So Paul's advice is to remain purposefully ignorant? Seems odd to me.

So in essence Paul is saying, don't ask any questions, shut up, and eat?  That just seems odd to me. 

1 Corinthians 10:25-30(NKJV)

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience’ sake; 

for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.” 

If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience’ sake. 

But if anyone says to you, “This was offered to idols,” do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience’ sake; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness.”  

“Conscience,” I say, not your own, but that of the other. For why is my liberty judged by another man’s conscience? 

But if I partake with thanks, why am I evil spoken of for the food over which I give thanks?

For those who think competition is bad or even immoral.

There are a lot of people out there who think competition is bad or even immoral.  As an example some kids sports don't keep score anymore because they don't want to promote competition.  I think that is extremely silly but I wonder what Scripture has to say about it? 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27(NKJV)

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 

But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Seems pretty clear to me.  Paul says run the race to win.  That's competition isn't it?  So as you can see, Scripture promotes competition; it doesn't denounce it.

Paul and his weirdness.

As I have written in the past, I just find Paul odd.

The whole book of the Song of Solomon celebrates the loving relationship between a man and a woman.  Paul on the other hand treats it like a curse.  Weird.  Here is an example.

1 Corinthians 7:1-9(NKJV)

Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 

Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 

The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 

Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 

But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 

For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 

but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

It's almost as if Paul thinks the only reason to get married is for sex. 

Jesus Himself said so!

Are we all equal in Heaven?  Jesus Himself says no.  Take a look.

Matthew 5:19(NKJV)

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

As you can see Jesus says some in Heaven will be called least and some in Heaven will be called great.  Notice also that Jesus doesn't condemn this practice.  The fact that Jesus doesn't condemn it in any way tells me that Jesus is OK with it. 

Say what?

Wow.  That didn't take long.  All through the Old Testament the references to Heaven are that is where God lives.  I couldn't find any indication in the Old Testament that we humans will end up in Heaven someday.  There are a couple of examples of people ascending into Heaven.  Jesus and Elijah if I remember correctly. 

So I was curious how long it would take to find this apparent change of doctrine in the New Testament.  Didn't take long.

Matthew 5:11-12(NKJV)

“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 

Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Here is the first reference I found and it is in the very first Book of the Gospel.  It says "…for great is your reward in Heaven…".  If our reward is in Heaven then that indicates that we eventually have a way to get to Heaven to claim that reward. 

I'm interested to see how the rest of this plays out. 

"…each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. " so saith Paul.

I have written about this many times.  Here however, we have Paul saying the same thing I've been saying and it is all in one place. 

To recap, we are saved by grace so that none may boast but our rewards in Heaven are based on the amount of service we provide to God.  So not everybody gets the same reward in Heaven which shoots the claims that God is a Socialist in the foot.

1 Corinthians 3:5-15(NKJV)

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? 

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 

Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.

For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. 

According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 

For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 

each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 

If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 

If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

"Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God"

Everybody likes to contemplate the goodness of God.  Unfortunately for some, that is all they focus on.  They just don't seem to believe that there is a severity side to God.  They seem to think of Him as God the Grandfather instead of God the father.  I think they may be in for a surprise. 

Romans 11:16-24(NKJV)

For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. 

And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, 

do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.

You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” 

Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. 

For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. 

Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 

And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 

For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

Well that sure didn't come true did it?

1 Corinthians 1:10(NKJV)

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 

Just think how many different denominations there are today.  While in general they are teaching the same thing; faith in Jesus, the death and the resurrection; there are many divisions in the details. 

But where do you draw the line?

Interesting concept but where do you draw the line?  What am I talking about?  Read this passage and then I'll explain.

Romans 16:17-18(NKJV)

Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 

For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. 

So we have Paul here telling us to shun certain people.  I have mixed feelings here.  On the one hand I agree that we should not tolerate people who try to cause division and teach things that are contrary to Scripture.  On the other hand I can see how this Scripture could be used by Church authorities to try to suppress legitimate opposition. 

The Covenant Church had a great saying.  "Show me where it is written".  We may have a disagreement but if you can show me where in Scripture you are getting your view from then at least we could agree to disagree.  However if you couldn't show where your view was in Scripture then you lose.  :)

 

Lucifer and Heaven

Satan had designs on Heaven.  He intended to ascend into Heaven and replace God.  Not a good career move in my opinion.  :)

Isaiah 14:13(NKJV)

    For you have said in your heart:     ‘I will ascend into heaven,     I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;     I will also sit on the mount of the congregation     On the farthest sides of the north;

Isn't it interesting that man really didn't aspire to Heaven but Satan did.  In fact Satan went so far as to decide that he could get into Heaven under his own rules.  Reminds me of all the people out there who don't believe in Jesus but think they can get into Heaven under their own rules.