Category: Ethics

“Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22 KJV).

Based upon this verse, it would appear that we’re supposed to abstain, not just from evil, but also from even the appearance of evil. But that’s not what Paul meant. This is a mistranslation in the Kingdom James Version.

Every Form not Appearance

Almost all other translations translate this as the New Revised Standard Version Updated Version does, “abstain from every form of evil.”

For example, it is translated exactly the same in the American Standard Version, the New King James Version, the Berean Study Bible, the English Revised Version, the World English Bible, the New American Standard Bible, the Legacy Standard Bible, the Amplified Bible, the New Heart English Bible, and the Worrell New Testament.

Bible Commentaries

As Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers explains:

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” –This translation cannot stand. Possibly it might be rendered “every form of evil,” but the most natural version would be, “Hold yourselves aloof from every evil kind”–i.e., evil kind of whatever you may be testing.”

Whereas the pulpit commentary explains:

“The word translated “appearance” has been differently rendered; it denotes form, figure, species, kind; so that the clause is to be rendered, “Abstain from all form of evil” (R.V.), or, “of the evil,” the word being an abstract substantive.”

The biblical term for love is agape. It is not a feeling it’s an act of the will. It is choosing the highest good of another solely on their intrinsic value.

Therefore, God is to be loved infinitely, and his good sought first and foremost. And our neighbor’s good is to be sought equally with our own good, because we are all of equal value.

There’s actually a whole sermon just in that definition itself. All humans are of equal value according to Jesus. That’s why we’re supposed to love our neighbor as ourselves. And a neighbor is simply someone who is near enough to do good to.

The Love Chapter

In order to understand love, from the biblical perspective, let us look at what is called the love chapter. I’ll be using the Amplified Bible for this short commentary on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

“Love endures with patience and serenity” (verse 4).

Of course this is dealing with other people. Love endures with patience and serenity, not only life circumstances, but interactions with other humans.

“Love is kind and thoughtful” (verse 4).

There surely is not enough kindness in the world. And few people nowadays are thoughtful. Unfortunately. Most people are inconsiderate and do not think about how their actions affect others.

I will give you an example. I don’t know how many times I’ve been at work, and somebody will be blaring their phone with their favorite music. I don’t listen to secular music, and I don’t enjoy listening to someone else’s music. It is unthoughtful.

“[Love] is not jealous or envious” (verse 4).

To be jealous means that you wish the other person didn’t have what they got. To be envious means to want what the other person has. The best way to be unhappy is to never be satisfied with what you have.

“Love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant” (verse 4).

A person wrapped up in themselves makes a very small package. Love is about an open heart, not a closed heart. Love is about putting other other persons first, not oneself.

How often I see, even preachers, bragging. The truth is, if we do something good, all credit should go to God. If we do something bad, all blame should be put upon ourselves.

“[Love] is not rude” (verse 5).

If you’re being rude to another person, know that you’re not being loving. And furthermore, you’re not being God-like. Holiness is about being all loving.

“[Love] is not self-seeking” (verse 5).

The opposite of sin is love. Sin is self-seeking. Love is not self-seeking. The law is love, therefore, the breaking of the law is self-seeking. It’s putting our interest before God’s and others.

“[Love] is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]” (verse 5).

How often we are easily provoked, overly sensitive, and too quick to get upset. I confess, I still have work to do. How about you.

I’m a tender heart, so I tend to be overly sensitive. Things that would not bother. Some people, bother me. But I’ve learned that to be bothered means self is still there, alive and well.

“[Love] does not take into account a wrong endured” (verse 5).

Unforgiveness is taking into account a wrong one has suffered. It is holding that against the person. Love does not do that. Love forgives. Forgiveness means not holding it against them any longer.

“[Love] does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]” (verse 6).

Love does not rejoice when Injustice prevails. This especially applies to those that are immigrants, strangers, and those we disagree with. Injustice is not limited to what affects us, but it includes what affects others. Especially the marginalized.

“Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]” (verse 7).

Love looks for the best in each person. It doesn’t ignore the negative, but it looks for the positive. And tries to bring out the best in every person. Because there is, a potentiality in everyone for good.

Love bears all things regardless of what comes. He remains steadfast during difficult times. And it endures difficulties without weakening. Love never fails

“You have not strengthened the weak; you have not healed the sick; you have not bound up the injured; you have not brought back the strays; you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them” (Ezekiel 34:4).

Tens of millions of American Christians are embracing a charismatic movement known as the New Apostolic Reformation. It aims to eliminate the secular state. It is a powerful version of Christian nationalism, and it is deeply anti-Christian.

The New Apostolic Reformation wants to “force” fundamentalist Christianity on the American people, and ultimately the world. It wants to usher in the kingdom of God by force.

Apostles Never Ceased

It mistakenly thinks that the apostles died out. They did not. Their authority in the church was taken up by the bishops, and their ministry was taken up by the missionaries. Missionaries do what apostles used to. They’ve never ceased.

Dominionism

Two equally and dangerous ideas are found in the New Apostolic Reformation. The first is dominionism, which is the idea that Christians should take dominion over society. Why wait from Jesus to return, they believe we should take over the government now.

Of course, fundamentalist Islam believes a similar thing. They want to take over a nation and impose Shira law. But if Muslims tried to do that in the United States, Christians would be going crazy. But it’s okay for Christians do the same thing. I don’t think so.

Of course, dominionism is both anti-christian and ant–American. The American forefathers created this nation as a secular nation, separating church and state. Because they were smart enough to know the dangers of the marriage of religion and government. Christians today are not so smart.

Theocracy

The second dangerous idea is theocracy. It literally means a government ruled by God through his chosen ones. Of course, the New Apostolic Reformation believes that they are the chosen ones. They know what’s best for us. They are the anointed the elite, the master race.

If that doesn’t send chills down your spine, you clearly don’t remember the history of the Nazis. It is the same old lie that the devil has offered, not only to Jesus, but also to his followers (Matt. 4).

If you learn nothing from the history of the Roman Catholic Church, you should realize that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And once the New Apostolic Reformation apostles take over authority of the government, all other viewpoints will be persecuted.

Charismatic

I consider myself a Charismatic Christian. I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are still operative today. But I don’t believe that these gifts should ever be used in a governmental setting to rule over others. The gifts of the Spirit offer the edification of the body of Christ, not for governing other people. (1 Cor. 12)..

Having been in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movement for my entire Christian life, I can tell you that most confuse emotions with spirituality. What they claim is the Spirit of God is not. It is simply emotional highs.

They worked themselves up into an emotional state, and mistakenly think it’s a spiritual state. It is not. And if they were more educated in the mystics, they would know this. But they are not. Spirituality does not deal with emotions, it deals with awareness. Spirituality is about deepening and broadening one’s awareness of Reality.

Progressive Christianity

“As Progressive Christians we seek to distinguish ourselves from and denounce those who would use the name of Christ to take away the rights of LGBTQ+ people, immigrants, people of color, prisoners, Muslims, Jews, and others.

‘We denounce Christian nationalism, white supremacy, patriarchy, and all racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and hatred. We stand for democracy, diversity, equity and inclusion for all people everywhere.”[1]

References

1 Jay N. Forrest, “A Progressive Christian Declaration”.
https://progressivechristianity.us/

What to you is a good Christian? There are many different answers that a person can give, but I will give you mine.

A Good Christian?

To me a good Christian is one who is Christ-like. That is, he or she or they try to think, act, and speak like Christ would in the same situation.

What is a Christian?

A Christian, as I define the word, refers to a person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and follows his teachings.

I don’t believe you can really be a Christian if you don’t believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And if you really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, you will follow his teachings, or at least attempt to.

Exodus 20:1-17, as well as the text of Deuteronomy 5, are supposed to be the Ten Commandments. But look closer. It never numbers the commandments and never says there are only ten.

The Thirteen Commandments

There are more than ten imperative verbs, which indicate a commandment is being given. Let’s count the imperative verbs and see how many actual commandments there really are.

1. “You shall have no other gods before me.”
2.  “You shall not make for yourself an idol.”
3. “You shall not bow down to them or serve them.”
4. “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God.”
5. “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.”<
6. “You shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns.”
7. “Honor your father and your mother.”
8. “You shall not murder.”
9. “You shall not commit adultery.”
10. “You shall not steal.”
11. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
12. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.”
13. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female slave, ox, donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

What about the Ten Commandments?

The only time that it is explicitly said that there are ten commandments is in Exodus 34:28. But if you read it, they are not the same commandments.

For example, one of the Ten Commandments here is “You shall keep the Festival of Unleavened Bread” (Exodus 34:18). Another is “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leaven” (Exodus 34:25). And yet another says, “The best of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God (Exodus 34:26).

So in the only place that it specifically mentioned that there are Ten Commandments, the list of commandments is different. And as you read it, you understand why this is called the Ritual Decalogue. It is written from the priestly perspective. Give us money, keep the Sabbath, don’t make idols, and make sure the sacrifice is done correctly.

But in Exodus 20, there really are at least 13 commandments, not ten. And different denominations try to combine them to get ten commandments in different ways.