"Judge Not" Does Not Mean "Judge Never"

 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5, KJV)

Many people refuse to make any comments on sinful behavior or make a determination on whether or not someone is saved by the first verse of this passage.

However, the context is very different. 

Firstly, v.5 appears to give the permission to deal with a brother's sin, ONLY AFTER you deal with your own.

Secondly, consider these passages:

“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24, KJV)

“Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:2-3, KJV)

“For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 5:3-5, KJV)

“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.” (Luke 17:3, KJV)

“Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.” (Leviticus 19:17, KJV)

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11, KJV)

There's probably more, but the message is clear:  Judging (which we all do, we all judge that the sky is blue) in and of itself is not a sin.

So what of judging IS a sin?  For there is a kind of judging that is forbidden in Scripture. 

 (There is an additional item I need to add to the list, but I don't know all the Scripture verses for sure it applies to, and that is to not judge based on your own standard, but by the Word of God (of which John 7:24 ("righteous judgment") applies (Also see Psalm 19:8 as a clear standard of righteous judgment))

1. Judging The Very Thing You Do

Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

(Rom 2:21-22)

This is the very definition of hypocrisy.  Yes, we shouldn't steal.  Yes, we shouldn't commit adultery.  Yes, we should abhor idols.  But at the same you, YOU don't steal.  YOU don't commit adultery.  YOU don't rob temples (what "sacrilege" means in the text)

2. Judging Those Outside The Church Camp

For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

(1Co 5:12-13)

It is none of our business to judge those outside the faith.  Do not judge non-Christians for worshipping the Kansas City Chiefs (Exodus 20:3), or anything like that (also see Luke 16:15).

3. Judging Without The Facts

Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

(1Co 4:5)

If a believer's sin is hidden, and you suspect a believer is living in sin, don't make any judgments until it is proven that such a believer is indeed living in sin.  I Corinthians 5:1 provides an example of enough evidence given that a believer is living in sin:

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

(1Co 5:1)

In this instance, it was obvious of the facts of the sinning believer.

Above all else, remember the following when considering a judgment:

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

(1Th 5:21)

4. Judging a Non-Sin

Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

(Rom 14:3-4)

It is not a sin to eat bacon under grace (Mark 7:19).

It is not a sin in and of itself to drink alcohol (see I Timothy 5:23), but drunkenness is sinful (Ephesians 5:18, Galatians 5:21)

It is not a sin in and of itself to smoke tobacco (Proverbs 30:6).

It is not a sin in and of itself to smoke marijuana (Proverbs 30:6), but to do so in the USA is ILLEGAL, thus a sin for that reason (Romans 13:1, I Peter 2:13-14).

It is not a sin in and of itself to masturbate (Titus 1:15), but lust (Matthew 5:28), as well as evil thoughts (Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21) are still evil (Matthew 5:28).

If a believer's behavior is not sinful according to Scripture, DO NOT JUDGE.  If it is, then by all means, rebuke, according to Scripture (I Timothy 5:20).

In conclusion, there is a time to judge, and there is a time to not judge.  "Judge Not" is not universal.  Even in the opening Scripture passage:

 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:1-5, KJV)

When Jesus says "Judge not", He does not mean "Judge nothing", but rather, "Do not judge in unrighteousness."

Are Republicans Christians?

(Please look at the updates at the end of this post.)

There was a YouTube video I came across, basically saying that Republicans, particularly that of the evangelical, MAGA, super conservative group, are not Christians at all because they don't help the poor. 

Here is the video, and after the video, consider reading my analysis.

John Fugelsang and Tennessee Brando's accusation is that Republicans don't help the poor because they don't pass laws that help the poor.  But here's the thing:  Many of these laws FORCE OTHERS to help the poor via taxation.  Let me show you part of Jesus' parable of the Sheep and the Goats:

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 

Mat 25:35  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 

Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 

Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 

Mat 25:42  For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 

Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 

Ye, as in YOU.  YOU fed me.  YOU gave me drink.  YOU clothed me.  YOU visited me.  You didn't pass a law to make others pay for a program to help the poor.  YOU did it YOURSELF.

Now, I am not saying that programs that help the poor at the expense of levying more involuntary taxes are evil, I'm still on the fence about that.  Yet, I do believe that our current welfare programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.) do not count as charity in the eyes of God, for it is written:

2Co 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 

Who among us cheerfully pays taxes?  Now, I am fully on board with funding the military, police, governors, mayors, and presidents, at taxpayer expense (Romans 13:6 gives these administrators as reasons for paying taxes), and I am also on board for funding many local and state public works at the expense of special taxes voted in by the public.

As for funding the rest of the government, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, the various Cabinet departments, etc., at the very least, I accept it and tolerate it, because God has ordained all governments (Romans 13:1), but I cannot call it true charity, especially if the citizen has no say in the matter.

Am I saying "taxation is theft"?  Not at all!  For even taxes to pay the President's salary is involuntary, and yet I don't consider it theft.

Now, would I be on board for helping paying for, say, an overhaul of the American healthcare system, most famously called "Medicare For All"?  I would be much happier doing so if I were allowed to vote on it, for at least if this is charity, it is truly charity, for it would not be "arm-twisting" as The Message renders.'

But I've been digressing far enough.  Back to the question:  Are Republicans Christians?  Firstly, not because of their politics, that has nothing to do with it.  Is a Republican a Christian if they themselves don't help the poor?  No.  Is a Democrat a Christian if they themselves don't help the poor?  No.  Is ANYONE a Christian if they themselves don't help the poor?  Again, no.

Updates:  I have forgotten about this piece of Scripture:

“And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.” (Leviticus 19:9-10, KJV)

This passage, and many like it, make me lean more on the side of involuntary taxation for programs that help the poor.  I am starting to believe that Medicare for All is Biblical.  I certainly believe that commanding forgiveness of all debts (not just student loans) is biblical:

“At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. And this is the manner of the release: Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the LORD'S release. Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again: but that which is thine with thy brother thine hand shall release; Save when there shall be no poor among you; for the LORD shall greatly bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it: Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day.” (Deuteronomy 15:1-5, KJV)

Am I turning into a Leftist?  Let's just say I'm flirting with their ideas.

More Proof That You Need To Endure To Be Saved

 Hebrews 10:36-39 (ESV)

36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.

37 For, “Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay;

38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

Let me repeat this:  Faith in Christ is NOT a one-time event, and then you're done.  Faith in Christ is a lifelong commitment.  Only those who endure to the end will be saved.  (Matthew 10:22, Matthew 24:13, Mark 13:13, etc.)

Eternal Security Is Not What You Think It Is

(I am using the ESV, unless otherwise specified, in this post's Scripture references for clarity.)

* Matthew 23:9 forbids calling anyone on earth your "father".  Obviously, I struggle with this.  How else am I to address Douglas Crawshaw Sr. with honor?

 I grew up American Baptist, and am the eldest son of Douglas Crawshaw Sr., an American Baptist pastor.  He, and many other people, not just of the American Baptist faith, believe in a "kind" of eternal security, emphasizing that once you're in Christ, you can NEVER lose Christ (The general teaching is also known as "once saved, always saved" or OSAS).  I once overheard Doug Sr.* say that he will take this teaching to his grave.  One of the main proof texts of OSAS is the following:

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

(Eph 1:13-14)

In one sermon, when mentioning Ephesians 1:14, I overheard Doug Sr* say that there is no "unforgivable sin" that will keep you out of Christ. (That is a lie, for blasphemy of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31, Mark 3:29, Luke 12:10), the very seal mentioned in Ephesians 1:13, is explicitly unforgivable.  Whether a believer can commit such a sin, I don't know, but in the Gospels, Jesus warned even his disciples (Luke 12:1) of this sin.)

 

In another, he suggests that John 15:2 (which partially says: "every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away,...") does not mean being cut off from Christ, but is simply "lifted up", using the Greek word for "takes away" to mean that fruitless Christians need worked on.  (In the April 28 retelling of the John 15:2 sermon, he did at least acknowledge that "airo" can also mean to "take away")  This is coming from a quote Doug Sr* agrees with from Bruce Wilkinson's book "Secrets of the Vine", where Mr. Wilkinson gives the following false teaching:

'In both Bible and in Greek literature, airo never means “to cut off”. Therefore, when some Bibles render the word as “takes away” or “cut off”, in John 15, it is an unfortunate interpretation rather than a clear translation.'

Mr. Wilkinson is wrong when he says that "airo" never means "to cut off". Because Matthew 9:16 and Mark 2:21, which describes a new cloth on an old garment tearing up the garment, also uses the Greek word "airo". The suggested English word is "to tear". And in John 19:31 and 38, the word "airo" is used to mean "take away", meaning taking away the body of Jesus after His crucifixion. Now, "airo" can be used as "lift" (John 11:41, as in "Jesus lifted up his eyes", context nullifies Jesus "tearing" or "taking away" his eyes in order to speak to His Father in v. 41 and 42.), but the same Greek word is also used for many other purposes.  

So yeah, this is a perversion of Scripture, and dangerous to all hearers, as false doctrine is (2 Peter 2:1 calls it "damnable").  While indeed, followers of Christ will never perish (John 10:28 for example), we are still warned against falling away.  

Hebrews 10:26-31 makes it clear:

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

(Heb 10:26-31)

The writer of Hebrews included himself in this passage ("we").  Himself, a fellow believer!  There must be a reason that a believer, on the road to eternal life, is warning his listeners, including himself, about going to Hell, for those who have no sacrifice for sins as a credit indeed go to Hell!

Yet, John 10:28 and Ephesians 1:13-14 suggest that believers are locked in to Paradise.  

However, there IS a way to reconcile all of it.  You see, true believers, true followers of Christ, WILL endure to the end, and they will NOT intentionally live a life of sin after knowing the Truth.  Look at this passage from I John:

1Jn 3:9  No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 

So, not only does the Holy Spirit, God's seed, seal the believer, but He also keeps the believer from practicing sin!  Ain't that neat? 

As for enduring to the end, the Book of Hebrews has a bunch of verses talking about that:

Heb 3:14  For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 

Heb 3:6  but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. 

Even Jesus said:

Mat 10:22  and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

Paul also made a suggestion of endurance:

Act 14:22  strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 

(the NIV gives this rendering: "We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God", this puzzled me in the past, for this rendering suggests that eternal life is conditional.  I now know that eternal life is on the condition of our faith, which does involve endurance of many hardships, as the road to life is a narrow one.)

Then, there is this passage:

For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.

(Heb 6:4-6)

Wait, hasn't this apostate once shared in the same Holy Spirit that sealed Him and kept Him from falling away?  Am I missing something here?  Is the presence of the Holy Spirit temporary?  John 14:16 suggests not:

Joh 14:16  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 

However, I have found another way to reconcile this.  Jesus wasn't lying when He said that believers get the Holy Spirit forever.  Is it also possible for the Holy Spirit to dwell in temporary believers, for the permanent residence of the Holy Spirit is for the destined and enduring?   Correct me if I'm wrong (Proverbs 6:23)!

Despite all of this, there is a conclusion that I am rock solid on when it comes to eternal security.  Faith in Christ is not a one-time event, and then you're done.  We must continue in the faith until the end, otherwise we go to Hell.  Those who are eternally secure, will indeed continue in the faith.  There are no former Christians in Heaven.

* Matthew 23:9 forbids calling anyone on earth your "father".  Obviously, I struggle with this.  How else am I to address Douglas Crawshaw Sr. with honor?

Citations:

Crawshaw, Douglas. “FBC Waverly Virtual Worship 2021 09 26.” YouTube, YouTube, 26 Sept. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWyGTGAmEss.

God is God, Deal With It (Or, How You Must Obey God No Matter What)

 Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

I regularly get emails about Reddit's subreddit "r/exchristian", where former Christians talk about their experiences in the modern church, mostly in the fundamentalist camp (close to the truth, but usually aren't).  That, or they seriously read the Bible, and reject the faith because they see God as cruel by human standards.   Now, God being cruel by human standards is correct.  Yet, God doesn't operate on human standards, as the above Scripture text says.

Anyway, here's an example I wish to share with you.  This is from Reddit user rampskater:

I was similar. I specifically recall a section about the Ark of the Covenant, and if anyone touched it, they would die. While it was being transported, a man trips, falls against it, and dies. Paraphrasing the conversation that followed...

Me: "Mom, why would God allow that to happen? That guy is helping God and didn't do anything wrong."

Mom: "Well, it could have been to set an example for others that God was telling the truth when he said not to touch it."

Me: "...but they were already not touching it. They were doing everything he said, including killing other people, so why let this person die as an example when they were already doing things far worse than touching a box?"

Mom: "..."

The Scripture text rampskater is referencing is 2 Samuel 6:6-7, which reads:

2 Samuel 6:6-7 (KJV)

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

Uzzah's violation is found in Numbers 4:15, which reads:

Numbers 4:15 (KJV)

15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

What rampskater failed to realize is the following:

1. You MUST obey God, no matter what. (Deuteronomy 13:4, for example)

2. The Israelites killing other people is not sinful, because God commanded it, and because it was not of murder.  If you're a soldier at war, it is no sin for you to kill the enemy, if your commanding officer commands it.

3. Uzzah was not helping God by disobeying Him.

4. God had every right to kill Uzzah, because God is God.  (Also see Deuteronomy 32:39)

So, back to what I previously said:  Is God cruel, by humanity's standards?  Yes.  But humanity's standards don't matter.  God, creator of humanity, is God.  His ways, and His thoughts, are higher than yours.  

Job 33:12-13 (KJV)

12 Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.

13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.

Deal with it.

Quick Exposure of Abeka

What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

(Rom 9:14-18)

I was going to do an examination of the christian organization "Acquire The Fire", but I couldn't find much about them.  However, what I did find was this snippet from the christian homeschooling organization "Abeka", which in their section "What We Believe", reads:

"We believe that salvation is a free gift of God for all mankind, and God does not pre-elect persons to heaven or hell."

This is a lie.  God does pre-destine all people to either Heaven or Hell.  In fact, let's continue the above Scripture:

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

(Rom 9:19-23)

If anyone needs clarity, let me show you the ESV:

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—

(Rom 9:14-23)

God can create any kind of destiny He wants for each and every human being.  God creates people "fitted" or "prepared" for "destruction" (Hell), and He creates "vessels of mercy" before prepared for "glory" (Heaven).  God predestines people for Heaven, and He predestines people for Hell.

Abeka is teaching heresy.

(Now, a disclaimer:  While I do believe in predestination of the saved and the damned, that does not make me a Calvinist like the Westboro Baptist Church.  Calvinism is heresy, because for one thing, they believe in the "limited atonement" lie, saying that Jesus only died for the elect.  Jesus died for ALL. (Hebrews 10:10) )

There are other things in their statement of faith that is suspicious:

Salvation is received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work.

Faith in the work of Christ is a part of faith in Christ Himself.  The above statement adds to the Word of God, for nowhere in Scripture does it tell you to have faith in "His finished work".  (Acts 16:31, Proverbs 30:6)

For the purposes of Abeka’s doctrine, practice, and policy, the Board of Directors is ultimately responsible for interpreting the meaning and application of Scripture.

If Abeka were truly Christian, the correct meaning of Scripture would be agreed upon by ALL BELIEVERS, for all true believers would have "one mind" (Romans 15:6, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Philippians 1:27, Philippians 2:2, I Peter 3:8).  As for the application of Scripture, correct me if I'm wrong, but that can vary based on circumstance.

    

What Are "The Affairs Of This Life"?

2 Timothy 2:4 (KJV)

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

This is another one of those Scripture verses I have been wrestling with for quite some time, and this teaching has come up again while I was at work.

A few days ago, I did a foolish thing.  I applied to many game shows.  My excuse was that I wanted another adventure, with the added possible benefit of winning enough in prize money to cover the trip (which in game show terms isn't much, probably around $1,200).

Today, I received an email from one of the casting companies behind a show, encouraging me to apply when the contestant application was online (prior to this, all it had was an e-mail, casting told me that they were doing maintenance on the site).

I wrestled with the idea of trying out.  You see, the show was to be a spin-off of the show "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?"  This was really tempting since I am a school custodian, seemingly a perfect fit!  

Yet, part of me felt that this was wrong.  Now, in and of itself, appearing on a television program and winning prizes is not wrong (I won a sizeable prize at a trade show last summer).  But honestly, why are you doing it?  Game shows have the egregious appearance of greed (indeed, that was the very name of one such program!), and can easily fit this verse in Scripture:

1 Timothy 6:10 (KJV)

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Even game shows themselves admit to this.  On the very first episode of Jeopardy in 1984, in the category THE BIBLE, the clue read "According to I Timothy, it is the root of all evil."  The contestant correctly responded, "What is the love of money?" to which Alex Trebek concurred with Greg Hopkins on the emphasis of "the LOVE of money".

But, back to Fifth Grader:  There were other obstacles in the way, which in retrospect, I made excuses in my mind for:  Despite me being the only custodian in the building, I still had personal days, which are specifically used for personal business "which can be most properly conducted during school hours", says the district handbook.  Also, despite me looking very unprofessional by going on some fun thing, Fifth Grader might make the school district look good!  (Such a foolish excuse was similarly portrayed in the film Quiz Show, when the producers convinced Charles Van Doren (and Herbert Stempel) that participating in the quiz show fix would be good for the cause of education.)

One thing I haven't yet done:  Prayed.  I made a quick prayer in the office, and an amazing thing happened:  I felt a sense of calm and relief!  I interpreted this as God showing me the outcome of deciding not to participate in this program.  Again, this was my interpretation, but it was consistent with other times I have been involved in life's affairs.  Once they were over, I was similarly relieved.

Later that evening, out of curiosity, I went back to 2 Timothy 2:4.  I looked at the Commentary section of e-Sword which contained the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.  The TSK is simply a resource where you can find linked verses that speak of the same topics.  So I followed the TSK of that verse, under the word "entangleth".  Here are the Scripture texts that were listed (I'm using the ESV here for clarity):

2 Timothy 4:10 (ESV)

10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.'

Luke 8:14 (ESV)

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

1 Corinthians 9:25-26 (ESV)

25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

1 Timothy 6:9-12 (ESV)

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2 Peter 2:20 (ESV)

20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

With all this, it has become crystal clear.  Typically, Christians have no business going on game shows, or being involved with any kind of worldly affairs (that are not mandated by Christ that is, good works, letting our light shine in the world, etc. are always mandated).   Worldliness chokes the Word of God, which leads to unfruitfulness, which leads to Hell.

Now, the title of this piece is called "What Are "The Affairs Of This Life"?" As in, how are such affairs defined?  

Honestly, I don't know.  In my personal experience, any worldly enterprise that requires a long-term investment of time, energy, and resources is certainly an affair of this life.  Say I wanted to start a fantasy football league.  Why would I want to do this?  Does this advance the kingdom of God?  Or is this just for me?  In my opinion, such pursuits, if they are for yourself, are a waste of time that I would have to answer for on the Day of Judgment.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

Let's see, another example...worldly business ventures, perhaps?  One example I can recall:  There is this movie company called Legion M where fans can invest money in exchange for shares in their company.  The company, lauded by luminaries such as William Shatner, seeks to give fans more power and control over the studio.  Again, what does all this have to do with following Christ?

I guess the key word here is "entangleth".  Indeed the Greek word for the KJV phrase "entangleth himself with" is literally defined as "entwine".  So, to watch television would not be an entwining.  Attending a folk dance would not be an entwining.  These are one and done events, not requiring further investment.

(Some may say, what about getting married?  I Corinthians 7 covers that concept well.  It is no sin, but can be distracting in your walk with Christ.)

All this fits with the concept of not being attached to the world.  In fact, I Corinthians 7:29-31 says it well:

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (ESV)

29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,

30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,

31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.