Text for Menu-Driven Bible Study 16 September 2016  See Menu     MP3     Menu-Driven Bible Study Homepage

Topics Discussed:

Item 77 - "Final Place of Grooming" [at the beginning of the audio]
Item 72 - It's All About Godly Calling [begins at 06:08 of the audio]
Item 63 - Gambling -- Is Gambling a Sin? [begins at 28:14 of the audio]

Those who teach there is a place of safety often give the justification that it is a place of final spiritual grooming prior to the return of Christ.  Is this idea an example of good theology?  Is it spiritually logical?

The ICG does not teach the idea of a specific place of safety, knowing that God can protect us anywhere at any time.  Further, we do not believe any firstfruit should be contemplating saving his or her own skin. 

However, there are people in the Body of Christ who are taught this idea.  As a justification, they are taught that it is a place of final grooming or teaching.
 
 My question is simple:  What final teaching? 

Does anyone have a class schedule or a document describing the content and scope of this training?  In what form would it come?  Who would be the teachers?

Why do these individuals, who probably have been in the salvation process for a number of months and years, get special training when the 144,000 and great multitude receive no such training?  What training do they receive in any case?

Why do these final few need this special training?  If one is in a place of safety, what is the next great event in his or her life? 

Well, let's see, it's the return of Christ and the First Resurrection.  This being the case, why do I need special training in a cave in the hot desert just prior to becoming a perfect spirit being?
 
 My wife died in the faith back in 2002.  Thousands of saints lie in the grave, as I write, waiting for the First Resurrection.  What are they missing by not getting in on this final training?  Do those so blessed to get this training receive greater reward or position in the Kingdom of God.  If so, why?
 
 Where is the biblical description of this training?  Where is the principle, prophecy or indication that this is to happen in the end time?  I cannot find it anywhere.

---I marvel at those who do not appreciate Godly Calling.
---One of the most neglected and least understood elements.
---How can we give diligence to our calling if ignorant?

---I hear: “I chose where I attend”
---“All churches the same.   ---“I float between 7 churches”
--- “I attend 1 year in each of the majors.

---Are any of these statements justified?
---Do these statements reflect the will of God? 
---Absolutely not

---Where do we see servants of God with many choices?
---Once called, they are God’s and carry out His will.
---They are referred to as “servants” of God or “slaves” of Jesus

---“Servant” means “Slave”
---Strong’s: Doulos, a slave..in subjection

SLAVE---Paul spoke of himself as a "servant," a word sometimes rendered as "bondservant" but frequently also as "slave" (Romans 1:1; Titus 1:1). Christians, especially ministers, are not hired servants but slaves committed to service to Jesus. --Nelson's Bible Dictionary

SOLDIER Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. –2 Timothy 2:3 [see Lesson ]

The following are all referred to as servant-slaves:  (see support below)

The following are all referred to as servant-slaves of God and Christ:
 

 Let us take a sampling of the individuals from the above table and see how God ruled their lives.
 

We are bought with a price and become God’s property.  We no longer have the free choice the world has.
 

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. –1 Corinthians 6:20

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. –1 Corinthians 7:23-24

 Let us take a sampling of the individuals from the above table and see how God ruled their lives.  (See support)
 

---Notice in the cases of David and Paul that they desired to do something but were forbidden by God from doing so. 
---Why should we think that God would treat and deal with us differently? 
---We are all given a high calling of God.  Notice…

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 3:14…………notice a commentary.

The prize belongs to those who respond wholeheartedly to God's upward call, [away from self and toward new heights of spiritual attainment] in Christ Jesus. –Wycliffe
 
Some firstfruits say they will choose where they live and just what they will do for a living.  What does God say?

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.  For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. –James 4:13-15

---If God declares the city, how can we declare the church?
---We cannot even declare that we will keep the Law.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit. -- Hebrews 6:1-3

[If God permit] In reference to anything that we undertake, however pleasing to God in itself, it is proper to recognize our entire dependence on God. –Barnes

This attitude is mixed all through the words of Paul:
 

But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. – Acts 18:21

That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed. – Romans 15:32

But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. –1 Corinthians 4:19

For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit. –1 Corinthians 16:7

This is to be our attitude.  It is God’s calling.  We are His.  He makes the decisions and issues the commands.  Our only choice is to obey or fall away.

John said… He [Christ] must increase, but I must decrease. – John 3:30

Col. 1:18 says Christ is the head of the church and has all preeminence.

--We are not making the physical & spiritual decisions-God is
--If we are immersed in the Word of God, He is directing…

…our career, where we live, what we eat, how we treat people, how we save and spend money, how we keep the Sabbath and Holy Days and what church we attend.

---We are to live by every word of God [Matthew 4:4]. 
---The Word of God is the mind of God and Christ. 
---The mind of Christ MUST have the preeminence in all our thoughts, meditations and decisions. 

---We are to be totally reliant on God.

---It is ALL about Godly Calling!!!

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. -2 Peter 1:10

--What is gambling? 
--Why is this subject so volatile?  --Is it okay to buy a lottery ticket?
--What does this subject teach us about good and bad theology?

Note:  I want to say, before we begin, that my primary thrust here is not for or against gambling so much, as how the subject is discussed.  It is an extremely volatile subject.

This is not a simple question with a simple answer. 

--Gambling is Personal Element of Faith
--There is no “Thus Saith the Lord” on the subject
--The church cannot legislate faith

The subject is volatile because it is a P. E. B and because there are so many definitions depending on one’s experience with the subject.

---No one can argue a person’s P. E. B. unless it can be shown it conflicts with the Word of God.
---It is vanity to argue a P. E. B.-----Tuna fish sandwiches on Tuesday afternoons.

What does "Gambling" mean?  --not all dictionary but P. E. B.

Gambling is...

A) Betting something of value against an unknown outcome.

B) Walking into a casino or attending a race track.

C) "Getting something for nothing."

D) Betting money you do not have, such as the rent money or borrowed money on a game of chance or investment with an unknown outcome.

E) An addiction or sickness.

F) An act of greed.

Let me take each in turn:

A) Betting something of value against an unknown outcome.

--A person puts a dollar into a slot machine and pulls the handle.  This is clearly betting something of value against an unknown outcome. 

--A person bets two dollars in a ten-horse race on horse number 5.  This is easily betting something of value against an unknown outcome.

However, is betting value against the unknown inherently wrong or evil?

If it is, I must preach against

---having a savings account in a commercial bank.

---buying a home.

---investing in just about ANYTHING.

---buying stocks or commodities.

---entering into a business.

---speculating on gold, silver or platinum.

---living in a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, fire, or volcano zone.

---crossing the street during rush hour.

---driving a car.

---going hunting or otherwise doing anything with a firearm.

All of these involve risk.  All involve putting up something of value against an unknown outcome.  This argument is not enough

B) Walking into a casino or attending a race track. –does not hold to logic

--How can this be when gambling has not been shown to be evil?
--Casinos = destination resorts, hotels, spas, restaurants, shopping malls, lounges, showrooms, golf courses, theme parks.

--Some Feast-goers stay at casino hotels.
--Church dinners have been held at racetrack dining rooms.

Appearance of Evil---See Menu Item 66 – 1 Thessalonians 5:22

---To have an appearance of evil….there MUST be an evil.

---1 Thessalonians 5:22 actually says, “Abstain from every kind of evil”.
---Commentary—sin not and get nowhere near evil.

---Commentary—sin is breaking of established biblical Law

C) "Getting something for nothing."—what is “something” – “nothing
 

--5 dollars in slot gets you $10

Item One:  ---Passbook savings---collect principle and interest.

Item Two:  ---piece of land for $100,000 ---sell for $130,000.
Item Three: ---invest in stock market ---stock goes up in 3 days.
Item Four: ---Aunt dies and leaves you $250,000.

Item Five: ---Someone gives you a Feast Gift.

Item Six: ---You were hungry and someone gave you a meal.
Item Seven: ---You are a sinner, worthy of death.  Loving God--Salvation

---“Gaming” serves no purpose:  Billion dollar industry—called recreation.

---Of course there will be no gaming in WT---tons more also

---We are not debating whether any of these industries or institutions are good or whether they will be in the World Tomorrow.  We are addressing the single debating point of whether the gaming industry does the economy any good.

---Regarding certain industries being magnets for crime:
--------bad argument.  ----Casinos don’t attract crime---People do.
--------Ex.  Military base.

D) Betting money you do not have, such as the rent money or borrowed money on a game of chance or investment with an unknown outcome.----WRONG

E) An addiction or sickness.  ---fact that it is addictive does not make it wrong.

---people are addicted to chocolate, sex, eating, shopping or work.
---Should we rid the world of chocolate because some are addicted to it?

---church will not justify any addiction –urge professional help
---will not preach against targets of addiction.

F) It is an act of Greed
---gambling is not greed in and off itself.   Greed is something of the heart.

Notice the commandment...

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. –Exodus 20:17  ---greed is sin---not the target of greed.

Back to the original question, "Is it okay for a member to buy a lottery ticket?"

If it does not conflict with any of your personal elements of faith, then I would say it is okay if you would like to buy a lottery ticket.  That is, I am saying that this is your call.  The church is not and will not say "yea" or "nay" on this question.

Point to consider:  One need only buy one ticket per drawing. 

I would not recommend playing the lottery or engaging in any other type of gaming if:

a] it goes against any of your personal elements of faith.

b] if your spouse and/or other family members feel uncomfortable with you doing so.

c] if you are using money already earmarked for necessities.

d] if you feel you have a gambling problem or addiction.

e] if you feel your motivation is covetousness or greed.

In all cases, NEVER let your involvement in gambling [of any kind, including investments or the stock market] be a stumbling block before anyone in the family or the congregation.  I once knew of a small group of brethren in a local congregation that invested in the stock market and actually did rather well.  However, it actually became a problem for some, a stumbling block.

Gambling of all kinds is and will remain a personal element of faith until Christ returns.

The main point and lesson in all of this is that we learn something about good and bad theology.  Whatever you believe in the realm of P. E. B., let it be based on good theology.

---End of Text---
 

Questions Covered as of 16 September
The questions handled thus far highlighted in green.  If you wish to hear one again, feel free to ask for that one again.
Up for this coming Friday are 03-05-06 so far