honor

Our Reward on Earth – Children

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

There are few purposes in life more important than bringing up children, and that most definitely includes all non-parents who have any association with children. Parents may have the most influence, but everyone has influence on everybody, and that includes the little ones. We are a guiding force to them while they are a reward to us all. How would God raise a child? Better than any of us, so we probably should introduce the two.

But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “ ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” – Matthew 21:15-16

This is where “from the mouths of babes” came from. Children are in many ways more observant and wise, and I can tell you from my own experience, I’ve probably learned more from my own daughter than I’ve taught her.

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them. – Mark 10:13-16

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. – Matthew 18:2-6

Children are quicker to be meek or humble, occupying a lowly position in society with little to no power. Generally, that’s still true today. That’s not to say they never argue or disobey, which will be covered later, but they are mostly open-hearted. These are some of the ways a child can teach you, just by being themselves. Jesus becomes a mother bear while talking about these little ones, warning any one who should attempt to take away their innocence and loving hearts.

Speaking of causing children to stumble, we must be careful to guide them through whatever obstacles life may throw their way in their spiritual path. Let them encounter said obstacles, pointing out what lessons they teach while the consequences are small . They will come across those obstacles again, but they may be bigger next time. How to teach them? There are as many parenting styles as there are stars in the sky. Let’s just be sure we pay attention to God’s advice in this area (since he’s the ultimate Father).

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6

I started with this one cause it’s the hardest to understand. Doing everything just right in parenting or raising a child in faith will not ensure they believe or that they’ll even be a decent person. God is a perfect Father, and many of His children fell astray. That’s the whole reason we need a savior. The fact is, this is a very generalized guideline to the general public. If you train a child up in wisdom and love, they will be much more likely to follow God’s ways than if you don’t. However, that doesn’t mean they’re hopeless even then, thank God! The fact is, we all have free will. Do your best.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away. – Proverbs 22:15

Rod of discipline sure sounds like a spanking to me. Actually, it can mean any form of discipline. Some children react horribly to spankings, and some don’t react at all. Every child is different, and every parent must follow the way they feel best reaches their child. In the end, however, children at some point always need discipline. Don’t withhold that from them because they can’t learn without all your tools from your parenting belt, and that’s doing them more harm than good. Even God disciplines those He loves (Hebrews 12:6). Are you better than He? Just find the right method for your child.

Impress them on your children. Talk about them (God’s commandments) when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. – Deuteronomy 6:7

This should be obvious. Teach them God’s basic commands and will.

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. – Ephesians 6:4

Not just for fathers, really. If the shoe fits, put it on. Don’t exasperate (provoke is another translation) your children. It probably states fathers because men can (generally) be quicker to express anger. Put away unnecessary yelling, excessive discipline, constantly getting onto the child for small things. This will not help them. It will harm them. If you poke the bear, expect it to lash out.

Lest you forget parenting is a two-way street, here’s some advice God has for being a child.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” – Ephesians 6:1-3

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. – Exodus 20:12 (This is one of the 10 commandments.)

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. – Proverbs 1:8-9

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. – Colossians 3:20

Since there may be people of all types reading this blog and some of you may have had abusive or damaging parents, these are all instructions for typical children of typical parents. God does not want children to obey their parent’s commandment to harm themselves or do evil (no authority is higher than God). Understand the context in which these words are written and the spirit behind them.

For everyone else, you might love these words. You need to let your children know of God’s words for both parents and children, so they know your expectations for them and for yourselves and your reasoning behind it being God.

Whatever you do, don’t forget that all children, no matter how difficult or easy, are gifts from God.

Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. – Proverbs 17:6

Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. – Psalm 127:3-5

He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are these with you?” So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” – Genesis 33:5

None of us are perfect parents or children because none of us are perfect humans. Some days we fail more than we succeed, but it’s so very important that God’s overarching message comes across no matter what you do: love. Love doesn’t mean permissiveness. God is not permissive even though He is Love. We should treat our children as though we are Children of God and so are they.

Do you have any advice on how to raise children that you’ve received from God’s Word?

God bless!

Commandment Series: The Third

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.” OR

“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7

What is in a name? Interestingly, the power of a name is expressed many times in the Bible. It represents the character, faith, and identity of the person to whom it is given. There are many instances when people were given new names by God as their purpose in life changed.

Abram (father) was changed to Abraham (father of many) because he was promised to be the father of many nations as innumerable as the stars. Sarai (quarrelsome) was changed to Sarah (princess) as she was to be the matriarch of many nations. Jacob’s name (supplanter) was changed to Israel (may God prevail) because he struggled with God yet was meant for something great. Simon (snub-nosed) had his name changed to Peter (rock) as Jesus declared he would be the “rock” or foundation upon which He would built His church.

However, there is One who named Himself.

“Moses said to God, ‘Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM’, and He said ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “I AM has sent me to you.'” Exodus 3:13-14

Sometimes this is translated as I AM THAT I AM, but the idea is the same. He is because He is. He created Himself and gave Himself a name. He continues.

“And God furthermore said to Moses, ‘Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, “YHWH, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me unto you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial-name to all generations.'” Exodus 3:15

Moses was told a name he could speak to the Israelites (I AM) but then was given a name he possibly could not (YHWH) as it was the true, unpronounceable name. Now, many have tried, using these consonants as a guess, but that’s all it is. A guess. The vowel sounds are uncertain… if God even needed vowels to pronounce it. Everyone else’s name means something. What does God’s name mean? Possibly “I AM THAT I AM” is the meaning. His name indicates the source of all meaning.

There are many interpretations of what the 3rd commandment was forbidding. The most popular one is to not use God’s name while cursing.

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” Matthew 5:33-37

I’ve read that it warns against swearing oaths in God’s name or saying you are a follower while not having God in your heart or actions. I’ve even seen a thorough article stating it’s about committing evil in the name of God.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

“Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” Matthew 7:15-23

You shall know the children of God by their fruits. Beware false Christians who lead many astray.

So, the 3rd commandment says that can not take the name of God in vain. The word translated to “vain” is the Hebrew “Shav,” which can mean false, evil, useless, destructive or morally ruinous.

So, I believe all of the above theories are correct. In the end, they can all be summed up pretty well. Honor God with your words, actions, heart, or you’re not representing Him correctly. In fact, you may be leading innumerable people astray even unintentionally.

If our names, as humans, have power to carry our reputation, character, and identity, how much more God’s? As Christians, we are meant to be children of God, and as we go about our lives, we are to strive to live as Jesus. As we do so, our actions will shed light on the truth, a light that the lost can use to find their way to God’s loving arms.

We have great power as children of God, and as Spider-man says, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” Honor God and His name.

Sources other than Bible: Strong’s Concordance, Searchingthescriptures.net

The Christian Dirty Word – Submission

/ EloquentMuse / Leave a comment

Even among many Christians, this Biblical word is cringe-worthy, anxiety-inducing, and angering: submission. In the good US of A, where we pride ourselves on independence and rebellion, the word conjures an idea of cowering in the face of authority and accepting our fate. For women and feminists everywhere, the word brings to mind The Stepford Wives and living solely for our men’s comfort and praise, pretending to be lesser beings.

Yet, invariably, although we may try to avoid it, someone will bring up this verse, usually twisting it for whatever purpose or point they’re trying to make:

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” Ephesians 5:22-33

We’re lucky if they even mention that the verse afterwards is all about husbands loving their wives. Most of us hang, as if to a life raft, struggling to explain it’s not what they think, trying to keep our heads above the water before we drown in their disgust at our beliefs.

How about this verse?

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” Romans 13:1

How can you be a feminist if you believe in the same Bible that tells us women to subjugate ourselves to even abusive men? How do you reconcile being a patriotic American and also a doormat to corrupt leaders?

You can’t, and you don’t. Submission doesn’t mean those things. Let’s see what it means to God and His followers who wrote those words.

If anyone could be called a rebel against corrupt leaders, it would be God. If anyone could be called a feminist, it would be God. How do I know?

In the book of Exodus, God poured down wrath on a pharaoh who enslaved His people. In the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar and King Darius of Mede did many evil things to his subjects, but Daniel and his friends refused to compromise to their demands on matters of faith, refusing their food and refusing to bow down and worship a human. Jesus stormed into the temple courtyard, yelling, overturning tables, and driving people out with a whip because of greedy and hypocritical leaders. He stood up in innumerable public places and risked his life to teach radical ideas that ran counter to what religious and political leaders were teaching. He rebuked and challenged those leaders to their faces.

As concerns both the power of a female and facing a corrupt authority figure, consider the story of Esther. She became the wife of King Ahasuerus and queen of Persia. Secretly, she was a Jew, and she found out the king was to kill her people. There was a law that anyone who came before the king unbidden would be instantly killed. She wasn’t bidden, but she came into his presence anyway to petition him for her people, thus becoming their hero at risk of her life.

Jesus had twelve main disciples, but many, many more followed his footsteps, including women. In His time, men were the only accepted students of Rabbis. However, Jesus taught women and accepted them in His travelling group of discipleship.

The stories of standing against corruption in leadership and illuminating the power of God’s female followers are many if you take the time to find them.

Then, what on Earth does God mean when He says we must submit? I’ll tell you that it doesn’t mean what the world means by submit. The world is overrun by corruption, power-hungry authorities, and people of all kinds who will run you over if you display any weakness.

God is certainly not a doormat, so if He wants you to be just like Him, do you think He’s asking you to be one?

So, what is submission to God? When in doubt, check out Jesus’ actions:

“But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44-45

A servant puts others before him/herself and respects those around them. Jesus displayed this when He washed His disciples’ feet, an action only done by inferiors, not figures of authority.

“When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. ‘Do you understand what I have done for you?’ he asked them. ‘You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.'” John 13:12-17

Do you understand? He expressed, with his actions, how to be submissive. It’s interesting to note that submission shouldn’t only come from inferiors but from leaders as well. Here’s another verse:

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Matthew 20:16

As followers or “inferiors” must submit to authority, authority figures must serve those below them. When you refuse to submit, to serve each other, as if you were above it all, you make yourself more inferior than anyone actually considered below you. This is not the worldly view nor is it the view the world wishes you to see God.

Okay, so what about women submitting to their husbands? I believe it is the same in many ways. Both spouses should submit to one another in the sense that they serve one another. Otherwise, as the authority figure in the household (Yes, the husband is indeed considered the authority in the hierarchy of a marriage. Hang with me for a moment.), the husband is not a good leader if he doesn’t know how to submit (see Jesus’ quote above about first being last). As concerns a man’s authority in a marriage, the institution of marriage is a God-created relationship. As humans, we are transient, easily straying, very distractible creatures. Marriage and family is a symbol of the trinity, the unity of the Father (husband), the Son (wife), and the Holy Spirit (children). As such, there is a component of hierarchy, but it means to portray the unity and inseparableness of the relationship of God, born in love and respect.

Let me add this as I feel compelled: The Father would never abuse Jesus nor the Holy Spirit. He is Love. A husband is supposed to be walking in the footsteps of Jesus in this respect. If a husband is abusive, the entire unit breaks down. Jesus died so we could live and lived so we could thrive in joy and freedom. I am under the strong belief that God would not want anyone to stay within a harmful environment. You can be respectful but strong, loving but leaving, forgiving but not forgetting. God loves you.

To submit to authority of any kind, you must understand that the ultimate authority is God. If any authority figure of any kind wishes for you to compromise your relationship with God, you are not only encouraged, you are under obligation to not obey or comply. As shown in the examples above and throughout the Bible, you are a servant to the King of Kings before all else. All of God’s children in the Bible and history in general refused to compromise their submission to Him.

So, to wrap up, submission is all about love, honor, respect, and living as Jesus would. God was never a doormat nor was he a woman-hater. Jesus is a rebel against all corruption even if it came from authority figures, protesting in love while remaining loud and strong. He is a true feminist. Although God has had to spread His message in many clearly anti-feminist environments (in the past and present), His message has always been empowering to women. Women was, is, and has always been considered equal to men in value. Don’t mix up the world’s message with God’s.

I initially planned to write a post about feminism and another separate one about marriage. However, I had to first write this one as confusion reigns when it comes to the concept of submission, and that concept is tied to both of those subjects. Stay tuned!