Society & Culture - 14 September 2007

When the rapture comes (ahem) I don't want a christian driving the bus I'm travelling on, for example. In fact it would be dangerous for a christian to operate any vehicle while others are on the road just in case, wouldn't it?

2007-09-14 20:11:21 · 13 answers · asked by thethinker 2 in Religion & Spirituality

The announcement of divorce by Pastor Randy and Paula White and the public beating of his wife by Bishop Thomas Weeks III has really shown that many in the body of Christ do not understand the importance of a successful marriage as a FOUNDATION to those who are pastors.

Because many in the body of Christ do not understand how severe these two incidents are, many people within the body are taking on THE WRONG understanding of marriage and its relationship to ministry.

For all of those in ministry and entering into ministry please know, understand, and live according to the principle that MARRIAGE TAKES THE PRIORITY OVER MINISTRY. As ministers of the gospel who are married and who are entering in marriage, we can not live contrary to this simple but great truth. Many of us will preach this truth to others and acknowledge it in our minds. But, HOW MANY OF US WILL PUT MINISTRY ON HOLD WHEN OUR MARRIAGES NEED TENDING TO?

It is my firm belief that if Randy and Paula White would have put ministry on hold to focus on the healing of their marriage, instead of trying to do both, they would not have been announcing their divorce. Please understand that though my words may appear to be harsh, I am saying them in the spirit of meekness. My wife and I will have been married 7 years on September 1st this year. I know the temptation of neglecting family in my attempts to focus on ministry first hand. But, the truth that we often forget as ministers of the Gospel and the Word of God is that IF WE DON'T FIRST SATISFY THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILY, GOD WILL NOT BLESS OR ACCEPT THE WORK WE DO IN MINISTRY.

But, many will say to that last statement in all caps, "Paula White's ministry is blessed in spite of her marriage." And my response would be, "You don't know what blessed is."

There is a great confusion in the body of Christ about what it is to truly be blessed. Many people confuse being prosperous in business with having a blessed ministry. Many people confuse having many members in a church with having a blessed ministry. Many people confuse having world-wide notoriety with being blessed. Many people confuse having a booked schedule with being blessed. What many people do not understand is that you can have ALL of these things and still not be blessed or have a blessed ministry.

For, the true blessing of God to one who is married, whether they be a minister or not, serves the purpose of the family. It NEVER undermines the family structure or causes the breakup of the family. In fact, it is the blessing of the family that causes one's ministry to be truly blessed.

For, it is marriage that is our physical representation of the relationship between Christ and the church.

Let us consider the following passage of scripture.

Eph 5:22-32 BBE Wives, be under the authority of your husbands, as of the Lord. (23) For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ is the head of the church, being himself the saviour of the body. (24) And as the church is under Christ's authority, so let wives be under the rule of their husbands in all things. (25) Husbands, have love for your wives, even as Christ had love for the church, and gave himself for it; (26) So that he might make it holy, having made it clean with the washing of water by the word, (27) And might take it for himself, a church full of glory, not having one mark or fold or any such thing; but that it might be holy and complete. (28) Even so it is right for husbands to have love for their wives as for their bodies. He who has love for his wife has love for himself: (29) For no man ever had hate for his flesh; but he gives it food and takes care of it, even as Christ does for the church; (30) Because we are parts of his body. (31) For this cause will a man go away from his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. (32) This is a great secret: but my words are about Christ and the church.


If you read all of what is written above, you will see by the words I underlined that every commandment given to the husband and wife was given in light of how Christ relates to the church and how the church relates to Christ. The secret or the mystery that most people don't understand is that marriage between husband and wife, for the believer, is the very image of the relationship between Christ and the church. THAT is the reason why those in ministry must hold their marriages high above their work in the ministry. For, if their marriage does not properly display the relationship between Christ and the church, then they have no true living testimony to back up what they are teaching and preaching.

This is why, concerning those who are to be considered to be elders/bishops in the church, Paul says the following to Titus.


Tit 1:5-6 KJVR For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: (6) If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.


The FIRST few things Paul tells Titus to look for in one who is fit for the position of bishop is being blameless, the husband of one wife, and having faithful children not accused of riot or being unruly. These are the FIRST and FOUNDATIONAL things that one MUST have in order to even be CONSIDERED for ministry as a pastor/bishop/elder. (According to the scripture's account, a pastor is both a bishop and an elder. A bishop is an elder and a pastor. They all denote the same position but they each describe a different function or aspect of the same position.)

Why is it that the scripture makes a successful family life the requirement for those who are to be in church leadership (as clearly seen in the above scriptural text), but many in the body think it is perfectly fine to follow pastors and support pastors in there moves to continue in there positions when they are NOT succeeding in family life?


Consider what the apostle Paul had to say about the importance of a successful family life as a foundation for those who are to be bishops when he wrote to Timothy.


1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach;


Once again, he also tells Timothy that a bishop MUST BE the husband of one wife. But, Paul had more to say concerning what a bishop must be later on.


1Ti 3:4-5 KJVR One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)


Do you see what is written above. This is why all of us who are in ministry must make sure that our family is taken care of if we desire to be blessed in our ministries to the church. The apostle Paul has set the standard that THE FIRST AND FOREMOST MINISTRY OF ANYONE IN MINISTRY IS TO THEIR FAMILY.

If our marriages are in shambles, then we MUST put our ministries on hold until our marriages are in such a state that they TRULY exemplify the relationship between Christ and the church.

If we fail to do this, then examples like Randy and Paula White, and Thomas Weeks III and Jaunita Bynum will be the result of such failure.

And when such failure is on display by the media to the world, the implications are so much bigger than many realize. The reason the apostle Paul made it a MUST for a bishop to be the husband of one wife is because the bishop should not only be able to testify, preach, and teach about having a fruitful relationship with Christ as a member of the church, he must also exemplify it in action and in deed. THE ONLY WAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH IS BY MEANS OF A HUSBAND LOVING HIS WIFE AS CHRIST LOVES THE CHURCH AND A WIFE SUBMITTING TO HER HUSBAND AS UNTO THE LORD. The pastor is required by the apostle Paul to not only teach by word how to love our Lord. He is also required to exemplify this in deed by means of his relationship with his wife.

When we encourage pastors to continue in their positions of leadership in the church when they are failing in their marriages, we are undermining the very standards that are put in place for leaders in the church that the scriptures themselves have established. And that is exactly what I have witnessed when reading the responses of many people who are members of Bishop Weeks' church, Pastor Randy White's church and many of the faithful followers of Paula White.

It is time that we become knowledgeable of the biblical standards for the pastors put in place in our churches, require that all those desiring the position of pastor meet them, and require that all those presently in that position meet those standards if they are to remain in those positions.

We have got a lot of work to do.


- Titus

2007-09-14 20:05:04 · 17 answers · asked by Lady B 2 in Religion & Spirituality

What do you find the most disgusting about the Latter Day Saints?

Is it the forcing of child brides that Joseph Smith started and now FLDS Mormon leader, Warren Jeffs has allowed today? Is it their devotion to their underwear? Mormons have to buy special "Mormon underwear."

While Christians and Jews are spending their time praying to God the Mormons are spending all of their time fixated on underwear. If you talk about their underwear they say you are making fun of their faith. So their faith is in underwear?

Maybe their prophets need to stay away from the children and focus their attention on what God would want them to think about!

2007-09-14 20:00:04 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

The Question is: Who are the 'Sons of God' in Genesis 6:2?

2007-09-14 19:53:59 · 20 answers · asked by becomeblackbelt 5 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-09-14 19:52:20 · 13 answers · asked by Frances P 1 in Languages

So there is this guy i like but we dont seem to be clicking...i mean we do sometimes but then others we just dont have anything to say and he gives me mixed signals and one minute i think he likes me and the next i have NO IDEA how he feels....im so confused and I don't know what to do...he is a GREAT guy and i want things to work out...i've talked to him about how i feel but he said hes not sure what he wants right now so i told him i'd give him time to figure it out...But i just hate how he gets so weird with me sometimes...i want to have fun with him and be friends for hte meantime...i dont know if i should flirt with him or how i should start convo when things are dead...i don't want to scare him away...what are some ways to hold onto this guy and get him to like me back? PLEASE give me suggestions!!!

2007-09-14 19:52:16 · 11 answers · asked by Bhow423 3 in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

2007-09-14 19:52:02 · 21 answers · asked by Granny 6 in Senior Citizens

Right now I am trying to get so tired that I sleep for 12 hours! You would think that stress would knock me out, but it can wake me up in the middle of the night and I can't get back to sleep.

2007-09-14 19:47:51 · 39 answers · asked by Granny 6 in Senior Citizens

2007-09-14 19:45:43 · 25 answers · asked by Granny 6 in Senior Citizens

Could you just state your religion and how you feel about the hot-button issues of abortion, the death penalty, genetic engineering, and stem-cell research? Don't feel inclined to elaborate, either.

Obviously, this won't be a good survey, but I'm just interested to see what everyone thinks.

Thanks

2007-09-14 19:39:18 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

somebody sent me a death threat through myspace and i need to know their IP adress. how can i get it?

2007-09-14 19:37:51 · 4 answers · asked by nickname 2 in Etiquette

According to the Bible, who should make the coffee, the husband or the wife?

2007-09-14 19:37:26 · 6 answers · asked by Friend 3 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-09-14 19:35:03 · 6 answers · asked by Asker 6 in Other - Society & Culture

2007-09-14 19:33:30 · 11 answers · asked by russell 3 in Other - Cultures & Groups

being promiscuous if one is single and not hurting anyone?
WHy wud the Bible be against that?
WHHHY { :-0

2007-09-14 19:31:04 · 13 answers · asked by Yvonne 4 in Religion & Spirituality

BTW, I'm a pagan too and am just curious to find out how many differing views there are about this amongst pagans of different paths

2007-09-14 19:28:50 · 17 answers · asked by Diane 4 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-09-14 19:25:21 · 7 answers · asked by lebeza 1 in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender

Some of the answers to the linked question differentiate between killing a criminal and 'killing' an unborn 'baby'. But, where in the Bible does it say that man should, in some instances, take the (presumably) God-given life of anyone? I thought life was sacred, and God was the arbiter? What is so unsatisfactory, to many fundies, about life imprisonment? Why the thirst for blood? And why the double standard? What about the cases where it's been proven that innocent men have been put to death? And, again, I thought one's very life was held as sacred to Christians?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiMLcCF7HHkgaCReFTp0_O7d7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20070914225703AAn2VU3

2007-09-14 19:20:30 · 8 answers · asked by /\v/\TARD 3 in Religion & Spirituality

You guys are the reason I put it there.

After realizing how badly stuffed my mailbox is from people sending me messages, such as...

"YOU SHOULD BELIEVE IN GOD, JESUS, AND THE BIBLE! IT'LL SAVE YOUR IMMORTAL SOUL!"

"lol u r stupid btch"

"Why don't you see that it's pointless to believe in such imaginary beings that you cannot prove physically exist?"

... I have decided to give out my AIM SN. I expect this to be abused from now on instead of my e-mail. Please.

R&S inspired me to do this because, quite frankly, I'm tired of looking to see when my next appointment is with my college advisor to only see three pages worth of "You have received a message from another user!"

So, what do you guys think? Good idea or bad idea?

2007-09-14 19:13:49 · 9 answers · asked by Lady Myrkr 6 in Religion & Spirituality

Like magnets on your car? CHristian clothing? Cross on the car?

Have you gotten your car keyed because you were Christian? What kind of reaction do you get, if any? Do you feel a difference having it?

2007-09-14 19:13:29 · 23 answers · asked by 2nd Commander 1 in Religion & Spirituality

Are you affected by other's death?

2007-09-14 19:08:48 · 73 answers · asked by anil m 6 in Religion & Spirituality

After all, we are a product of a mindless process.

2007-09-14 19:03:22 · 30 answers · asked by lollipop 3 in Religion & Spirituality

Really...

Did god even need to create that tree?
Did he hafta place it where she could get it?
Did he hafta allow the serpent to come into the garden?

In his "all knowing" glory did he not see any of these events coming?

Eve was set up to fail the way I see it.

This "god" likes to play games...Abraham and his kid?...ha ha bet that one made him laugh huh?

Hardening the heart of Pharaoh before mosses came to him just so he could release the plagues and not appears evil for it...what a hoot

god loves to set people up...and he loves to punish them when they enviably fail…Because he's evil

What do you think?

2007-09-14 19:02:13 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

How do I say both in Hebrew:

"Shawn, my beloved."
And
"Shawn is my beloved"

Obviously it would be a female (me) saying it to a male (Shawn).

Thanks!

2007-09-14 19:01:58 · 2 answers · asked by Anonymous in Languages

2007-09-14 19:00:38 · 34 answers · asked by atheistsarepeopletoo 1 in Religion & Spirituality

How could you relate the book of Job in the Bible to this question? Does this scripture help answer this question?

2007-09-14 18:57:32 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality

what are the signs leading up to the rapture??

2007-09-14 18:57:28 · 14 answers · asked by so_what_if_im_a_blonde 3 in Religion & Spirituality

plsz let me go back on plzs

2007-09-14 18:57:28 · 1 answers · asked by alyssa k 1 in Religion & Spirituality

2007-09-14 18:57:15 · 9 answers · asked by Riley K 1 in Religion & Spirituality

Firstly, I would like to apologive to anyone offended by a previous question of mine: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070914085515AAHipKh
Anyway, back to the question at hand:
Many Christian opponents of abortion say it is wrong because man shouldn't be allowed to 'play god' by aborting fetuses.
At the same time many Christians also say it is not for man to judge his fellow man, that is also God's job.
My question is how can you support capital punishment when it obviously contradicts those very things?
You're not only judging your fellow man, but more importantly, you are deciding his fate.
If God really wanted that person to die for his crime, would'nt He (God) have taken that person's life Himself?

2007-09-14 18:57:03 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Religion & Spirituality