Don't Muslims and Christians Both Believe in Jesus? by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=8&article=5009

Don't Muslims and Christians Both Believe in Jesus?

by	Dave Miller, Ph.D.

Q:

“In a Muslim seminar, an Imam stated that both Christians and Muslims believe in Jesus, but of different faiths. What say you?”

A:

Muslims are quick to emphasize that they, too, believe in Jesus. Their claim is correct. After all, the Quran alludes to Jesus in a favorable light several times (e.g.,Surah 3:45-51; 5:110; 21:91; et al.). But this claim is misleading, since it fails to own up to the fact that Christianity and Islam are in hopeless contradiction with each other regarding the most crucial contention of New Testament Christianity: the divinity of Christ. On this solitary point, Islam and Christianity, the Bible and the Quran, can never agree. This disagreement is of such momentous import and great magnitude as to make the inexorable incompatibility permanent.

You see, while the Quran speaks favorably of Jesus as a prophet of God, it vehemently denounces the deity of Christ. For example, consider Surah 18:1-5 (as translated by Muslim scholar Mohammed Pickthall)—

Praise be to Allah Who hath revealed the Scripture unto His slave…to give warning of stern punishment from Him…and to warn those who say: Allah hath chosen a son, (A thing) whereof they have no knowledge, nor (had) their fathers. Dreadful is the word that cometh out of their mouths. They speak naught but a lie.

And read Surah 19:88-93—

And they say: The Beneficent hath taken unto Himself a son. Assuredly ye utter a disastrous thing, whereby almost the heavens are torn, and the earth is split asunder and the mountains fall in ruins, that ye ascribe unto the Beneficent a son, when it is not meet for (the Majesty of) the Beneficent that He should choose a son. There is none in the heavens and the earth but cometh unto the Beneficient as a slave.

Or Surah 23:91—

Allah hath not chosen any son, nor is there any God along with Him (also 25:2; et al.).

These references demonstrate that the Quran depicts Jesus as a mere man—a prophet like Muhammad—who was created by God like all other created beings (Surah 5:75; cf. 42:9,13,21). Indeed, when Jesus is compared to any of the prophets (listed as Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, and Jacob), Allah is represented as stating: “We make no distinction between any of them” (Surah 2:136; 3:84). Though the Quran seems to accept the notion of the virgin conception (Surah 21:91), to attribute divinity to Jesus, or to assign to Jesus equal rank with God, is to utter a “dreadful” and “disastrous” thing—to formulate “nothing but a lie”!

Here, indeed, is the number one conflict between Islam and Christianity—the deity, person, and redemptive role of Christ. If Christ is Who the Bible represents Him to be, then Islam and the Quran are completely fictitious. If Jesus Christ is Who the Quran represents Him to be, then Christianity is baseless and blasphemous. On this point alone, these two religions can never achieve harmony. But the New Testament is very, very clear: the heart, core, and soul of the Christian religion is allegiance to Jesus Christ as God, Lord, and Savior. Jesus identified Himself as the “I AM” of the Old Testament (John 8:58; cf. 20:28-31). In Colossians, Paul forcefully affirmed regarding Jesus—

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (1:15-17). For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (2:9).

Such depictions of Jesus are frequent in the New Testament. Jesus was certainly a prophet, as the Quran affirms (Surah 4:163); but Jesus was not just a prophet. He was God in the flesh. In fact, oral confession of the deity of Christ is prerequisite to becoming a Christian (Romans 10:9-10). This singular point makes Christianity and Islam forever incompatible. One must be a Christian to be saved (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), and yet one cannot be a Christian without believing in, and verbally confessing, the deity of Christ, and then being immersed into Christ (Romans 6:1-4; Galatians 3:27). The Bible declares that Jesus was the final revelation of God to man (Hebrews 1:1-3). There have been no others.

From Mark Copeland... "THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT" Innovations In The Work Of The Church

                        "THE CHURCH JESUS BUILT"

                 Innovations In The Work Of The Church

INTRODUCTION

1. In our previous study, we summarized the work of the church as...
   a. Edification (preparing the saints for service)
   b. Benevolence (providing for the needy saints)
   c. Evangelism (proclaiming the gospel)

2. When we let the local church do its proper work, it will...
   a. "equip saints for the work of the ministry"
   b. "edify the body of Christ"
   c. "grow up in all things into Him who is the head, Christ"

3. Yet it is not uncommon for the local church to be used in ways God
   did not intend, such as for political or social activism...
   a. Not that such causes are without merit
      1) As individuals, Christians can certainly participate in such matters
      2) Using other organizations such as family, community, or
         governmental agencies
   b. But the local church is limited in its resources
      1) It can easily become "burdened" (cf. 1Ti 5:16)
      2) It can be hindered or distracted from fulfilling its true
         purpose

[Among many churches, innovations have been introduced into the work of
the church.  Though well intentioned, they tend to denominationalize
and/or secularize the church.  One such innovation is...]

I. INSTITUTIONALISM

   A. INSTITUTIONALISM DEFINED...
      1. The support of human institutions from the treasury of local churches
         a. "...the doctrine or practice of a church sending money to an
            institution of some kind in order to carry out some work
            that the church has deemed worthy of support."
            - http://www.goodfight.com/notes/Institutionalism.html
         b. "... this may include supporting missionary organizations,
            orphan's homes, nursing homes, schools, other churches, even
            political organizations." - ibid.
      2. Such institutions are often called 'parachurch organizations'
         a. "The parachurch is effectively a new form of religious
            organization that dates from the early 19th century."
         b. "In the first quarter of the 19th century, parachurch
            organizations were abundant in many forms -- Bible tract
            societies, independent educational organizations,
            independent missionary groups, and moral reform organizations."
         c. "The defining characteristic of a parachurch is that it
            stands outside of the organizational structure of well-
            established religious bodies."
         d. "Parachurches are often the creation of an entrepreneur or a
            small cadre of people who seek to achieve specific goals."
         -- http://religiousbroadcasting.lib.virginia.edu/parachurch.html
      3. The goal of such institutions are certainly noble:  evangelism,
         benevolence, edification, etc.
         a. The issue in this study is not whether such institutions
            have a right to exist
         b. The issue is whether local churches should support them out
            of their treasury

   B. PROBLEMS WITH INSTITUTIONALISM...
      1. There is no scriptural support for churches to support human institutions
         a. There is no example of NT churches sending money to human
            institutions as a way of carrying out their work of
            evangelism, edification, or benevolence
         b. The practice began in the 19th century (see above)
         c. In the NT, churches sent money directly to other churches or
            individuals
      2. It gives oversight of the local church's work to those not its elders
         a. Human institutions are governed by board members, CEOs, or other individuals
         b. Churches 'out source' their work and their oversight by
            giving to such organizations
      3. It turns the local church into a collection agency for man-made organizations
         a. Institutions appeal for churches to support their organizations
         b. The local church thus becomes a mini 'United Way' for human institutions
      4. It tends to denominationalize the church
         a. Institutions usually identify their association with a
            particular group of churches
         b. E.g., a 'Church of Christ school', or 'Church of Christ
            benevolent home', etc.
         c. The use of 'Church of Christ' in such a way contributes to a
            denominational mindset
      5. Additional insights regarding the problems with
         institutionalism come from an article on Parachurch
         Organizations by William McDonald:
         a. "One result is that capable teachers and preachers have been
            called away from their primary ministries in order to become
            administrators. If all mission board administrators were
            serving on the mission field, it would greatly reduce the
            need for personnel there."
         b. "Another result of the proliferation of organizations is
            that vast sums of money are needed for overhead, and thus
            diverted from direct gospel outreach. The greater part of
            every dollar given to many Christian organizations is
            devoted to the expense of maintaining the organization
            rather than to the primary purpose for which it was
            founded."
         c. "Organizations often hinder the fulfillment of the Great
            Commission. Jesus told His disciples to teach all the things
            He had commanded. Many who work for Christian organizations
            find they are not permitted to teach all the truth of God.
            They must not teach certain controversial matters for fear
            they will alienate the constituency to whom they look for
            financial support."
         d. "The multiplication of Christian institutions has too often
            resulted in factions, jealousy, and rivalry that have done
            great harm to the testimony of Christ. 'Consider the
            overlapping multiplicity of Christian organizations at work,
            at home, and abroad. Each competes for limited personnel and
            for shrinking financial resources. And consider how many of
            these organizations really owe their origin to purely human
            rivalry, though public statements usually refer to God's
            will (Daily Notes of the Scripture Union).'"
         -- http://web.singnet.com.sg/~syeec/literature/parachurch.html

[Whether individual Christians should support such human institutions is
another issue.  There is no authority for local churches to do so, and
it is fraught with problems.  The same is true regarding...]

II. SPONSORING CHURCHES

   A. SPONSORING CHURCH CONCEPT DEFINED...
      1. Where one congregation oversees a work in another area, or the
         combined efforts of two or more churches
         a. "One congregation that especially oversees a project such as
            a mission society, in which other congregations have an
            interest and to which they voluntarily contribute regularly.
            The fact that other churches contribute to a project this is
            overseen by the elders of one church is the central idea."
            - J. D. Thomas, We Be Brethren, p. 355
         b. "A sponsoring church is a congregation which assumes the
            oversight and control of some activity in the general field
            of evangelism, edification, or benevolence." - Kevin Kay,
            Institutionalism: Sponsoring Church
      2. Some examples of sponsoring church arrangements
         a. A church sponsors a foreign work, with its elders overseeing
            the evangelist(s) and the congregation(s) in a particular area
         b. A church sponsors a work beyond its own ability to finance
            (e.g., TV, radio), and asks other churches to financially
            support its efforts
         c. A church sponsors an evangelist, with other churches
            channeling their support of said evangelist through the
            auspices and control of the sponsoring church
      3. The sponsoring church concept was developed as an alternative
         to parachurch organizations
         a. Many opposed human institutions like missionary societies
         b. This alternative sought to do the same work through churches
            rather than societies

   B. PROBLEMS WITH THE SPONSORING CHURCH ARRANGEMENT...
      1. There is no clear scriptural support for the sponsoring-church
         concept
         a. Some point to Jerusalem as a 'sponsoring church' 

            - cf. Ac 11:29-30; 12:25
            1) Where supposedly the elders of the Jerusalem oversaw the work
            2) But the 'elders' in Ac 11:30 are just as likely those of
               the churches in Judea
         b. Some believe Philippi 'sponsored' Paul's support 

            - cf. 2 Co 11:8; Php 4:15-16
            1) Where supposedly support from other churches were
               funneled through Philippi
            2) But Paul's remarks in Php 4:15 refer to the beginning of
               the work in Macedonia, and 2Co 11:8 can easily include
               support received directly from other churches later
      2. It gives too much oversight to the elders of a local church
         a. Elders were to oversee the flock of God 'among you' 

            - cf. Ac 20:28; 1Pe 5:1-2
         b. Elders of a sponsoring church have oversight beyond the
            local congregation
         c. They oversee works in other places, even churches in other countries
         d. Who gave the elders the right to assume such authority?
      3. It violates the NT pattern for local church autonomy
         a. In the NT, congregations were independent, autonomous
         b. Other than the Lord and His apostles, a congregation was
            answerable only to its elders - cf. 1Pe 5:5; He 13:7,17
         c. Elders of the sponsoring church expects churches and
            individuals they 'sponsor' to be answerable to them
         d. Sponsoring churches have sought to control the actions and
            even the property of churches or works they 'sponsor'
            (especially in foreign countries)
      4. It reverses the goal of scriptural cooperation between churches
         a. In the NT, support always worked toward the direction of
            equality - cf. 2Co 8:13-14
         b. In the sponsoring church concept, smaller churches send
            money to bigger churches
         c. Instead of equality, big churches become bigger at the
            expense of smaller churches
      5. It seeks to activate the universal church
         a. The sponsoring church concept was originally developed in
            opposition to church supported missionary societies (e.g.,
            the American Christian Missionary Society)
         b. The missionary society concept was designed to activate the
            universal church
         c. Thus the sponsoring church seeks to accomplish the same as
            the missionary society
         d. Yet such efforts lead to the next problem...
      6. It leads to denominationalizing the church
         a. Attempts to activate the universal church lead to denominationalism
         b. Invariably, such efforts separate those who support such
            efforts from those who do not
         c. Before long, groups of churches are identified by whether or
            not they support such efforts (e.g., institutional vs.
            non-institutional churches)
         d. People begin asking "Are you with us, or them?", sounding
            like those in Corinth - cf. 1Co 1:11-12

[Both institutionalism and the sponsoring church concept have done much
to denominationalize churches of Christ.  Another innovation has done
much to secularize churches of Christ...

III. SOCIAL PROGRAMS

   A. SOCIAL PROGRAMS DEFINED...
      1. Where churches use their funds to offer social programs
         a. Either for their own members
         b. Or for those in their community and beyond
      2. Social programs such as:
         a. Day care centers, schools, counseling services
         b. Orphan homes, disaster relief, medical missions
         c. Family life centers, gymnasiums, racket ball courts
      3. Through such efforts, using the local church to:
         a. Solve social ills in our society
         b. Provide entertainment for young people to keep them
            interested and out of trouble

   B. PROBLEMS WITH SOCIAL PROGRAMS...
      1. There is no scriptural support for the church to support social programs
         a. The church certainly provided benevolence for Christians
            - cf. 1Co 16:1-2; Ro 15:26
         b. As individuals we are certainly to be "good Samaritans"
            - cf. Ga 6:10; Jm 1:27
         c. But there is no indication that the local church became a
            business that offered such a wide range of services
      2. It burdens the local church with activities for which it was not designed
         a. Notice Paul's concern that the church not be 'burdened'
            - cf. 1Ti 5:16
         b. Christians were expected to fulfill their familial duties
            - cf. 1Ti 5:8
         c. Thus limitations were placed on who the church could support
            - cf. 1Ti 5:9-13
         d. The church has its own work to fulfill (e.g., evangelism,
            edification), while the Lord expects individuals, families,
            governments, and society at large to fulfill their duties
            - cf. 1Ti 5:4,14 (family); Ro 13:3-4 (government)
      3. It has the long term effect of secularizing the church
         a. Secularize - To draw away from religious orientation; make
            worldly - American Heritage Dictionary
         b. The effects of secularization on the church through social
            programs are evident:
            1) Elders (shepherds, pastors) become board members,
               directors, managers
            2) Evangelists (preachers, ministers) become staff managers,
               personal counselors
            3) Churches have youth directors, education superintendents,
               family counselors, secretaries, janitors, etc.
         c. Losing its spiritual focus, a congregation becomes:
            1) A business instead of a body
            2) A foundation instead of a family
            3) A corporation instead of a church

CONCLUSION

1. Again, it is not that there are social causes that do not need to be addressed...
   a. As individuals, Christians can and should make an impact
   b. They can use other organizations such as family, community, or
      governmental agencies
   c. Like leaven, their influence may not be as noticeable, but
      nonetheless real - cf. Mt 13:33

2. But do not forget that the local church is limited in its resources...
   a. It can easily become "burdened" (cf. 1Ti 5:16)
   b. It can be hindered or distracted from fulfilling its true purpose
      intended by God

3. History has shown the impact of institutionalism, the sponsoring
   church concept, and church involvement in social programs:
   denominationalism and secularization

Being 'in' the world, there is the danger of becoming 'of' the world
(cf. Jn 17:14-15).  Should we not be content to "let the church be the
church", especially in regards to its work...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

Note from Gary...

I will need to study this topic and reflect upon its consequences further.  At the moment, I post this for informational purposes only.

From Gary.... Black and white

For those who say "Everyone will make it to heaven", I share this picture. The following verses seem to naturally follow...

Matthew, Chapter 7 (WEB)
 13  “Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.  14  How  narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it. 

Jesus said it and that is that!!!  But, why is it true? Well, I suppose there are many reasons why, but it seems to me that if Jesus is the one who saves (Luke 19:10) and you do not listen to HIM, then basically- you are on your own (and that is the road through the wide gate). Jesus' words (the narrow gate) are life; this parable is worth reading- over and over!!!

Matthew, Chapter 13 (WEB)
 3 He spoke to them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, a farmer went out to sow.  4  As he sowed, some seeds fell by the roadside, and the birds came and devoured them.   5  Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of earth.   6  When the sun had risen, they were scorched. Because they had no root, they withered away.   7  Others fell among thorns. The thorns grew up and choked them.   8  Others fell on good soil, and yielded fruit: some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.   9  He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” 

  10  The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 

  11  He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them.   12  For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has.  13  Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand.   14  In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says, 
‘By hearing you will hear, 
and will in no way understand; 
Seeing you will see, 
and will in no way perceive: 
  15  for this people’s heart has grown callous, 
their ears are dull of hearing, 
they have closed their eyes; 
or else perhaps they might perceive with their eyes, 
hear with their ears, 
understand with their heart, 
and should turn again; 
and I would heal them.’ 

  16  “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear.   17  For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them. 

  18  “Hear, then, the parable of the farmer.   19  When anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes, and snatches away that which has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown by the roadside.   20  What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word, and immediately with joy receives it;   21  yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.   22  What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.  23  What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word, and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit, and produces, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty.” 

Now that you know why, learn; that is what the term disciple means- one who learns. One last thing; practice what you have learned. Easier said than done. Pray for help- God does listen and will help!!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading April 22

Bible Reading  

April 22

The World English Bible

Apr. 22

Numbers 35, 36

Num 35:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

Num 35:2 Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and You shall give suburbs for the cities around them to the Levites.

Num 35:3 The cities shall they have to dwell in; and their suburbs shall be for their livestock, and for their substance, and for all their animals.

Num 35:4 The suburbs of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall be from the wall of the city and outward one thousand cubits around it.

Num 35:5 You shall measure outside of the city for the east side two thousand cubits, and for the south side two thousand cubits, and for the west side two thousand cubits, and for the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the midst. This shall be to them the suburbs of the cities.

Num 35:6 The cities which you shall give to the Levites, they shall be the six cities of refuge, which you shall give for the manslayer to flee to: and besides them you shall give forty-two cities.

Num 35:7 All the cities which you shall give to the Levites shall be forty-eight cities together with their suburbs.

Num 35:8 Concerning the cities which you shall give of the possession of the children of Israel, from the many you shall take many; and from the few you shall take few: everyone according to his inheritance which he inherits shall give of his cities to the Levites.

Num 35:9 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 35:10 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

Num 35:11 then you shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.

Num 35:12 The cities shall be to you for refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer not die, until he stands before the congregation for judgment.

Num 35:13 The cities which you shall give shall be for you six cities of refuge.

Num 35:14 You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and you shall give three cities in the land of Canaan; they shall be cities of refuge.

Num 35:15 For the children of Israel, and for the stranger and for the foreigner living among them, shall these six cities be for refuge; that everyone who kills any person unwittingly may flee there.

Num 35:16 But if he struck him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Num 35:17 If he struck him with a stone in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Num 35:18 Or if he struck him with a weapon of wood in the hand, by which a man may die, and he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

Num 35:19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death: when he meets him, he shall put him to death.

Num 35:20 If he thrust him of hatred, or hurled at him, lying in wait, so that he died,

Num 35:21 or in enmity struck him with his hand, so that he died; he who struck him shall surely be put to death; he is a murderer: the avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death, when he meets him.

Num 35:22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or hurled on him anything without lying in wait,

Num 35:23 or with any stone, by which a man may die, not seeing him, and cast it on him, so that he died, and he was not his enemy, neither sought his harm;

Num 35:24 then the congregation shall judge between the striker and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances;

Num 35:25 and the congregation shall deliver the manslayer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, where he was fled: and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.

Num 35:26 But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the border of his city of refuge, where he flees,

Num 35:27 and the avenger of blood find him outside of the border of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kill the manslayer; he shall not be guilty of blood,

Num 35:28 because he should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the manslayer shall return into the land of his possession.

Num 35:29 These things shall be for a statute and ordinance to you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

Num 35:30 Whoever kills any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

Num 35:31 Moreover you shall take no ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of death; but he shall surely be put to death.

Num 35:32 You shall take no ransom for him who is fled to his city of refuge, that he may come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest.

Num 35:33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are: for blood, it pollutes the land; and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him who shed it.

Num 35:34 You shall not defile the land which you inhabit, in the midst of which I dwell: for I, Yahweh, dwell in the midst of the children of Israel.

Num 36:1 The heads of the fathers' houses of the family of the children of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near, and spoke before Moses, and before the princes, the heads of the fathers' houses of the children of Israel:

Num 36:2 and they said, Yahweh commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the children of Israel: and my lord was commanded by Yahweh to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.

Num 36:3 If they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of our fathers, and will be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will it be taken away from the lot of our inheritance.

Num 36:4 When the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be, then will their inheritance be added to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they shall belong: so will their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.

Num 36:5 Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of Yahweh, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks right.

Num 36:6 This is the thing which Yahweh does command concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, Let them be married to whom they think best; only into the family of the tribe of their father shall they be married.

Num 36:7 So shall no inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe; for the children of Israel shall cleave everyone to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

Num 36:8 Every daughter, who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may possess every man the inheritance of his fathers.

Num 36:9 So shall no inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; for the tribes of the children of Israel shall cleave everyone to his own inheritance.

Num 36:10 Even as Yahweh commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad:

Num 36:11 for Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to their father's brothers' sons.

Num 36:12 They were married into the families of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph; and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father.

Num 36:13 These are the commandments and the ordinances which Yahweh commanded by Moses to the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Apr. 22, 23

Luke 13

Luk 13:1 Now there were some present at the same time who told him about the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

Luk 13:2 Jesus answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things?

Luk 13:3 I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

Luk 13:4 Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; do you think that they were worse offenders than all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?

Luk 13:5 I tell you, no, but, unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way."

Luk 13:6 He spoke this parable. "A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none.

Luk 13:7 He said to the vine dresser, 'Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?'

Luk 13:8 He answered, 'Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it.

Luk 13:9 If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.' "

Luk 13:10 He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day.

Luk 13:11 Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and she was bent over, and could in no way straighten herself up.

Luk 13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her, and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your infirmity."

Luk 13:13 He laid his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight, and glorified God.

Luk 13:14 The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, "There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!"

Luk 13:15 Therefore the Lord answered him, "You hypocrites! Doesn't each one of you free his ox or his donkey from the stall on the Sabbath, and lead him away to water?

Luk 13:16 Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?"

Luk 13:17 As he said these things, all his adversaries were disappointed, and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.

Luk 13:18 He said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it?

Luk 13:19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in its branches."

Luk 13:20 Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?

Luk 13:21 It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened."

Luk 13:22 He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.

Luk 13:23 One said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" He said to them,

Luk 13:24 "Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

Luk 13:25 When once the master of the house has risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside, and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' then he will answer and tell you, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'

Luk 13:26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'

Luk 13:27 He will say, 'I tell you, I don't know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.'

Luk 13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, in the Kingdom of God, and yourselves being thrown outside.

Luk 13:29 They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in the Kingdom of God.

Luk 13:30 Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."

Luk 13:31 On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, "Get out of here, and go away, for Herod wants to kill you."

Luk 13:32 He said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.

Luk 13:33 Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can't be that a prophet perish outside of Jerusalem.'

Luk 13:34 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!

Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!' "

From Jim McGuiggan... James 5: Robbed

James 5: Robbed

In chapter 5 James turns on those who prosper through the labor of others but who refuse to pay wages to those workers. The issue is fundamentally practical because it concerns food and clothing, shelter and dignity and these are being kept from those who have earned them. This is robbery, however explained or explained away or however skillfully the employer talks his way out of his obligation. He might as well be mugging the worker as far as concrete results are concerned because in the end he is robbing the worker of what is rightfully his. Down the years countless workers have made the rich and powerful richer and more powerful and for sheerly self-serving reasons, with no sense of debt, the rich and powerful walked away and left the workers stunned, jobless and in dire straits.

The reverse is true! There is more than enough of those who prey on the elderly, the ignorant and the disadvantaged. He comes to fix a leak under the sink or a faulty switch in the bedroom or a few loose slates on the roof and the sly crook gouges the poor woman for work he has never done. A recent case here in the UK involved the life’s savings of an elderly gentleman. A carpenter/joiner came to fix some windows, as I recall, but ending up building a whole new staircase and putting in some new flooring. I say that as though he had finished the job but he never had. What made it especially galling was that the sweet-natured old man continued to speak of the crook as "a nice man, very kind and helpful," certainly words to that affect. He said it took all his savings but at least his house was fixed up, or nearly so. Some time after the television interview the man fell down the stairs and died. The matter is still being pursued. In James the employers took advantage of and robbed the workers and in this case—as in so many others—the worker took advantage of and robbed the vulnerable old man.

And there are those in unions who go far beyond the sometimes essential work that they do to ensure that the workers are not prey to predatory wealth and power. They become the predators and honest businessmen and women are intimidated into agreements that are near impossible, straight-jacketed by union rules and policies that claims rights to the point where community is lost and everyone loses.

The principles involved here are far-reaching because while there’s more than one way of robbing someone there are many things we can steal from people. There are those who have made us rich in freedom and education and health and we refuse to give them what is due them. I’m think immediately of parents that have spent their lives providing for and protecting their children and their due is withheld—robbed! Teachers have devoted their lives to give us a shot at a better life in spirit as well as in other ways and their due is withheld—robbed! Wives and husbands have given the best years of their lives in faithfulness and devotion and their due is withheld—robbed! Little and growing children came to us for shaping and protection, came to us because we invited them into our lives and made them dependent on us and their due is withheld—Robbed!

James had a word of consolation: the Lord is near! Yes, that’s all very well, but what about those who’ve already suffered the loss? The Lord is not only near he will right all wrongs! Think noble things of God. Don’t rob him of his due because he has shown himself worthy of it all in Jesus Christ.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, theabidingword.com.