TEN LIES OF FEMINISM

By : Sue Bohlin

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This essay examines the ten lies of feminism that Dr. Toni Grant suggests in her book Being a Woman.(1)

At its inception, the feminist movement, accompanied by the sexual revolution, made a series of enticing, exciting promises to women. These promises sounded good, so good that many women deserted their men and their children or rejected the entire notion of marriage and family, in pursuit of "themselves" and a career. These pursuits, which emphasized self-sufficiency and individualism, were supposed to enhance a woman's quality of life and improve her options, as well as her relations with men. Now, a decade or so later, women have had to face the fact that, in many ways, feminism and liberation made promises that could not be delivered.(2)

Lie #1: Women Can Have It All

The first lie is that women can have it all. We were fed an illusion that women, being the superior sex, have an inexhaustible supply of physical and emotional energy that enable us to juggle a career, family, friendships and volunteer service. Proponents of feminism declared that not only can women do what men do, but we ought to do what men do. Since men can't do what women can do-- have babies--this put a double burden on women. It wasn't enough that women were already exhausted from the never-ending tasks of child-rearing and homemaking; we were told that women needed to be in the work force as well, contributing to the family financially. Scripture presents a different picture for men and women. The Bible appears to make a distinction between each gender's primary energies. The commands to women are generally in the realm of our relationships, which is consistent with the way God made women to be primarily relational, being naturally sensitive to others and usually valuing people above things. Scripture never forbids women to be gainfully employed; in fact, the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 is engaged in several part-time business ventures, in real estate and manufacturing. Nonetheless, it is the excellent care of her husband, her children, her home and her community that inspires the praise she is due. Titus 2 instructs older women to mentor younger women, and teach them to care for their husbands and children and homemaking responsibilities. The God-given strengths of a woman were given to bring glory to God through her womanly differences

Lie #2: Men and Women are Fundamentally the Same

Apart from some minor biological differences, feminism strongly suggested that males and females are fundamentally the same. Culture, it announced, was responsible for turning human blank slates into truck-wielding boys and doll-toting girls. This lie has been very effective at changing the culture. My husband Ray and I offer a seminar at Probe's Mind Games conferences called "Guys Are From Mars, Girls Are From Venus," where we go over the major differences between the sexes. Men, for instance, tend to be more goal-oriented and competitive, where women are more relational and cooperative. Men are active; women are verbal. This is intuitively obvious to the adults in our audience, but it is often new news to high school and college students. We find adults nodding with smiles of recognition, some of them nudging each other in the ribs. In the younger members of the audience, though, we see "the lights come on" in their eyes as they are exposed to something that is obvious and they probably already knew was true, but feminism's world view had been feeding them a lie. They have been so immersed in this cultural myth that they had accepted it without question. One young man came up to me after a session and said he totally disagreed with me, that there are no real differences between males and females. I asked him if he treated his guy friends the same way he treated his girl friends, and he said, "Of course!" I asked, "And this doesn't cause you any problems?" He said no. With a smile, I suggested he come talk to me in ten years after he'd had a chance to experience real life! The truth is that God created significant differences between males and females. We can see evidence of this in the fact that Scripture gives different commands for husbands and wives, which are rooted in the differing needs and divinely-appointed roles of men and women.

Lie #3: Desirability is Enhanced by Achievement

The third lie of feminism is that the more a woman achieves, the more attractive and desirable she becomes to men. The importance of achievement to a man's sense of self--an element of masculinity that is, we believe, God-given--was projected onto women. Feminism declared that achieving something, making a mark in the world, was the only measure of success that merited the respect of others. Women who believed this myth found themselves competing with men. Now, competition is appropriate in the business and professional world, but it's disastrous in relationships. Men do respect and admire accomplished women, just as they do men, but personal relationships operate under a different set of standards. Men most appreciate a woman's unique feminine attributes: love, sensitivity, her abilities to relate. Women have been shocked to discover that their hard-won accomplishments haven't resulted in great relationships with men. Sometimes, being overeducated hampers a woman's ability to relate to men. Men's egos are notoriously fragile, and they are by nature competitive. It's threatening to many men when a woman achieves more, or accomplishes more, or knows more than they do. Feminism didn't warn women of the double standard in relationships: that achievement can and does reap benefits in our careers, but be a stumbling block in our relationships.
The question naturally arises, then, Is it bad for a woman to have a higher degree of education than the man in a relationship? Is it troublesome when a woman is smarter than the man? Should a woman "dumb down" in order to get or keep her man? In the words of the apostle Paul, "May it never be!" A woman living up to the potential of her God-given gifts brings glory to God; it would be an insult to our gracious God to pretend those gifts aren't there. The answer is for women to understand that many men feel threatened and insecure about this area of potential competition, and maintain an attitude of humility and sensitivity about one's strengths; as Romans exhorts us, "Honor[ing] one another above yourselves" (12:10).
Not surprisingly, God already knew about the disparity between the sexes on the issue of achievement. Throughout the Bible, men are called to trust God as they achieve whatever God has called them to do. It's important for men to experience personal significance by making a mark on the world. But God calls women to trust Him in a different area: in our relationships. A woman's value is usually not in providing history-changing leadership and making great, bold moves, but in loving and supporting those around us, changing the world by touching hearts. Once in a while, a woman does make her mark on a national or global scale: consider the biblical judge Deborah, Golda Meir, Margaret Thatcher, and Indira Ghandi. But women like these are the exception, not the rule. And we don't have to feel guilty for not being "exceptional."

Lie #4: The Myth of One's "Unrealized Potential"

Lie number four says that all of us--but especially women--have tremendous potential that simply must be realized. To feminism's way of thinking, just being average isn't acceptable: you must be great. This causes two problems. First, women are deceived into thinking they are one of the elite, the few, the special. Reality, though, is that most women are ordinary, one of the many. All of us are uniquely gifted by God, but few women are given visible, high- profile leadership roles, which tend to be the only ones that feminism deems valuable. We run into trouble when we're operating under a set of beliefs that don't coincide with reality!
Consequently, many women are operating under unrealistically high expectations of themselves. When life doesn't deliver on their hopes, whether they be making class valedictorian, beauty pageant winner, company president, or neurosurgeon, women are set up for major disappointment. Just being a cog in the wheel of your own small world isn't enough.
This brings us to the second problem. A lot of women beat themselves up for not accomplishing greatness. Instead of investing their life's energies in doing well those things they can do, they grieve what and who they are not. Just being good, or being good at what they do, isn't enough if they're not the best.
Romans 12:3 tells us, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." Rather than worrying about our unrealized potential for some sort of nebulous greatness, we ought to be concerned about being faithful and obedient in the things God has given us to do, trusting Him for the ultimate results. And we ought to not worry about being ordinary as if there were some stigma to it. Scripture says that God is pleased to use ordinary people, because that's how He gets the most glory. (See 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.) There is honor in being an ordinary person in the hand of an extraordinary God.

Lie #5: Sexual Sameness

The fifth lie of feminism is that men and women are the same sexually. This lie comes to us courtesy of the same evil source that brought us the lies of the sexual revolution. The truth is that women can't separate sex from love as easily as men can. For women, sex needs to be an expression of love and commitment. Without these qualities, sex is demeaning, nothing more than hormones going crazy.
The cost of sex is far greater for women than for men. Sex outside of a committed, loving relationship--I'm talking about marriage here--often results in unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and profound heartbreak. Every time a woman gives her body away to a man, she gives a part of her heart as well. Sexual "freedom" has brought new degrees of heartache to millions of women. The lie of sexual equality has produced widespread promiscuity and epidemic disease. No wonder so many women are struggling with self-esteem!
God's commands concerning sex take into account the fact that men and women are not the same sexually or any other way. He tells us to exercise self-control before marriage, saving all sexual expression for the constraints of a marriage relationship, and then to keep the marriage bed pure once we are married. When we follow these guidelines, we discover that God's laws provide protection for women: the security of a committed relationship, freedom from sexual health worries, and a stable environment for any children produced in the union. This high standard also protects men by providing a safe channel for their sexual energies. Both chaste single men, and faithful husbands, are kept safe from sexual diseases, unwanted pregnancies with women other than their wives, and the guilt of sexual sin.

Lie #6: The Denial of Maternity

Many women postponed marriage and childbearing to pursue their own personal development and career goals. This perspective denies the reality of a woman's reproductive system and the limitations of time. Childbearing is easier in a woman's 20s and 30s than in her 40s. Plus, there is a physical cost; science has borne out the liabilities that older women incur for themselves and their babies. Midlife women are more prone to have problems getting pregnant, staying pregnant, and then experiencing difficult deliveries. The risk of conceiving a child with Down's Syndrome is considerably higher in older mothers.(3) Fertility treatment doesn't work as well for women over 40.(4) There is also a spiritual dimension to denying maternity. When women refuse their God-ordained roles and responsibilities, they open themselves to spiritual deception and temptations. 1 Timothy 2:15 is an intriguing verse: "But women will be saved through childbearing." One compelling translation for this verse is, "Women will be kept safe through childbearing," where Paul uses the word for childbearing as a sort of shorthand for the woman's involvement in the domestic sphere--having her "focus on the family," so to speak.(5) When a married woman's priorities are marriage, family and the home, she is kept safe--protected--from the consequences of delaying motherhood and the temptations that beleaguer a woman trying to fill a man's role. For example, I know one married woman who chose to pursue a full-time career in commercial real estate, to the detriment of her family. She confessed that she found herself constantly battling the temptation to lust on two fronts: sexual lust for the men in her office and her clients, and lust for the recognition and material things that marked success in that field. Another friend chose her career over having any children at all, and discovered that like the men in her field, she could not separate her sense of self from her job, and it ultimately cost her her marriage and her life as she knew it. The problem isn't having a career: the problem is when a woman gets her priorities out of balance.

Lie #7: To Be Feminine Is To Be Weak

In the attempt to blur gender distinctions, feminists declared war on the concept of gender-related characteristics. The qualities that marked feminine women--softness, sweetness, kindness, the ability to relate well--were judged as silly, stupid and weak. Only what characterized men--characteristics like firmness, aggressiveness, competitiveness--were deemed valuable. But when women try to take on male qualities, the end result is a distortion that is neither feminine nor masculine. A woman is perceived as shrill, not spirited. What is expected and acceptable aggression in a man is perceived as unwelcome brashness in a woman. When women try to be tough, it is often taken as unpleasantness. Unfortunately, there really is a strong stereotype about "what women should be like" that merits being torn down. A lot of men are threatened by strong women with opinions and agendas of their own, and treat them with undeserved disrespect. But it is not true that traditionally masculine characteristics are the only ones that count.
There really is a double standard operating, because the characteristics that constitute masculinity and femininity are separate and different, and they are not interchangeable. To be feminine is a special kind of strength. It's a different, appealing kind of power that allows a woman to influence her world in a way quite distinct from the way a man influences the world. It pleased the Lord to create woman to complement man, not to compete with him or be a more rounded copy of him. 1 Corinthians 11:7 says that man is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. Femininity isn't weakness; it's the glorious, splendid crown on humanity.

Lie #8: Doing is Better Than Being

In his book Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus(6), John Gray pointed out that men get their sense of self from achievement, and women get their sense of self from relationships. Feminism declared that the male orientation of what you do was the only one that mattered; who you are, and how important you are to the people in your world, didn't count for as much. This lie said that active is good, passive is bad. Traditional feminine behaviors of being passive and receptive were denounced as demeaning to women and ineffective in the world. Only being the initiator counted, not being the responder. "To listen, to be there, to receive the other with an open heart and mind--this has always been one of the most vital roles of woman. Most women do this quite naturally, but many have come to feel uneasy in this role. Instead, they work frantically on assertiveness, aggression, personal expression, and power, madly suppressing their feminine instincts of love and relatedness."(7)
Women's roles in the family, the church, and the world are a combination of being a responder and an initiator. As a responder, a wife honors her husband through loving submission, and a woman serves the church through the exercise of her spiritual gifts. As an initiator and leader, a woman teaches her children and uses her abilities in the world, such as the woman of Proverbs 31. God's plan is for us to live a balanced life--sometimes active, sometimes passive; sometimes the initiator, sometimes the responder; at all times, submitting both who we are and what we do to the Lordship of Christ.

Lie #9: The Myth of Self-Sufficiency

The ninth lie is the myth of self-sufficiency. Remember the famous feminist slogan that appeared on everything from bumper stickers to t-shirts to notepads? "A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle." The message was clear: women don't need men, who are inferior anyway. The world would be a better place if women ran it: no wars, no greed, no power plays, just glorious cooperation and peace. The next step after "women don't need men" was logical: women don't need anybody. We can take care of ourselves. Helen Reddy's hit song "I Am Woman" became feminism's theme song, with the memorable chorus, "If I have to, I can do anything / I am strong / I am invincible / I am woman!"
Of course, if women don't need anybody except themselves, they certainly don't need God. Particularly a masculine, patriarchal God who makes rules they don't like and insists that He alone is God. But the need to worship is deeply ingrained in us, so feminist thought gave rise to goddess worship. The goddess was just a female image to focus on; in actuality, goddess worship is worship of oneself.(8)
The lie of self-sufficiency is the same lie that Satan has been deceiving us with since the Garden of Eden: What do you need God for? We grieve the Lord's heart when we believe this lie. Jeremiah 2:13 says, "My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." God made us for Himself; believing the lie of self-sufficiency isn't only futile, it's a slap in God's face.

Lie #10: Women Would Enjoy the Feminization of Men

The tenth lie of feminism is that women would enjoy the feminization of men. Feminists believed that the only way to achieve equality of the sexes was to do away with role distinctions. Then they decided that that wasn't enough: society had to do away with gender distinctions, or at the very least blur the lines. Women embraced more masculine values, and men were encouraged to embrace more feminine characteristics. That was supposed to fix the problem. It didn't. As men tried to be "good guys" and accommodate feminists' demands, the culture saw a new type of man emerge: sensitive, nurturing, warmly compassionate, yielding. The only problem was that this "soft man" wasn't what women wanted. Women pushed men to be like women, and when they complied, nobody respected them. Women, it turns out, want to be the soft ones--and we want men to be strong and firm and courageous; we want a manly man. When men start taking on feminine characteristics, they're just wimpy and unmasculine, not pleasing themselves or the women who demanded the change. There is a good reason that books and movies with strong, masculine heroes continue to appeal to such a large audience. Both men and women respond to men who fulfill God's design for male leadership, protection, and strength.
Underlying the women's liberation movement is an angry, unsubmissive attitude that is fueled by the lies of deception. It's good to know what the lies are, but it's also important to know what God's word says, so we can combat the lies with the power of His truth.
Notes
1. Toni Grant, Being a Woman: Fulfilling Your Femininity and Finding Love. New York: Random House, 1988.
2. Grant, 3.
3. Physicians of the Geisinger Health System, "Motherhood at ThirtySomething." http://www.geisinger.edu/ghs/pubtips/m/MotherhoodatThirtySomething.html
4. Denise Mann, "Older Women Rarely Become New Moms With IVF." http://www.ssnewslink.com/demo/womensstudies/19980226A3555.html
5. Andreas Kostenberger, "Saved Through Childbearing?" (CBMW [The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood] News, Sept. 1997), p. 3.
6. John Gray, Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus. New York: HarperCollins, 1992.
7. Grant, 9.
8. Mary Kassian, The Feminist Gospel (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1992), p. 159.
© 1998 Probe Ministries International

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About the Author

Sue Bohlin is an associate speaker with Probe Ministries. She attended the University of Illinois, and has been a Bible teacher and conference speaker for over 25 years. She serves as a Mentoring Mom for MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers), and on the board of Living Hope Ministries, a Christ-centered outreach to those wanting to leave homosexuality. She is also a professional calligrapher and the webservant for Probe Ministries; but most importantly, she is the wife of Dr. Ray Bohlin and the mother of their two college-age sons. She can be reached via e-mail at sue@probe.org.

THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN

By David J. Stewart

 

What is a "Proverbs 31 woman"?  It is a woman who is pleasing to God; and in order to be pleasing to God (in the case of a married woman), she must be obedient and committed to her husband's happiness.  She must be committed to the well being and safety of her children, to loving them, and to promoting their spiritual growth.  No feminist is a Proverbs 31 woman!  No whorish, above the skirt wearing floozy, is is a Proverbs 31 woman!  She is NOT pleasing to God.  No lazy wife, who causes her husband grief, is a Proverbs 31 woman.  Let's go through these Scriptures and find out exactly what the Word of God defines as a Proverbs 31 woman, a godly woman.  Most articles on the Proverbs 31 woman which I have read don't say much, so I'm going to break it down, and give it to you in simple terms.

• Verse 10 - Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

All the money in the world cannot buy loyalty.  Wealthy men may have their whores and mistresses; but, money cannot buy genuine love, which is a gift from God.  A woman of God is virtuous, wears dresses (modest clothing), and knows the dangers of teasing the opposite sex.  Many women today are horribly malicious, actually enjoying teasing married men to lust upon them.  Can you imagine how hot Hell will be for such home-wreckers if they die without Christ as Savior?  Of course, God doesn't want anyone to die in their sins (2nd Peter 3:9).

• Verse 11 - The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
  
  Many men don't trust their wives; therefore, they have separate bank accounts, hide the mail, keep things from their wife, etc.  You'd be shocked if you knew just how many married couples don't trust each other.  I know a man who won't let his wife touch the mail because she loses it, or hides things from him.  Many angry wives have cleaned out the bank account and skipped town.  One man told me that his wife stole $10,000 from their account, money they had agreed would be spent to pay bills.  One of the first things many sinful wives do when they get angry at their husbands is to hurt him financially (cause him spoil). 

• Verse 12 - She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
  
  Again, many wives hurt their husbands when they get angry.  Nothing is more devastating to a man, than to find out that his wife gave her body to another man.  The wife's body belongs only to her husband (1st Corinthians 7:4).  Adultery is a horrible sin in the sight of God, and the excruciating emotional pains last a LIFETIME for the betrayed spouse.  Many wives lie to their husbands, being deceitful behind his back, slander him, and dragging people into their marriage problems.  This is all evil.

• Verse 13 - She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
  
  In modern times, we are blessed with inexpensive clothing.  This Verse simply means that her children are well dressed for the weather, and for the occasion.  I do believe that one of the great lost arts is that of making clothing.  I think all girls should learn how to make sweaters, knit, and crochet.  I think every girl should learn to cook without the microwave.  We are living in a lazy and wasteful generation, who don't know how to do anything for themselves...so they spend a lot of extra money for convenience sake.

• Verse 14 - She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
  
  She knows how to cook, she learns the recipes, and can cook things that are popular in other cultures.  She wants to give her family the best.  No wife has an excuse not to be a great cook.  There are free recipes online for everything from eggrolls, to Mediterranean dishes.

• Verse 15 - She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
  
  She is not lazy, she does what needs to be done.  This woman in Proverbs got up before the sun did, and fed her family.  I have known children who went to school hungry because of a lazy mother, who didn't feel like getting up to make breakfast.  I've known husbands who ate at McDonalds regularly, because of a lazy wife who didn't think to make him a lunch.  I knew a man who got food poisoning, because his lazy wife didn't properly care for the food before making his lunch.  Every wise woman should have a desire to learn about food-born-illnesses, and how to prevent them.

• Verse 16 - She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
  
  A little thought needs to go into this Verse.  It is obvious that no wife would make such a big financial decision without her husband's involvement.  I believe this Verse relates back to Verses 11 and 12.  It simply means that she has good judgment, and she is able to think for herself, and can; therefore, help her husband in many ways.  Contrary to the popular feminist fantasy concerning home-makers; God-fearing woman, who obey their husbands, and stay at home, can make intelligent decisions. 

• Verse 17 - She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
  
  She is physically active; not a couch potato.  One of the reasons many women have strokes and heart attacks is because they live a sedentary lifestyle.  The Proverbs 31 woman doesn't smoke cigarettes, she takes care of herself, and sets the proper example for her children to follow.  It is certainly a good idea for woman to exercise, and I don't believe there is anything wrong with a woman exercising at local women's only fitness center (provided that proper attire is worn).

• Verse 18 - She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
  
  She works long hours into the night sometimes; but, she doesn't ignore her health.  She does get adequate sleep at night (and perhaps a nap in the day).  I believe moms need a 1-2 hour nap in the afternoon.  She is a balanced woman.  She works hard; but knows when to take a break.  She is good at what she does because she has made an art of the things in her life.  She is an expert at romance, cooking, and taking care of the home.  Of course, this takes several years to achieve.  You can't do everything at once.  Every wife is either improving or slacking off. 

• Verse 19 - She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
  
  She is not lazy.  The proverbs 31 woman stays busy, she doesn't sit around loafing all day.  Many women sit home watching soap operas, smoking cigarettes, drinking coffee, surfing the internet; yet, they don't do their duties as a wife and a mother.  Every working husband should come home to a waiting wife, who happily greets him at the door, and rolls out the red carpet for him.  I feel sorry for the children who have to go to school, while mom stays in bed sleeping.  If a wife doesn't have to work outside the home, then she should earn her keep.  Shame on those lazy wives who don't care for the home, while their husbands faithfully go to work every day and pay the bills.  No husband should have to continually ask his wife to clean the house, and to pick up after herself.  No husband should smell dishes stinking in the sink when he comes home, or see piles of dirt which haven't been picked up off the floor.

• Verse 20 - She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
  
  She has concern for the less fortunate.  This does not mean that she endangers herself by going into bad neighborhoods.  It simply means that she donates her time  and money (if she can) to help the poor; but, her family always comes first.  No mother should ever help others before helping her family.  In the real world, many married couples are living on a shoestring and don't have any extra money.  Obviously, this Scripture is conditional upon one's financially situation.  Howbeit, most Americans can afford to help the poor in some capacity.  If you can afford a VCR, McDonalds, etc...then you can afford to give a dollar or two to someone who is poor.  A Gospel tract should always be given as well.  In today's world, you have to be very careful about giving beggar's money, as some of them are criminals and may assault you.  God is simply saying that a godly woman will not be selfish.  Look at all the wealthy people in this world, who horde their money.  If they do give anything, it is chump change compared to their hundreds of thousands they own.

• Verse 21 - She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
  
  Her kids don't go to school improperly dressed.  I've seen kids going to school in 40 degree weather with no coat.  Many kids don't have a sense of temperature, and don't care if they have a coat or not.  A lazy mother who doesn't care won't even notice her kids improperly dressed.  This is irresponsible.  A godly mother will keep an eye on her kids at all times.  So many mothers are idiots--letting their kids wander out of sight, going to school with no lunch, or doing dangerous things.  There are plenty of second-hand stores nowadays (my favorite places to shop).  Every child should have a warm coat for the cold weather, and shoes without holes in them.

• Verse 22 - She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
  
  She knows how to seduce her own husband.  She is an expert at love-making.  Many wives fail in this area, not romantically satisfying their husband's needs.  To a man, sex is much more than just a physical union.  The mental aspects of romance must not be ignored.  A wise wife will give her husband the expressions, sensualism, and thrills that he needs.  If you don't do it, then your husband will be frustrated.  We are living in a whorish generation, where women deliberately try to seduce and tease men.  A wise wife realizes this and does her best to be her husbands biggest seducer, and secret lover. 

• Verse 32 - Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
  
  She is every man's dream.  Other men respect her virtue, and loyalty to her husband.  They know that this woman is a lady, and she doesn't have the flirting eyes of the silly woman.  She is an asset to her husband, and not a liability.  Her husband is well respected because of the wife's testimony.  So many wives are a reproach to their husbands (1st Timothy 5:14).

• Verse 24 - She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
  
  She is industrious and looks for honest ways to earn some extra money.  She sees her husband's concerns over finances, and wants to help him if she can.  However, in today's world, things are different than from Bible days.  It was difficult to find clothing back in Bible days, there were no mass producers of clothing like today.  Hence, it would be foolish for a wife to try to make and sell clothing today, which can be bought dirt cheap at the store.  It would be better to make something unique, which cannot be found in the stores.  The idea is to do something that is going to make money, but not at a loss.  There are MANY ways in which wife can earn money.  Cleaning businesses are a good market in wealthier areas.  You clean people's homes on a weekly basis, etc.  Animal-sitting is popular.  People drop their dog or cat off, and you watch them while they're on vacation.  Please keep in mind that the woman in Proverbs 31 was trying to help her husband.  If your husband has a good job, then you don't need to earn extra money.  Again, the context of the Scripture is that a godly woman is not a couch-potato who sits around doing nothing.  The Bible is not saying that every wife has to make money, not at all.  The Bible is simply saying that she stays busy, using her time wisely for the benefit of her family.  The applications are limitless.

• Verse 25 - Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
  
  She has the right priorities in life (Matthew 6:33).  She keeps her eyes on Jesus Christ, and knows that there is always light at the end of the tunnel when problems arise.  She reads and studies the Bible, meditating upon God's Word throughout the day.  She has faith in God.  She is able to handle problems which would cause other women to run to shelters or file for divorce.  She doesn't run from her problems, she weathers the storms of life.  She will one day be happy that she didn't divorce her husband, or cheat on him, when all hope seemed lost.  When she couldn't see her hand in front of her face, she didn't give up and quit on her marriage.  She is a real trooper, hanging in their when her husband was under Satan's attack.  Fifty years ago, a mother could have 10 children and handle all the housework by herself.  Today, a mother needs a babysitter, counselor, friends, mother, and the whole neighborhood to raise one brat.  Women have lost old fashioned character.  Wives nowadays run out the door, go back to mama, and many file for divorce.  This is sinful, and an indication of the moral decline in America.

• Verse 26 - She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
  
  She is no fool.  She knows Biblical principles, and has good sense.  She keeps her mouth shut most of the time.  When she does talk, it's worth hearing.  She never curses or uses profane language.  She never tells or listens to dirty jokes.  She doesn't waste her time talking with shallow people, who like to gossip and slander others.  She doesn't gossip or listen to gossip.  She never speaks evil of any man.  She respects the manhood of other men.  I once knew a woman who liked to deride other men by continually referring to her husband as a "real man."  This is not Christian.  A godly woman respects the manhood of other men; but, she is extremely careful not to directly praise other men.  Men are hungry for praise, and for a woman to give them attention.  Don't do it ladies.  No woman should ever brag on any man other than her husband.  The fastest way to anger and hurt your husband is to brag on another man.  Every husband wants to be his wife's ONLY hero.  However, don't criticize or slander other men either.  Every man has his dignity.

• Verse 27 - She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
  
  She doesn't eat until her family has eaten.  She is in charge of the housework, and knows what is what.  She doesn't lose things--she has a place for everything, and puts everything in it's place.  She is organized.  Her house is clean.  She knows all the emergency phone numbers, and is prepared to deal with medical emergencies.  She knows the poison hotline.  Perhaps she has even taken a CPR and First Aid course.  She is careful with food preparation, and washes her hands.  Her home is disinfected, and it smells clean.  She is careful to wash the dishes correctly, not leaving soap film on the plates.  She is careful not to give her husband cracked glasses, or food with hair in it.  She doesn't leave her children unattended.  She reads to her kids, and listens to them read to her.  She knows about nutrition, and her family gets plenty of grain and vegetables.  She is careful not to give too many sweets to the family.  She knows that fluoride is poison, and filters her families' drinking water.  She doesn't like chemicals in the food, so she tries to prepare more homemade meals.  The lazy woman will buy nothing but prepared foods, feeding her family loads of sodium and toxic sodium aluminum phosphate (most baking goods).  Every wife should be an expert in nutrition.  Every wife should read, ask questions, and get informed concerning everything that she is responsible for.  I'm amazed how many wives and mothers go about their roles haphazardly.

• Verse 28 - Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
  
  How many men are always fighting with their wives because she is lazy?  Many!  Many men are miserable because of a lazy wife who won't spend 5-minutes in front of a mirror to pretty herself up.  I heard a man criticize his wife, saying that she placed them into debt by buying a living room furniture set they didn't need.  Another man said he was mowing the lawn on a hot summer day and asked his wife for a glass of water.  She said, "Get it yourself" and never brought it.  Another man rejoiced when he received an extra bonus check at work, because his wife didn't know about it and wouldn't confiscate it.  These men all spake poorly of their wives.  The Proverbs 31 woman doesn't make her husband miserable, she is a help instead of a burden.  So many married men are miserable, including Christian men, because of lazy lackadaisical wives.  Often, even the children get upset with her, because she blames the kids for her faults.  I've heard mothers curse at their children, screaming and yelling at them, like they were criminals.  This is sinful.  What does your husband say about you?

• Verse 29 - Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
  
  Very few, and I mean very few, women are like the Proverbs 31 woman.  Very few husbands are truly happy in their marriage.  So many wives lie to their husbands, being deceitful and hiding things from him.  I feel sorry for the man who's wife waits 10 years to tell him some bad news, breaking his heart.  Those are horrible words when a wife says, "There's something I should have told you 10 years ago."  What a horrible thing to do to a man.  There was a wife who led her husband to believe that she was a virgin before they married.  They were both Christians and had never dated anyone except each other.  The wife decided after 7 years of marriage to tell her husband that she was sexually molested by a much older step brother when she was a little girl.  The husband was forever devastated.  As you can imagine, that permanently destroyed any family relations.  The man never spoke to the wife's family again.  The wife should have kept her mouth shut.  Better yet, she should have told her husband before they married what had happened.  She might as well have shot that poor man in the head, because he wished he were dead when she dropped the bomb on him.  I've heard testimonies from men of their wives stealing from their them, cleaning out the bank account, destroying their personal property, lying to them, using the courts against them, dragging meddling people into the marriage, etc, etc, etc..  So sad, so tragic, so evil.

• Verse 30 - Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
  
  We are living in a sex-perverted generation where girls are trained at the earliest age to be whores.  The godless music being aimed at young girls is being produced and sung by Satan worshippers like Madonna, and lascivious causing perverts like Britney Spears, Hilary Duff, Jessica Simpson, etc.  Truly, beauty is only skin deep.  One day, all their physical beauty will fade, and an old broken body will be all that remains.  Death is inevitable (Romans 6:23).  The sinful world worships youth, and the rebellion of youth.  1st John 2:15-17 plainly teaches that the world and the lusts thereof will all pass away.  Nothing will matter 100 years from now except what you do with Jesus Christ.  Will you accept Jesus as your personal Savior, as payment for your sins; or will you reject Christ, and die in your sins?

• Verse 31 - Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
  
  She has EARNED the right to relax and enjoy the fruits of her labors.  Many wives are bums, having a welfare mentality, parasiting off their husbands.  This is very wrong.  A Proverbs 31 woman wants to work with her husband, to make the marriage and family something to be proud of. 
  
  Let me also add here at the end of our discussion, that the advice given from Verse 10 through 31 was NOT given to a woman; BUT, to a man, king Lempel (Verse 1).  It was advice from a wise mother, given to her son to help him choose the best wife to marry.  Perhaps we should call this passage of Scripture, the Proverbs 31 man, since it is advice given to man.  Carefully notice the warnings about alcohol given to the husband in Verses 1-9.  No alcohol-drinking man deserves a Proverbs 31 wife.  Why should he have a good wife to beat, and be abusive to her?  So many men who drink beer, live in sin, avoid church, curse in God's name, and chase women...wonder why they can't find a decent wife.  Solomon didn't write Proverbs 31.  Solomon never could find the woman of his dreams (Ecclesiastes 7:28).  Why?  Because Solomon had a reputation, a very bad one.  All his wives were the lazy whores who wanted his money...take care of us Solomon...and we'll give you the sex you want.  Solomon had many lovers; but, he couldn't find the godly wife that he so much desired.  Solomon tried to seduce the beautiful Shulamite girl in Song of Solomon; but, she wisely turned him down, and for good reason.  Solomon here represents Satan, who tries to seduce us away from Christ. 
  
  This whole Chapter describes a woman who loves her husband and children with all her heart, and works to give them the best.  Jesus said that all of the Bible is fulfilled in two commands (Matthew 22:38-40): 1) Love God with all thy heart, 2) Love thy neighbor as thyself.  Also, in Galatians 5:14.  The woman who loves her husband and family doesn't need books, educational courses, or helps.  Through DESIRE, she will become everything that her family needs her to be (Proverb 18:1).  It's certainly acceptable for a wife to read helpful books, gaining insight from other women who have already proven themselves godly mothers; BUT, it is not necessary.  The Word of God is the only Book we need.  All the books, videos, and college courses in the world mean nothing if a wife and mother doesn't care. 

In conclusion, there is no such thing as a perfect wife, or husband.  The key to happiness in a marriage is two people who are mutually committed to making the marriage a success.  Many marriages are lopsided, where one spouse shirks their responsibilities, and the other is continually getting upset because of it.  This is unfair.  A happy marriage requires a team effort between husband and wife.  Many husbands are brute tyrants, who won't allow their wives to live.  This is true of religious men especially, who are taught that the wife is supposed to be submissive to her husband. 
Although the Word of God certainly does set forth the man as the head of his household, it doesn't give him any right to be unkind or abusive towards his wife.  Many Christian wives are slaves to a religious jerk.  I say this kindly.  I believe that God wants every wife to be as the woman in Proverbs 31; but, God also expects every husband to be as the husband in Ephesians 5:25-33.  Every husband should be an Ephesians 5 man.

UNION AND FELLOWSHIP EXPANDED

This Week’s Feature Article by Jack Kelley
I’m frequently asked why I believe we should continue confessing our sins after being born again, since all our sins are already forgiven. People who ask point out that 1 John 1:9 is the only place this is mentioned and if it was so important wouldn’t Jesus have taught it?
Well it turns out 1 John 1:9 isn’t the only place confession is mentioned for believers and as a matter of fact Jesus did teach it. But before we get into that, let’s review what I call the two sided nature of our relationship with the Lord so you can see where the idea came from in the first place.

Union And Fellowship

I call one side Union. It’s eternal and unconditional, based only on our belief in the Lord. Ephesians 1:13-14 describes our Union with God, sealed and guaranteed. Once we’re born again, we can’t become unborn. We’re His forever. The Holy Spirit is sealed within us from our first moment of belief until the day of redemption to guarantee that.  2 Cor. 1:21-22 is even clearer, saying it’s God who makes us stand, and that he’s put His mark of ownership on us as well as sealing His Spirit in our hearts.  In 1 Cor. 6:19-20 Paul wrote, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price.” God purchased us with the blood of Jesus and then He put His mark on us. You could say after He bought us He branded us, like a rancher brands his cattle, as proof of ownership.  We’re His forever. We’ve covered these verses many times in support of the Bible’s promise of eternal security.
I call the other side Fellowship and it’s a bit more complicated. Fellowship is that state of closeness to God that enables Him to bless us in our daily lives in the here and now, both by protecting us from enemy attacks and by making good things happen for us (Romans 8:28). It’s like He’s taken our side to give us a supernatural advantage.
Fellowship is defined by 1 John 1:8-9 as being both earthly and conditional upon our behavior. Even as believers, as long as we’re here on Earth we’ll continue to sin (Romans 7:18-20).  Since God can’t abide the presence of sin (Habakkuk 1:13), our unconfessed sins can interrupt our earthly relationship with Him and deprive us of blessings we might have otherwise received. Because of our Union with God we’ll still be saved in the eternal sense, but here on Earth we’ll be out of Fellowship.  And when we’re out of Fellowship, we have to make it on our own while being legitimate targets for our enemy’s mischief. The remedy is to confess when we sin so we can be restored.
One reason that many Christians live such defeated lives is that having only learned about the Union part of being a believer, they only know that God has forgiven their sins and that they’ll go to be with Him when they die or are raptured. They don’t realize that they still need regular confession to stay in Fellowship here in the mean time.
Now by defeated lives, I mean they lack the spiritual success all Christians are promised (John 10:10). They might be doing all right from a worldly perspective, although many are deprived even of that, but their lives do not reflect the Spiritual well being for which there is no substitute in worldly living. Nor do they feel the sense of peace and satisfaction that we all desire.

Where Did This Idea Come From?

Union and Fellowship are not just New Testament ideas. Consider the plight of Job, a man of God and the main character in the oldest book of the Bible. He was such a good man that God bragged to Satan about him. But he was not perfect. His sin was self-righteousness and what he said to his friends  proves it.
 “Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.” (Job 9:21).
(Speaking to God) “Does it please you to oppress me, to spurn the work of your hands … though you know that I am not guilty?” Job 10:3,7
(To his friends again)“I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called upon God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!” (Job 12:4).
I will maintain my righteousness and never let go of it; my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live. (Job 27:6).
In addition all 41 verses of Job 31 are devoted to Job giving evidence of his righteousness.
Because he wouldn’t confess his sin, he was out of fellowship. When asked to do so, God had to let Satan afflict him in order to bring him to his senses. Once Job confessed (Job 42:1-6), he was restored (Job 42:10-17).  Even though he was the most righteous man on Earth, Job still had to confess to be restored to fellowship with God.
Later, in Old Covenant times, the priests had to sacrifice a lamb on the altar every morning and every evening for the sins of the people. Even though God was dwelling among them and providing for all their needs, the Israelites still had to perform a twice daily sacrifice for sin to stay in His good graces.
1 John 1:9 is the New Testament equivalent of those daily sacrifices for sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
This verse was written for believers who are forever saved, but are in danger of being out of Fellowship because of their sins. When we confess in faith, we’re immediately forgiven and purified from all unrighteousness.
This is the real underlying issue of Hebrews 6:4-6. We know this because in the preceding verses the writer said he was leaving elementary teachings about Christ and going on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, etc (Hebrews 6:1-3). This alone tells us he wasn’t talking about our salvation in verses 4-6.
The key is the phrase “renew again to repentance” in verse 6.  Jewish believers were being pressured into keeping the law, especially where it concerned the sacrifice for sin. Those who relied on sacrificial lambs instead of confessing directly to God were in effect crucifying the Lord all over again, since He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The daily sacrifice was a foreshadowing of Him, and when He came the shadow gave way to the reality. The old way was no longer sufficient to restore them to fellowship.  All a believer needs to do now is offer a prayer of confession to be purified from  his or her unrighteousness.

What Did Jesus Say?

The Lord had quite a bit to say about this. For example, at the end of His teaching on the Lord’s prayer, He said,  “If you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins” (Matt. 6:14-15).  In Matt. 6:9 Jesus said to begin our prayers with the salutation “Our Father” and in verses 14 and 15 He called God “your heavenly father” and “your father”.
John 1:12-13 says only we who receive the Lord and believe in His name have the authority to become children of God, and therefore to call Him Father.  Romans 8:15-16 and Galatians 4:4-6 confirm this.  That makes the Lord’s Prayer a prayer for believers only.  But if we’re believers we’ve already been forgiven, so how could Jesus warn us that  our Father would not forgive our sins unless we forgive everyone who sins against us?  No where in Scripture are we commanded to forgive everyone else before we can ask for our own salvation.  We have only to believe we’re sinners and that the Lord died for our sins and rose again to ask for and receive eternal life.
The answer can be found in Matt. 18:21-35, the Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.   It’s about a king who, in the process of settling his accounts with his servants, discovered a servant  who owed more than he could possibly pay. The King ordered that the servant, his wife and children and everything they owned be sold to pay off the debt. The servant begged for mercy and for the time he would need to find a way to pay everything back. The king took pity on him and canceled the debt entirely.
As the servant was leaving he came across a fellow servant who owed him a few dollars. He immediately demanded payment.  When the fellow servant begged for patience, he refused and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay off the full amount.
Other servants heard about this and told the king what had happened. The king was enraged because he had forgiven his servant everything, and now the servant refused to forgive a fellow servant even a little thing.  He had the forgiven servant turned over to the jailer to be tortured until he could pay off his debt to the king.
Jesus ended the parable by saying, “This is how My Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (Matt. 18:35).
Parables have been called heavenly stories placed in an earthly context.  They’re meant to teach a divine truth in a way that earth bound humans can understand it.  Every character and major component of the parable is symbolic of something else.  In this parable the King represents the Lord, the servants are you and me, the debt is our accumulated sin, and the jailer is Satan.
We’ve been forgiven everything, but when we refuse to forgive each other even a little thing it creates a debt of sin that suspends our relationship with the Lord until we repay the debt. We don’t stop being one of His children (the servant wasn’t discharged or sold) but during that time we’re out of fellowship with the Lord.  We may not receive blessings that would otherwise be ours and like Job we can even be open to attack.  But thanks to what the Lord has done for us, we can repay the debt by confessing our sin.  Sincere confession purifies us from all unrighteousness and restores us to Fellowship.
Now let’s look at the parable of the Prodigal Son. (Luke 15:11-32) Seeking a life of independence from his father, the Prodigal Son left his father’s house and struck out on his own. He had soon squandered his wealth in wild living and would have happily traded places with one of his father’s hired hands. Swallowing his pride, he returned to his father’s house where he confessed and was immediately restored. While He was away, he never stopped being his father’s son (Union), but during that time there was no communication and he didn’t receive any of the blessings that might have been his had he remained in his father’s house (Fellowship).
Like the Prodigal Son, we still belong to our Father’s family while we’re out of Fellowship with Him, but there won’t be any communication and we won’t receive the blessings we might have otherwise had.  And like the Prodigal, when we return to our Father and confess our sins, we’re immediately purified from all unrighteousness and restored to Fellowship.
Since Paul clearly taught that our salvation is guaranteed from the moment we believe, we also have to understand that all his teaching on proper Christian living was to help us stay in fellowship with God and was not meant to imply that keeping our salvation requires that we maintain a certain standard of behavior.   This thought is beautifully summarized in Phil. 3:16 where he said, “Let us live up to what we have already attained.”

Why Do We Resist?

Since the penalty for all the sins of our life is already paid (Colossians 2:13-14) and therefore there is no more condemnation for us (Romans 8:1), why do many believers resist the idea of confessing when they sin? Don’t they know forgiveness is automatic? What’s the problem?
One reason is lack of knowledge. Most people have never been taught about this.  They’ve learned how to be saved, which brings Union with God, but they haven’t learned about the importance of staying in Fellowship with Him.  Paul taught that becoming a believer is only step one in achieving an intimate relationship with God.  It’s what qualifies us to become one of His children, but many, many more blessings are available to those who go on to live victorious lives (1 Cor. 9:24-27).  Along the way we stumble repeatedly, and when we do confession wipes the slate clean again and it’s like our stumbling never happened.
But there’s also a fair amount of pride contained in our fallen human state. Having to repeatedly admit to being a sinner can be embarrassing even when we’re only admitting it to God who already knows all about us and saved us anyway. That pride itself is a sin that interrupts our fellowship.
And finally, at least in the US, there are still many believers who have it too good to even realize they’re out of fellowship. They judge themselves the way others judge them, by worldly standards, and think they’re OK. They never stop to consider their lack of spiritual wealth.
Jesus was warning us about being out of fellowship when He said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). He said if we don’t remain in Him, we’ll be like a withered branch, unfruitful, no matter what we think we’ve accomplished.  At the Bema Seat judgment believers like this will discover that whatever worldly success they achieved is meaningless in the Kingdom, and their life as a believer is mostly devoid of eternal value.

What’s The Point?

Because of our unbreakable Union with God we never have to worry about losing our salvation. Nor do we have to wonder if we’ll be included in the rapture. But to make our relationship with Him here on Earth as good as it can be and to accomplish all that He desires of us requires that we confess when we sin so that we never find ourselves out of Fellowship with Him.
Confessing when we sin is like apologizing to a loved one. You know you’ll be forgiven but you feel bad about disappointing someone you love and want to make sure you’ve restored the relationship to its previous condition. Confession. It really is good for the soul. Selah 10-06-12

WHERE IS THE ARK OF COVENANT ?

By Dr. William C. Varner
The Master's College

Has the ark of the covenant been Discovered?

The end of the Old Testament period brought a different world to the Jewish people than what they had been used to experiencing. Not the least of these changes involved the loss of their independence and the destruction of their Temple. As we begin our consideration of the Messianic promise during the time between the testaments, it is good to pause and attempt to answer a question that I am often asked—the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant. The problem is that the Bible is silent about what happened to it before or after the destruction of the Temple in 586 B.C. While the issue is not directly related to the subject of the Messiah, it will serve to introduce the next period that will concern us—the Intertestamental age and how the Messianic idea underwent change and even caused some of that change!
The Ark of the Covenant was the central furnishing both in the Tabernacle and also later in the Temple of Solomon. It was a chest made of acacia wood covered by gold, 3 3/4 feet in length and 2 1/4 feet wide and high. Within were the two tables of the Law. It was from above this Ark, between the cherubim attached to the mercy seat resting upon the Ark, that Yahweh communed with Israel (cf. Ex. 25:22).
In the 1980's, reports surfaced that an American group had discovered the Ark of the Covenant on Mount Nebo in Jordan. Although no reliable pictures of the Ark were released and no qualified archaeologists ever confirmed the discovery, the rumor spread quickly and caused many to wonder and ask questions. There are also reports that rabbis have "seen" the ark under the Temple Mount. The attitude of any sensible person ought to be that until solid evidence of the Ark's discovery is revealed and confirmed by competent authorities, a skeptical opinion must be held. The reason for this is evident when some basic historical and biblical facts about the Ark are understood.

Fact One

The Bible simply does not reveal what happened to the Ark when the Solomonic Temple was destroyed in 586 B.C. Although it may have been carried off to Babylon as a trophy of war, there is no mention of its being among the confiscated Temple items in 2 Kings 25. The explanation offered in the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, is that it was carried off by the Egyptian Pharaoh Shishak when he plundered the "treasures" of the Temple in 925 B.C. (1 Ki. 14:25-26). It is not clear at all, however, that the Ark was among those "treasures." As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches that the ark was still in Jerusalem during the time of Josiah, three hundred years after the attack by Shishak (2 Chron. 35:3). So we know that it did not disappear into Egypt at that time. This is particularly important in light of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church claim to have the ark in an underground temple in Northern Ethiopia. The Biblical statement cited above contradicts any idea that the ark was carried away to Africa in the tenth century B.C. as the Ethiopians claim. Further complicating this claim is the fact that no outsider has ever seen this ark in Ethiopia. How then can such a claim ever possibly be substantiated?

Fact Two

An apocryphal book written during the century prior to Jesus' birth records an interesting idea about the fate of the Ark. 2 Maccabees 2:4-7 reads:

"It was also in the writing that the prophet [Jeremiah], in obedience to a revelation, gave orders that the tent and the ark should accompany him, and that he went up and beheld God's inheritance. And Jeremiah came and found a cave-dwelling, and he took the tent and the ark and the incense altar into it, and he blocked up the door. And some of those who followed him came up to mark the road, and they could not find it. But when Jeremiah found it out, he blamed them and said, "The place shall be unknown until God gathers the congregation of his people together and shows his mercy."

It is this reference that some ark-hunters used in their "discovery" of the Ark on Mount Nebo in Jordan. The following should be kept in mind, however, concerning this passage. While scholars acknowledge that 1 Maccabees is a very reliable source of historical information, 2 Maccabees is marred by many legendary and miraculous tales recorded nowhere else. For example, it is in 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 where the offering of prayers and sacrifices for the dead is mentioned, a practice which is nowhere mentioned in the canonical Scriptures. It is highly doubtful, therefore, that Jeremiah did what the above account declares he did. There is no such reference to Jeremiah's action in either Kings, Chronicles or in his very autobiographical prophetic book that goes by his name. Again we must ask, "Why did not the Scriptures record this very important deed if it really happened?"
Furthermore, if we are going to consider information from non-scriptural sources, why not accept the following simple statement in an apocryphal work from the first century? In 4 Esdras 10:22, the Jewish author bemoans the idea that, among other tragedies befalling his people, "the ark of our covenant has been plundered."

Fact Three

A Jewish tradition exists that the Ark had been buried under the "Chamber of Wood" in the Temple prior to the Babylonian destruction in 586 BC. We should note, however, that this tradition appeared hundreds of years later than the destruction of the Temple. Furthermore, the rabbi that mentioned this tradition was opposed by other rabbis in the Talmudic discussion on this subject in Yoma 53b. The fact that this discussion took place in approximately 160 A.D. and that such an act of burying was not recorded either in the Bible or in previous apocryphal books makes this tradition questionable. This does not prevent, however, some orthodox rabbis in Jerusalem today from believing that the Ark is still underneath the Temple Mount and will be recovered someday by archaeologists or Jewish religious leaders. It is often overlooked, however, that the subterranean sections of the Temple Mount have been dug up or explored a number of times since 586 B.C. People like Herod the Great (37-4 B.C.), the Moslem conquerors (640 A.D. ff.), the Crusaders (1199 AD ff.), the Turks (1540 AD ff.), and the British explorer Charles Warren (1850-70) dug up or explored all the subterranean regions of the Temple Mount and no one claimed to have found the ark. It is often forgotten that Warren was a dedicated Free Mason who was actually searching for the ark! Rabbinic "reports" about a so-called ark-sighting after the '67 War are purely apocryphal and have no independent confirmation or photographs. While the remote possibility still exists that it is in a hidden chamber under the mount, only time will tell and skepticism about its presence there is highly advisable.

Fact Four

Modern ark-hunters often defend their efforts by saying that the discovery of the Ark is necessary for the rebuilding of the Temple. They forget, however, an important established fact of history. It was not necessary for the Ark to be present in either Zerubbabel's Temple or in the later, greatly enlarged Temple of Herod. Josephus records that when Pompey entered the Temple in 63 B.C., he did not find the Ark in the Holy of Holies (Antiquities XIV, IV, 4). Furthermore, it was acknowledged by later rabbis that after the Ark had been taken away by the Babylonians, the only thing that remained in the Holy of Holies was a "foundation stone." On this stone the high priest sprinkled the blood on the Day of Atonement that he formerly sprinkled on the Ark during the days of the first Temple (Mishna Yoma 5:2-3). The point to be noticed is that although the ark was not present in the Second Temple, its absence did not prevent the Temple from being very active during that time.
Although the discovery of the Ark would be an astounding event, its discovery is not necessary for the rebuilding of the Temple prophesied in Daniel 9:26-27; Matthew 24:15; 2 Thessalonians 2:4; and Revelation 11:1-2.

Fact Five

An amazing prophetic statement by Jeremiah should be carefully noted:

"And when you have multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, declares the LORD, they shall no more say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again" (Jer. 3:16).

Jeremiah is prophesying of the future millennial restoration of Israel. He clearly states the lack of necessity for an Ark during this time of future blessing. Moreover, it is highly significant to note that Ezekiel 40-44 describes the millennial Temple and makes no mention of the Ark, although many other details of its gates, chambers, furniture, and ritual are given.
All of the above information should cause each of us to be very careful in evaluating any stories about the supposed discovery of the Ark of the Covenant. Let us labor to study what God has clearly revealed, and not get caught up with extra-biblical ideas and teachings. We have enough in God's Word to keep us busy—let's not get sidetracked by sensational "arkaeology"!

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deut. 29:29).

QUESTION : " IS SALVATION BY FAITH ALONE , OR BY FAITH PLUS WORKS ? "

Answer: This is perhaps the most important question in all of Christian theology. This question is the cause of the Reformation, the split between the Protestant churches and Catholic Church. This question is a key difference between biblical Christianity and most of the “Christian” cults. Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works? Am I saved just by believing in Jesus, or do I have to believe in Jesus and do certain things?

The question of faith alone or faith plus works is made difficult by some hard-to-reconcile Bible passages. Compare Romans 3:28, 5:1 and Galatians 3:24 with James 2:24. Some see a difference between Paul (salvation is by faith alone) and James (salvation is by faith plus works). Paul dogmatically says that justification is by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), while James appears to be saying that justification is by faith plus works. This apparent problem is answered by examining what exactly James is talking about. James is refuting the belief that a person can have faith without producing any good works (James 2:17-18). James is emphasizing the point that genuine faith in Christ will produce a changed life and good works (James 2:20-26). James is not saying that justification is by faith plus works, but rather that a person who is truly justified by faith will have good works in his/her life. If a person claims to be a believer, but has no good works in his/her life, then he/she likely does not have genuine faith in Christ (James 2:14, 17, 20, 26).

Paul says the same thing in his writings. The good fruit believers should have in their lives is listed in Galatians 5:22-23. Immediately after telling us that we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), Paul informs us that we were created to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Paul expects just as much of a changed life as James does: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). James and Paul do not disagree in their teaching regarding salvation. They approach the same subject from different perspectives. Paul simply emphasized that justification is by faith alone while James put emphasis on the fact that genuine faith in Christ produces good works.

Recommended Resource: Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification by R.C. Sproul.

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BELIEVE THE BIBLE ? PART 1 , ~ 1st THESSALONIANS 2:13-16 ~

If Oprah Winfrey asked you on national TV to give your position on homosexuality, what would you say?

That’s the dilemma that Dallas megachurch pastor T. D. Jakes faced several months ago. Before I tell you what he said, I want to point out one fact. This is a tough question in one sense because the tide is most definitely running against those of us who believe in the traditional family and who accept the Bible as the true Word of God. A recent LA Times article carried this provocative headline: “Americans Increasingly in Favor of Gay Marriage, Gun Rights.” That’s an unusual combination to be sure. The article says that 47% of those surveyed favor gay marriage while 43% oppose. 

Whenever Christians speak out on homosexuality, we face certain challenges:

1. We are likely to be opposed.
2. We may be branded as bigots.
3. We may be misunderstood by our own people.

Times have changed even inside the evangelical church. Many people are pressing us to stop calling homosexuality sinful and to admit gays and lesbians to church membership. Sometimes we are unfairly linked with extremists like that crazy church in Kansas that spouts hateful rhetoric at funerals.

We know from experience that shouting at people doesn’t work. We also know that we are to speak the truth in love, but how do you do that to a generation that denies the very concept of truth?

Let me go back to T.D. Jakes for a moment. I’m aware of the controversy surrounding his views of the Trinity and the “prosperity gospel.” Those are very serious issues that need further discussion, but that’s not my point in this message. I’m simply using him as an illustration since he was in fact asked by Oprah Winfrey to give his stance as a pastor on homosexuality.

Oprah is one of the most beloved women in the world. Whether or not we watch her is beside the point. Millions hang on her every word. How do you communicate the essence of the biblical viewpoint in just a few sentences when the cameras are rolling?

This is how T. D. Jakes answered the question:

“I’m not called to give my opinion. I’m called as a pastor to give the scriptural position on it. Doesn’t mean that I have to agree with you to love you. I don’t dislike anybody. I love everybody.”

Then he expanded that just a bit:

“I think that sex between two people of the same sex is condemned in the Scriptures, and as long as it is condemned in the Scriptures, I don’t get to say what I think. I get to say what the Bible says.”

I think this is fine way to handle a difficult topic on national TV. You could always say more, but on this point T. D. Jakes is exactly right. The preacher isn’t called to give his opinion on anything. He is called to say what God says.

Here are good words for every preacher to ponder:

“I don’t get to say what I think. I get to say what the Bible says."

Recently I spoke at a “Ministry Summit” for Word of Life, the worldwide youth ministry founded by Jack Wyrtzen. For my first message, I was asked to speak on the importance of the Word of God. I began my message by quoting from the first sentence of the Word of Life Statement of Faith:

“We believe that all the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired of God, and they are without error in the original writings, and they are the supreme and final authority for faith and life.”

Now as statements of faith go, that’s completely unexceptional. Hundreds of churches and ministries have similar statements about the divine inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible. It’s that last phrase that caught my attention:

The Bible is . . . “the supreme and final authority for faith and life.”

If you are an evangelical Christian, that’s the kind of statement you might read a hundred times and not think about because we take it for granted.

The Bible comes from God.
God is the Ultimate Authority.
Therefore, the Bible is our final authority.

This means that in a world of competing truth claims, for the Christian the Bible is the “Supreme Court.” We study and learn from history, tradition, and human wisdom, but in the end we believe the Bible speaks with divine authority.

What the Bible says, God says.

This is not a small issue. The modern evangelical movement was born out of the fundamentalist-modernist controversy of the early 1900s in which every major Protestant denomination was torn apart by a struggle between liberals and conservatives. If you read the history books, you will discover that the liberals won every battle. They won in the Methodist church, the Baptist church, the Presbyterian church, the Episcopal church, and the Congregational church. Slowly but surely the liberals, aided by the compromising moderates, drove the conservatives out of power.

Looking back on those days, we can see clearly there was really only one issue at stake. Is the Bible the Word of God and will we insist that our ministers preach the divine inspiration of the Bible? Everything else was secondary. Even the creation-evolution debate ultimately came down to the question of whether or not Christians would believe the first eleven chapters of Genesis are literally true. The modernists answered no, the fundamentalists said yes.

In this day of enlightened skepticism when unbelief seems to be on the march, we have to face this difficult question:

Will we believe the Bible, all of it, every word of it, from first to last, and everything in between?

Our spiritual ancestors had no problem answering Yes to that question. But we struggle mightily with it. That controversy over the Bible continues to our present day. With that as background, and using the words of the apostle Paul as our guide, I want to answer and answer one very important question:  What does it mean to believe the Bible?  It’s one thing you say you believe the Bible, it’s another thing to live that out on a daily basis. So what do we mean when we say that we believe the Bible?

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 suggests three answers to that question.

I. Believing the Bible Means Accepting Its Authority in Every Area of Life. 

“And we thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you have heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe" (v. 13).

Paul uses two words in verse 13 to explain what he means:

1.  You received the word of God. That’s the hearing of the ear. It’s objective. It’s like signing a receipt at the post office so you can accept a package. Paul means that the Thessalonians listened intently to the message he preached because they knew it came from God.

2.  You accepted it as the word of God. This word means to welcome a visitor into your home. This is the hearing of the heart. It’s subjective. It’s one thing to listen to a sermon. It’s something else to welcome God’s message into your heart and let it transform your life. This explains why some people can come to church for 60 years and never be changed. We have all known lifelong church members who were as grouchy and greedy and cranky and mean-spirited at the end as they were at the beginning. They received the Word week after week but they never accepted it as God’s divine message for them so they were never changed on the inside.

The focus here is crucial. You heard the message from man but you recognized that it came from God. You heard from us (the human side) God’s message (the divine side). So you responded not as if it were the opinion of man but as God’s word.

That’s why the debate over the nature of the Bible is so crucial. If it is only the word of man, then it is changeable, fickle and unreliable. But if the Bible is the word of God, then it is utterly and completely authoritative. If God has spoken in the Bible, then what he says has final claim on my life.

Let me summarize this point with two simple statements:

If the Bible comes from man, we are entitled to sit in judgment on it.
If the Bible comes from God, we must bow in submission to it.

Ladies and gentlemen, this leads to a crucial question: What do you believe about the Bible?  Does it come from man or from God? Is it on the level with the daily newspaper or does it speak with divine authority?

If you say it is the word of God, then you must also say that it is not simply one message among many. It is not like the Republican or the Democratic platforms that came about through debate and consensus. If the Bible is the word of God, it is utterly exclusive in its claims. It does not beg for our approval. The Word of God is not like the first draft of a term paper where the writer submits it and says, “What do you think?" God never asks us to correct the New Testament. He never asks us to review Isaiah and make a few changes. And he won’t abide by those who add to or take from the Book of Revelation. 

“The Bible Stands As Read”

A church was going through a difficult controversy. No one could agree on anything. At a business meeting one night the various factions were arguing about the minutes of the last meeting. When the pastor read a passage of Scripture, an old man stood to his feet and said, “Mr. Chairman, I move that the Bible stand approved as read.”

So it must be for you and me. The Bible stands approved as read, without correction, without change, without deletion, without addition. 

If you think about it, Christians believe something very profound and fundamentally very radical. In an age of moral and spiritual anarchy, we believe there is a God in heaven who has spoken to the human race. God has spoken and he has not stuttered. He spoke and made himself clear in his Word, the Bible. Writing in the Manchester Guardian (October 28, 2003), Cristina Odone describes the principle this way:

We believe in authority. In an era that prizes individual freedom, Christians believe in a supreme being who dictates our words and deeds. To modern ears, the concept sounds outrageously autocratic. From when to die to when to give birth, from whom to have sex with, to how to spend their money, the chatteratis believe they should enjoy unlimited freedom. But for the Christian, freedom is not an end in itself. Unfettered individualism can mean greed and selfishness, the evasion of personal responsibility, the destruction of the family. Christians believe that from an all-powerful authority stems a clear system of judgment which teaches that there is a right and a wrong.

The serpent’s first attack in the Garden of Eden came at precisely this point. He challenged Eve with this question: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’” (Genesis 3:1). The church must once again declare the truth of God with boldness. One reason God has used Billy Graham so greatly has been his constant repetition of this phrase, “The Bible says."

To a world that rejects authority, the church must declare the authority of God. The world says, “We want freedom.” God says, “If you want freedom, obey my Word.” We must proclaim the truth of God even to those who reject it because it is the truth that sets men free.

God’s Energetic Word

This much we already know. But ponder the last phrase of verse 13, "which is at work in you who believe.” Here Paul ties the power of the word of God to the response of a believing heart. Note the last four words: ”Which is at work.” The Word works. There is power in the Word of God when its divine authority is accepted in a believing heart. 

That word “works” is like our English word “energy.” The word is energized within us as we believe it. It is like farmland that bears a rich harvest. It is a like a gold mine that delivers great riches. It is like an investment that pays a huge dividend.

That’s good news. When we hear the message outwardly and welcome it inwardly, when we allow God’s word to rule over every area of our lives, it energizes us and produces a wonderful harvest.

It is at this point that evangelical ministries such as Word of Life have had a powerful impact. I was raised in a church where we heard a great deal about the Bible, but I never knew how to study it on my own. That changed in the summer after my sophomore year in college when I spent three months as a counselor on Word of Life Island in Schroon Lake, New York. It is hard for me to convey how greatly my life changed in those three months. Up until then I had lived a fairly cloistered life, having grown up in a small town in Alabama. I was raised Southern Baptist and didn’t know much about the wide world outside that small town. Back then we didn’t have computers or cell phones or email or text messages, and we didn’t have the Internet or satellite radio or hundreds of channels on TV. Facebook was many years in the future. It was a big deal to make a long distance telephone call. Traveling to another state was a major event.

So I piled in a car with a bunch of other college students from Chattanooga bound for upstate New York. I shake my head as I think about how little I knew about anything. That summer we had kids come to camp from all over the Northeast, from little towns in Pennsylvania and from big cities like New York and Baltimore. My eyes were opened to a whole new world of different cultures and backgrounds. I also remember the shock of having a daily “Quiet Time” where all of us–counselors and campers alike–were given time to read the Bible and then write down the answers to two questions:

1. What is this text saying?
2. How does this apply to my life?

Even though I had grown up in the church, that was brand-new to me. I never thought I could study the Bible on my own and learn for myself what it said.

This for me was a truth as revolutionary as Martin Luther and his 95 Theses. That’s not an inapt comparison because the heart of the Reformation rests on the fact that God’s Word is not chained to the pulpit, with truths that only the clergy can understand. Luther and Calvin believed that the central message of the Bible was clear enough for any believer to read and understand.

If we’re going to believe the Bible, then we must accept its authority in every area of life.

There is more to be said on this topic. We’ll cover the rest of this text in the next message. But for the moment, just ask yourself two questions:

Do I truly believe the Bible?
If so, what difference does it make in my life?

Every Christian needs to think about that because we live in days of spiritual anarchy where society has rejected the word of the Lord. Are we willing to be men and women “under authority” who do what we are told even when it isn’t popular? God help us to answer yes and show the world by how we live that we truly believe what the Bible says.