Text for Menu-Driven Bible Study 7 October 2016  See Menu     MP3     Menu-Driven Bible Study Homepage

Topics Discussed:

Item 45 - Blessing on the Meal in Public Places [at the beginning of the audio]
Item 67 - Who Are YOU to Judge Me!!? [begins at 3:52 of the audio]
Item 18 - Spiritual Maturity -- When Does It Come? [begins at 18:50 of the audio]
Item 30 - Good Overcoming Evil -- Godly Concept? [begins at 33:05 of the audio]
Item 73 - Little White Lies [begins at 45:30 of the audio]
 

—when, where, how—especially in public places such as restaurants.

This subject has been known to divide local congregations and even families. 

The question is, "what do we do when at least one of the family or congregation is uncomfortable with praying over a meal in the restaurant in the presence of strangers?

The recommendation here is to take action that meets the comfort level of the lowest common denominator. 

That is, yield to the one expressing discomfort at the practice. 

Search for an accommodating compromise, such as asking God's blessing on the meal before you leave home or the church meeting hall. 

Another suggestion would to ask God's blessing in the car at the restaurant's parking lot.

One member asked, "Aren't we to let our light shine?" 

Our light shines when we invoke the power of the Holy Spirit in the form of a Godly principle, such as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, honesty and forgiveness.

Any form of praying in public could be construed as putting on airs and doing one's righteousness before me for men. 

We do not want to do acts before the public that could be taken as being negative or even against the Word of God. 

Generally, people do not misconstrue honesty, forgiveness, service or excellence, which are all Godly principles.

---How many times have you heard this? 
---It is often uttered the moment a minister opens his mouth in correction of a church member. 

---The one being corrected says, “You are judging me” as if ALL or ANY judgment is wrong. 

---The confusion seems to come from Matthew 7 and verse one:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. -- Matthew 7:1

--What is this verse saying? 
--Is ALL judging wrong?  Is there a right kind of judging? 

--If so, how is it done?  Begin by looking at one commentary, which will explain the meaning.

[Judge not ...] This command refers to rash, censorious, and unjust judgment. See Rom 2:1. Luke (Luke 6:37) explains it in the sense of "condemning." Christ does not condemn judging as a magistrate, for that, when according to justice, is lawful and necessary. Nor does he condemn our "forming an opinion" of the conduct of others, for it is impossible "not" to form an opinion of conduct that we know to be evil. But what he refers to is a habit of forming a judgment hastily, harshly, and without an allowance for every palliating circumstance, and a habit of "expressing" such an opinion harshly and unnecessarily when formed. It rather refers to private judgment than "judicial," and perhaps primarily to the customs of the scribes and Pharisees.  ~from Barnes' Notes

Here are the two referenced verses showing clearly we are talking about judgment as condemnation.

Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? -- Romans 2:1-3

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. -- Luke 6:37-38

Here are two more commentaries confirming the meaning as condemnation.

Matthew 7:1

[Judge not, that ye be not judged.] These exhortations are pointed against rash, harsh, and uncharitable judgments, the thinking evil, where no evil seems, and speaking of it accordingly.  ~Adam Clarke

Matthew 7:1

Judge not. The present imperative suggests that it is the habit of judging others that is condemned. Though the word judge is itself neutral as to the verdict, the sense here indicates an unfavorable judgment. Critics of others must stop short of final condemnation, for men cannot judge motives, as God can (cf. James 4:11-12). Believers are not to avoid all judging (cf. Matthews 7:6,16), for Christians need to judge themselves and offending members (1 Corinthians 5:3-5,12-13).   ~Wycliffe

From all this we conclude:

1] “Judge not” refers to rash, censorious [highly critical], and unjust judgment.

2] Christ is not condemning judging as a magistrate [such as a minister] when done according to justice.

3] Christ does not condemn our forming an opinion of the conduct of others.

4] When a firstfruit is committing a known evil [or moving toward a known evil], a minister will form an opinion as to conduct of the firstfruit.

5] The verse is talking about thinking evil when no evil is present.  (See Appearance of Evil)
6] Firstfruits are not to avoid all judging, for Christians need to judge themselves and offending members.

Righteous Judgment
Righteous judgment takes place when one is speaking to the conduct of another regarding an established evil or law breaking according to the Word of God.

Example: A local minister is made privy to a situation involving one unmarried male and one unmarried female in the congregation. 

---Living in the same apartment.
---Minister informed.
---Minister meets with the male.
---Man screams you judging me. ---condemning me

---Minister formed opinion of his conduct based on Word of God
---Man was practicing a form of evil
---Behavior seen and known by some in the congregation
---A first fruit is never to initiate a process that could lead to sin.

---Temptation could easily develop
---Minister is asking the member not to engage in a process that could lead to sin.
---Minister had to deal with stumbling block situation.
---Minister is dealing with a known sin of fornication.

---Paul’s admonition is to never even go in the direction of sin. 

--- It is the duty of the minister to point out to the member any process of sin [form of evil] in which they may be engaged. 

---This is not condemnation but encouragement to repentance and forward movement in the Salvation Process.

---Unrighteous judgment is imputing evil where no evil is present.  Righteous judgment is positive in that its goal is to aid the member in turning from sin or form of sin.
 

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. -- John 7:24

He that justifieth[CC1]  the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. - Proverbs 17:15

Received question:  Are we spiritually mature from the moment we are given the Holy Spirit?

---We know from 1 Corinthians 2:14 that we must have the Holy Spirit to understand.
---We know from 1 John 2:20 that we have unction of the Holy Spirit.
However…

We also know from the Word of God and nature [Romans 1:20] that everything about God is PROCESS.

---life cycle of a flower…a human life…in the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.

---all are processes and all have timelines.
---this is true of all spiritual processes including the Salvation Process

---there is a sin process.   A growing in faith and knowledge process
---there is a process of repentance and of overcoming sin.

Members often get frustrated in applying themselves to the end product rather than the Process.

Some feel guilty when they do not conquer a sin overnight.

When Paul, in outlining Timothy's duties as a new minister and speaking to performing ordinations said... [notice process throughout]

Lay hands suddenly on no man. –1 Timothy 5:22 [see Lesson].  This means that the church was to take its time and look for men and women strong in the faith and who have had time in the faith before performing the ordination.  Notice several scriptures that indicated timelines and process [time in the faith]:

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end. –Hebrews 3:14

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. –Hebrews 3:6

And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end. –Hebrews 6:11

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. –Philippians 1:5-6

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister. –Colossians 1:23

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. –Matthew 24:13

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. –Acts 14:22

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. –Romans 2:7

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. –Hebrews 10:38-39

I remember a sermon from my first month in the church back in 1971 in Seattle. 
--- "You individuals who have been in the faith for twenty years or so may think that you know it all.  Well, I am here to tell you this isn't necessarily so." 
---My thoughts then              ---My thoughts now

--- My observation:  firstfruits don’t hit a spiritual stride until after 20 years.
--- God worked with Moses for 80 years!!   Could He have done it in 6 months?
--- God likes a lifetime process for Salvation.  2^nd Resurrection = 100 years.

--- Spiritual Maturity demands full immersion into the Word of God.
--- This takes time.
--- Word of God is Spirit and without limits or depth.

Spiritual maturity comes with immersion, fervency and diligence over a lifetime.
 
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. –1 Corinthians 15:58

Many movies and television shows have a theme of good overcoming evil.  Some justify the violence and other untoward elements [witchcraft, sorcery, gore, etc.] because of the good overcoming the evil.  Is Good overcoming Evil a biblically or Godly justified theme?

--- Received e-mail supporting Harry Potter despite witchcraft.
--- Reason:  because of the Godly virtue of good overcoming evil.

--- We have grown up our whole lives with this theme.
--- Our movie and TV heroes often attack the evil directly – with violence
--- Bad guy murders someone.  Hero uses violence or kills him.

--- Problem:  To witness the good overcoming evil we must be subjected to evil.
--- The evil is ever before us.   It is getting worse.  Body counts increasing.
--- The evil is never done away for all time.  Next show coming up.

--- How does God have firstfruits overcome sin and evil? 
--- Does He have us attack it directly or does He offer a better procedure? 

Notice some verses and as you do, notice how God separates the evil from the good.
 
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. -Ps 34:14      

In films and TV the good guy does not depart from evil to do good.  He pursues the evil and generally brings violence. 

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! - Isaiah 5:20-21

The producers of the movies and television series believe they are doing the right thing by showing the good overcoming the evil but it is actually good guys directly attacking the evil with the same methods the evil use and calling that justified and good.

Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.  Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. - Amos 5:14-15

God wants us seeking God and not dealing with evil in any form, including depictions of evil in the entertainment media.  This phrase of establishing judgment in the gate carries great meaning.  The elders in the gate never allowed evil, in any form into the city.  The TV is something we allow into our city…our minds.

Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:17-21

--- This passage flies in the face of all good guy/bad guy entertainment.
--- These episodes show the good guy rendering evil for evil.
--- We are to give place unto wrath but these episodes created wrath

--- Confusion comes from last verse of this passage –“but overcome evil with good.”
--- Some assume this means a direct attack on evil.
  
Romans 12:21

[But overcome evil with good] That is, subdue or vanquish evil by doing good to others. Show them the loveliness of a better spirit; the power of kindness and benevolence; the value of an amiable, Christian deportment. So doing, you may disarm them of their rage, and be the means of bringing them to better minds. ~from Barnes' Notes

--- There is nothing here to support a direct attack on evil.
--- We do not overcome sin by attacking sin.
--- We displace sin by bringing in the good.

Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. - Proverbs 20:22

When evil visits us, we are to wait on God and He will save us, regardless of what evil that was.  Notice other admonitions along this line.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. - Proverbs 16:32

Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. -1 Peter 3:9
 

--- Overcome all sin and all evil by displacing it with good. 
--- Avoid, as best you can, all those portrayals of the good guy using evil to overcome the bad.  --- Do not look upon depictions of evil.  Rather, pursue the Good things.

Is telling little white lies okay?  Isn't it a fact that God looks on the intent of the heart?  Aren't these lies permissible if their intent is to make someone feel better about themselves?

---Story of lady in the horrible looking dress.
---Is telling her she looks fine

---I am here to tell you there is no such thing as a "little white lie." 

---The ends do not justify the means if the means to that end was sin. 

---I am here to tell you that good intentions of the heart do not justify breaking the Ninth Commandment. 

---The study of so-called "little white lies" is a study in theology.
---or how we use our educated human reasoning, common sense coupled with the in-dwelling of God's Holy Spirit to arrive at truth. 
---We, as firstfruits, are being judged on what we hold as truth and the theology we invoke to arrive at that truth. 

I will now present some examples of good and bad theology
 

The Degree of Sin Argument - bad theology

---God does not speak of sin in terms of degrees. 

---One cannot have a harmless affair with another man's wife. 

---Is there such thing as a "little murder"? 

---Nowhere in God's Word do I find the terms "little lie" "minor lie", "little white lie" or "justifiable lie."

Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. –Leviticus 19:11. 

---The phrase "deal falsely" means to deceive, deny, dissemble, fail, deal falsely, be found liars, (be-) lie, lying, submit selves. 

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. –Ephesians 4:25 

---Notice that God provides no loopholes in His Word.  He states it simply and with all authority...speak the truth and lie not.
 

The "God looks on the intent of your heart" Argument [or the end justifies the means] - bad theology

---One of the chief arguments or justifications for the little white lie is that God looks on the good intentions of your heart rather than your actions.  -----The one encouraging the lie is saying that the end justifies the means. 
---Is this good theology?  If it is, the reasoning should hold for all situations and with all known sins.  Let us see if it holds.
 

---Do the ends justify the means in these cases? 
---Is there anything wrong with the good intentions listed here? 
---Have I not done the good works that the Bible speaks about? 

---Clearly not.  In each case I am sinning and showing a complete lack of understanding of the Word of God. 

One more aspect of this element to consider is this idea of God looking on the heart and the good intentions of it.  My Bible says that the heart is deceitful above all things:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? –Jeremiah 17:9

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. –Mark 7:21-22

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. –Matthew 15:19

He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. –Proverbs 28:26

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. –1 John 2:21. 

---God's word is clear. NO LIE is of the truth.  Regardless of our intent, no matter how laudable, we cannot lie.  To tell the lady that the dress is pretty is a bald-face lie.

Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds. –Colossians 3:9.

The "allowable lies" of the Bible Argument - bad theology

Some justify little white lies by referencing the so-called allowable lies of Rahab and Abraham. 

---Rahab lied about knowing where the spies were.
---Abraham lied, saying his wife was his sister to save his life.

---In Genesis 20:9 Abimelech, incensed by Abraham’s lie says
"What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin?"  ~Genesis 20:9

---Nowhere in the Bible can one find Rahab’s lie justified or praised.

The falsehood to which she had recourse may be excused by the pressure of circumstances and by her own antecedents, but cannot be defended. ~from Barnes' Notes

Rahab's expedient lie was a sin of weakness in one whose conscience was just beginning to be awakened out of heathen darkness. A man of developed faith learns to answer without lying.  ~from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary

The falsehood by which Rahab sought not only to avert all suspicion from herself of any conspiracy with the Israelitish men who had entered her house, but to prevent any further search for them in her house, and to frustrate the attempt to arrest them, is not to be justified as a lie of necessity told for a good purpose.  ~from Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition

The "Where do you cross the line" Argument - bad theology

---When does the little white lie cross the line into becoming a lie?
---What is an example of a little white lie that finally crosses the line?

---Who is deciding that line?   Where is it described in the Bible?
---God does not draw lines within the sin.
---God draws the line between Truth and Lie, between Sin and No Sin.

That line, by the way, is the commandment that says, "Thou shalt not lie." [Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. -Exodus 20:16].
 

The "abstain from all appearance of evil" Argument - good theology

---In my Notebook piece on 1 Thessalonians 5:22, I state that we are to avoid all appearance of evil.
---If sin is off to our right 1,000 yards, we are not to step one foot…
---We are to hold back from approaching sin.
---Lying is a known evil.

Notice how this is described in Isaiah:

Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope. –Isaiah 5:18. 

Now notice the meaning...

The Chaldee translates it, "Woe to those who begin to sin by little and little, drawing sin by cords of vanity; these sins grow and increase until they are strong, and are like a cart-rope."

---There is no such thing as a little sin.  All sins grow.
 
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. –1 Corinthians 5:6-7

A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. –Galatians 5:9

How can one purge out the leaven and still tell "little lies"?
 

The "good and evil trees" Argument - good theology

---In Matthew 7:15-20 we learn to tell good from evil ministers.
---True ministers are in close adherence to scripture.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. –Matthew 7:18

---  A good tree cannot have a "little bit" of sin. 
 

The "pure religion" Argument - good theology

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. – James 1:27

In the sermon, I define "pure religion"...

[Pure religion] The phrase 'pure religion' means that which is genuine and sincere, or which is free from any improper mixture."

---Pure religion is one devoid of improper mixture or impure elements. 
---Sin is impure in ANY form. 
---Take a good intention and mix it with a lie, even a so-called little white lie and you have an improper mixture. 
---Your religion is defiled. 
---Anyone with defiled religion will not be invited into the Kingdom of God. 
 

The "Christ" Argument - good theology

--- The Salvation Process is developing the mind and character of Christ. 
---We are to function like Christ. 
---We are to treat others the way Christ would.
---We are to do all things as if Christ was watching-which He is.

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. –Colossians 3:17

---If Christ came to services in a hideous-looking robe [God forbid], what would you say to Him?
 
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. –Matthew 25:40

So what DO I say to the lady in the ugly-looking dress?

Long before I was introduced to the Bible, I learned an adage at the knee of my mother, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." 

---  If it is your nature to greet the brethren with a compliment, then pick something you can be sincere about. 

---If you do not readily see something to compliment, simply express gladness and joy in seeing her. 
---Ask her about her week.  Make queries as to her health, the home front or her job.  Say anything, but let it be truth.

The longer term element to be addressed is the ugly-looking dress.  Our mission orders come from 1 Corinthians 10...

Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. –1 Corinthians 10:24

The word "wealth" here---and I am taking this from a commentary--- is "welfare" and is referring to anything and everything that pertains to his or her comfort, usefulness, happiness, or salvation.

Therefore, rather than lying and telling her the dress is fine, which would ultimately be vain, we seek to improve her situation.  Examples would be:
 

These could be done singularly or in combination.  If the congregation is taught in the ways of seeking the other member's welfare, it would be conditioned to frank and sincere communication.  The white lie is not sincere communication.  It is a lie.

These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates. –Zechariah 8:16
 

What happens to liars?

---End of Text---
 

Questions Covered as of 7 October 2016
The questions handled thus far highlighted in green.
We will have more of these in the future.  Working on adding subjects to the menu.
We discussed 35 menu items in 7 Bible studies.