[Biblemat] David's great idea vs. God's standard of right and wrong...The Creation Museum

Sat Sep 1 14:10:08 CDT 2007

 Jerry Blount to the list....

I have been out of pocket for nearly a month.  So, it's time to get back to
work!   This  posting will have two topics. One short, one long.

1)  The new creation museum in Kentucky. Well, I went there.  

 Their website is  http://www.creationmuseum.org/ 

            I wish to say this one carefully. I fully support their effort.
I also heartily recommend that folks take their kids there.  The
presentation is great. 

However, it is not a museum. It is more of a presentation. The number of
"real" artifacts is negligible.  They did a good job of providing a
demonstrated alternative to the explanations given through the
evolutionist's religious stranglehold on our education system.  

Again, I do recommend it as a family outing.  I was pleased with what they
chose to display.  I was also pleased with the "questionable" artifacts that
they avoided.  It is however really false advertising to call it a museum.
It is mostly a collection of reproductions, not fossils.  Unfortunately, the
government museums have a stranglehold on both the artifacts, and the
information. 

 This "museum" sets parents free from some of that stranglehold.   I
therefore, consider this "museum" to be a positive development. I also think
it was well worth the admission.  The lines were horrible! 

2)  Today's article. David's great idea vs. God's standard of right and
wrong.  

After our last email dealing with the reader's question over "Contemporary
services". I had several requests to explain a portion of a remark (and an
experiment) proposed in that article. 

Here is the portion of my last article that we'll look at today, and delve
into further.

"How can you tell the difference between a "good" idea and a "bad" idea.
The bottom line is that they have not asked these questions for so long they
have forgotten that the Bible literally gives you the questions to ask.  

What questions?      That's the problem!

This ignorance is the most obvious failing of a congregation, and it's
leadership.  Let me propose another experiment.  If you are in one of these
liberal congregations go up to your elders/bishops/pastors (in the Bible
these are the same person).   Now, ask them to show you in the bible where
to find God's questions to determine right and wrong.  Ask for one passage
to give you a basis to determine if something like this is a good idea. or
straight from the devil's heart!  

If your elders can show you an appropriate passage.. You should walk away
with three or four basic principled statements/questions from the Mouth of
God.  If they can't. they are unfit as elders! "

Now the obvious question. how many of you did this?  How many of you can do
what is referenced above?  How do you prepare your grandkids to tell the
difference between a good idea and a "liberal" innovation that destroys
Jesus' headship of His own church? 

Within the kingdom of our heart . Is Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of
Lords? 

In the article that follows, I'll provide you with a method that came
straight from the Lord God.

He is supposed to be our King, Let's let Him lead us through this question.

You might note that this article is actually a lesson from my personal Bible
study series that I use to teach folks how to use the Bible to answer their
questions and to help them to lead themselves to the God who created them.

Note: many of you on this list have already seen this article.  I posted it
about a year ago  but I can't remember which groups I posted it on...  so
please bear with the repeat.  How to tell right from wrong in a "God
directed" manner is worth repeating. wouldn't you agree? 

When you work the study below. you'll be left with three simple questions to
determine right vs. wrong in the service of God.

Jerry Blount

Pleasant Valley church of Christ

3317 Amidon rd. 

Wichita Kansas, 67204

3163204321

WWW.letJesusleadus.org

David's great idea vs God's standard of right and wrong...

Learn Your Bible

Lesson #12

          We have journeyed through the scriptures noting both the
comfortable and the uncomfortable subjects indiscriminately.  We have seen
the followers of God at their best and at their worst.

          The obvious intent of studying the scriptures is to learn the ways
of God and better our lives by application of this knowledge.

          How may we answer the questions of life and godliness that may
come up in the future?  The times and seasons do change, as do the fine
points of the questions before each generation.  I note the "fine points"
because the underlying basic questions remain the same.

          We live in a time that society as a whole is paying the price for
experimenting with, (rejecting) the laws of God.  Often the results are
interlocking.  For example... it is illegal to teach that God created the
world.  Our children are taught in the schools that they are in the image of
an ape. The result?  A generation has arisen that believes they are animals,
so they act like it!  Discipline is also out of style (lesson 13).    We
didn't lock up enough criminals...therefore it wasn't long before we were
unable to build prisons fast enough for the ones we (suddenly) recognized
needed to be locked up.

          Many churches have lost faith in the appeal of gospel (salvation
from sin).  Now many promote their childcare above their worship.  The
prowess of their sports team is promoted above the level of their Bible
study.

The church has been torn by a group of people deciding to go beyond
scripture. If God didn't forbid them outright to do something they charge
full steam ahead!  We will soon be having sermons picturing Jesus hanging on
the cross and dying for the sake of our children.  That sounds great doesn't
it?  Dying to establish free childcare and a Church of Christ ball team! 

          No it doesn't sound good. This behavior undermines the seriousness
of sin and the incredible price paid to establish the church.  Today
conservative Christianity is ridiculed on all fronts. That's ok, "if God is
for us who can be against us?"

Note the incident below.  David came up with a good idea in the service of
God.  He wanted to build the temple. God asks David the questions we should
also ask.  The ones David didn't ask or forgot to ask.  

Let's see. Should the church have a drinking fountain, a parking lot, a
choir, instrumental music, a central organization, a pope, head elder, women
preachers or elders, baseball team, garage sale, fund-raiser, schools, day
care, operate like a bank, business, etc.  A local Christian church had a
carnival recently!   Pick any subject and make the choice. you can answer
with tradition we've always done it, what you want, or what God wants.  

The Episcopals have decided to have "gay" priests because it's what they
want.  Can we say anything if we make our decisions in the same way (albeit
on a smaller scale)? Do you have the courage to ask God's questions?  It's
somewhat difficult to take issue with the list of questions below. if you
believe that the Bible is the word of God.   

Let's ask the questions God asked. and see if we have the courage to
implement the answers before our great grandkids ordain "gay" elders in the
Church of Christ!

2 Samuel 7

1.     Now it came about when the king lived in his house, and the LORD had
given him rest on every side from all his enemies,

Note, this has always been the time of greatest danger for the people of
God. during times of rest, with no defined enemy.  That's when we have
always had the big ideas and better ways to serve God. 

2.     that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a
house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells within tent curtains."

This really is a good idea, and sound reasoning isn't it?  How can David
keep a straight face and dwell in a house of cedar? How is it a good thing
that God doesn't have the same things going for Him that the people of the
world have?

3.     Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your mind, for the
LORD is with you."

This is not a question of the godliness of the men involved.  Two godly men
have evaluated this "good idea" and it sounds great!  Sound familiar? This
is how the church got a ball team! This is how we got an organ! And if we
keep on, it is how we'll embrace homosexuals. right now it's offensive but
if we keep on "not judging" what God has judged. we'll soon arrive!

4.     But in the same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying,

The crucial mistake here is that both men forgot to ask God for His opinion
before they decided this was a good idea!  Did your church ask God before
they built a kitchen?  (I Corinthians 11:22  "What! Do you not have houses
in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame
those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this
I will not praise you.") God has given His opinion! He has also given his
opinion on women preachers, and elders (I Timothy 1:12.  But I do not allow
a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.)

5.     "Go and say to My servant David, 'Thus says the LORD, "Are you the
one who should build Me a house to dwell in?

When did we decide the church shouldn't ask this question?  God obviously
wants us to ask, "Is this the church's job?"  Should the church have a
hospital, ball team, choir, or an "in-house" restaurant? Sometimes the
answer is yes. Sometimes no. God demands that we ask!

6.     "For I have not dwelt in a house since the day I brought up the sons
of Israel from Egypt, even to this day; but I have been moving about in a
tent, even in a tabernacle.

Note that God is not bothering to ask a question here. He is making a
statement to the effect that you have no example.  Based on this statement I
would note that we should ask the question,  "Do we have and approved
example to base our authority on?"  Did the church of the NT set up a
central bank. Like the Roman Catholics have?  Can one congregation hold the
deed for (rule over) another congregation?

7.  "Wherever I have gone with all the sons of Israel, did I speak a word
with one of the tribes of Israel, which I commanded to shepherd My people
Israel, saying, 'Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?' "' 

God is asking question #3.  "Did I ask for this?"  This is obviously the
same as asking for a direct command.

Note the implied law of silence kicking in here.  We could look further into
Hebrews 7 for this to be spelled out.    When God asks question #3 if the
answer is "no." doesn't it mean something?  Doesn't it mean "leave it
alone?"

8.  "Now therefore, thus you shall say to My servant David, 'Thus says the
LORD of hosts, "I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be
ruler over My people Israel.

9.  "I have been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your
enemies from before you; and I will make you a great name, like the names of
the great men who are on the earth.

10.            "I will also appoint a place for My people Israel and will
plant them, that they may live in their own place and not be disturbed
again, nor will the wicked afflict them any more as formerly,

God is kind here.  He loves David but the point is none the less clear. Be
happy with the lot in life that God gave you.  The church is not the
government!  It is not the world's welfare agency.  It is not the family
("church must not be burdened, so that it may... I Timothy 5:18).  Note that
God is asking the same things anti's ask.  This refusal to ask and answer
God's questions. has allowed the churches to go in directions that have to
be appalling to God.  For example. entertainment, carnivals etc!

11.  even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel;
and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The LORD also declares to
you that the LORD will make a house for you.

David, you have been walking on God's turf. God wants to make a house for
you, not you make a house for God.  This reminds me of the apostle Paul's
comment  (For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM?
But we have the mind of Christ. I Corinthians 2:16).  We find ourselves
trying to lead or teach God rather than the other way around.  

 12.  "When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I
will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I
will establish his kingdom.

 13.  "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne
of his kingdom forever.

14.  "I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits
iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons
of men,

This is perhaps the most important reference for us in our day and time.
God does want the temple built.  It is a good work.  These two godly men are
right about seeing the need for the work.  God just wants someone other than
them to do it.   God is God! God has the right to make His decisions.  Can
we learn to be content with God's decisions?  Can we learn to allow Him to
lead?  It is this question that led to all the division in the kingdom.  It
is the answer that we give to this question that has caused people to
blindly follow along generation after generation, each moving further and
further from the truth!  If it is someone else's job other than the church
who are we to question? Not every job belongs to the church!

 15.  but My loving kindness shall not depart from him, as I took {it} away
from Saul, whom I removed from before you.

 16.  "Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your
throne shall be established forever.""'

 17.  In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan
spoke to David.

Tragically gone are the days when men of God open their Bibles to answer all
these questions.  This principle is in fact how we find ourselves refusing
to speak where God has spoken. Because we have refused to observe His
silence where He was silent!

 18.  Then David the king went in and sat before the LORD, and he said, "Who
am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? (
Indeed! Who am I?  Or who are you? If God speaks, or doesn't!)

 19.  "And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, for You have
spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And
this is the custom of man, O Lord GOD.

 20.  "Again what more can David say to You? (Amen!  What more can we say?)
For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD!

21.  "For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have
done all this greatness to let Your servant know.

God has let us know the critical question is whether we will listen.  You
can find the same principles of authority in Acts 15, although they are not
spelled out as clearly.  This observation is important because we live under
the NT.  The underlying principles of authority in the service of another
(God in this case) are timeless, however. 

Good ideas (regardless of who comes up with them) must be questioned on a
logical basis.  1) Are you (the church etc) "the one for this job (the one
who should)? 2) Did the NT church do this (example) 3) Did God ask for it
(speak a word)?  If the answer is no. be satisfied with what He has said!
God may want a good work done. by someone else (a bank for example). When
God has made His decision what more can we say. but thank God for letting us
know!

"Come and eat our chicken in the fellowship hall" rather than "as newborn
babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby" (I
Peter 2:2).

          It is easy to throw rocks.  We must avoid living in a glass house.
"You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?"  (Romans
2:21)  Looking to the future, let's make an incident from our past our focal
point for this study.  Please Read II Sam 7 & I Chronicles 17:1-18.  

1)  Today no one is openly persecuting Christians (in this part of the
world)  II Sam 7:1   How is this similar to our story? _______ 

______________________________

2)  What particular dangers do wealth and peace hold?  I Chronicles 17:1
____________________________________________________________________________
______________

3)  Were David and Nathan both godly men?_______ Were they seeking to do
"great things" for God? ___________________________

4)  What "new thing" did they think needed done? _____________
_______________________________________________________

5)  What does God actually want of us? Rom 12:1,2______________
______________________________________________________

6)  What did God say to them?  I Chronicles 17:3-6
________________________________________________________

7)  When dealing with the future questions of life, is it appropriate to ask
"did God say we can't?" ____________Is it just as appropriate to ask "did
God say we should?"__________________ Did David ask whether HE should?
________________

8)  Is there a difference between the questions of "Can we" and "Should we"?
_________________________________

9)  Previous to David and Nathan deciding to build the temple had God
forbidden anyone to build a temple for Him? ______________

9a)  When did God say they couldn't build the temple? __________

10)  When will our next revelation from God come?  Jude 3, Revelation
20:11-15 , Revelation 22:18-19_____________________ b)  Can we afford to
wait until then to find out if God approves of our actions and innovations?
___________________________________

11)  What question does God himself ask of David & Nathan?             I
Chronicles 17:6,  II Samuel 7:7 _____________________________

12)  What New Testament promise is made to us? II Timothy 3:16,17
_______________________________________________________

b) Key in on the comment about scripture completely furnishing us.  If we
want to establish a "Church of Christ" daycare, where should we be able to
find the instructions?  ___________________________

c)  If those instructions are not found in scripture and we believe this is
the work of the church and proceed anyway. What are we saying about Paul's
promise?  ________________________________

13)  According to Jesus, (in the judgment) What will be the failure of the
majority of those claiming the name of Christ?  Matthew 7:21-29
________________________________________________________

14)  Did God want the temple to be built?  I Chronicles 17:11-14
________________________________________________________

15)  Does God care about when things are done?  Galatians 4:4
________________________________________________________

16)  Does when it is done, affect whether God approves of it?  Acts 19:1-5
____________________________________________

17)  Does God care about who does a thing? __________________

18)  Is it appropriate to first ask if a thing needs to be done, then to ask
who should do it? _________________________________________

19)  In addition to being godly men & knowledgeable men, David and Nathan
were also both _________________________.

20)  What was their one failure in considering this matter? _____
________________________________________________________

          Each generation must ask and answer the question of how may I best
serve God and find the abundant life offered by Jesus Christ.  (John 10:10)
"If a man love me, he will keep my words and my Father will love him and we
will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14:23)

          "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I
have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love.  These things
have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, that your joy might
be full."  (John 15:10-11).

          As we come to grips with all the unknowns that might arise we will
do well to rely on Jesus' promise and warning "I am the way the truth and
the life.  No one cometh to the Father but by me."  John 14:6

          What is the will of God for you?  In this life... "Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter; fear God, and keep His commandments; For
this is the whole duty of man.  For God shall bring every work unto judgment
with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

In conclusion, let me note a couple of random things. 

Did you know that at one point.the majority of "God's people" decided it was
a good thing to literally burn their babies in sacrifice in devotion to God?
What is the craziest thing you have ever heard of. done in the name of God?
That is the nuttiest thing I have ever heard of . but how could you use the
above stated principles to explain what was wrong with this insanity?  That
was the task God gave to one generation of His people.  They actually
failed! 

Today we live in a world where the churches are headed backwards, morally.
These are the principles that will save us.  Do we remember them well enough
to use and teach them?

For the record this study in from the OT, we live under the NT.  Once you
are aware of these principles however, you will be able to spot the Apostles
using these same principles as a given.  They are clearly stated in the OT
then used in the NT.  This is one place OT and NT are in perfect sync with
one another. 

Yours in Christ 

Jerry Blount

Minister for 

Pleasant Valley church of Christ

3317 Amidon rd. 

Wichita Kansas, 67204

3163204321

WWW.letJesusleadus.org

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