Historical Posts
Summer Apparel
Someone has described today’s summer apparel in three words: SLIGHT, TIGHT, BRIGHT. It is appalling how little some people wear. The Bible demands modest apparel! According to Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, modest means “observing the proprieties of dress and behavior; decent.” Immodesty may come from wearing too little or too much. Modesty demands that we dress in such a way that we do not attract undue attention. In the first century the problem was one of wearing too much. Then the emphasis was on gold, pearls and costly clothes (1 Timothy 2:9, 10). Today the problem is one of wearing too little. Now the emphasis is on flaunting the body. Both extremes are wrong.
Peter urged his readers to concentrate on the inner man, not on the body. The emphasis was to be on “the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:4). Real beauty lies within! Those who expose themselves in revealing attire, reveal much more than their near naked bodies, they also reveal a lack of self-respect and inner beauty.
At one time a man who hid behind a woman’s skirt was called a coward, but today he is often referred to as a magician. There is more cotton in an aspirin bottle than in some of the outfits worn in public these days.
There is an interesting story in the gospel of Luke regarding a certain man possessed of demons. Among the peculiarities of this man was the fact that he wore no clothes (Luke 8:27). As Jesus often did, he cast the demons out. The community, hearing what had been done, went out to see him. They found the man “clothed, and in his right mind” (Luke 8:35). I believe it is significant that in his right mind he was clothed. No one, in their right mind, would consider disrobing in public.
Try to remember this story as you shop for your summer fashions. Remember, as a Christian, we must represent Christ well wherever we are.
Questions and Answers 2012-07-29 – audio
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I. Question One – Is it ok to wear shorts “to church”?
A. To a large extent, it is a matter of preference.
1. The way members dress is often determined by climate and culture.
2. In the churches I attended in Tennessee, you would NEVER see someone wear shorts to worship.
3. However, in other places (I am told Florida is one case) shorts are common.
4. At church camp, I attended worship services in shorts because of the heat.
B. We need to be modest.
1. We looked at this in detail just recently.
2. No matter where we are (In worship or out) we need to be modest.
3. Short shorts are not modest.
4. A good guideline would be knee length.
C. We need to be respectful.
1. We must show respect toward God.
a) When we come to worship we are coming to pay homage to our Creator and Savior.
b) We ought to show proper respect.
c) Can we do that in shorts?
(1) Some would say, “No.”
(2) Some would say, “Sure.”
d) Other than modesty and respect, no dress code is given.
2. We must show respect toward our brethren.
a) Some brethren may have a problem with shorts.
b) Especially for men who may be leading in part of the service… shorts could be distracting.
(1) Many of you know that at our church picnics I always wear pants when I preach.
(2) At church camp, if I am speaking or leading in the service in some other way, I wear pants.
c) When I was younger, attending a small church in Gahanna, I use to wear shorts even when leading in the service. No one ever said a word to me about it but one day, at a men’s business meeting, I asked if my shorts were appropriate and one of the men spoke up and said that he didn’t like it. I never have worn shorts to service since.
d) 1 Corinthians 8:13. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
II. Question Two – What about other non-denominations?
A. This question was put into the box after the sermon a couple of weeks ago on the exclusivity of the church.
1. In that sermon we noticed that the “Church of Christ” is the church that we read about in the Bible and that it is NOT made up of various worldly denominations.
2. We noticed six identifying marks of the church of the Bible.
a) Authority.
b) Music.
c) One church.
d) Organization.
e) Titles.
f) Baptism.
B. The question is asking if “non-denominational” churches are the church of Christ.
1. The answer to that is that there are so many different non-denominational groups out there that you have to look at each one individually.
2. I chose one “non-denominational” church from the area and looked at their website.
3. It is the “Church in Aurora.”
4. Here is what I found.
a) Authority – believe that the Holy Spirit is still leading in a miraculous way and is even responsible for the division that exists among various religious bodies.
b) Organization – They have a Senior Pastor instead of a scriptural plurality of pastors.
(1) A picture of their Pastor shows him in his full ceremonial attire.
(2) “Representing Community Churches he is: a voting delegate to the National Council of Churches, a Judicatory Executive with the Ohio Council of Churches and the Treasurer for the Aurora Clergy Association.”
(3) Under “Governing Body” it says this. “Voting membership of the Church Board shall include the Moderator, Associate Moderator, Clerk, and Treasurer; one member from each of the Elders, Trustees, Stewardship Directors, Christian Education Committee, Fellowship Committee, Membership Committee, Mission Directors, Endowment Fund Directors, and Women’s Guild; and two members from Deacons, one man and one woman. The Associate Treasurer shall vote in the absence of the Treasurer. Each committee shall select its representative(S) to the Board.”
(4) Looking at a list of their elders, three women are listed.
c) Music.
(1) They have instrumental music.
(2) They have choirs.
d) Baptism is “in the mode desired” by the one being baptized. In other words, it could be sprinkling or pouring.
e) Communion is to be taken when the leadership decides to take it.
C. It is obvious, that just because a church calls itself non-denominational… that does not mean that it is the church we read about in the Bible.
III. Question Three – Are there really three levels of hell?
A. The simple answer to this question is, “No.”
B. I’m not sure where the number “3” comes from.
C. Dante’s Inferno, a part of a 14th century epic poem was written by Dante Alighieri.
1. In this poem, Dante is led through on a journey through Hell by a Roman poet named Virgil.
2. In it, there is said to be nine levels of hell.
3. Basically, the lower you go, the worse it gets; with the Devil being at the center of the earth in the 9th level.
D. The Bible does not speak of levels of hell but it does hint at levels of punishment.
1. Luke 12:47-48. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.
2. 2 Peter 2:20-21. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
IV. Question Four – If Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot would betray Him, why did He choose Him as an apostle in the first place?
A. Some things we are just not told – Deuteronomy 29:29
B. However, let me suggest two possibilities…
1. In order to be tempted in all points like as we are, He had to be betrayed by a friend – Hebrews 4:15
2. Ultimately, He came to earth to be put to death. Judas’ betrayal was part of that plan.
a) Don’t forget… Jesus’ betrayal was prophesied beforehand.
b) Psalm 41:9. Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, Who ate my bread, Has lifted up his heel against me.
c) John 13:18. “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’
V. Question Five – Can you go to heaven and in heaven can you go to hell?
(Not Discussed)
VI. Question Six – “Psalm 139:16. God knows our number of days before there was any… How can we possibly say – when a young person dies, or in fact anyone dies, that it is not God’s will?”
A. Psalm 139:13-16.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
B. Definitions.
1. Will – the thing that one desires or ordains.
2. Ordain – to order or decree something officially.
C. Two important questions.
1. Does foreknowledge of an event mean that one approves of that event?
2. Does the decision to not intervene to prevent an event mean that one approves of that event?
D. God’s foreknowledge of events does not mean that He desires it or has ordered it.
1. He foreknew that Adam and Eve would sin. 1 Peter 1:20. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you
2. His will in this case was for them to be obedient and stay in fellowship with Him.
3. 2 Peter 3:9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
4. 1 Timothy 2:4. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth
E. Does God’s failure to intervene mean that He desires that particular event to happen?
1. We need to understand God’s permissive will.
2. God made the decision before He ever created man that He would allow man the freedom to choose for Himself.
3. As a result, sin came into the world and death because of sin.
4. Sin and death are not God’s will.
5. To some extent, we even do this with our own children.
6. We step aside and allow them to do things that we know they are going to regret.
7. A good example of this is the story of Joseph.
a) Ultimately, everything that happened in Joseph’s life fulfilled God’s purpose.
b) But that doesn’t mean that God approved of the way that Joseph’s brothers treated him.
c) Neither did God approve of Potiphar’s wife’s deception.
d) However, God was able to use these bad things to bring about something good.
Delivered on: July 29, 2012. Streetsboro.
Questions and Answers 2010-05-30 – audio
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(audio is not great on this one)
I. Question One – Please discuss the withholding of physical intimacy in a marriage.
A. Sometimes, husbands or wives will withhold themselves from their spouse:
1. Because they are not getting along.
2. Because they want to punish their spouse.
B. 1 Corinthians 7:1-5.
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
C. Several things are made clear from this passage:
1. In order to avoid sexual immorality in a marriage, the husband is not to withhold himself from his wife and the wife is not to withhold herself from her husband.
2. God created us with certain desires which need to be fulfilled. If a husband or wife does not get that need fulfilled by their spouse, the temptation is always there to get it fulfilled in another way.
3. Verse 5 very plainly states that husband and wife are not to deprive one another. To do so is sin!
4. The only exception to this is if the withholding is done…
a) By mutual consent.
b) And the intervening time is filled with fasting and prayer.
II. Question Two – “The Bible tells us to come together on the first day of the week, so we meet on Sunday morning. Why does the church of Christ meet on Sunday night and Wednesday night too? Where did this come from or start?”
A. While we are told to meet on the first day of the week, we must also realize that we certainly are not limited to meeting only once a week.
B. When we look at the practice of the New Testament church, we see that they met daily.
1. Acts 2:46-47. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
2. Verse 47 makes it clear that “continuing daily” involved praising God and evidently teaching because the Lord was adding to the church daily.
3. While they may not have had a full fledged worship service every day, it is clear that they met and worked every day.
4. Wednesday night is simply a time to get together for Bible study and mutual edification.
C. Authority for Wednesday and two services on Sunday is also implied in the charge to elders.
1. Acts 20:28. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
2. 1 Peter 5:2. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3. In both of these passages, elders are told to “shepherd” or “feed” the flock.
a) The food is the word of God.
(1) 1 Peter 2:2. As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
(2) Hebrews 5:12-14. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
b) In order to feed the flock, the elders have set aside certain times to gather together for Bible study.
c) We are obligated to submit to them. Hebrews 13:17. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
III. Question Three – “When was Sunday evening worship established in the church?”
A. Put simply, it was established in the first century.
B. Acts 20:7.
Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
C. Evidence seems to suggest that the first century church met in the evenings more often than not.
IV. Question Four – “At what age group should a woman not be allowed to teach in the church? How do you justify the cut-off age scripturally?”
A. Our key passage is 1 Timothy 2:12.
And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.
B. A woman is not to teach over a man.
1. So the question is, “When does a boy change into a man?”
2. The Bible really doesn’t give us a specific age.
3. Therefore, it is left up to us (or the eldership if there is one) to decide on a policy.
C. One view is that after adolescence, a boy becomes a man.
1. This is more or less the policy followed by our eldership here (at Streetsboro).
2. We try to have men always teach the classes from junior high on up.
3. We have never had a woman teach any ages older than junior high unless the class was split into boys and girls and a woman would teach the girls.
4. Junior High is about right for when a boy enters puberty and begins to become a man physically.
5. Of course, the Jews counted the age of 12 to be when a boy became a man. This coincides with Junior High age.
V. Question Five – “Are members of denominational churches no better off spiritually than if they were not worshipping at all?”
A. Members of a denomination may have a better quality of life than someone who does not worship at all.
B. But in terms of salvation, we know that one must:
1. Hear, believe, confess, repent, and be baptized.
2. If a person is a member of a church that teaches otherwise, then how could they be better off?
3. We must also worship according to truth. John 4:24.
C. Simply being religious will not be enough to get one to heaven.
1. Matthew 7:21-23. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
2. Matthew 15:7-9. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘ These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
D. In some ways, people in man-made church are worse off because they have been convinced that they are alright.
VI. Question Six – “Why do we bow our heads when we pray?”
A. The Bible mentions several different postures in prayer.
1. Standing and kneeling.
2. While standing:
a) Arms upraised – 1 Kings 8:22
b) Head bowed – Luke 18:13
3. While kneeling:
a) Arms raised – 1 Kings 8:54
b) Prostrate – Matthew 26:39
B. Why do we often choose to say, “Please bow as we pray.”???
1. Luke 18:10-14.
“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
2. The tax collector had a humble attitude and would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven.
3. Bowing our heads is a way of showing submission, humility, and respect.
VII. Question Seven – “Outside of worship services, can a Christian listen to contemporary Christian music with instruments?”
A. Philippians 2:12.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
B. We know that instrumental music is wrong in a worship service.
C. Therefore, the question is really, “What constitutes worship?”
D. There are varying opinions:
1. Some say, “When I am listening to music on the radio, I am not worshipping. It is only for entertainment. Therefore, it isn’t wrong.”
2. On the other hand some feel, “If I am listening to a spiritual song that gets me thinking about God and even praising God, then, by definition, I am worshipping.”
E. I choose not to listen to spiritual songs that have instrumental accompaniment.
F. Others see nothing wrong with it.
G. One thing is sure… Romans 14:22-24.
Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.
H. This is not an issue where we should draw lines of fellowship.
VIII. Question Eight – “Is there any evidence in the Bible to suggest that it would be wrong to go to the beach and for a man to wear only swimming trunks and a woman to wear a two-piece swimsuit?”
A. This is a question about modesty.
B. 1 Timothy 2:9-10.
In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.
1. Why is the command given to women?
2. Because men are affected a lot more by what women wear.
3. Men are stimulated visually.
4. Paul says that women are to dress in modest apparel.
a) So he is talking about what we wear.
b) We all know that it is wrong to go naked. Paul is not talking about that.
c) So think of it this way, if a two piece bathing suit is not immodest, what would be?
d) You can’t make it any more immodest. The next step is nudity.
e) If a 2 piece bathing suit is not immodest then nothing is.
C. What about men wearing only swimming trunks?
1. I am assuming we are talking about loose fitting, long shorts.
2. So the question is, “Is it wrong for a man to go shirtless?”
3. Definitely, the safest thing would be for a man to wear a shirt in the presence of women.
4. We need to think about the example we are setting.
5. “What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
6. However, some would say that their going shirtless would not invoke lust on the part of any woman. Therefore, it is not wrong.
7. In my mind, this is an area where we all have to make a decision for ourselves and live with it.
IX. Question Nine – “What would Jesus or God think of what’s going on now?”
A. Hebrews 13:8.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
B. God still hates sin.
C. God still loves the sinner.
D. God still wants all men to be saved. 1 Timothy 2:4.
Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
E. Perhaps, this question is asking, “Are things worse today then they have ever been?”
1. Certainly, sin is rampant and immorality is common.
2. However, I don’t think we’ve reached the conditions that existed at the time of the flood. Genesis 6:5. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.