Games People Play With God-Part 1 by Jerry Vinson
Gospel Anchor On-Line Edition (http://www.gospelanchor.com)
People, myself included, have a fascination with sports and
games. I must admit that my interest has faded over the past two
decades, but I still enjoy watching and participating in various
sports and games. Sports and games are enjoyable, but my life
could go on just as well without them. There really are more important
things in life. Kept in their proper place, games can be fun and
harmless. There is a danger, however, when people start playing
spiritual games with God. Consider a few popular games that people
are playing.
Balderdash
"Balderdash" is a board game that I enjoy playing.
The object is to define a selected word if you know its meaning.
If you don't know the definition, you make one up in hope that
others will choose your redefined meaning.
The apostle Peter commanded, "If any man speaks, let him
speak as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11). Based upon this
Scripture, I have heard numerous faithful preachers, past and
present, exhort people to "Call Bible things by Bible names!"
- that is, to "speak as the oracles of God." I exhort
people today to do the same.
Many do not follow this sound principle given by Peter so long
ago. Bible words are often redefined, resulting in inaccurate
biblical concepts and teaching that is contrary to God's revealed
word. Men are playing spiritual "Balderdash" with God's
word.
"Baptize" means to "immerse, plunge, submerge,
or dip." Consult any reputable Greek lexicon or dictionary
to verify this. Baptism involves going into water, being buried
in the water, and coming up out of the water (Acts 8:38-39; Romans
6:3-4). Today, some use the word "baptize" to mean sprinkling
or pouring water on a person. This is not biblical - it's spiritual
"Balderdash."
"Church" refers to the body of saved people whom the
Lord has "called out" of sin. We read, "And the
Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved"
(Acts 2:47). The church of Jesus Christ is composed of every saved
Jew and Gentile (Ephesians 2:1-22). Today, many people refer to
a physical building or to worship itself as "church"
- "That building is the _______ church.." Or, "I'm
going to church." Others use the word as an adjective to
describe a home - "I'm looking for a church home." This
is not biblical - it's spiritual "Balderdash."
"Fellowship" is a spiritual union and partnership that
exists between God and His people as they work together towards
common spiritual goals. Those who embrace and follow the apostolic
doctrine have "fellowship with us (the apostles, JDV); and
truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus
Christ" (1 John 1:3). Today, most people refer to eating,
visiting, and social events as "fellowship." Religious
groups often advertise worship / praise services followed by "fellowship"
(eating / recreation) in their "fellowship" hall (eating
/ recreational facility). This isn't biblical - it's spiritual
"Balderdash."
Also, it is becoming more common to hear the term "fellowship"
used synonymously with the term "church." For example,
a Baptist church in my community is called "New Hope Fellowship
- A Fellowship of Faith." Another churcch in my community
calls itself "Trinity Fellowship." And then there is
the newest church - "Grace Through Faith Fellowship."
This is not biblical - it's spiritual "Balderdash."
Sinners who believe on Jesus Christ are commanded to "repent
and be baptized...for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38).
Once saved, these are added to Christ's "church," or
body (Acts 2:47; Eph 1:22-23). They are then spiritually united
in "fellowship" with God and His people (1 John 1:3).
This is biblical - not "Balderdash."
"Adultery" is another word that should be understood.
"Adultery" is a sexual sin. It is committed when a person,
male or female, who has been bound by law in reference to a husband
or wife, engages in sexual intercourse with one other than that
spouse to whom God has joined them.
Some have redefined "adultery" to mean "the act
of divorcing and marrying another." According to that line
of reasoning, the man who looks upon a woman to lust after her
must be thinking about divorcing his wife and marrying the woman
for whom he is lusting (Matthew 5:28). And Peter must be referring
to men who have eyes full of divorcing their wives and marrying
another, that cannot cease from sin (2 Peter 2:14). And the Pharisees
apparently caught a woman in the very act of divorcing her husband
and marrying another man (John 8:3-4). "Adultery" is
not the act of divorcing and marrying another - that is spiritual
"Balderdash."
In the book of Hosea, Gomer, the wife of Hosea, turned out to
be an adulteress while they were married. I seriously doubt that
anyone believes she was "divorcing and marrying another"
while she and Hosea were married. Following her persistent adultery,
Hosea put her away; divorced her. We read, "Bring charges
against your mother, bring charges; for she is not my wife, nor
am I her husband. Let her put away her harlotries from her sight
and her adulteries from between her breasts" (Hosea 2:1).
Observe that Gomer's "adulteries" took place "between
her breasts." "Adultery" is clearly a sexual sin.
"Adultery" can also continue to be committed after the
"adulteress" has been put away. Hosea 2:1 states, in
regard to Hosea and Gomer, "she is not my wife, nor am I
her husband." In Hosea 3:1, Hosea is told by the Lord, "Go
again, love a woman who is loved by a lover and is committing
adultery..." Observe, "She is not my wife," (2:1)
and she "is committing adultery" (3:1). "Adultery"
is a sexual sin that can take place after the adulteress has been
put away from her husband and before she marries another man.
"Adultery" is clearly a sexual sin. This is biblical
- not "Balderdash."
[Editor's Note: Bro. Vinson will continue this series of articles
all month.]
PSALM 119-Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
HE. (Ps 119:33-40).
[33-38. To encourage us in prayer for divine aid in adhering
to His truth, we are permitted to believe that by His help we
shall succeed.]
33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes [that is, the way
or manner of life prescribed by them. The help we hope to obtain
by prayer is to be the basis on which our resolutions should rest.];
and I shall keep it unto the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall
observe it with my whole heart.
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein
do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
37 Turn away mine eyes [literally, "Make my eyes to pass,
not noticing evil."] from beholding vanity [literally, "falsehood;"
all other objects of trust than God; idols, human power, &c.
(Ps 31:6; 40:4; 60:11; 62:9).]; and quicken thou me in thy way.
[Make me with living energy to pursue the way marked out by Thee.
Revive me from the death of spiritual helplessness (Ps 119:17,
25, 40, 50; 116:3).]
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.
[or better, "which (that is, Thy word) is for Thy fear,"
for producing it. "Which is to those who fear Thee."
God's word of promise belongs peculiarly to such (compare Ge 18:19;
1Ki 2:4; 8:25) (HENGSTENBERG).]
[39, 40. Our hope of freedom from the reproach of inconsistency
is in God's power, quickening us to live according to His Word,
which He leads us to love.]
39 Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.
[The time must therefore be at hand when Thy justice will turn
the "reproach" from Thy Church upon the world (Isa 25:8;
66:5; Zep 2:8-10).]
40 Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy
righteousness.
Short Exhort - Written and/or Compiled by David J. Riggs
(http://www.public.usit.net/driggs/)
"But if you do not do so, then take note, you have sinned against the LORD; and be sure your sin will find you out." (Num. 32:23)
A wealthy widower deeded all his property to an only son and his wife on the condition that he would be allowed to live in the country with them for the rest of his life. After a few years, when the inheritance had been spent, the daughter-in-law got tired of having the elderly gentleman around and told her husband he would have to leave. The son agreed and broke the news to his father. A short time later he and the feeble old man walked down the dusty road to a state- supported home for senior citizens. Being very unsteady on his feet, the father finally asked if he could rest for a few moments on a sawed-off stump to regain his strength for the last mile of the journey. As he sat there, he suddenly put his head in his hands and began to sob. The son, pricked in his conscience, tried to make excuses. Finally his dad controlled himself enough to say, "I'm not crying so much because I'm going to this lonely home for the poor and unfortunate. I'm weeping because of my own sins. Forty years ago, I walked down this road with my father and brought him to the very same place. I am now seeing the results of the evil deeds I have sown!"
Let us do to others, as we would have them do to us.
PARTING THOUGHT
The best index to a person's character is [a] how he treats people
who can't do him any good, and [b] how he treats people who can't
fight back.
---Abigail Van Buren