“To the end [H]e may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God…”                                                                                                                              (1 Thessalonians 3)

 

There are three (3) doctrines that will anger a believer more than any other doctrine as has been my experience. And this tells the preacher something about the ones that are angered.
These three (3) doctrines are”
*The Doctrine of Election.
*The Doctrine Of A Wife’s Submission to Her OWN husband.
*The Doctrine of Personal Holiness.

The Doctrine of Election is a doctrine of love, hope, choice, God’s free will and sovereignty. This doctrine speaks to the personal, individualistic, specific, peculiar type of love God has for His persons. We can not see why anyone would oppose this doctrines other than it kicks against the flesh. This doctrine states, God from before the founding of this planet, before, Adam and Eve, before the Fall of man, God elected a specific number of persons to be saved, Christ came to Live for these chosen vessels, to die for the chosen vessels, and Rise from the deas for these chosen vessels.  Christ ascending to the right Hand of God to intecede for these Chosen vessels. In other words, Christ did all for this elect people.

What is there to be offended by, brethren?  One cannot teach other wise without twisting Scriptures and taking away from Scripture. This may get in the way of someone’s view of evangelism, but it should not.  Without the understanding of God’s free grace election, a witness can only wish someone would come to Christ.  With the doctrine of election, we know others will come to Christ!!!

Some despise this doctrine of election because they think (wrongly) that it is a teaching of a man named, John Calvin. These erroniously believe gossip about this man, Five-hundred (500) year old gossip. This man did teach election but he was not the first. The Scriptures were the first to ploclaims God’s freedom of choice God taught it, the prophets taught it or teaches it, the Psalmist teaches it, Christ, in the Gospels teaches it, the Apostles in their inspired epistles teaches it.

The other doctrine that gets a preacher in trouble inthe teaching of a wife’s submission. This doctrine is a type of the metaphorical third (3rd) rail. This should not be.  Methinks the reasons this doctrine is disliked:
*Persons think this is Paul’s teaching alone.
*Feminism.
*It has been taught improperly.
*Some men have abused this doctrine.
*Some will simply not listen to the defining of the doctrine, they hear submission and their ears go closed….men and women.

The Word of God is called the Word of God for a reason.  This reason is, it is, in fact, the Word and Words of God. The Holy Spirit moved holy men to pen His Words.  God inspired the human authors to write His revealed will.  If a person does not believe this doctrine of the Divine inspiration of God, there really is no use to have a spiritual discussion. If both parties do not hold to this doctrine, the Scriptures cannot be looked to as an objective Source of Truth and Authority.  If a woman cannot believe that this is God’s Word, and sees it only as Paul’s opinion, there is no reason to continue.

Feminism, I have no real problem with feminism as long as feminism has no problem witht he Word of God. There are many forms of feminism.  There is the left’s mindset and there is very little use, barring God’s direct intevention, to “spar” with this type of feminism and actually, it isn’t feminism but out right rebellion.

I have three (3) daughters. Do I think they are capable of anything? I do.  We have always told them that they can do anything because God is for them.  We do qualify that statement by saying you can do anything, lest God says differently.
As for feminism being code for “Pro Gay and Pro White Christ-ian Straight Man Hate” we are not feminists.

There is a rich history through out Scripture of women being instrumental in the will of God.  There is also a history of women causing long lasting damage, but that is true of man as well. Sometimes a woman has done both. But all was under the watchful Eye of God. And nothing happens that He does not allow and use later.

We have heard this doctrine taught, it has been taught well and not so well. Our teaching on submission is simple.
*Submission equals a woman’s trust for her husband’s love.
*The husband should look to the needs and welfare for his wife, as she should his.
*When the husband and wife sit down to make a decision, both have different points of view, different experiences, different gifts, etc. and all of that should be input.
*Both husband and wife should submit to each other in different areas.
*Submitting to a husband equals All the responsibility falls onto him, that isn’t a great feeling from a husbands point of view.
*In all things, there is a point man/woman that is responsible. In sports, in business, in clubs, in juries, in church, and in marriage.  This point person is responsible, they must weigh factots, make certain everyone is being heard from, making sure everyone is pulling weight, discipling, etc.  This point person answers to someone higher up.  So if all goes well the point person relays this news to the higher up, but if all things are bad, he also must relay the bad news.  In marriage, the point person is the husband and the higher up is All Mighty God.  The husband will answer for how he managed his family.

In the past we have seen some men abuse this doctrine and turned his wife into a work-horse.  This man has his Bible under his arm as he walks toward the church, and his wife is struggling with three (3) kids, a huge diaper bag or two (2), her Bible, etc.  Male reader, if this is you, Knock it off.  You are not seen as a holy man but as a louse and most right thinking men would love to slap you around a bit.  This slapping around would be in love and to the glory of God.  Certainly I jest, or do I?

I have long said the church should have “a salt ministry.” This ministry would basically be a numbrer of men visiting a man that abuses his wife or children. The point of the visit is to help him understand the proper way to treat his wife or children. We would do this with object lessons and examples. The husband would be the one that we demonstrate on. When the “a salt” ministry leaves the home, they leave behind the message, “We’ll be see’in ya’ or not, it’s up to you…big man.” If there is a person that needs help in this area let us know and we would be happy to speak with you.

I’ve seen the most offensive behaviour (I’m the offended party) from this type of guy…we’ll not call him a man or a husband.  This guy…is all about outward show and he has nothing on the inside.  I’ve been told by a furniture maker that one can tell a good piece from a bad piece.  The bad or cheap piece has a lot of shine and gloss to it.  The good stuff doesn’t. This is true of persons as well, If the outside is all made up there’s something missing on the inside.  I’m not speaking to ladies who wear make up. but you understand what I mean.

The third (3rd) doctrine is holiness or personal holiness.  Believe it or not, reader, The teaching on personal holiness has put me in troubles way more than the aforementioned doctrines above. The goal of salvation is to create a holiness inside of the believer. The Holy Ghost lives inside of the believer, right?  What do you think His main minstry or office is?  It’s in His Name….Holy. The Holy Spirit indwells us to make us holy and acceptable to God, when Christ returns or we die. Christ died and rose again in order to save us and make us holy.  The Father chose us in order to make us holy             (Ephesians 1:1-5). Peter quotes God in the Old Testament,  “Be ye holy, for I am [H]oly”

Paul in Romans eight (8) tells us that the Christ-ian is predestinated to be Christ-like.  To be Christ-like is to be Holy and to be Holy is to be Christ-like.  One could ask this question either way, How are you doing, Reader, in you Christ-likeness?  or  Reader, How are you doing in the area of your personal holiness?

One can use different words, but it seems to me that there be a three (3) fold holiness in Scripture.
*Positionally Holy: This is all God. He puts you aside for His use.
*Principally Holy:  One’s life principles or worldview changes.  This is BIG.  Persons do not change, lest God re-creates them or they are born again, anew, or from above. An unsaved person could be pro-death, but once the Spirit of God enters, that principle changes to pro-life.
*Practical Holiness: This is living a holy life. Our actions, our will, our feelings, our thoughts all take on a holiness. That’s not to say, wicked thoughts/feelings/desires will not creep in unawares, they will, they will. BUT the good news regarding those wicked thoughts is they’re wicked thoughts, whereas before they were just thoughts.

What does a persons response to the above doctrines say about them?
*Election: They have not looked into that doctrine because it is clearly taught. I have known preachers who have learned this doctrine late in life.  Another reason is the flesh will not allow it.
*A wife’s Submission: She’s not right with God and pride has gotten in the way, or maybe the doctrine has simply been misunderstood.
*Holiness: If this doctrine bothers you, you may not be saved, you may not be a Christ-ian after-all.  Why not consider this and correct it by calling upon the Lord Jesus and ask Him to be your One and Only Saviour?