On I Corinthians 7 and Singleness

"I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I." --I Corinthians 7:8 (KJV)

"I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.  Art thou bound unto a wife?  seek not to be loosed.  Art thou loosed from a wife?  seek not a wife.  But and if thou marry, thou has not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned.  Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you." -- I Corinthians 7:26-28 (KJV)

I just want to give a quick reminder to all those out there who are single and struggling with the notion of marriage, that it's OK to be single.  While I Corinthians 7 does advise churches to let Christian couples heated in the loins towards one another marry (v. 9) and for the couples to give "due benevolence" to one another (in the non-platonic matter) (v. 1-5), Paul also advises, with faithful (v. 25) judgment endorsed by the Holy Spirit (v. 40), for those who are single to stay single to make life easier for themselves, and to serve the Lord better (v. 32-35).  Paul is not saying that married people are unrighteous, but rather that married people have split priorities between the Lord and each other, albeit not a sinful arrangement.

There is a saying I have, and while I don't claim any divine endorsement as Paul did, I hope you examine this saying (I Thessalonians 5:21) to weigh its merit:

While one is better than two, two is better than twenty.

Meaning, while one focus (God) is better than two (God and your spouse), two focuses (God and your spouse) are better than twenty (or maybe more, depending on one's relationship with the world).

Now, for many, this is an obvious teaching.  However, I post it anyway, in part, also for myself. 

 

 

Tony Evans: An Obvious Fraud

 This turns out to be another quick exposure of a false teacher. Why? These points:

1. He, like so many, markets the Word of God on his website (2 Corinthians 2:17). It's painfully obvious.

2. He is well honored, per his list of "Honors" which points to Luke 6:26:

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26, KJV)

3. On the "Know Jesus Christ" page of his website, Mr. Evans points to the same old "sinners prayer" path to salvation, which ignores the true meaning of believing in Christ, which is to take God at His Word, as illustrated by Abraham:

“And [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6, KJV)

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3, KJV)

That's pretty much all I know for now.  Yes, there is the controversy concerning Mr. Evans resigning from church leadership due to undisclosed sin, but I don't know whether or not said sin was privately disclosed.

Themes of Thought

 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, KJV)

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2, KJV)

A Quick Word About Retirement

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth or rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -- Matthew 6:19-21 (KJV)

I don't have a lot of time (or energy for that matter) to do many long-form posts, so lately I've been doing quick posts.  This one is a reminder for everyone.  A retirement portfolio, if it is for yourself, is ungodly, because you are saving up treasure for yourself.  It's like that parable of the rich man who built bigger barns to store up the crops of a huge harvest, and then decided to take it easy and live off of the crops.  See Luke 12:16-21.  

That's all I have for now.

Examining Brian Kagyesi of Pneuma Word Ministries (and more Quick Exposures)

 “A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”” (John 10:5, ESV)

I used to write letters to a pen pal in Uganda.  He was likely involved in a ministry called Christ Fun, a comedy program.  One of the guests they had on their show was someone named Brian Kagyesi of Pneuma Word Ministries (I think).  Anyway, Mr. Kagyesi is called a prophet.  However, it is difficult to find much doctrine of his rooted in Scripture.  There is talk of prophecies and prosperity.  Yet, where's the Scripture?  Yes, there is some, but his doctrine appears to be full of spiritual buzzwords.

Am I simply ignorant, or do I recognize that his teachings are foreign to me?  Hence John 10:5.

For example, Mr. Kagyesi gives the following Scripture citation concerning "increase" (I am using the KJV here):

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:6, KJV)

Concerning this, Mr. Kagyesi says:

"It's only God that causes a man to increase.The spirit of poverty is the mindset that causes people not to increase."

This is a perversion of Scripture.  Firstly, the "increase" in I Corinthians 3:6 concerns the increase in the faithful:

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7, KJV)

Is not the context of "increase", the increase of faith?

Secondly, Jesus says this concerning the poor (back to the ESV):

“And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20, ESV)

Mr. Kagyesi is saying that poverty is not to be desired.  Is there anything I am missing here? (Proverbs 6:23)

Honestly, that's as much exposure (Ephesians 5:11) as I can confidently muster right now (I Corinthians 13:9).  Right now, I am super tired, maybe also because of the following:

“My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12, ESV)

Also: another quick exposure as I was trying to find out more about "prophet" Brian Kagyesi, is of someone named Myles Monroe, leader of Bahamas Faith Ministries International.  In his Wikipedia page is a link to an article titled "Internationally Renowned Preacher and Transformational Leader, Dr. Myles Monroe Killed In Bahamas Plane Crash".  That was all I needed to see, that is, the "Internationally Renowned" part.  Jesus says in Luke 6:26: "Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!  for so did their fathers to the false prophets."

Anxiety is Futile.

 Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

I've worried about things most of my life.  I still worry at times, even though I am striving not to, after I wrote this post, I sinned in my anxiety towards work issues.  I hope and pray to repent of anxiety.

Anyway, I was vaguely aware that anxiety was a sin, but didn't really take it seriously until I was forced to not be anxious, in the name of my own sanity. 

I used to believe that once I figured it out, then I can relax.  Scripture says this is incorrect thinking:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV)

There is a saying I sometimes say to myself:  If I'm bound for Hell, worrying will not change that. (In fact, Jesus gives a similar comparison in Matthew 6:27, concerning human lifespan)  If I'm bound for Heaven, worrying is forbidden anyway.

Now, this is not to say that we are to do nothing in our lives, similar to the main character in Office Space.  But rather:

“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17, ESV)

If you know you must take action, take action.  This is not anxiety.

All in all, (and I say this to myself too), anxiety is futile.