For Richer or Poorer…For Better or Worse

13 Wednesday Jan 2010

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Faith and Wisdom

Tags

betrothed, Bride, Bridegroom, divorce, marriage contract, married, time-honored, unbiblical, vows

Anyone one who has been a member of a wedding party in which conventional vows are exchanged, or anyone who has been a wedding guest at a traditional marriage ceremony is no doubt familiar with the time-honored promises a man and a woman make to each other. Even though marriage is an institution ordained by God, and even though marriage should not be entered into lightly or in jest, in many cases, soon after men and women have spoken their wedding vows these promises are broken by people who would rather move on to someone else instead of staying married to their current spouse.

In this 21^st century, married couples have easily and swiftly broken their promises to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, for richer or poorer, and for better or worse. As a result, especially where Christians are concerned, divorce has become widely accepted by the institutional church as a godly way to deal with marital problems.

The truth of the matter is many Christians divorce for unbiblical reasons. Here are some of the most common unbiblical reasons (or excuses) believers use to justify getting a divorce: (1) My spouse committed mental adultery; (2) My spouse is abusive; (3) Divorce is no worse than other sins; (4) Making people stay in a ‘bad’ marriage is legalistic; (5) We serve a forgiving God who will forgive me, because He knows my heart; (6) My spouse would be happier without me; (7) I don’t have peace; (8) My spouse is a leech, draining me financially; (9) My spouse is not saved; (10) My spouse is not a good Christian; (11) We are incompatible; (12) We have grown apart; (13) My mate doesn’t love me; (14) I don’t love my mate; (15) I’ve fallen out of love; (16) I love someone else; (17) God wants me to be happy; (18) I married the wrong person; and (19) I need a drama-free marriage.

Yes, there are scriptural exceptions to God’s command to stay married. They are: (1) Matthew 19:9, sexual immorality (physical adultery); and (2) 1 Corinthians 7:15, abandonment, deserted by an unbelieving spouse. Nevertheless, even with these two scriptural exceptions, God makes it clear that He hates divorce (cf. Malachi 2:16; Matthew 19:6; Mark 10:11-12; 1 Corinthians 7:12-13). Furthermore, the fact that God would rather that His children work on their marriage instead of getting a divorce, for whatever reason(s), is made clear in 1 Peter 3:1-6.

Once more, the divine truth is that God hates divorce! This biblical truth should be very important to believers, especially since today’s believers and non-believers, when facing difficult or tumultuous marital circumstances, are not only too eager to dump their spouses but also too eager to feel that their divorce is justified. Believers, thus, need to know that, even though many of them will be tempted to divorce their other half for one, or several of the reasons previously mentioned, they must not rebel against God’s commands pertaining to the institution of marriage. If they do rebel, especially in this Rapture season, they very well could end up also walking away from their own salvation (that is to say, they will be divorcing God).

As the world’s false labor pains (Braxton Hick’s contractions) continue to increase in intensity and frequency (e.g., with catastrophes and hardships like the recent 2010 deadly Haitian earthquake or the 2009 global economic crises), it becomes more and more possible that many believers will be tempted to turn away from God, especially when He doesn’t answer their prayers the way they want. For this reason, married Christians, especially, must remember that not only are they wedded to an earthly spouse but also they are “betrothed,” spiritually speaking, to Jesus the Christ.

According to Jewish traditions, the bride and bridegroom are married during the betrothal period, but they do not live together or have sexual intercourse. To become “betrothed,” the bride (wife) must enter into a legally binding contract, which happens the very moment she accepts the bridegroom’s (husband’s) full marriage contract—his written marriage agreement, his cup of wine, and his bride price. The bride (wife) then waits at her parents’ home until her bridegroom (husband) finishes building the place where they are to live.

After the bridegroom (husband) returns from His father’s house, where he has been building the wedding chamber for his bride (wife), he gets his bride (who has remained faithful to him in his absence) and takes her home with him. Once there, they consummate their marriage and remain in their wedding chamber for seven days. When they leave their wedding chamber, they go to the banquet hall where they celebrate their marriage with invited wedding guests.

For sure, the fidelity vow between the Jewish bride (wife) and her bridegroom (husband) is just as important for today’s supernatural Bride of Christ as it was in the ancient Jewish culture. Indeed, in the past, if the “betrothed” woman broke her vows, like Mary the Mother of Jesus had been accused of doing, her fair punishment would be stoning! Even though believers are under Grace, the divine truth is that Jesus the Christ is ONLY coming back for those believers who are without spot or blemish—those believers whose WHOLE souls, spirits, and bodies have been fully sanctified (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:23). The remaining believers, along with non-believers, will have to face the wrath of God, which is the Day of the Lord or Tribulation Period.

Since the Holy Spirit’s sanctification process is progressive, then believers cannot afford to divorce God (cannot afford to not cooperate with God’s Holy Spirit by choosing to walk away from God). Believers cannot refuse to let the Holy Spirit complete His sanctification process, because if believers choose to walk away from God (divorce God) during this Rapture season, it is quiet possible that at the very moment many of them obtain their spiritual divorce the Lord might come for His Bride.

Contrary to opinions, the Parable of the Ten Virgins does illustrate what will happen to believers if they are like the foolish five virgins who do not get raptured. It should be noted here that the English word “virgins,” as used in the King James’ version of the Holy Bible, is an English translation of the Greek word parqevnoß transliterated as “parthenos.” Since “parthenos” means marriageable maidens who have never had sexual intercourse with a man, then the ten virgins (symbolic of 5 wise plus 5 foolish Christians) collectively represent the Bride of Christ. Without a doubt, the Bridegroom (Jesus the Christ) is coming back for His Bride (wise Christians who have NO spot, wrinkle, or blemish), for the Apostle Paul says that Ephesians 5:25-31 are verses that pertain specifically to a “…great mystery,” adding that this great mystery is “…an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one” (Ephesians 5:32, NLT).

Therefore, it is that supernatural or mysterious oneness, that marriage union between Jesus the Christ and His Bride that is being symbolized in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Those believers who are not ready to be counted as wise virgins, as believers who have been completely sanctified—glorified or changed into the image of Jesus the Christ—are like the five virgins who are left behind.

When Jesus the Christ leaves five virgins behind, when He shuts the door to Heaven (cf. Matthew 25:8-10; John 14:6; Revelation 3:10; Revelation 3:16, 20), He is thereby letting these five left-behind believers face the Tribulation Period! Definitely there will not be any EXCUSES that the Lord will accept from unprepared and careless believers who have divorced themselves from God by not allowing His Holy Spirit (represented by the “oil” in the aforesaid parable) to fill them so that they will have the strength and power to endure ALL circumstances, even marital situations, until Jesus the Christ comes in the clouds to rapture them.

For these reasons, Jesus the Christ (Bridegroom) is saying to believers (Bride): “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return” (Matthew 25:13, NLT). Since Creator God is believers’ Husband, Protector, and Redeemer (cf. Isaiah 54:5), they must be watchful, prepared, holy and righteous believers who remain surrendered to His beloved Son’s Lordship, in spite of whatever sickness, poverty, marital situations, or evil act they might experience.

For sure, once believers accept Jesus the Christ’s marriage contract—God’s saving grace; the Lord’s cup of blood; and His Bride’s price, which is salvation by faith in the crucified but resurrected Jesus the Christ—believers (Bride) must stay faithful to the Lord. They must keep themselves only unto Jesus the Christ for as long as they both might live, and that is eternally.

Believers (Bride) ONLY are faithful to the Lord when they are loyal to their wedding vows. Entering into a marriage contract with the Lord without seriously counting up the cost could mean that this person, or persons, might end up in a hasty divorce that has eternal implications!

See my Word Press blog entry: The Bridegroom is Coming: God’s Ultimate Marriage Story

Ready or Not, It’s Rapture Season

08 Friday Jan 2010

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Bible Prophecy

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

alert, fig tree, harpazo, Latin Vulgate, Noah's days, prepared, Rapture season, rapturo, signs of the times, Sodom and Gomorrah, spiritually discerning, watchful

The most popular argument that people worldwide use when they discuss the rapture topic is that the word “rapture” is not in the Bible. The second most popular argument is that no one knows exactly when the “rapture” will happen.

Yes, the ACTUAL word “rapture” is not in, for example, the well-liked King James Version of the Holy Bible. However, there are other English words, which English-speaking believers all over the world use, that are not in the English translations of the Holy Bible, and two of the most familiar terms are Bible and Trinity.

Where the word “rapture” and the Scriptures that pertain to believers being “caught up” or “snatched away” are concerned, the earliest Greek New Testament manuscripts used the word transliterated as harpazo, and the Latin Vulgate version of the Holy Bible, or Vulgate as it is called, used the word transliterated as rapturo. Produced by Jerome in the early 5th century, the Vulgate is a revised translation of the older Latin versions, and for many years the Vulgate was the source text used for many vernacular languages. In fact, many Latin words used in the English language have come from the Vulgate, with no change (or little change) in meaning or spelling. For example, the English language uses variations of the words apostolus, ecclesia, evangelium, angelus, creatio, salvatio, justificatio, testamentum, sanctificatio, regeneratio, and raptura (from the noun form of the verb rapiemur, which is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Then there is the no one knows exactly when the “rapture” will happen argument, which also is true. Indeed, Jesus the Christ says to: “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come” (Matthew 24:42, KJV). The Scriptures also say that He will come LIKE a thief in the night; that is, the Lord will come for His CHURCH without giving a warning. As a result, unprepared individuals will not have any time to get ready for the Lord’s sudden arrival (cf. Matthew 24:43, 1 Thessalonians 5:6, Revelation 3:3 and Revelation 16:15).

Now, even though NO ONE, not even Jesus the Christ Himself, knows when God will send the Lord back to Earth for the “catching up” or “snatching away” of those individuals who have a personal relationship with Jesus the Christ, the Lord Himself says that there will be signs of the times. Some of those definitive signs are the literal and figurative fig tree’s budding and blossoming, the symbolic lifestyles of the people living in Noah’s days, and the symbolic lifestyles of the people living in Sodom and Gomorrah during Abraham’s days. These declared signs let the prepared and watchful believers know that the Rapture season is upon them.

When eager holiday lovers prepare for their Season of Giving, they do so by dutifully putting up seasonal decorations weeks in advance, or by cheerfully buying seasonal gifts way ahead of time, or by gladly purchasing seasonal food and drinks before their special day of the Season of Giving arrives. Then too, when enthusiastic sports fans prepare for the professional football or basketball season, they do so by loyally securing season tickets in advance, or by faithfully following the current season’s statistics on their favorite team(s), or by devotedly buying their favorite team’s paraphernalia. Likewise, believers also must prepare for the Rapture season!

In Matthew 24:40-42, it is evident that Jesus the Christ is talking about the “rapture,” and in verse 43 it is obvious that He is alluding to the Rapture season by describing the actions a knowledgeable, watchful homeowner would take. Furthermore, from these previously mentioned verses, it is clear that the Lord wants to develop an analogy through which He can compare the natural diligence and vigilance that surely would come from a well-informed homeowner to the supernatural awareness and alertness of spiritually mature and fruitfully productive believers. Jesus the Christ is saying that once the homeowner knows when a burglar is going to break into his house, this “goodman” carefully and attentively waits for the expected hour the burglar is to show up, hopeful that he will be able to stop the intruder from breaking into his home.

Conversely, the Lord is saying that even though Christians do not know exactly when the Lord will come back to “rapture” them, the Holy Spirit has made them spiritually wise, knowledgeable, and faithful Temples of the Lord who can discern the signs of the times. As such, like the natural homeowner, believers must be careful to use all of the spiritual information available to them so that they too can be incessantly diligent and vigilant individuals who are “…also ready: for in such an hour as [they] think not the Son of man cometh” (Matthew 24:44). Believers not only must be ready for their Lord who is coming LIKE a thief in the night but also they must be looking forward to His soon-to-come arrival, hopeful that they will be able to stop Satan from shaking up their faith!

Finally, because there is NO biblical prophecy that needs to be fulfilled; that is, there is no major spiritual event that MUST happen before the “rapture” takes place, it is crucial for believers to know and to be looking for the signs of the times. It also is imperative for believing men and women to make sure that they are living a hopeful life—living like they are expecting their Lord to come at any moment to “catch up” His CHURCH (to return on a cloud to “rapture” them).

How Rich Are You In GOOD Works?

02 Saturday Jan 2010

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Devotional

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

economically disadvantaged, firm foundation, high society, interdependency, lower-lower, lower-middle, mutual accountability, survive, treasure

Many pastors and other spiritual leaders in today’s institutional church mistakenly think that they can be everything to everyone. The real truth is that it takes more than one person to meet the needs of every deprived church member. It also takes more than one person to meet the needs of the disadvantaged people in any community, any work environment, and so forth.

God teaches us in His Word that every believer must work together with other believers so that the needs of each person can be met. Notice what Hezekiah Walker’s choir sings in “I Need You To Survive.” They sing:

I need you; you need me. We’re all a part of God’s Body. Stand with me; agree with me. We’re all a part of God’s Body. It is His Will that every need be supplied. You are important to me. I need you to survive.

Tragically, even though there are believers who spend time with other Christians, their conversations and behaviors usually don’t reflect an interest in spiritual matters. Consequently, most of these believers rarely focus on their mutual accountability, which primarily is their responsibility to one another—the biblical interdependency that exists within the Body of Christ (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:20-21, 26). This mutual accountability is why it also is heartbreaking that, despite the fact that most Christians attend worship services or Bible studies on a weekly basis, far too many of these believers contribute very little, or nothing at all, toward the relief of the poor.

It is upsetting to see Christians turning to the world to have their needs met, instead of seeking help from Jesus the Christ’s CHURCH. However, the truth of the matter is that most needy people feel more comfortable approaching non-Christians because many non-Christians do not tend to make those in need feel poor, worthless, or lazy.

Even sadder still is it to see Christians drifting away from depending on the Holy Spirit to direct their steps. Still, although many believers know that the Holy Spirit is the One who ministers through them, where helping the needy is concerned, there are materialistically, financially, and/or spiritually “rich” believers who ignore the Holy Spirit’s “provoking,” especially when His “provoking” pertains to His accountability ministries. These “wealthy” believers conveniently decide to forget that they must be good stewards of ALL of the resources that God has given them.

Nevertheless, God’s requirement still stands. Believers, especially wealthy believers, are to do the GOOD works Jesus the Christ expects from them, which includes honoring their responsibility to help those in need. To fulfill their responsibilities, believers must use ALL of the resources that God has given them. Believers also must be careful to give abundantly out of their abundance; they must be careful to share inclusively, never overlooking anyone who is in need; and they must be careful to invest wholeheartedly not only in their own but also in other believers’ spiritual maturity and their heavenly home. These mutually shared Christian responsibilities, thus, are why the Apostle Paul specifically gives instructions to the materialistically, financially, and/or spiritually “rich” believers in the Ephesian church.

The Ephesian church consisted primarily of members from the upper-lower class to the lower-middle class, with a few lower-lower class (destitute, homeless, permanently unemployed) and upper-upper class (high society) members in the mix. The Ephesian well-to-do women and homeowners were considered the “rich church people.” Since the Apostle Paul was concerned about the spiritual state of the Ephesians who were wealthy believers, he instructs these Christians to not put their hope in this world’s wealth, because putting their trust in the world’s wealth will cause them to rely more on their own riches and accomplishments instead of relying on their God.

Indeed, Jesus the Christ makes it clear that no one can serve two masters at the same time, a saying which means that no one could serve money and God simultaneously (cf. Matthew 6:24). The Lord also implies that the security of money in the economy of His day, and in today’s economy, is uncertain. For sure, events and catastrophes, then and now, can take away a person’s worldly wealth in the amount of time that it takes the heart to beat a single heartbeat.

The inability for people to serve two masters and the uncertainty related to money, material goods, and/or worldly status are also why the Apostle Paul warns the Ephesian Christians about relying on their worldly riches and worldly status. He reminds them that their true source of life and wealth is in God and in Him alone. This divine truth is why the apostle warns the “rich” Ephesians that their reliance on their wealth and material possessions, or worldly status, is antithetical to their reliance on God.

Now, monetary gains and material wealth do have their own place in believers’ lives. It even is okay for Christians to strive for money and material possessions, but only so that they can use their wealth and worldly possessions for doing good works! In other words, believers’ Christian living must include practical expressions of generosity, as well as a willingness to share!

Therefore, because the Apostle Paul wants the “rich” Ephesians to have the right perspective on worldly wealth, he tells them that they must use their money and material possessions responsibly, explaining to them that their responsible use of their riches and worldly possessions will earn them spiritual benefits from the treasure that they “lay up” for themselves in Heaven. That is to say, their altruistic sharing and giving will prove that they have a genuine faith in God—prove that they rely on/trust in God. As a result, their generosity and willingness to share will build for them a firm foundation in the Age that is to come.

In 1 Timothy 6:19, the Apostle Paul, then, is building on Jesus the Christ’s teaching about the riches on Earth being nothing in comparison to the riches in heaven. The apostle is telling the “rich” Ephesian Christians that in order for them to be able to claim their spiritual benefits they first must form a healthy attitude of detachment toward their money, material possessions, and worldly status! Apostle Paul makes it clear that until these wealthy believers exchange their worldly riches for spiritual wealth, they will not have any practical evidence (no sharing or giving) that proves they have a new life in Jesus the Christ. Only the believers who fulfill their commitment to a mutual accountability in a caring church will demonstrate the kind of responsible behavior (the building of a firm spiritual foundation) that is representative of their unshakeable certainty in God’s divine promise that their Christian hope for an eternal life is secure.

Because much wealth has been given to just a few people, much is required of them. Moreover, where wealthy believers are concerned, God not only has given them riches but also He has provided many opportunities for these believers to do good works—opportunities that other believers will never have. For sure, it is wealthy Christians’ generosity that God uses the most when He is supplying money, goods, and other blessings to those individuals who have needs. Ultimately, when rich Christians are living a life of righteousness, patience, and love, these believers not only will recognize that they have a responsibility to stewardship but also they will be generous givers.

How rich are you in GOOD works? Are you laying up any spiritual treasure for the Age that is to come? Are you being a good steward who responsibly administers the world’s wealth that God has blessed you to have? AMEN.

“Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:19, KJV).