Doctrinal Discourses

Question: Is Matthew 19:9 a part of New Testament doctrine?

I suppose there is not a subject anymore misunderstood and twisted than the biblical doctrine of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage. Marriage, the oldest institution created by God and is the basic foundation of society (Gen. 2:22-24). This sacred union is described by the apostle Paul as "honourable" (Heb. 13:4). Words from the very lips of Jesus instruct us concerning our responsibility to this covenant when he declared, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery" (Mat. 19:9).

This inspired passage (2 Tim. 3:16-17) has come under much scrutiny by brethren, many of whom have even attempt to place this text back under the "law of Moses”! The reasoning goes something like this; since Jesus spoke these words while He was alive they must be part of the Old Testament since He had not died yet. This unwarranted doctrine causes much turmoil to her advancers. First, how do they deal with Matthew 18, wherein Jesus gives teaching regarding how to handle an offense between brethren within the church? The church of Christ did not exist in the Old Testament, separate and apart from the mind of God (Eph. 3:10). It is obvious that Jesus was simply giving future inspired instruction to serve the church that was yet future in existence. Secondly, are we to conclude that all Bible passages that were spoken and or recorded before the death of Jesus belong under the Law of Moses? If so, that would cause insurmountable problems in proper hermeneutics of the Bible. If you have a comment on this subject we want to hear from you!

Brant

Sowing the Seed of the Kingdom

I often hear people bemoan the fact that the church today is not growing “like it did in the 40’s and 50’s.” The question is then asked, “How can we restart the fire that once burned within our bosom?” Listen to the apostle Paul as he describes his passion in Ephesus: "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,... Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:20, 26-27).

Far too many spiritual farmers (1 Cor. 3:9) desire fruit without the cultivation (Jer. 1:10). Some curse the soil (Luke 8:12-14), others chastise the method of the sower (Luke 8:5), while others alter the seed (Luke 8:11). The sower, seed and soil must work in harmony if the fruit is to be brought to perfection.

Needed Principles:

1. An old-fashion work ethic applied to the church.
2. A strong sense of ethics and morality.
3. An aggressiveness with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
4. Saturation with the gospel.

This method of saturation was first brought to my attention by a missionary in Wyoming of whom I learned a great deal from regarding evangelism.

Time's Creator Gets Less & Less

Average Person lives 77 years. That is 28,000 days, 670,000 hours and 40,000,000 minutes. How does he spend his time?

• Telephone* (40 minutes each day, 20 hours per month, 10 days per year, 2 years in a lifetime).


• Bathroom (1 hour each day, 20 hours per month, 15 days per year, 3 years in a lifetime).


• Getting dressed (26 minutes each day, 13 hours per month, 7 days per year, 1 year in a lifetime).


• Television (3 hours per day, 90 hours per month, 45 days per year, 9 years in a lifetime).

The great apostle Paul admonished his brethren in Ephesus to make sure that they were "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16). Matthew Henry wrote, "redeeming the time (v. 16), literally, buying the opportunity. It is a metaphor taken from merchants and traders who diligently observe and improve the seasons for merchandise and trade." American merchants have created a mass frenzy starting the Friday after Thanksgiving and running well into January the next year. It is our hope to create that same frenzy among Christians in Fort Worth for June 8-14, 2007. Join us in redeeming the time.

Thanks,

Brant & Rick

* These numbers do no include teenage daughters.