Is the Devil Omniscient?

I believe you are a receiver of the House to house Heart to heart. In the current version the “All things Considered” column asks “Is the Devil Omniscient?” Does Satan know everything? They answer the question in the first sentence “The devil is not, nor can he be omniscient. If he were omniscient he would be God. By that definition neither Jesus nor the Holy Spirit are omniscient since they are said to not know when the end of time will be. Makes me wonder what else they don’t know.

 

Based on what I hear Satan must be omnipresent (everywhere at the same time) since he is credited with tempting everyone in the universe at the same time at least when we are not sleeping. That is a God like ability. We know he is not omnipotent (having unlimited power; able to do anything) since God is said to have thrown him out of wherever God is.

 

Remember when Jesus called Peter Satan? We know it was not Satan because we are told it was Peter. Why do you suppose Jesus mistook Peter for Satan? Do we possibly have an error made by the second ranking member of the Triune? I think Jesus called Peter Satan because Peter was attempting to discourage Jesus from completing God’s plan. If I am correct when individuals promote Satan’s agenda it could be said that Satan was doing it when individuals promote God’s agenda it could be said that God was doing it. But is that correct?

 

Don’t ask Al or Rick they will start a one-year class on the topic.

 

During Colonial times people wrote letters to a variety of individuals including family members, friends, newspapers, authors etc. to discuss various topics political, religious, etc. Since education was limited to women and as a rule they were not permitted to travel very far from home without their husband or some other man they used letters to educate themselves. I tried to get something like that going but apparently Christians believe the bible is best discussed within one’s self. Imagine if college students learned in the manner Christians learn lectures and self study with no tests? Imagine your doctor learning medicine that way and then avoid him at all costs.

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

“That is why you develop a brain, so you can think about more than one thing at a time.”
―    Bill Clinton

Father Knows Best?

A while back Bob Adair asked me to make comments for the evening fly through of the Lord's Supper. The result was quite a reaction since a few days later Rick took me to lunch. The stated purpose was to talk about a possible job working with him in Malaysia but based on his "OH, by the way" question at the end the real purpose was to see if I was a heretic. I figure Al, as a good pastor would, asked him to check me out. Enough folks complained that Al felt it necessary to provide a disclaimer the following Sunday. 

The Church of Christ is very Pharisaical. Folks find it difficult nay impossible to accept that they are more stick-in-the-mud than Jesus. Jesus was revolutionary! He spoke with women in public every day and they spoke with him. He included both married women and single women in his band of disciples. For that alone husbands could have divorced them or even killed them as could their fathers and brothers. Those women traipsed around with him and supported him. He permitted a woman (in public, no less) to wipe his feet with her hair. That was at a time when a woman whose hair wasn't tied up was looked upon as a seductress. Imagine our reaction. The Church of Christ would have been as critical of Jesus as the pharisees and I am convinced the men of the Restoration Movement would not be accepted in the pulpit of the church today. What the church needs is serious persecution to force it decide what is important. Maybe that is God's reason for stuffing the ballot box for Obama. I guess Father knows best is still applicable.

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

“It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.”
― Rose Kennedy

The Puritans

There is a widespread modern misconception regarding the term Puritan. Today many people believe good Puritans abstained from all sensual pleasures, and certainly before marriage. Actually, the religious denomination now known as Congregationalist acquired the label "Puritan" for reasons that had nothing to do with moral purity in the modern sense. The movement arose in seventeenth-century England with the purpose of purifying the government-sanctioned Church of England of its Catholic vestiges; hence the name "Puritan." Without letting go of the myth of the Puritans as puritanical, we cannot comprehend why John Adams and Abigail Smith caused barely a ripple when, in the fall of 1763, more than a year before they married, they took a trip together---apparently alone. 

Restoring the Church

Many individuals take credit for defining insanity as: "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."  By that definition the church is insane."

 

Al's sermons on restoring the church are like sermons on mom and apple pie who would disagree? The question is how. Lacking anyone stepping forward I will.

 

It is not practical to expect a man to deliver two, thirty to forty-five minute, presentations week after week year after year; teach one or two classes a week; be on call 24/7 to the entire membership. Jonathan Winters and Tim Conway while talented were never successful being the "star" in weekly television series. Trying to come up with new material every week was too much to expect. They made good "guest appearance" people but not main character people.

 

Over the years, in response to a fair number of my emails Al has responded that he is too tired to think.  Considering what congregations expect of their preacher most preachers are too tired to think. Their thirty to forty-five minute presentations are the result of being too tired to think. One change the church must make is get back to the biblical use of preachers. Al and most preachers are not gospel preachers; they are the keynote speaker at the weekly assembly. 

 

We claim to follow the New Testament example of Acts 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them… except we change it to "on the first day of the week when we gather together to listen to the preacher speak we take a few minutes to eat the Lord's Supper." At Polly's funeral/memorial service as with most funerals/memorial services the deceased is talked about more than Jesus is talked about during what we claim to be our "remembrance" of Jesus.

 

"As a convenience" we claim to follow Paul's instructions to the church at Corinth: "Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me" except we change the purpose to collect money we will use mostly on ourselves. We are misusing Paul's instructions. If we can change the purpose of the contribution Paul is writing about we can change the purpose of baptism and other instructions found in the bible.  

 

Church leaders must understand why the majority of their members are absentee members; why the majority elect not to attend the classes; choose not to attend most assemblies; choose not be involved.

 

David Platt says the question is: "How can we in the church best unleash the people of God in the Spirit of God with the Word of God for the glory of God in the world?"

 

The church must look at everything it does not only function but form, The question is not "What is wrong?" the question is "What is the best use of our resources?"

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

"Man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe."

 —Euripides

Heaven would hardly be heaven if we could define it ---William E Biederwolf

John wrote in Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

 

How possibly does God communicate a reality of which we are completely unaware? Life in heaven will be a qualitatively different kind of life from the one we have known in earth's space and time. Even thinking of heaven as "an unending eternity for ever and ever" is to think in human terms, not God's as are all concepts of heaven. To be eternal is to have the kind of qualities which endure outside of time.

 

Whatever new bodies we are given will be tailor-made for heaven. Just right for what we're meant to do there, whatever that is. No need to worry about it before we get there. Function will automatically follow form, just as our heavenly form will reflect the function which God intended from the moment he first conceived to create us.  Does God have new thoughts? Something he never thought of before? The term "first conceived" is in human terms not God's.

 

We cannot think about heaven in terms that are even close to reality. For David it was enough to think: I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Did he need more details? Did he need gold streets or pearly gates or was it enough to know: in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. David was satisfied with looking forward to relationship with God not possible here.

 

Heaven is the final destination of the righteous; the home of God and the angels and what we know fits in a thimble. For us to spend weeks on a subject about which the Bible says little seems to me to be comparable to what the Catholic Church has been doing for centuries except their subject was Limbo

 

In 2007 the Roman Catholic Church finally buried the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that babies who die without baptism went. The Commission said limbo reflected an "unduly restrictive view of salvation" and their 41-page document concluded: "there are theological and liturgical reasons to hope that infants who die without baptism may be saved and brought into eternal happiness even if there is not an explicit teaching on this question found in revelation." Keep in mind the Catholic Church has been debating the subject for centuries holding conferences to discuss the subject, and coming to no conclusions and their final verdict is based on "hope."

 

Our teachers teach whatever they want for as long as they want and like our government leaders start things with no end-date in view because our pastor says "we are not in a hurry."

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

"Man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe."

 —Euripides

Matthew chapter 18

 

I read in the minutes that someone recommended the men establish some relevant guidelines/procedures concerning the desired term of an elder, a possible re-qualification process and any other relevant conditions which the men may wish to impose. 

 

As you know Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton had different views of the Constitution. Jefferson thought the federal government could do only what the Constitution permits while Hamilton thought the federal government could do whatever the Constitution did not expressly prohibit.

 

With reference to the bible historically the Church of Christ has come down on Jefferson's side in that the church can do only what the bible permits. Other churches have adopted Hamilton's thoughts that the church can do anything the bible does not expressly prohibit thus we have infant baptism and plural marriage thanks to Martin Luther and others.

 

Historically the plea of preachers in the church of Christ has been, "we speak where the Bible speaks and we are silent where the Bible is silent."

 

The bible expressly tells us the church had elders but nowhere does the bible tell us how to get rid of those elders. The bible does not provide for term limits of elders.

 

How about Matthew 18;15-17 as a template for correcting and removing members including members who happen to be elders or deacons?

 

"If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.  

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

"Man's most valuable trait is a judicious sense of what not to believe."

 —Euripides

Elders Miscellaneous

 

It is extremely difficult for Americans to intentionally give up "control." As does Dollywood Christians like to believe we practice "servant leadership."

 

Luke told Theophilus "A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves." Do we believe that? No. We do not apply what we intellectually understand.

 

Paul told the Christians in Galatia: "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."

 

Power is a great attraction for many and some people enjoy being able to exert authority over others. Christians often fail to comprehend the real meaning of power and authority in the kingdom and confuse it with authority in the world.   The centurion's authority is typical of authority in the world: "For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes; and to another, 'Come,' and he comes; and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." This is not the kind of authority given to elders in the church.

 

If the bible is so clear regarding the nature of kingdom authority then why is it that so many churches have authoritarian elders?  And why is it that many newly appointed elders feel that their opinions have suddenly become superior to others in the church by virtue of their appointment to a leadership position?  They are ignorant of the bible; they are ignorant of the flock; they fear losing control; they fear false teaching; they fail to appreciate what others are doing.

 

Elders are servants who hold a special office of leadership in the church and because of this, an attitude of submission and deference toward them should exist within the congregation. That is difficult. In the corporate world when an individual is promoted to a leadership or management position they are often required to transfer so they will be leading/managing people other than their use-to-be peers. It is difficult to go from peer to leader/manager for both the peer and the leader/manager.

 

The author of Hebrews told his/her readers: "Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. …Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.  Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

 

Christians are obligated to listen to the advice of their leaders. Elders are to lead by persuading and convincing others to follow them.

 

Leadership requires that the elders give the church a sense of direction. It is foolish for the elders to call the church together and ask them to make an uninformed decision about missions' strategy for example.  The meeting would result in the pooling of ignorance. Kind of describes our bible classes and on occasion the Men's Meeting itself. Communication is job one.

 

The majority are not and will never be the measure of what is right. Not everyone can be satisfied on all occasions and those who find themselves out of step with a consensus of the church should defer to the wishes of the majority, making every decision unanimous.

 

When a man ceases to be qualified he is no longer an elder stubbornly remaining in the position not withstanding. Elders are not temporary nor does the bible support recertification. As with the Constitution, without bible support elders are elders until they resign, or become unqualified.

 

If elders are keeping watch over the souls of the members of the congregation and will have to give an account does their responsibility and accountability extend past their term in office? As with the constitution without a bible example there is no term limit.

 

I believe you were an elder at one time. Did you know the congregation was afraid of you, didn't trust you and wanted to maintain control over you in case the eldership went to your head?  Our elders will know. They were in on the discussion and heard the concerns.  

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

''Facebook is like an endless cocktail party where everyone shows up at a different time and slaps a yellow Post-it note on the refrigerator."

 —New York Times

Maybe the Tea_Party Should Rethink

I imagine the Tea-Party is fit to be tied: Obama  decisively re-elected, same-sex marriage adopted by voters in some states and anti-abortion candidates defeated in conservative red states. Most folks are not gay and most folks will not have an abortion. Maybe these are not government issues.

Pro-Life is a Non Issue

Being Pro-Life is to be on the losing side of the discussion. If you do not like abortion, do not have one but do not try to interject government into a decision that is not yours.

Romans 13:1-7 Submit to Governing Authorities

In his letter to the Romans, Paul calls for Christians to submit to governing authorities, because their authority is derived from God, the State will punish those who do wrong, and bring wrath against them.

 

13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and your will receive his approval, 4 for she is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. 7 pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

 

Christians should obey authorities because they are established by God.

Christians are called to give what they owe the state, whether taxes, debt, respect or honor. Authorities are "God's servants"; nothing more, no matter in what esteem the authorities might hold themselves in. The state's task to punish evil, something that individual Christians must not do. If the state transgresses from this role, it is not acting in accordance with its purpose. Even though God has established the authorities, they are not without judgment.

 

Romans 13:1 echoes to some extent Matthew 22:21 "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God." The most common interpretation of this section is that our ultimate allegiance is to God, but this does not nullify other responsibilities, if not in conflict with our main purpose.

 

That being true, the colonies had no biblical basis for armed rebellion to England thereby forfeiting any right to consider the United States God's people.

Next Bus to Heaven

On the subject of taking a later bus to heaven does Jesus' comment relate to our thinking concerning our preference to wait for a future bus to heaven?

"Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

Does not wanting to leave our spouse or wanting to see our children or grandchildren graduate, marry, have children, etc. instead of being with Jesus suggest we love them more than we love Jesus?

I am not talking about being suicidal just our attitude. Paul said:

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."

Is remaining here a benefit to Jesus or just our preference?

 

John Jenkins

865-803-8179  cell

Gatlinburg, TN

 

 

 

Email: jrjenki@gmail.com

Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/

          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

 

''Being an executive requires a combination of charisma, a capacity to sustain boredom, and the ability to shallowly perform on harrying schedules.''

 —Nassim Nichols Taleb

 

 

 

Corinth, Thessalonica, Pigeon Forge

In the 80s sexual harassment was beginning to be recognized by corporations and they established processes to facilitate reporting and subsequent investigations of situations. Our secretary did not appreciate the way her boss, my boss, was treating her and comments he was making to her. As the sage I was, and still am, she consulted with me on what she could do about it. As a manager I had been exposed to various HR presentations on politically correct behavior. My advice was she follow the process. She did. The process required her to report the situation to the HR manager in charge of harassment accusations (also female). The process was for HR to inform the manager of the department of the person making the accusation as well as the manager of the department of the person being accused. Who would have guessed that they would be the same person and the secretary's boss?  He investigated; found no foundation for the accusation and the case was closed. She transferred to another area within the Mead Corporation at a slightly lower level but she was away from him. Don't we just love it when corporations function as designed?

 

The church in Corinth had a situation that was reported to Paul. "It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?"  

 

Today GSMCOC has a situation that until recently I would have said other churches would not tolerate but I would have been mistaken. Recently I was told that a former member of GSMCOC is living with her soon to be hubby, a Baptist preacher, in West Virginia. Who would have guessed a Baptist congregation accepting such behavior from their preacher? Surely GSMCOC would not accept such behavior by its preacher. Or would we?

 

In small organizations (Mead was not a small organization but the departments within the corporation were) it is impossible to report questionable behavior without causing a division unless the leaders lead. As with the situation with the secretary at Mead I am sure any investigation of questionable behavior would discover nothing untoward.

 

Paul told the folks in Thessalonica "Abstain from all appearance of evil." What constitutes appearance of evil?

 

We should not be so hard on those folks in Corinth. Would we have behaved any differently if the man who had has father's wife was a GSMCOC leader?

 

John Jenkins
865-803-8179  cell
Gatlinburg, TN


Email: jrjenki@gmail.com
Blogs: http://littlepigeon.blogspot.com/
          http://alumcave.blogspot.com/

''Being an executive requires a combination of charisma, a capacity to sustain boredom, and the ability to shallowly perform on harrying schedules.''

 —Nassim Nichols Taleb