Jerusalem’s Destruction Illustrated.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 5

 

Ezekiel 5:5-6

“Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem. I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her. ⁶ And she has rebelled against my rules by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against my statutes more than the countries all around her; for they have rejected my rules and have not walked in my statutes.

(ESV)

 

This may come as a shock to some younger people reading this post, but there was a time in history when there was no television, internet, or social media. During these times in history, messengers delivered news using either the written or spoken word. As a watchman, Ezekiel needed to deliver the words of warning he received from the Lord to the people of Jerusalem, Judah, and Israel by the spoken or written word, with his words often ignored. In Ezekiel 5, the Lord instructs Ezekiel to perform the unusual act of shaving his head with a sword to provide a visual image of what the people faced because of their rebellion. God is showing His rebellious people mercy and grace, giving them another opportunity to repent and turn from their rebellion. The question is, will they listen?

 

As a watchman, Ezekiel must warn God’s people of impending doom as instructed by the Lord. In Ezekiel 5:1-4, Ezekiel receives instructions from the Lord that will visually illustrate what is about to occur in Jerusalem. He is to take a sharp sword, using it as a barber’s razor, shave his head and beard, and then take a scale and divide the hair into three parts (Ezekiel 5:1). Ezekiel is to take one-third of the hair and burn it in the fire in the middle of the city after the siege of Jerusalem has ended. He is to take the second third of the hair and strike it with the sword all around the city. Ezekiel is to take the last third of the hair and scatter it to the wind with the Lord unsheathing the sword after them (Ezekiel 5:2). Ezekiel is then to take a small portion of the hair and bind it in the skirts of his robe with another portion burned in the fire with this fire coming out into all the house of Israel (Ezekiel 5:3-4).

 

The symbolism of Ezekiel’s actions involves Jerusalem which God has set in the center of the nations (Ezekiel 5:5). Jerusalem is guilty of rebellion against the Lord and His statutes to a greater extent than the nations surrounding it, even rebelling against the rules of the surrounding nations, and why the Lord is against them (Ezekiel 5:6-8). The Lord is about to do something unthinkable with fathers eating their sons and sons eating their fathers with any survivors scattered to the wind (Ezekiel 5:9-10). Jerusalem’s defilement of God’s sanctuary means God will not spare them or show them pity (Ezekiel 5:11). The visual image of Ezekiel’s actions shows what is about to happen with a third dying of pestilence and famine, a third dying by the sword, and a third scattered by the wind with the unsheathed sword of the Lord following them (Ezekiel 5:12).

 

The anger and fury of the Lord against Jerusalem is to show them he is the Lord and to show the nations surrounding them that He is Lord by making Jerusalem a reproach, taunt, warning, and horror to them (Ezekiel 5:13-15). Ezekiel warns Jerusalem of coming arrows of famine for destruction by cutting off Jerusalem’s supply of bread (Ezekiel 5:16). The Lord will send famine and wild beasts against them that will rob them of their children along with pestilence and blood passing through them and with the sword coming upon them (Ezekiel 5:17). The Lord has spoken, and the watchman Ezekiel has obediently warned them.

 

Jerusalem faces destruction due to their desecration of the Temple with the worship of other gods (Ezekiel 5:11). To emphasize the magnitude of the coming destruction, God instructs Ezekiel to shave off his hair and beard not with a razor but with a sharp sword (Ezekiel 5:1). The third of his hair burned in the fire after the end of the siege illustrates the coming destruction of a third of Jerusalem by pestilence or disease, brought about by the siege (Ezekiel 5:2, 12). The third of Ezekiel’s hair that he takes and strikes with the sword all around the city illustrates the third of Jerusalem dying by the sword (Ezekiel 5:2, 12). The third of Ezekiel’s hair scattered to the wind illustrates the third of Jerusalem scattered to other nations as the sword comes after them (Ezekiel 5:2, 12). The Lord provides this warning to the people of Jerusalem, so they have an opportunity to repent but, unfortunately, they did not listen with Jerusalem destroyed as foretold by Ezekiel (2 Chronicles 36:17-21).

 

The book of Revelation foretells the events of the last days, but Revelation 2-3 is letters to seven churches. The Lord has nothing good to say about the seventh of these churches, the Church Laodicea with God even saying the Church made him sick to his stomach (Revelation 3:15-16). The main contention of God with this Church is the prideful boasting of their riches, prosperity, and needing nothing when the truth is they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked (Revelation 3:17). In Revelation 3:20, a verse often used to illustrate the Lord standing at the door of one’s heart asking to come in, the image is a door closed by the Church due to their belief they need nothing with the Lord asking to come in.

 

In many Churches, pastors replace the truth of humanity’s need for a savior because of their sin with a message that tickles the ears of congregants with promises of wealth and prosperity by faith in God (2 Timothy 4:3). While God does promise to meet our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19), God does not promise to give us everything we want. King David desperately wanted to build a Temple for God but was forbidden by God to do so. (1 Chronicles 22:6-8). If God promises to give us all we want, why did Solomon and not David build the temple? The truth is that God promises to give us our needs or daily bread as stated in the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:11). The greatest need of humanity is Salvation from sin and a restored relationship with God provided by the grace of God (Ephesians 2:8-9). If you have never prayed to receive forgiveness from sin and restore a relationship with God, I invite you to do so now by praying with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.

Spiritual Gifts.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11

 

 

Not to cause anyone any undue stress but Christmas time is approaching and in fact, is two months away. The tradition of Christmas is the giving of gifts, the greatest of which is the giving to humanity by God of His son Jesus who came to die for the sins of humanity so they can have forgiveness from sins and eternal life (John 3:16; Luke 2:1-21; Romans 5:8). However, God gives those choosing to believe in Jesus as his or her savior other gifts to aide them in serving the Lord. 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 provides teaching on these gifts to inform the Church on their use.

 

The passage begins with Paul stating that his purpose for writing about spiritual gifts is so the Church in Corinth is informed about their use in the assembly of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:1). Paul then tells of the background of pagan worship of idols many of the believers in Corinth have come from (1 Corinthians 12:2). He reminds them that one speaking in the Spirit of God would never curse God with only those speaking in the Spirit of God able to genuinely say “Jesus is Lord” (1 Corinthians 12:3).

 

While there are varieties of gifts they all originate from the same Spirit and while there are varieties of service in the Church, they serve the same Lord (1 Corinthians 12:4-5). There are varieties of activities in the Church but the same God empowers these activities to everyone (1 Corinthians 12:6). These gifts of the Spirit are manifestations of the Spirit given to believers for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:7). Paul then lists the gifts of the Spirit given to individuals in the Church,

 

1)      The utterance of wisdom

2)      The utterance of knowledge

3)      Faith

4)      Gifts of healing

5)      The working of miracles

6)      Prophecy

7)      Distinguishing of spirits

8)      Various kinds of tongues (languages)

9)      Interpretation of tongues (languages) (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

 

The power behind the administration of these gifts is the Holy Spirit who apportions the gifts to individuals as he wills (1 Corinthians 12:11).

 

Paul’s teaching regarding particulars of public assemblies continues with teaching on spiritual gifts. With many of the Corinthians coming to a belief in Christ from pagan worship, Paul begins by differentiating between pagan worship of idols and worship of God by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:2-3). Christianity is not the worship of a dead idol but a living God who came to fallen humanity, died for their sins, and was resurrected from the dead (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8, 8:11). All three persons of the Trinity are involved with these spiritual gifts. The Holy Spirit is the source of spiritual gifts, believers use the gifts to serve the Lord, and God the Father empowers the gifts in everyone (1 Corinthians 12:6).

 

One finding his or her gift is crucial to one finding his or her calling to serve the Lord. For example, one with the utterance gifts of uttering words of wisdom or knowledge might have a calling to teach, preach, or counsel. One with a gift of faith might have a calling as a prayer warrior. One with the gift of healing might have a calling as a medical professional or one who prays for the sick. While it is God who works miracles, some have a gift as an instrument of God in working miracles like one praying with others for a miracle in their life or one able to solve problems thought impossible to solve. While we think of prophecy as one predicting the future, the prophets in the Bible were watchmen who warned people of impending doom for their disobedience to God. One with the gift of distinguishing between spirits might have a calling to discern whether a word spoken by someone is of the Lord or not. The gift of tongues and the interpretation of tongues are the gifts often mistaken for what occurred on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). However, this is not a manifestation of the Spirit but a gift. Therefore, one with this gift is one with the ability to learn and speak other languages so they can speak to people speaking different languages as well as serve as an interpreter.

 

While there are evaluations that assist with finding one’s gift. One should seek godly counsel from someone who may see abilities in them. Once one determines their gift, they should seek a way to serve the Lord using their gift, so they are not like the man with the one talent who buried it in the sand (Matthew 25:14-30). God gives people gifts with the intention they will use them to serve the Lord for His glory.

 

The greatest gift given by God was His Son who came to earth and died for the sins of humanity so they can have eternal life with God in heaven. If you have not prayed to receive this gift of salvation from God, I encourage you to do so by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.

The Obedient Watchman.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 4

 

Ezekiel 3:27

But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ He who will hear, let him hear; and he who will refuse to hear, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

(ESV)

 

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. I once had a pastor who liked to preach illustrated sermons with visual illustrations to provide a picture of what the sermon would represent. This was before the use of PowerPoint and slides on a screen providing such illustrations. I found these sermons very impactful for not only did the pastor give the Word of God but illustrated it so the congregation could remember the message. In Ezekiel 4, the Lord instructs Ezekiel to provide a visual illustration of what is about to happen to Jerusalem, Israel, and Judah, providing them with a visual picture and an opportunity to repent.

 

The Lord instructs Ezekiel to first take a brick and engrave on it the name of a city, even Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4:1). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to put siegeworks, a siege wall, and a mound against the brick illustrating the coming siege against Jerusalem (Ezekiel 4:2). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to take an iron griddle and place it as a wall between himself and the city. He is then to look toward the brick symbolizing the city (Ezekiel 4:3).

 

The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to lie on his left side for 390 days to illustrate the punishment Israel will endure (Ezekiel 4:4-5). After the 390 days, Ezekiel is to lie on his right side for 40 days to illustrate the punishment Judah shall endure (Ezekiel 4:6). The Lord then instructs Ezekiel to look toward the brick illustrating the siege of Jerusalem and prophesy against the city (Ezekiel 4:7). Ezekiel will also be bound with cords so he cannot turn from side to side (Ezekiel 4:8).

 

During the time Ezekiel is lying on his side, he is to take wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and emmer and place them in a single vessel and make bread from them (Ezekiel 4:9). Ezekiel’s ration of food during this time will be twenty shekels a day (Ezekiel 4:10). The Lord also rations Ezekiel’s water to a sixth part of a hin daily (Ezekiel 4:11). Ezekiel is then to take the ration of food and bake it into a barley cake using human dung in the presence of the people to illustrate that Israel will eat their bread unclean in the nations the Lord sends them (Ezekiel 4:12-13). At this request, Ezekiel reminds the Lord that he has never eaten anything unclean to which the Lord permits him to use cow’s dung in place of human dung (Ezekiel 4:14-15). The siege will break the supply of bread for Jerusalem, forcing the people to ration their food and drink in dismay and anxiety (Ezekiel 4:16). The Lord's purpose is to punish those in rebellion against God (Ezekiel 4:17).

 

The Lord has told Ezekiel he is speaking to a rebellious people who will not listen. In His grace, God instructs Ezekiel to perform acts that symbolize the mental, physical, and spiritual anguish Jerusalem, Judah, and Israel will incur. The brick with Jerusalem engraved on it and the siege works around it would cause mental anguish for the people of Jerusalem who are familiar with sieges, having used them against their enemies (Joshua 10:31, 34; 1 Kings 15:27). The pain and discomfort Ezekiel would have experienced from lying on his side for 390 and then 40 days symbolized the physical pain Israel and Judah will experience when invaded and when in exile. The eating of tainted meat cooked with human dung symbolizes the spiritual depravity Israel and Judah will experience when in exile in a foreign land. The illustration Ezekiel performs provides a picture of what will occur to Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem giving them the possibility to repent and heed the warnings Ezekiel gives, but with a visual representation. Perhaps by seeing a visual representation, instead of just words, Israel and Judah will repent of their evil ways and turn back to God.

 

Ezekiel has the calling of a watchman which carries the duty to warn people of what is going to occur to them so they can repent to avoid the consequences of their actions. While the actions given to Ezekiel seem unusual, Ezekiel must perform the actions the Lord has instructed him to perform or suffer consequences himself (Ezekiel 3:16-27). This, however, does not mean one in ministry should perform every action he believes is from the Lord without measuring it against the Word of God and seeking Godly counsel. However, if the action stands up against God’s Word and Godly counsel, one in ministry must act even if it seems unusual by going against what is popular in culture.

 

Unfortunately, wokeness in our culture is becoming normal and accepted by many with anyone speaking out against it viewed as hateful or out of touch. Ezekiel’s actions as outlined in Ezekiel 4 may have seemed out of touch and even hateful as they symbolized the demise of Jerusalem, Israel, and Judah, but as a watchman like Ezekiel, a minister must speak out in warning or face consequences. As watchmen, those in Church leadership, especially those in the pulpit must speak out against wokeness like abortion, homosexuality, transgenderism, and critical race theory, even though they will face persecution. Believers in Jesus must fear God and not man for the fear of man is a trap (Proverbs 29:25) but the fear of God leads one to obedience to God and his calling in his or her life (Proverbs 16:6).

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed to ask God to forgive your sins and make Jesus Lord of your life, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post. 

More than a Religious Ritual.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

 

1 Corinthians 11:27-28

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 

(ESV)

 

Observance of the Lord’s Supper for Christians should be a time of reflection with believers searching their hearts and repenting of sins, worshipping God for his forgiveness of sins, and thanking God for sending His only Son Jesus to die for our sins. However, the troubled Corinthian Church had turned the Lord’s Supper into a religious ritual. Like the observances of Christmas and Easter or Resurrection Sunday, the Lord’s Supper is to be a time of remembrance not a religious ritual (Luke 22:17-19).

 

The Apostle Paul has no commendation to offer for the next instructions he is about to give (1 Corinthians 11:17). Paul’s first issue with the Corinthians is divisions in the Church, something he addressed in 1 Corinthians 3 (1 Corinthians 11:18). However, in this text Paul adds that divisions expose those in the Church who are not genuine in their belief in Christ as their Savior (1 Corinthians 11:19). Paul also has another issue with the Corinthians regarding the Lord’s supper. The issue is that when they gather for the Lord’s supper, they treat it like any other meal with some going hungry with others getting drunk (1 Corinthians 11:20-22).

 

Paul then teaches about the meaning of the Lord’s supper which has its roots in what occurred on the night Jesus celebrated the Passover with his disciples on the night they arrested Him (1 Corinthians 11:23; Luke 22:14-23). Paul’s teaching begins with how Jesus took bread and broke it, telling His disciples it symbolized his broken body, broken for their sins the next day and to eat it in remembrance of Him (1 Corinthians 11:24). Likewise, Jesus took the cup after supper and said it symbolized his shed blood, shed for their sins on the next day (1 Corinthians 11:25). Paul reminds them that honoring the Lord’s supper is a proclamation of the Lord’s death until he comes again (1 Corinthians 11:26).

 

Paul then tells the Corinthians the issue he has with them, beginning with teaching that anyone partaking of the Lord’s supper in an unworthy manner is guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:27). He teaches them to examine themselves before partaking of the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:28). Those partaking of the Lord’s supper without discerning the body of Christ the implements of the Lord’s supper represent, brings judgment upon him or herself (1 Corinthians 11:29). Partaking of the Lord’s supper without discerning the body is why some are weak and ill, with some even dying (1 Corinthians 11:30). When a believer judges himself, he or she will escape judgment, but when the Lord judges them, they escape the condemnation God puts on the world (1 Corinthians 11:31-32).

 

Paul ends the text by reminding the Corinthians that when they come together, they are to wait for one another (1 Corinthians 11:33). Paul instructs them to satisfy their physical hunger by eating at home so they will escape judgment when partaking of the Lord’s supper. Paul then tells them he will address the other things, referring to the divisions in the Church, when he comes to them (1 Corinthians 11:34).

 

Paul’s teaching on particulars regarding public assemblies now turns to the Lord’s supper. Paul has no commendation for the Corinthian Church on this issue because they partake the Lord’s supper with divisions in the Church. The issue with these divisions is that they expose believers who are not genuine and should not be partakers of the Lord’s supper (1 Corinthians 11:18-19). The other issue Paul has with the Corinthians is they use the Lord’s supper as an opportunity to satisfy their hunger instead of honoring what the Lord Jesus did for all humanity on Calvary (1 Corinthians 11:20-26). The assembling of the Church to observe the Lord’s supper is not a gathering for a meal to satisfy the hunger of the flesh but an assembling to remember what God’s grace did for us by the death of Jesus on the cross (Ephesians 2:8-9).

 

While the Church should regularly observe the Lord’s supper, it must not become an empty religious ritual but a time of heart-searching when believers repent of any sin in their lives. It also should be a time of worship where we worship and praise God for paying the high price of our salvation. Observance of the Lord’s supper should also be a time of thanksgiving when we thank God for paying the high price of the life of His only Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation (John 3:16).

 

May the Church not allow Communion to become a religious ritual but treat it as Holy Communion with people taking time to search their hearts to ensure their hearts are worthy. The consequences of partaking in an unworthy manner are serious and one should not take it lightly (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). If you are reading this post and never prayed for forgiveness of sin in your life or prayed to make Jesus your Savior, I ask you to pray with me now.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post. 

The Requirements of a Watchman.

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 3:16-27

 

Ezekiel 3:17

 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.

(ESV)

 

Before getting into the text of this posting, I want to urge everyone to continue praying for Israel. God’s Word promises that those supporting Israel will be blessed and those not supporting them cursed (Genesis 12:2-3). The great nation God promised Abraham is Israel through the child of promise Isaac (Genesis 17:15-20). Even though Israel remains a rebellious nation having rejected their Messiah (Mark 15:16-20), God has a plan for Israel, but it will come through great tribulation (Jeremiah 30:7). While Scripture foretells this time of trouble for Israel, Christians must continue to pray that many Jews in Israel will come to know Jesus Christ as their Messiah.

 

After seven days with the exiles, Ezekiel receives a word from the Lord that the Lord has made him a watchman for Israel with instructions to warn Israel as directed by the Lord (Ezekiel 3:16-17). The Lord then issues a warning to Ezekiel regarding the consequences of not warning the wicked who shall surely die for continuing in their wickedness. The warning to Ezekiel is that while the wicked will die for his or her iniquity, the blood of the wicked person will be on Ezekiel for not warning him (Ezekiel 3:18). However, warning the wicked person gives him or her an opportunity to repent of his or her wickedness and absolves Ezekiel of any guilt (Ezekiel 3:19).

 

Ezekiel receives additional instructions regarding a righteous man turning from his righteousness and committing injustice. If the Lord lays a stumbling block before him or her, the person will die with his or her righteous deeds forgotten. If the watchman failed to warn him or her, their blood will be on the watchman’s hand just as with a wicked man who was not warned (Ezekiel 3:20) However, if the watchman warned the righteous person, he shall live if he does not sin with Ezekiel absolved of any guilt because he warned the righteous person (Ezekiel 3:21).

 

The Lord then sends Ezekiel to the valley where the Lord will speak to him (Ezekiel 3:22). Upon arriving in the valley, Ezekiel receives another vision of the glory of the Lord like the one he received by the Chebar canal with Ezekiel falling on his face (Ezekiel 1, 3:23). The Spirit then entered into Ezekiel and sets him on his feet, telling Ezekiel to shut himself within his house (Ezekiel 3:24). Within his house, Ezekiel will be bound with cords, so he is unable to go out among the people (Ezekiel 3:25). Ezekiel will also be unable to speak and reprove Israel because they are a rebellious nation (Ezekiel 3:26). However when the Lord speaks to Ezekiel, He will open his mouth and he will speak to the people of Israel saying, “Thus says the Lord God.” Those that will listen let them listen and those refusing to hear let them refuse for they are rebellious (Ezekiel 3:27). Thus, Ezekiel fulfills his duty as a watchman.

 

God instructs Ezekiel about the requirements of a watchman which is to warn about the consequences of continued living in wickedness. Failure to warn the wicked when instructed to do so will result in the blood of the wicked being on Ezekiel’s hand when the wicked die in their wickedness. However, if Ezekiel warns the wicked person, they will die in their wickedness if they do not heed the warning, but Ezekiel will not have any guilt (Ezekiel 3:17-19). The same requirements apply to warning a righteous man not to sin with him living if he heeds the warning and dying in his iniquity if he does not heed the warning. In either case, the watchman has no guilt if he warns the person (Ezekiel 3:20-21). The bottom line is that a watchman must warn the wicked or righteous considering turning from his righteousness, and free of guilt regardless of whether the person warned obeys the word of the Lord or not. The Lord then sends Ezekiel into the valley, instructing him to open his mouth when instructed to do so by the Lord whether the house of Israel hears or not (Ezekiel 3:22-27) thus fulfilling his role as a watchman.  

 

Those in ministry today are watchmen of the Gospel and God’s word with the Lord holding them to the same standards as a watchman given to Ezekiel. Like Ezekiel, the calling of a watchman has a requirement to warn someone living in wickedness or contemplating turning from their righteousness in Christ and returning to wickedness with the watchman incurring guilt if they fail to warn them. Unfortunately, in the interest of not offending someone and losing membership and contributions, many watchmen in Churches today do not speak against sin even though all have sinned with a penalty of death (Romans 3:23, 6:23). Instead of risking loss of members, these Churches preach a feel-good message that tickles the ears of congregants (2 Timothy 4:3). These Churches are like the Church in Laodicea who find security in their wealth and riches believing they do not need a thing, including genuine salvation from their sins, using God to acquire more wealth (Revelation 3:14-22).

 

If you are reading this post and have not prayed to receive Jesus as your savior and receive forgiveness for your sins, I urge you to do so now by praying with me.

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post. 

Traditions Versus Doctrine

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 11:1-16

 

1 Corinthians 11:2

Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you.

(ESV)

 

When in Israel in 2008, as a man I had to remember to wear a head covering when visiting a Jewish holy site. From this context, one could view Paul’s teaching that men do not wear a head covering when praying or prophesying as a deviation from this rule. However, the rule that Jewish men wear a head covering was not a tradition at the time of Pual because the tradition only began about 1800 years ago. (1) The teaching on head coverings in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 is Paul teaching the Corinthians to adhere to traditions regarding head coverings common at the time and not theological doctrine essential in the Church.

 

This text begins with Paul telling the Corinthians to imitate him to the extent that he imitates Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Many believe this verse is a concluding statement to the text at the end of the previous chapter and has nothing to do with the subsequent text regarding head coverings. Paul then commends the Corinthians for maintaining the traditions as delivered to them by the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 11:2). Since Paul delivered these traditions to them, they are most likely Jewish traditions. In the context of these traditions, Paul states that the head of every man is Christ, the head of the wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God (1 Corinthians 11:3). A man dishonors his head by praying and prophesying with his head covered while a wife dishonors her head by praying or prophesying with her head uncovered (1 Corinthians 11:4-5). If a wife will not follow the tradition of head coverings, she should cut her hair short but that too is disgraceful so she should cover her head (1 Corinthians 11:6).

 

A man ought not to cover his head for he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man (1 Corinthians 11:7). God created woman from man and for man and why a wife should have a symbol of authority on her head (1 Corinthians 11:8-10). However, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man independent of woman because God created woman from man, but man is now born of woman, with all things coming from God (1 Corinthians 11:11-12). Nature itself teaches that a man wearing long hair is a disgrace whereas a woman with long hair is her glory because God gives her hair for a covering (1 Corinthians 11:13-15). The text concludes with Paul stating if anyone is inclined to be contentious, Paul nor the Church have such a practice (1 Corinthians 11:16).

 

We must ask the question of why a discussion of head coverings would follow Paul’s previous discussion of doing all for the glory of God. The answer believed by some theologians is that 1 Corinthians 11:2-26 begins teaching about particulars regarding public assemblies. Subsequent teachings will include,

 

1)      Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34)

2)      Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

3)      One body with many members (1 Corinthians 12:12-31)

4)      The way of love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13)

5)      Prophecy and Tongues (1 Corinthians 14:1-25)

6)      Orderly Worship (1 Corinthians 14:26-40)

 

Some could consider this text as sexist in the context of our modern society but according to the traditions of worship in Jewish synagogues during the time of Paul, these rules regarding head coverings were normal and in no way demeaned women. In 1 Corinthians 11:11-12 Paul reminds us that while God created woman from man, every man born since Adam came from a woman, including Jesus the son of God. This passage does not establish a doctrine of the man as the master and the woman as his slave with men and women having an equal status with God having different roles to play in the Church. The rules regarding head coverings are not theological doctrine but instead the interest of Paul for the Church to maintain traditions in practice in synagogues at the time of Paul, something Paul commends the Corinthians for (1 Corinthians 11:2).

 

Adherence to traditions in the Church occurs because these traditions lead to orderliness in worship services. However, these traditions vary from culture to culture and can change over time. If differing traditions or their changes do not lead to violating doctrinal truths in Scripture, these changes are okay and expected. Head coverings are not an adhered to tradition in modern Church culture and the abandonment of this tradition does not hamper the mission of the Church to spread the Gospel and make disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). Therefore, one should not interpret 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 as theology but instead adherence to a tradition at the time so as not to create a distraction during worship services preventing people from hearing the Gospel message. Traditions in the Church such as dress, or styles of music must not become divisive issues distracting the mission of the Church with all done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

 

If you are reading this and have never prayed to receive forgiveness for your sins leading to death (Romans 3:23, 6:23) and made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as your savior, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and encourage everyone reading this post.

 

References:

1. Jewish Community Center. The Kippa. jccmb.com. [Online] Jewish Community Center. [Cited: October 9, 2023.]https://www.jccmb.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/1328088/jewish/The-Kippa.htm.