Learning The Roles Of Man And Woman

Judge among yourselves.

Is it proper for a woman

to pray to God with her head uncovered?

Does not even in nature itself teach you

that if a man has long hair,

it is a dishonor to him?

But if a woman has long hair,

it is a glory to her; for her hair

is given to her for a covering.

But if anyone seems to be contentious,

we have no such custom,

nor do the churches of God.

1 Corinthians 11: -- 16

            Just as Paul stated: "Judge for yourself" we should do the same and this we shall do for those words in regard to head covering, or long hair have been a matter of contention in the church for quite some time.  Let us return for just a moment and let's re-examine what Paul was inspired to write in this we find in the same chapter in versus 7 through 11.  We find that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to re-stake that man is in the image and glory of God and woman is the glory of man. Oh!  This flies in the face of our current culture whereby the current wisdom is that women should have the same equality as a man.  The Genesis account in regard to man, man was created from the dust of the ground by God.  Furthermore, God did not use the dust of the ground in the making of a woman before she was made from the rib of a man.  Now if a man desires to hold some sort of superiority over a woman due to this fact been they are in contradiction to what God had Paul writes that man was created for woman and woman for the man.  This is an equality for they are both fit for each other but this does not mean that each have the same rank or requirement rather they are to be of help for one another.  Man is not independent of woman and woman is not independent of man both need each other.  It is only when this rubric is set aside, or discarded that both sides renounce their God given rank and responsibility that problems enter into their lives and to the churches, and certainly do not have the blessing of God.  One may cavil at God's economy, or arrangement, but this is to judge God as being wrong.  In the very beginning and Genesis 3:16b a pronouncement was given upon both man and woman but in this part of the verse it is stated that the woman's "desire" would be for her husband and that the man should rule over the woman.  A lot of discussion over this has been forwarded by many men throughout the ages and I can only offer what I see this means: "Your desire shall be for your husband."  Is God only stating that she would have some sort of sexual attraction to man, or is this desire something more?  It was already natural that there would be this sexual attraction between both man and woman therefore to state this would only be stating the obvious and cannot mean sexual attraction.  Therefore then, to desire is to desire what her husband has and that is the role of being a superior, or head of the family, whether it be with children or only with just a spouse.  Let us see how this overreaching desire has worked out in the world.  Before I begin, let me fully address this issue: woman is equal in brain power and in some cases even in physical power.  There are differences between man and woman that are fitted so that when they come together they are better able to make proper decisions that would be of help to them, and two others.  Just because there are differences of such things as emotion, or even in some cases physical ability, that type of love that only a woman can give especially to her children, a type love that men have a different approach in loving their children and even their lives does not mean that both man and woman are not equal.  The difference lies in the roles that each should be playing out for this is the way that God has made man and woman.  Let me also make this admission: Adam sinned greater than his wife Eve!  Adam had the responsibility to not allow for sin to enter into this world and this he did not do.  Yes, both sinned!  When it is said that man is to rule over woman only means that women have a particular place according to God to be in the direction to their own husbands at the entrance of sin destroyed that dispensation of God for men.  If man had not sinned, he would always have ruled with the wisdom and love; if the woman had not sinned, she would always have obeyed with humility and meekness.  Yes even faulted by tempting her husband but that is all she could do was to tempt him, she could not force him; though it was her fault to persuade him to eat it, it was his fault to listen to her.  Due to this great sin of Adam all of his posterity, all of his progeny, inherits from him a corrupted soul that does not desire to do the will of God.  This corrupted soul did not just exist with Adam but due to sin even the soul of Eve was corrupted.  And we see the results of this corruption in this usurping of the roles that God established in such things as a high divorce rate, abortion, homosexuality, and a homosexual affiliation in what is called same -- sex marriage.  We see children with lack of real respect and a high use of drugs to find some sort of euphoric lifestyle.  We see it in the type of music that leads to such things that God hates.  Children come home to an empty home while their mothers are out attempting to have some sort of worldly success.  We find fathers not coming home to care for their family and yet spend great time drinking alcoholic beverages or doing other things that keep them from their home usurping their responsibility.  Judge among yourself what is proper.  Yes Paul was addressing certain customs among the Grecian people but we are to find the principles that led Paul by the Holy Spirit to address the misuse of those custom.  Therefore, the principles are what we need to apply and returned back to the dispensation and economy of God for man, woman, and children.  The question is: Will we do it!

Let us search out and

            examine our ways.

Let us lift our hearts

            in the hands to God

in heaven.  We have transgressed

            and rebelled; You have not

pardon.

                                    Lamentations 3: 40 -- 42

Repent: God will forgive and bless

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Deny Oneself In All Things

For the man is not from woman

but a woman from a man.

Nor was the man created for the woman,

but a woman for the man.

For this reason the woman ought

to have a symbol of authority

on her head, because of the angels.

Nevertheless, neither is the man

independent of woman, nor woman

independent of man, in the Lord.

For as woman came from man,

even so man also comes through woman;

but all things are from God.

1 Corinthians 11: 8 -- 12

            We live in a day in which the culture that is so prevalent especially among the young people who have been taught during their years of schooling that they are to accept that each person has their own truths.  Pluralism is the ideology and worldview that is being taught to our children and as Christian parents we have a battle, or a war, against such philosophy as pluralism.  What is pluralism?  Pluralism is a philosophy or a theory that there is more than one basic substance or principle, in other words, there is more than one truth.  Furthermore, pluralism is a condition in which minority groups participate fully in the dominant society, yet maintain their cultural differences; multiculturalism.  We find some churches attempting to apply multiculturalism in their congregations.  We also find there are some groups or denominations that allow for same sex-marriage as though that form of lifestyle is proper to the nature that God created.  In fact, homosexuality in any of its forms is a contradiction to the nature of God.  The Bible is clear on this subject; all one has to do is read the account of creation in Genesis and the making of a woman from the rib of Adam, and to read in Romans and see that this is true.  The question for all of us is; do we really believe the Bible is absolutely the inspired word of God.  If so, then these instructions via Paul must be applied in our lives or then we will be picking and choosing only those Scriptures that we feel inclined to believe.  That inclination comes from that what is taught to us and our children that we are to accept the various lifestyles and that the Bible could not absolutely mean that homosexuality is wrong.  If we accept that type of lifestyle then we are inclined to accept or avoid other commandments and principles of God.  We as Christians have the responsibility to uphold the justice of God and to not do so is to tacitly approve that which God disapproves.  The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write to the Corinthians who had fallen into a lifestyle and worldview that was not honoring Jesus Christ.  The subject about whether or not a woman should wear a headdress, especially while praying, or teaching, that is speaking for God that is the definition of prophesying is an important subject and must be understood and applied.  While applying headdress to the culture of the Mediterranean people but not the culture of other peoples who do not use a headdress in such a matter is all about subjection and superiority to that which God set forth.  So the question is are we standing fast to the economy and dispensation of God or are we attempting to apply pluralism in our lives and congregations.  The woman who does not hold to the order of the Church as given to us by God, and that order is, that man is in the superior position that God placed him.  The man who comes to this pluralistic worldview and does not hold to the position God has given him then dishonors his Head, that is, Jesus Christ, by appearing unsuitable to the rank and which God has placed him.  This was the fault of the women in the church at Corinth.  The order in which Divine Wisdom places persons and things, is that which is best and fittest.  It must be remembered, that Paul has clearly outlined this fact; man is the representative of the glorious dominion of God over the world (see verse 7).  Woman is to shine with the reflection of his glory, being made superior to the other creatures here below, but in subjection to her husband, deriving her honor from him out of whom she was made.  The natural is that woman was made subject to the man, because she was made for his help and comfort.  Therefore, she should do nothing contrary to Scripture, and Christian assemblies, which look like a claim of equality.  Woman does have a power and that power should be shown by her subjection to her head in this because of the angels.  This power is a veil, a token, not her having power or superiority, that is over her husband, but of her being under the power of her husband, and subjected to him.  This was a major problem in the Corinthian church and it has become a major problem within many congregations within the Christian Church.  This problem spills out from the congregation into the home, or maybe it's spills from the home into the congregation.  Whatever way it comes into the congregation, it has come into the life of both the man and the woman and both are guilty for allowing this to occur.  Man is to love (agape: that is a God principled love) his wife and his children and to do so within man must hold fast to the position and rank that God has placed him in deal properly with his family, and the congregation.  Woman is to help her husband and their decisions, and may include and should include their making decisions together.  Yes, the final decision is the man, and the man must remember that he is responsible to his Head; Jesus Christ.  To not apply this economy for the bride of Christ is to not be in the image of Christ and not to show love.

            This may go against that what is being taught, and it may go against your beliefs and nature; but these are not my words: THESE ARE THE WORD OF JESUS CHRIST AND GIVEN TO THOSE WHOM GOD INSPIRED TO WRITE THEM AND WE ARE TO OBEY THEM.  Once again, to be a Christian one must be COURAGEOUS!  Are you?

Everyone is dull-hearted,

            without knowledge;

every metalsmith is put to shame

            by the carved image;

for he is molded image is falsehood,

and there is no breath and them.

                        Jeremiah 51:17

God is the Maker of all things

Richard L. Crumb

Learning The Role of Man And Woman: Head Covering

Every man praying or prophesying,

having his head covered,

dishonors his head.

But every woman who prays or prophesies

with her head uncovered dishonors her head,

for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.

For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn.

But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn

or shaved, let her be covered.  For a man indeed

ought not to cover his head, since he is the image

and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man.

1 Corinthians 11: 4 -- 7

            If there is any portion of Scripture that has caused much division and gave birth to several various doctrines, this is certainly one of those divisive and misunderstood portions of Scripture.  This is a place were a little history will give us some understanding of why Paul wrote the way he did and how we are to apply what he wrote in our congregations and in our worship of our God.  It was customary in the eastern cities, especially we find such practices of covering in the Islamic religions, and in other religions, and also for the Greeks that women were to cover their heads in public or otherwise be accepted as the women of immoral character.  Corinth was a center of false religion and full of temple prostitutes who were not covering their heads and now had come into the congregation and were taking advantage of this new-found Christian liberty.  Even those who were custom to wearing veils began to lay aside their veils in church meetings and horrified the more modest Christian.  Paul is telling them not to defy public opinion as to what was considered proper and feminine decorum.  We live in a world where there is clamor over the need for the empowerment of women as though this somehow will make them equal to men.  Let us get this one thing straight: in the sight of God, men and women are of equal value!  Yet we must not misunderstand, there are certain natural distinctions between women and men and if not human society could not exist.  Christian women, living in human societies, should be cautious in their innovations, lest they bring reproach on their religion.  It is bad generally when women to come too be much like men.  Yet this is what we see being promoted by the media by education that somehow particularly since "NOW" movement began to make every effort to empower women as though women did not already have an equal position with men.  This is not to say that there was not abuse by men against women and those abuses needed to be addressed and were addressed and yet there are still some other areas in which women must be addressed as to their equality with men.  In addressing equality between men and women we must not forget that God has placed for us to see, read, and adhere to His metric and that metric is that Jesus Christ is the head of all, especially the head of man, and man is the head of woman.  Now, if we are in the image of Jesus Christ then we must understand that being that head means that we also love as Jesus Christ loved.  We are not to hold superiority over a woman, no!  We are told to love our wife: "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her" (Ephesians 5:25).  While God provided a metric, that is his economy for those whom he created he also gave us the foundation by which we are to operate in that metric.  So we come to this place where Paul rebukes the woman for praying or prophesying uncovered, or that the man was covering his head.  So how are we to understand these words of Paul?  First covering was a mark or token of subjection, in the eastern countries, contrary to the custom of others, were being covered is a sign of superiority and dominion.  If a man prays or prophesies with his head covered, he then is dishonoring his Head, and that Head is Jesus Christ, and to do so then makes one appear unsuitable to the rank in which God has placed him.  Now, here is an important point for both men and women including children; we should, even in our dress and habit, avoid everything that may dishonor Jesus Christ.  There is proper dress for each and every occasion and yet there seems to be a type of liberality that was occurring in the Corinthian church in regard to head covering and the fact that both men and women began to do things that which were improper.  This liberality found in the Corinthian church in regard to dress can be found in our churches today.  Where people think that it is proper to dress as though they're getting ready to go to some picnic, some party, even wearing shorts, shower shoes, and women dressing with breast sticking out so that they can be seen in such an immodest manner as though it does not matter.  It seems as though they can dress in a suit and tie or in a modest manner, for the women particularly, when they go before the president of the United States, or when their work requires such progress Monday through Friday, find it unreasonable to put a suit and tie on when they go to a public church service.  The principal Paul is laying out is that we should take care that how we dress does not bring reproach upon the Church and Christianity as a whole.  But the attitude is; "don't tell me how I can dress!"  Furthermore, they say: "how I dress does not indicate whether or not I have faith in Jesus Christ!"  Let me make sure that you fully understand; I am not here to tell a person how to dress or to demand dress in a certain manner.  My goal is that all that we do like changing from the inside/out is that we think first and foremost as to whether or not our lives are actually in the image of our Savior Jesus Christ.  Are we denying ourselves even though we may have the right to do certain things, such as dress even though the manner in which we dress does not show our humility and dressed properly helping others to see that we hold Jesus Christ as the Head of our life.  Somehow, we must have it our way; no matter what, no matter what has been said.  And no matter what Scripture teaches.  Who holds the priority in your life?

My son, give attention to my words;

            incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your eyes;

            keep them in the midst of your heart;

for they are in life to those who find them,

and health to all their flesh.

Keep your heart and with all diligence,

            for out of it springs the issues of life.

                                    Psalm 4:20 -- 23

Preserve discretion

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Follow Jesus At All Costs

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Now I pray you, brethren, that you

remember me in all things

and keep the traditions just as I

delivered them to you.

1 Corinthians 11: 1 -- 2

            Verse one chapter 11 seems to be part of chapter 10 and closes in that chapter and then inverse to the word "now" seems to be the beginning of his next portion or discourse.  Paul is reminding the Corinthians that they were to be followers of him as he also was a follower of Jesus Christ; in other words follow Jesus Christ.  Paul had preached to them the doctrines that they ought to believe, but as he led life, as whom they ought to imitate, for Paul himself would follow no other than Jesus, furthermore, then you are to follow Jesus Christ.  Christ is our perfect Examplar therefore His particular actions and His general conduct towards a man as related to us in Scripture should be regarded as the models of imitation, but only so far as they conform to Scripture.  Beginning with verse two of chapter 11 Paul praises them and not just continues to berate them rather he commends them of that what was praiseworthy, both things that were in imitation or remembrance of Paul and that they were keeping the traditions as Paul had delivered to them.  It is important at this point to understand the word "traditions," from the Greek word is: παράδοσεις, which is accusative plural and is not directed at a single person rather to a multitude of people, and this word, παράδοσεις, is an internal accusative in as much as it names or modifies the action of the verb.  It is called a cognate accusative, because the noun in the accusative case uses the same linguistic stem or root as the stem or root of the verb: παρέδωκα, which is first person, singular, first aorist, indicative active.  From its root means to surrender or to deliver over to another keep, to yield up or to entrust, or to transmit, to deliver.  Now the Greek word translated as traditions must be understood so that there is not some false understanding that leads to a false doctrine. The Greek Word παράδοσεις, and carries the meaning of transmission, a precept especially the Jewish traditionary law.  Therefore it speaks of a tradition of the teachings of the rabbis and also for the New Testament Christian the apostolic teachings, and this was the instructions concerning the gathering of believers and Paul's use of this word constitutes a denial that what he preached originated with himself, and makes a claim for its divine authority.  I take a moment to go over the Greek, not necessary to teach Greek, rather so that we understand this word for in the translation using English words often English words carry a meaning different from what the Greek language actually states.  In some churches that call themselves Christian have added to their denominational doctrines certain traditions or practices that were not the traditions delivered by Paul nor were the practices of the apostles or of the early Christians.  We must examine all things according to Scripture and so to clarify I add those Greek words to help us so that we do not fall into error.  The next versus are often misconstrued and misinterpreted, and misused: "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of every woman is man, and the head of Christ is God" (1 Corinthians: 3).  Some would use this instruction in improper manner showing man is some sort of supreme authority when in actuality any authority man has is only due to him because his authority is Jesus Christ, whom he is to imitate.  Paul is now addressing the particulars respecting their public assemblies.  He has begun with commendation for what was praiseworthy for if we only reproof what is amiss in any way; it is then proper to command what is good.  It shows that the reproof is not from ill will, and a means to find fault; it will therefore procures the more regard to it.  It seems as though the Corinthian church had, or in the least used, an abundance of spiritual gifts.  It even seems so that several women have been endowed with the spirit of prophecy, which enabled them to offer prayers for the congregations, or even to give instruction.  But, and this is an important but, abuses had crept into the congregation as often does when the dispensation given by God for congregations are misinterpreted or misused and this seems to be the case that was happening in the Corinthian church.  Paul would have them understand that Christ was the immediate Head or Ruler of every man among them, whose honor was concerned in every part of their conduct; and that the man was the immediate head and ruler of the woman, whose authority God had subjected her, and who would be disgraced by any impropriety in her behavior.  Paul also showed that Christ, as Mediator, was subject to the Father as Christ did the will of the father, and the honor of God, so that Christians should also be in subjection to Christ, and this by doing His will and seeking His glory.  Therefore, the woman should acknowledge her subjection is a man, doing what was honorable to him.  How can we know our duty in various particulars?  We should study our relations to God and to each other and this by study of God's Word and applying His principles in commands to our lives.  We are to deny ourselves and place the will of God first in our lives and in all the things that we exercise in our lives.  Paul was no way putting woman down and by doing so dishonoring a woman, no, he was holding fast to what God designed.  God's dispensation for man.  As Christians we must adhere, and conform to, the will of God and His economy for by doing so we will be blessed, if not, all we can expect is the opposite.  Therefore, let us examine what we believe and what we practice

Your testimony are wonderful;

            therefore my soul keeps them.

The entrance of Your words give light;

            it gives understanding to the simple.

                                   Psalm 119: 129 -- 130

Draw near to God

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Live The Conscience Of Jesus Christ

If any of those who do not believe

invites you to dinner, and you desire to go,

each one ever is set before you,

asking no question for conscience’ sake.

But if anyone says to you,

"This was offered to idols,"

do not eat it for the sake of the one

who told you, and for conscience sake;’

for the earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness.

"Conscience," I say, not your own,

but that of the other.  For why is

my liberty judged by another

man's conscience?

1 Corinthians 10:27 -- 29

            From the beginning of Paul's letter to the Corinthian Christian he has been addressing the various problems that were plaguing an even affecting a person's Christianity.  Paul has had to address divisions among the Christians for  they were following men and the doctrines of those men that were in contradiction to the doctrines of God; not those things that are matters of indifference, that were the problem, rather those things that did matter, those things that are different in regards to be truth.  Paul has had to address adultery, the problem with idols being brought into the church, and even had to defend his own apostleship.  Paul has been careful to demonstrate and teach the foundations of Christianity and that foundation is Jesus Christ.  Because of idolatry and the many people who came out of idolatry and worship to the gods and goddesses of the Greeks Paul has had to lead them by teaching them what is important; idols are not the importance.  The problem that the Corinthians were also facing was that much of the foods offered for sale, and use, were often first consecrated to false gods and the Corinthian Christians were asking whether or not they should each such foods.  While Paul is addressing a direct problem within the Corinthian Christian understanding we must look for the principles that Paul was using to give them help in making decisions.  It is very clear that Paul spoke about the one thing that we must hold important, and that importance is "conscience."  In our growth to maturity in the faith of Jesus Christ we must change from the inside/out.  Therefore, there are things we may hold as our "right" and that we have the "freedom" to do as we think are right when in actuality the only "right" we have is to demonstrate Jesus Christ to our world.  This means in that we must examine those things we think we have the freedom to do, and possibly have the freedom to do, and whether or not that freedom is actually honoring our Savior because this freedom we choose to exercise may bring shame upon your conscience and the conscience of others.  Yes, Paul says you have the right to eat whatever is set before you and you can use it unless you know that this food had been offered to idols, not that it would be wrong to eat this food, rather to eat food offered to idols may cause the conscience of an immature Christian to stumble.  We must understand that this principle applies to everything we do and say in our lives.  For instance, are we watching TV programs were by homosexuality, and same-sex marriages, are presented as normal?  Would we actually sit beside Jesus Christ and watch those programs?  If a new Christian was visiting you and you turn on such programs and saw that you were enjoying those programs would it not make for them to have misunderstanding how God views homosexuality?  Would not your Christianity be suspect?  When Jesus told us that we were to deny ourselves are you really doing that or are you demanding your freedom in Jesus Christ to do what ever you wish to do?  We must not allow evil to be spoken of for doing those things that the Bible condemns?  This is what it means to change from the inside/out.  We are not our own for we have been bought with a price and that price was by the blood of Jesus Christ upon the cross.  To not hold that sacred in our lives and allow Jesus Christ to have the priority in our lives then would not our faith be seen as a poor faith?  Paul makes this so very clear when he says: "But if I partake with banks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks" (1 Corinthians 10: 30)?  How often I've heard that saying question in regards to the actions by Christians who are trying to give themselves a reason which is only an excuse for not doing that which God condemns for there is a forgetfulness what Paul admonishes: "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or what ever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the prophet of many, that they may be saved" (1 Corinthians 10: 31 -- 33).  Can this be clear them this that we are not to give offense to anyone and especially to the church of God just so that we can be pleased with what we are doing and that doing is seeking your own profit.

            Brothers and sisters, to be a Christian requires you to be courageous, committed, and not to shirk or contradict the principles and commands of God.  People may jeer at you, and point fingers at you, and call you even crazy, and yes that is what you are for you are no longer allowing the culture and sin of this world to cause you to oppose your Savior Jesus Christ.  We are not here for ever!  We are not to live as though this is our final home.  Jesus went away to prepare for you and I a mansion where we will live forever with Him in a world without sin.  Your citizenship is now in heaven and you are already legally present in heaven so why would we not live as to who and what we have become by the faith that God has given you to believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ.

Woe to him who covets evil

            gain for his house,

that he may be delivered

            from the power of disaster!

You give shameful council to your house,

            cutting of many peoples, and sin

against your soul.

                                    Habakkuk 2: 9 -- 10

Praise God!  We have heard His voice

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Become Partakers Of The Bread Of Life

The cup of blessing which we bless,

is it not the communion

of the blood of Christ?

The bread which we break,

is it not the communion

of the body of Christ?

For we, though many,

our one bread and one body;

for we all partake of that one bread.

1 Corinthians 10: 16 -- 17

            The Corinthian church became slovenly wicked towards the Lord's Supper, and this by such things as the Love Feast and during this feast get drunk, and making this their regular meal which should have been each and at home.  By this the Corinthian were making light of this most important sacrament inaugurated by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ just before His death while eating the Passover supper with his disciples.  Even today, in many churches, and with many Christians, the Lord's Supper has lost much of its importance and meaning, for what has been forgotten is that by participating in this Sacrament one becomes into communion with Jesus Christ and the work He did for His bride by pouring out his blood on the cross and dying force sin.  This sacrament is not to be taken as a matter of indifference albeit that the part that is of indifference is when it is to be partaken.  We are, as Christian commanded by Jesus Christ to keep this sacrament and as often as we partake of this communion we do it as partaking of that one bread: "I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If any one each of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world" (John 6: 48 -- 51).  I have sat in churches when wine, or grape juice, bread or crackers are placed around the sanctuary and often the children are sent up to get the cup and the cracker for the parent.  This in itself and deny grace this special sacrament given to us by Jesus Christ.  Further, there has been no instruction that one should take a moment to pray to God to cleanse them of all their sins.  I will cover this even more when we come to that part where Paul speaks of this but until I do I want to remind us that this is one of the two Sacraments of the Church: the Lord's Supper, and baptism.  It seems as though many will not follow Paul's instruction and make this just to be something that is done in church and by participating everyone can see that they are doing it as instructed, but their heart is far from God.  This may not be true of all people but I still reminding us that this is an important occasion and we must not ever take it lightly.  This is what the Corinthian church was doing among many other things.  Paul reminds us: "Observe Israel after the flesh: are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar" (1 Corinthians 10: 18)?  Are not Christians called priests?  Yes: "and has made us canes and priest to His God and father, to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  Amen" (Revelation 1: 6).  As priests we have the same right to eat of the bread and drink of the wine when we come to the table of communion.  This is a time for all Christians to examine themselves and pray for forgiveness and repentance must be given to God for the cleansing of our souls and preparation to partake of this sacrament. To not do this is simply to, in some ways, is a sacrifice to something, or someone, other than Jesus Christ.  In fact this would make the bread and the wine to be some form of an idol, rather than in representing our Savior Jesus Christ and the death, and resurrection, and ascension into heaven by Him.  Paul now is contrasting that which is proper and that which is improper: "What am I saying then?  That's an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything?  Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons.  You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and the table of demons" (1 Corinthians 10: 19 -- 21).  To do anything otherwise than what has been installed as a communion by Jesus Christ, the Lord’s last supper, that which is to be done throughout the ages until he come, is nothing more than a provocation against our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: " Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy?  Are we stronger than He?  All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.  Let and no one seek his own, but each one of the others well-being" (1 Corinthian 10: numeral .2 -- 24).  For the Corinthian's they were not only denigrating the Lord's supper they also had many questions in regards to eating of foods that may or may not have been offered to idols.  Paul had been taking this time to write them in regards to both the sacrament and the eating of foods that may have been offered to idols and their responsibility.  That responsibility is to consider what ever we do or say is done for the edification of others and their well-being.  In the next blog I will cover that special problem in regards to food and idols and see how the principles Paul instructed them to live by our also the principles by which we must live.  Until then, pray and read God's Word.

I have not departed from

the commandments

of His lips; I have treasured

            the words of his That mouth

more than my necessary food.

                                    Job 23: 12

You are not hidden from God

Richard L. Crumb

Learning To Receive The Blessings Of God

But with most of them God

was not well please,

for their bodies were scattered

in the wilderness...

Nor let us commit sexual immorality,

as some of them did, and in one day

23,000 fell; nor let us tempt Christ,

as some of them also tempted,

and were destroyed by serpents;

nor complain, as some of them

also complained, and were destroyed

by the destroyer.

1 Corinthians 10: 5, 8 -- 10

            Paul in Chapter 3: 9, stated that the apostles, and this includes us, that we are:"For we are God’s fellow workers..."  As well is that we are the temple of God, His building, and all are the fields of God.  It is not enough to say that we belong to God and not do the things that God has commanded, has asked, and has revealed to us what is His will for us; and then not do the will of God.  There are times when Christians allow their "Christian" work while they are working for God to make them evade their concentration on Him.  Far too often Christians will worship their work, that is, to place it in place of taking time to consecrate on Him.  Our one concern should be our concentration on God, and this will mean that all of their margins of life, mental, moral, and spiritual, are free with the freedom of a child, a worshiping trial, not a wayward child.  The Hebrews began to concentrate on the past and all the things that they had while living in Egypt. They had food, housing, even though they were under slavery by the time they left Egypt, they still were provided by the Egyptian government.  Now, while undergoing hardship, and this by their wayward ways, they long for the past and began to develop what they long for in the present as though God who led them out of Egypt no longer cared for them.  While the Hebrews were traveling around the desert and due to their lack of faith in God, many of them died in their trek throughout the desert.  When a person does not follow the commands of God it is easy to say that God no longer care for them and then begin to look for other means to bring happiness to themselves.  We often grow weary: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for what ever a man so, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his lack will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap ever lasting life.  And lead us not grow weary while doing a good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Galatians 6: 7 -- 9).  This substitution of faith is only a substitution that makes our work that we consider to be godly when it is only nothing more than a replacement of your worship, or adoration, or devotion, to a material thing, or an attitude, that is simply in contradiction to the will of God.  Let us not forget that when at once the concentration is on material or other things are gone, all the margins of life are free and we are free to be under the dominance of God alone.  There is no responsibility on you for the work, the only responsibility you have is to keep in living in constant touch with God, and to see that you allowed nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him.  God is not asleep!  God will chastise His children!  God is not to be mocked!  When a person begins to substitute other things in the place of God even though they may seem godly often lead a person to commit sins.  Such sins as even to commit sexual immorality, even so much so as even if that did not occur there is a great complaint in how God is handling things: therefore we attempt to handle them ourselves.  God had all of this recorded for our benefit: "Now all things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the news of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10: 11 -- 12).  God will not take away from us temptation. God has not taken away from us our humanity and ability to make choices, a form of free will outside of the ability to have freedom to choose salvation that has not been given to you by God to do so.  We must understand this one thing that if we do not take a step in the right direction God will not grab us by the shoulder and turn us around to the right direction if we are not looking for that direction.  God is awake!  God notices and knows everything you say, do, and think.  Very important here, GOD IS FAITHFUL!  Paul reminds us of this: "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10: 13).  We have responsibility, and that responsibility is to take action according to the Scriptures and we can only do that if we are in prayer and in the study of His word.  God did not tell us that He will remove the idols from our life.  God did not say that he would remove every temptation while we lived in this life.  We must first take some action and that action must be based upon His word.  Here is an action we must take: "Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.  I speak as to why these men; Judge for yourself what I say" (1 Corinthians 10: 14 -- 15).

            One of the great things about our God, the Creator of all things that exist, is that, as the Deist only admit, that he created and left all things to their end.  Rather God says that He does exist and is in your life and will give you w wat to get through anything that comes and to be able to do this in this life for He is faithful.  Are we not blessed?  Paul adds this: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?  The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ" (1 Corinthians 10: 16).  By the providence of God He engineers everything; where ever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out a wholehearted devotion to Him.

Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened,

            that it cannot save, nor His ear heavy,

that it cannot hear.

                                    Isaiah 59: 1

God is our salvation

Richard L. Crumb

Our Faith In The Living Savior: Jesus Christ!

And do not become idolaters

as were some of them.

As it is written,

"The people sit down to eat and drink,

and rose up to play" (Exodus 32: 6).

            Before I continue expounding upon this letter to the Corinthians by Paul I am compelled to speak up briefly in regards to the day we just celebrated: Resurrection Day.  Jesus Christ died and by His death sin, the debt owed to God and to His justice completed and the purpose for the life of Jesus as fully man had now come to fulfillment.  By his resurrection justification would now be applied to all of God's children: "...  Who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 4: 25; 5: 1 -- 2).  One can take time to examine the various religions around the world and their religious men that they hold in sacredness and find that they are dead and they have been dead since their death and remain in the tomb in which they were laid.  Buddha, is dead and remains dead.  Mohamed, is dead and remains dead.  Only Jesus Christ who was killed a sinless man for the sins of others who died and laid in the tomb for three days is alive, is resurrected and is making eternal intersection for the children of God.  Jesus Christ did not just leave behind some written words that are held sacred and have many followers who look upon such writings as though they were from God and are yet only from dead men and have little power, in fact have no power, to bring men to God.  Only Jesus Christ by His resurrection from the dead who lived for a while upon this earth until His ascension can raise men and women from the dead and give to them eternal life and Who by inspiring the written word called the Bible can make those words be alive and have power that is acceptable to God.  We who have converted to the Lord Jesus Christ through the faith given to us by our father and to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the leading guiding of the Holy Spirit have absolute reason to stand and shout: HE IS RISEN, RISEN INDEED!  HALLELUJAH!

            Paul is now referring back to the Israelites wandering in the desert and when they thought that God, the God of Moses who had led them out of Egypt, was not the God they had come to know in Egypt albeit they were false gods.  They wanted and did return to making a golden calf, an idol to represent the God they wanted God to be: they could not wait for Moses to return and to hear from God.  Paul reminds us that they rose up to eat and drink and be merry and to play, everything for their own enjoyment and the way they wanted to live their life, and this is to live a life outside of the will of God.  But Moses returned with the 10 Commandments and there by those commandments they would know the will of God and how to live by that will and to receive the blessings of God.  What is an idol?  How do we know whether or not something is an idol?  An idol is an image or a material representation of a deity and is worshiped as such, a fallacy that has caused a person to excessively admire that idol, which could be a person or a material thing, that which receives a person's devotion, and is only nothing more than a false notion.  To be an idolater all one must do is to give an immoderate admiration or devotion to that someone or something which in the end is only to worship that someone or something.  We as Christians must be careful for in the early part of this book to the Corinthian church Paul reprimanded them for giving excessive devotion to certain men.  We might fall prey to such idolatry by succumbing to the same thing by holding in great admiration men such as Martin Luther, or John Calvin or Charles Wesley, or as Charles Spurgeon, or the pastor of your church.  While they all are men of God, that is all they are, called to lead the people of God but our worship him must go to the resurrected Jesus Christ who lives for ever for you and I do.  We must not hold anyone too close to us so that they override God.  We must examine all that anyone teaches or says by the truth of God's Word.  We must spend time to pray and to read his work, even to go so far as to do word studies.  To take notes during the sermon and then go home and examine what to know to to ensure that what is being taught is scriptural.  Far too often Christians have fallen prey to that what Paul is talking about: we want to be enjoyment, the euphoric titillation that comes by playful godliness and has lost all solemnity, God is pushed into the background and the playfulness is now accepted as godliness.  There is joy in being a Christian, there is time for laughter and for the fun that we can enjoy yet all that must be held in abeyance if it becomes greater in admiration and devotion then our solemn devotion and worship to God.  There is even the church in Redding called Bethel Church, or School of the Supernatural, where they have people running through tunnels of fire and their worship is nothing more than group euphoria.  Jesus Christ died upon a cross does that not deserve our solemn devotion?  Church is not a playground.  Church is where we come to gather to love our brothers and sisters in Christ and to hear the word of God expounded whereby we can take that which is an expounded and apply the truth of that exposition in our daily lives.  We need that for we are still centers although we are now justified by faith in Jesus Christ in our still able to sit come to sin as did those Hebrews in the desert.  Brothers and sisters does not thought of what God has done during great joy to your life?  If so, make it your absolute priority to live according to His commandments.  Enjoy this life that God has given to you, go poking, shopping, painting pictures, fishing, what ever it is that brings you joy in this life but do so as a Christian knowing that all of this is possible because of the great love of God for people and especially for those who are called to be His child.  LOVE GOD, LIVE LIFE!

God has gone up with a shout,

            the LORD with the sound

of a trumpet.  Sing praises to God,

            Sing praises!  Sing praises

to our King, Sing praises!

                        Psalm 47:5 – 6                      

           

Our God reigns: hallelujah

Richard L. Crumb