:25; Colossians 3:19) includes all areas of being: mental, spiritually, emotional, and physical. The idea is that the couple seeks to fulfil each others sexual needs, not just their own.

2.       On the surface, SS seems similar to sexual intercourse but is actually very different. It strives to fulfil one’s own need without any reference to another. The accent mark of SS is ‘self.’ We are made in the image of God, Who loves and seeks the welfare of the ones He love. With SS, love has nothing to do with it; it is a self-centred mechanical solo act.

3.       Unfortunately, SS often involves lust, either mentally or in visual form like pornography. The Sermon on the Mount teaches that lusting after someone, who is not your spouse, is the same as if they committed the illicit physical sexual act, be it adultery or fornication — Matthew 5:27-28. Please consider.

4.       SS can be very addictive and a difficult habit to break. The more we feed the lust, the more it grows, and the more entrenched the habit becomes. It is the opposite of the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ which includes ‘self-control’ — Galatians 5:22. In other words, SS does not eliminate the lust problem; it exacerbates it.

5.       A sad by-product of SS is a feeling of guilt after the climax, something that doesn’t happen with Biblically ordained sex. The person knows that something is wrong, even if they don’t know why.

6.       Finally, there could come a time when SS is simply no longer satisfying, and the person reaches out for more. The danger is that it could lead to other sexual expressions that are condemned in Scripture, like 3D fornication or prostitution.

7.       In summary, the Bible does not directly talk about SS, but it does deal with lust, lack of self-control, and guilt. These factors make SS a troublesome proposition.

Sometimes, it is possible to have a ‘release’ without any touching and any lustful thoughts. These are called nocturnal emissions or ‘wet dreams.’

Human sexuality is a wonderful gift from Almighty God but it has to be on His terms, not ours. Think of it like electricity: handled correctly, it harnesses beneficial power. Mishandled, it can be deadly.

Now that we have spoken about the problem, in our next article, we will look at tips to lead us to a fulfilling solution. TO BE CONTINUED

 

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Fifth Commandment: Honour Your Father & Mother

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee — Exodus 20:12 (KJV)

The 10 Commandments are like 10 rules for life – a good, Godly, blessed life. We have learned that the first four commandments are about God: have no other gods in your life. Do not worship idols. Do not use God’s name in vain. Keep the Sabbath day holy unto the Lord.

The next six commandments are related to our conduct with people. Number five is special: honour your father and your mother. It is very simple: righteous people honour their parents; unrighteous people do not. There is blessing for compliance and curses for failure:

The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it — Proverbs 30:17 (KJV)

The word for ‘honour’ is kabad כָּבַד, related to the word for ‘glory,’ which means heavy. Some other meanings include ‘to be made heavy, be honoured, enjoy honour, be made abundant, glory, honour’[1]

How Do You Honour Your Parents?

Practically speaking, how do you honour your parents? Obedience and respect are good places to start. But what if they are not Christians? The commandment does not give exemptions because of their religious affiliation. My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother – Proverbs 6:20 (KJV)

We honour parents by caring, sharing, and cooperating with them. When they have a need, we meet it if we can. When they age, we continue to provide care where possible.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God — 1 Timothy 5:4 (ESV)

At the same time, Jesus condemned those who used religious precepts to deprive their parents of what they needed. Such dishonour brings a curse. — Matthew 15:4-6.

In fact, parents are the closest thing to God in your life. They beget, nurture, feed, care, love unconditionally. Sound familiar? That’s what God does. It’s part of the reason Jesus wants us to refer to Almighty God as ‘Heavenly Father.’ That’s why treatment of parents is a litmus test on how we treat God. If you honour the parents you can see, then you’ll honour the Father whom you can’t see.

Remember that the Fifth Commandment is the first to offer a promise: if you honour father and mother, … That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth — Ephesians 6:3b (KJV). Think about it: longevity is not pegged to vitamins, exercise, or diet – but to the fear of the Lord and walking in wisdom (Proverbs 3:2; 16; 4:10; 14:27; 19:23; 22:4), watching your words (Psalm 34:12-13), and honouring your parents.

Scriptural Examples of Honouring Parents

The Scripture is replete with examples of people honouring their father and mother.

Joseph: He put his ageing father and brothers in the best of the land of Egypt where they could tend their flocks and live their lives securely — Genesis 47:12

David: Though he was the youngest son, it was David that looked after his father Jesse and his mother. While fleeing from king Saul and his murderous intentions, he took his parents to the king of Moab and left them in his care while he was on the run — 1 Samuel 22:3-4.  Why Moab? Because his great-grandmother was Ruth the Moabitess.

Solomon: Now king of Israel, honoured his mother Bathsheba by bowing to her. The he gave her an honoured seat next his throne – 1 Kings 2:19-20

Sons of Jonadab: Though he was probably deceased, the children of Jonadab refrained from drinking wine because their father commanded them not to. They obeyed him even when he was not around — Jeremiah 35:8.

Jesus: He is the template of righteous obedience to the commands of God. As a 12 year old, He was at the temple speaking to the chief priests. When he parents came to get him, the Scripture says he returned with them to Nazareth and ‘was subject unto them …’ — Luke 2:51.

Care from the Cross: Jesus’ care for His mother was evident even while He suffered on the cross. While his mother Mary and John the beloved disciple were watching, He commended John to Mary and Mary to John. And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home — John 19:25-27. Though Mary had other sons, it was the Son who honoured her.

One of the fundamental precepts of Scripture is the law of sowing and reaping. If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly, if you sow abundantly, you will reap abundantly (2 Corinthians 9:6). Here is another incentive for obeying the Fifth Commandment: if you honour your parents now, when your turn comes you, your children will honour you. The opposite is also true.

Come to think of it, honouring your parents is not just the right thing to do, it is a blessed thing, too.


[1] “H3513 – kabad – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 5 Nov, 2020. https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H3513&t=KJV

Articles, Education, Prophecy, Teaching

The Day of the Lord – Amplified: Why Study the Book of Zephaniah Part 02

 

In Part 01, we learned that Zephaniah, the ‘hidden one,’ lived near the end of the kingdom of Judah, especially, after the evil reigns of kings Manasseh and Amon. He inspired king Josiah and the prophet Jeremiah, and Jesus Christ quoted him (1:3 cf Matthew 13:41; 1:15 cf Matthew 24:29). His is the most concise, comprehensive description of the key period known as the ‘day of the Lord’ (1:14-15). Just as Zephaniah was ‘hidden’ from the evil designs of Manasseh, so the meek who seek the Lord may be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger (2:3).

In order to encourage serious study of Zephaniah and other books of the Bible, we offer this concise background information. 

SUMMARY OF ZEPHANIAH

Judah and Jerusalem in the days of good king Josiah are the immediate objects of Zephaniah’s prophecy. By this time, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had already been deported a century earlier in 722 BC. Zephaniah’s ministry may have spawned king Josiah’s reformation, where he destroyed the altars of Baal, burning the bones of false prophets, getting rid of the incense altars, breaking down the images of Ashera. Later, when Hilkiah found the Book of the Law (most probably Deuteronomy) in the temple, a second reformation commenced. Most probably the young Jeremiah was also greatly influenced by the older prophet.

The Day of the Lord is mentioned or alluded to 23 times. What is the Day of the Lord? It is the time of judgement, return, and restoration; the tribulation followed by the Millennium. It is when God’s righteous anger finally spills out after showing legendary patience. While people don’t like the idea of God being angry, it comes after a long wait and is righteously executed. Jesus, who is the Son of God and image of God, showed this same anger when He cleansed the temple (John 2:14-17).

1. Judah would be judged, Day of Judgement for God’s people comes first 1 Peter 4:17 –  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

2. Followed by the judgement of the nearby nations – he prophesied the downfall of Assyria and Nineveh fell in 612 BC. (Zephaniah 2; Rev 4-15);

3. Jerusalem & the whole world will be judged (3:1-8 cf Revelation 20).

DISTINCTIVE OF ZEPHANIAH 

1.       Gives his genealogy, though we know nothing else about him;

2.       Most concise and extensive description of the Day of the Lord;

3.       God’s people are recipients of strong warnings and promises of restoration; 

4.       Coverage of faithful remnant (3:9-20) restored when God comes;

5.       Sets template of wrath against the wicked and salvation for the just, a clear New Testament theme;

6.       Parallels the Book of Revelation: Both speak of God’s people judged first; then the judgement of the nations; finally, what we know as the Last Judgement (3:1-8 cf Revelation 20).

7.       Of the 400 Old Testament allusions (rather than direct quotes) in Revelation, it is possible that Zephaniah comes closest to it. 

OUTLINE OF ZEPHANIAH

Introduction (1:1)

I.         Judgment in the Day of the Lord (1:2-3:8)

A.     Judgement on the World (1:2-3)

B.      Judgement on Judah (1:4-18)

1.       Judah’s sins (1:4-9)

2.       Warning to Jerusalem (1:10-13)

3.       The Great & Notable Day of the Lord (1:14-18)

C.      Call to Repentance (2:1-3)

D.     Judgement on the Nations (2:4-15)

1.       Philistia (2:4-7)

2.       Ammon & Moab (2:8-11)

3.       Cush (2:12)

4.       Assyria (2:13-15)

E.      Judgement on Jerusalem (3:1-7)

1.       Jerusalem’s sins (3:1-4)

2.       God’s Justice and Jerusalem (3:5-7)

F.       Judgement on the World (3:8)

II.      Restoration & Salvation in the Day of the Lord (3:9-20)

A.     Faithful Remnant Restored & Jerusalem Cleansed (3:9-13)

B.      Rejoicing People with God in the Midst (3:14-17)

C.      Promise of Restoration (3:18-20)