Introduction      A few years ago, I was returning home from dinner when I passed by a denominational church. The sign out front gave the service times and next to the evening service it said, “Come as You Are”. I thought to myself, “Does this include pajamas and a bathrobe? Or what about swimming trunks and a beach towel?” Some people take a laid-back attitude toward attire in the assembly. We know that there isn’t a dress code for worship but let’s look at some things in regards to proper attire.   Does it Really Matter?   I’ve heard people say in regard to certain clothes: “God doesn’t care what you wear. We’re there to worship him.”  “I want to feel comfortable when I’m sitting in church.”  “This is Arizona, it’s gets too hot for a coat and tie.”  I’m not suggesting to anyone that you should wear a coat and tie. However, it’s our mindset that should help us decide what to wear and not wear when in worship. Could a person really focus on God if they were in their

    Introduction You may have heard at one time or another someone say, “God has a plan for you!”. Of course, what they mean is that God has something special in mind for your life that He doesn’t have for another person’s life. But that’s okay because God has a plan for all kinds of people; a unique plan just for them. Unfortunately, this is contrary to scripture. In Acts 10:34, the apostle Peter states, “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality .” The apostle Paul confirms this in Galatians 2:6, But from those who seemed to be something--whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man --for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. The good news, however, is that God indeed has a plan and it’s for everyone! As it is written in 1 Timothy 2:4, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.   God’s Plan for Saving Man Even before Genesis 1:1, God had a plan ready for all mankind. As

    Introduction The following story is most likely an Urban Legend…   This upstate New York man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land, antiques and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. His wife was growing old, and the couple was childless. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy.  Miraculously, his wife became pregnant, and gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. When the boy was 5, his mom died. The dad grew closer to his special son. At the age of 13, the boy's birth defects cost him his life, and the father died soon after, of a broken heart. The estate was to be auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches. Finally, the poor housemaid, who had helped raise the boy, bid $5 for the picture and e

    Introduction When you hear or see the word, ‘addiction’, your mind immediately goes to substance abuse like: tobacco, alcohol, or drugs; or other devices like: gambling, pornography, or sexual intercourse. But anything in a person’s life, even if legal, can be an addiction and thus lead a person down the path to sin. Nowadays, it’s chocolate, caffeine, video games, social media, and anything associated with the internet. Most seem harmless, but when you become obsessed with it, it’s an addiction.   Definitions Habit: a settled tendency or usual manner of behavior Addiction: a strong inclination to do, use, or indulge in something repeatedly. Obsession: a persistent disturbing preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea or feeling . For example, if you drink coffee in the morning every day because you enjoy it, and it gets you going, that’s a habit. If you drink coffee every morning because you know you can’t function without it, that’s an addiction. If you can’t

  Divorce and the Bible, Part 4   Introduction The first part of Ecclesiastes 7:1 reads, A good name is better than precious ointment… Commentary from Jamieson, Faussett, and Brown had this to say about a ‘good name’: character; a godly mind and life; not mere reputation with man, but what a man is in the eyes of God, with whom the name and reality are one thing. This alone is ‘good’, while all else is ‘vanity’ when made the chief end. How we are seen in God’s eyes, and the brethren, is more important that how we are seen in the eyes of man. When something comes along, like a divorce, and disrupts that godly character, we struggle to maintain that good influence we once had.   The Example set by Men and Women The apostle Paul wrote, in Titus 2:1-5 about how both men and women are to conduct themselves that they might be a good example in the local congregation and out in the world, But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be

  Divorce and the Bible, part 3   Introduction In the world of television and cinema, you quite often see a bride and groom exchange wedding vows; promises to one another as they enter their marriage. There are also standard wedding vows that a preacher will have both the man and woman repeat. Regardless of the type of vows used in the wedding ceremony, they are promises, before God, to both the husband and the wife. When a divorce takes place, it tells God that you didn’t mean what you said during those vows. We’ll look at breaking vows in this article.   Definition of “Vow” From the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary , 2. A solemn promise; as the vows of unchangeable love and fidelity. In a moral and religious sense, vows are promises to God, as they appeal to God to witness their sincerity, and the violation of them is a most heinous offense. From I.S.B.E. , A vow was as binding as an oath and therefore to be kept to the letter; and it was not to be lightly made (Prov. 20:25)

  Divorce and the Bible, part 2   Introduction Divorce is an invention of Man. God never wanted this to be a part of man’s being. Yet, he allowed it under the Old Law to preserve the Nation of Israel and keep his promise to Abraham. Christians should know that divorce should never be an option as God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16). God did allow one exception for divorce (Mt. 19:9). In the next few articles, we’ll look at the problem with “unscriptural divorce”; divorce for any reason aside from fornication.   Separating God’s Union Jesus responded to the Pharisees’ challenge concerning divorce in Matthew 19:4-6, And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate .” Looki

  Joe R. Price Malachi said God “hates divorce” because it “covers one’s garment with violence” (Mal. 2:16). It destroys what God joins together. We should not be surprised that more and more people love divorce and hate marriage. They call evil good and good evil by promoting divorce and minimizing marriage (Mal. 2:17; Isa. 5:20-21). Men have historically hardened their hearts against God’s marriage design (Matt. 19:4-6, 7-8). Marriage is a unique relationship between a man and a woman that completes, secures and supports them on their journey through life toward eternity (Gen. 2:18-24). Jesus exalts the honor of marriage and prohibits mankind from sundering what God joins together (Matt. 19:6). We sin and will answer to God when we fail to honor the moral purity and integrity of marriage as God arranged it (Heb. 13:4). Why and how do people hate marriage? 1. Many do not believe marriage is from God.  They believe marriage is man’s idea – the product of social evolution and civil law.

  Divorce and the Bible, part 1   Introduction In Malachi 2:16, it is written, “For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence,” Says the LORD of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.” Marriage is an invention of God, divorce is an invention of man, therefore, God hates divorce. And, it’s not just an unscriptural one either. He hates it altogether. In this series of articles, we’ll look at what the bible has to say about divorce.   Definition of Divorce 1828 Webster’s Dictionary —   A legal dissolution of the bonds of matrimony, or the separation of husband and wife by a judicial sentence. This is properly called a divorce, and called technically, divorce a vinculo matrimonii.   Easton’s Bible Dict. — The dissolution of the marriage tie was regulated by the Mosaic law Deut. 24:1-4. The Jews, after the Captivity, were required to dismiss the foreign women they had married c