...We Answer

Not every answer might comply with everybody's way of seeing things. Then I kindly ask you to hold it with Paul, who said in 1 Corinthians 13 that we now see in part. All of us answering here, stick to the basic faith statements as defined in the Apostle's Creed, yet further to that we know that there are also Biblical topics not related to salvation itself, that different people understand and see differently. So please keep this in mind in case you "stumble" over a certain answer - we would like you to be blessed by the challenge of different aspects!

Answer Set 8

Question: I need to know how to teach Jeremiah 7:11-15 to my Sunday school children.

Answer from Polly: The weeping prophet, Jeremiah, had the same message then as he does today; 'turn or burn'! Repent and come into obedience to God or suffer Revelation 20:15. Jeremiah chapters 5-10 focus on God's punishment of the people because of their false religion. They refused to believe that God would ever destroy Jerusalem and even announced that He would do nothing to them (Jeremiah 5:12). Judah rejected God's Law and substituted rituals for obedience, viewing the Temple as a talisman or good luck charm that could ward off any attack. God does not value a building over obedience and would remove His protection unless the people stopped oppressing the helpless, shedding innocent blood and following other gods (Jeremiah 7:6). The vileness of Judah actually turned the Temple into a den of robbers (Matthew 21:12-13) and God was watching. God would do to Judah what He had done to Shiloh when He abandoned it as Israel's central worship center (Psalm 78:56-61).

Question: What does the bible or God have to say about criticism?

Answer from Polly: The Bible (The Word) and God are one and the same (John 1:1). The word criticism, in most Bible translations, is called judging and God is continuously warning against it as we will all stand before God's judgment seat (Romans 14:10-13). There is no excuse for criticism (judgment) on someone else (Romans 2:1). Jesus called the person that criticized the 'speck in another's eye' but this person had a 'plank' in his own eye, a hypocrite (Matthew 7:1-5). 'If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone' (John 8:1-11).

A critical spirit and a judgmental attitude comes from a bitter jealous heart and the Scripture teaches to set your hearts on things above (Colossians 3:1-2), take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5) and as a man thinks, so is he (Proverbs 23:7) so we all need to stop and think before we criticize.

Question: Chapter 23 of Jeremiah refers to pastors and scattered sheep; what is the meaning of it ?

Answer from Polly: Jeremiah compared the unrighteous kings to shepherds who were destroying and scattering God's sheep. These sheep are the people of Israel and God Himself would gather the remnant (Jeremiah 31:10, Micah 2:12, 5:4, 7:14). Then God would raise up a Shepherd over them to tend and care for the people the way God intended. This Shepherd was, of course, Jesus Christ (Romans 11:26, John 10:7, 11, 14, 28).

Question: What is the perfect example of being a servant in the Bible?

Answer from Polly: The perfect example of being a servant in the Bible is Jesus Christ! 'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many' (Mark 10:45). After God gave His only Son to serve as this ransom for our sins (John 3:16-18) then others followed His example of 'servant'. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1); James, a servant of God and of the Lord (James 1:1); Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:1); Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ (Jude 1); Stephen, Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas (Acts 6:1-5).

Question: Does Jeremiah chapter 23 not pertain to pastors today?

Answer from Polly: Things in the Scripture occurred as examples to keep us from doing the things the Old Testament saints did (1 Corinthians 10:6). God does not change (Malachi 3:6) and He is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Therefore, your answer is that Jeremiah 23 most assuredly pertains to pastors today.

Question: Scripture reading in the book of Malachi 3:10-12, please explain it to me.

Answer from Polly: This promise was a reaffirmation of the obedience-blessing relationship specified in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). What the people were experiencing was the disobedience-curse arrangement also given in that covenant (Deuteronomy 28:15-68). The Lord challenged Israel to bring the whole tithe into the storehouse (a special room in the temple for keeping tithed grain - 1 Kings 7:51, Nehemiah 10:38, 13:12) so there would be adequate food for the priests. If they would do this God would bring down blessings on them which would include agricultural prosperity and a good reputation among all the nations.

There is much controversy about tithing among believers today. The Mosaic Covenant, with its promises of material blessings to Israel for her obedience, is no longer in force (Ephesians 2:14-15, Romans 10:4, Hebrews 8:13). However, the New Testament says to give generously and speaks of God's blessings on those who give to the needs of the church and especially to those who labor in the Word (Acts 4:31-35, 2 Corinthians 9:6-12, Galatians 6:6, Philippians 4:14-19).

This is also the only scripture where God tells us to 'test Him' but be careful how you do this and do not 'give to get'.