The Bridge

QUESTIONS FROM THE BRIDGE FOR PASTOR GENE

 

Question #1:           “I have a dear friend who happens to be homosexual.  Even though he knows my views on homosexual lifestyle, out of respect for our friendship and my love for him, should I attend his wedding?”

            ANSWER:     This is a very challenging, but relevant question! 

There is a Biblical story which sheds much light on this question:

1 Samuel 8:4-22 (KJV) ⁴ Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, ⁵ And said unto him, “make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” ⁶ But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.

 ⁷ And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. ^{8                        9} Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

¹⁰ And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. ¹¹ he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. ¹² And he will appoint him captains over thousands, ETC. ETC. (IOW…this is not wise nor best for you and your children to come!) ¹⁷ He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

 ¹⁸ And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

¹⁹ Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; ²⁰ That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

 ²¹ And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. ²² And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.

Application:  (1) Ask God what you should do?   (2) “Protest solemnly” to your good friend!  Warn him what God says and tell him the life long / generational consequences of his action!   (3) He probably will not listen (sad); (4) But, if you warn and he continues, he is “rejecting God”!  (Ezekiel 3:17-21)

Note:   Luke 7:34 says “Jesus was a friend of sinners”!  John 1:14 says And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.   Jesus went to weddings!  Jesus allowed sinners to touch Him and be in His presence, but HE NEVER SINNED.  John 8:11 says:  And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Personal Counsel / Opinion:  (1) I believe if you attend this wedding, it will be viewed as endorsing gay marriages (I Thessalonians 5:22);  (2) If your friend chooses to adopt a gay life, it is dangerous to continue fellowship with him, especially if he claims to be a Christian (1 Corinthians 5:9-13) ⁹ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: ¹⁰ Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. ¹¹ But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. ¹² For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? ¹³ But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Question #2:    “How do you know if your friends are really your friends?”    (smile)

ANSWER:     One way:  ADVERSITY!    Proverbs 17:17 (KJV) A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.   A true friend “LOVES ALWAYS”…

Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

How a person responds to adversity in your life.   A great preacher said, “A true friend is one who walks in….when all the others walk away.”

(1)   I have “friends” I have NOT seen in 30 years….and live 800 miles away, but, I could call and they WOULD do anything in their power for me…  (2) Tell about Johnny

(3) And…I have people I thought were my friends for many years and live within five minutes and have NOT heard from them in 10 years!

Question #3:        “Deuteronomy 4:41-43 says  ⁴¹ Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising; ⁴² That the slayer might flee thither, which should kill his neighbour unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live…”  Why would Moses set aside a city for criminals, when one of the 10 commandments say thou shalt not kill?

            Answer:          The key words here are the words:  “which should kill his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in times past…”  This was NOT pre-meditated murder!  That was punishable by DEATH IMMEDIATELY! 

            However, this clearly demonstrates that there is to be punishment, even if not intentional…IOW…this person is to be cut off from society forever! 

                Numbers 15:29-31 (KJV) ²⁹ Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them. ³⁰ But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. ³¹ Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.

Question #4:        “If God forgives us of our sins while we were on earth, why are we going to be judged in Heaven for them again?”

            This is a VERY GOOD QUESTION!  It demonstrates much thoughtfulness in the person who ask it!  

Answer:    (1) Christians are NOT “judged again in Heaven”.  Romans 8:1 (KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  (2) However, I think what you are confusing is “The Judgment Seat of Christ”…..where CHRISTIANS WILL RECEIVE REWARDS!  (II Corinthians 5:9-10 / I Corinthians 3:11-15)   There is MUCH difference in “loosing rewards” and “being punished”.  Our sins, as Christians, were punished on the Cross (Colossians 2:14-15).  However, our actions AFTER we are saved will determine the degree of our reward in Heaven.

Question #5:        “On the day of Rapture,  will ALL children be taken up to Heaven?”

            Another GOOD and Thoughtful question!   I do NOT believe I have ever been asked this question? 

            Answer:          (1) The Bible does NOT specifically answer this question!  Deuteronomy 29:29 (KJV) The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

There are some things God did not choose to specifically answer:  (2) Let us NEVER forget….there is only one guarantee of eternal life and that is to have entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!   1 John 5:12 (KJV) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.  John 14:6 (KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.   (3) However,

1 Corinthians 7:14 (KJV) For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.   A child with one or both parents who are devout believers have a special promise of grace from God!   David could say when his infant son died, 2 Samuel 12:23 (KJV) But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

(4) My personal opinion….The scriptures teach that God, in His omniscience, knows those who will respond to His grace, His Spirit, His Son and become born again! (Ephesians 1:4-7)  It is those who will be raptured!

Question #6:        “Can God call a woman to be a pastor?”

            Answer:          (1) All Bishops, Elders, and Deacons in the New Testament are men;  All of the guidelines for choosing Pastors and Deacons are masculine;  (2) Woman had GREAT ROLES and importance in assisting these church leaders (Romans 16:1-4);  (3) Obviously, there are many churches where women are pastors, but I am assuming this question desires to know what does the Bible teach!  1 Timothy 2:12 (KJV) But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man.  (4) Personally, I believe we are seeing the rise of women in leadership because of the lack of spirituality in men!  But, our guide should always be the Word and not the world.  It appears to me, after MUCH prayer and study, a woman can be called to any calling in the church, except pastor!

Question #7:        “What should I do if mom is a Christian, but “walking in the flesh” (carnal)?  She is stubborn and will not listen to my advise.  However, she allow her boyfriend to move in and they are living together like they are married.”

            Answer:          (1) I would examine my relationship with my mother?   Have I been respectful, obedient, loving, etc.  Ephesians 6:2 (KJV) Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)   (2) I would follow the example of Esther in Esther 4 and spend time in prayer and fasting….then I would appeal to my mother AND her boyfriend how fornication is wrong!   Hebrews 13:4 (KJV) Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.  I would appeal to them that you “want God to bless you and not JUDGE you”!  I would appeal on the basis of the Ten Commandments, that the “sins of parents are visited upon children and the blessings to those who love God and keep His commandments”.  (3) I encourage you to also read my response to Question #1 and what God told Samuel about Israel wanting a king.

Question #8:        “How do we know Christ was born on Christmas Day and died on Good Friday?”

            Answer:          (1) We DON’T know Jesus was born on Christmas Day.  This date to celebrate His incarnation was set many years after His incarnation.  I do not think it is evil to celebrate December 25^th, as long as we remember:  “JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON” and remember that we can NOT honestly say it is His birthday!   (2) His death on Good Friday is ANOTHER matter altogether!  The Messiah was a Jew and was observing the clear Old Testament prophecies for His death!  Threats were made on His life at places and times other than the PASSOVER, but it was not allowed by God.   Jesus died on day of the Passover, which we now call God Friday!  1 Corinthians 5:7 says:   For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:  Luke 22:7-8 (KJV) ⁷ Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed. ⁸ And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat.

Question #9:        “Do you have to be a member of a church?”

            Answer:          I do not know the real basis of this question?   However, I will try to answer it, exactly as it is written:   (1) No, a person does NOT have to be a member of the church to be saved or go to Heaven!   Salvation is in Jesus alone.  The thief on the cross never joined a church, but is in Heaven.  Jesus even said, in John 10:16 “I have sheep which are not of this fold”…   (2) To be an obedient Christian and to follow the teachings of the New Testament, YES…every believer should be a member of a church and involved in a New Testament church.  (BTW…it is more than just “being a member”, but an “active member”!  (3) Acts 2:40-47 clearly tells us that the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost and established the first church, those who got saved, got baptized, and BECAME ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH!  (4) Christians are told submit to pastor (Hebrews 13:17).  (5) Christians are told to “bring tithes and offerings” to the church on Sunday (I Corinthians 16:2); (6) I Corinthians and Ephesians describe the church as a BODY where each MEMBER has a part or role;  (7) Ephesians 5:25 says Jesus loved the church…etc.

Active involvement in a New Testament church will give information, fellowship, and opportunity for spiritual lives that nothing else can.  There are NO perfect churches nor pastors, but the Holy Spirit will teach you how “to test the spirits” and “by their fruits ye shall know them.”

Question #10:                      “What does a Proverbs 31 woman look like?”

            Answer:          1) Virtuous (vs. 10 / 29);   2) Loyal and Valuable to her husband (vs. 11-12 / 28);  3) Wise (14 / 16a /26a);  4) Hard worker / Diligent (13b / 15a / 16b / 17 / 19); 5) A planner (organized / wise shopper) (14 / 21-22); 6) Takes care of her family and employees (15 / 21 / 27); 7) Confident / good self esteem (18); 8) Kind (20 / 26b); 9) Well dressed (22); 10) Sees that her husband dresses appropriately (23);  11) She contributes to the family finances (24); 12) Fears God (30); 13) Good reputation (31b);   14) Contrary to the world’s standards…IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH OUTWARD BEAUTY OR FAME (30)…