[Biblemat] Bible Truths and Bible Questions updates

[Don Martin]

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Don Martin informing you of new material:
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If one is going to be relevant in one's teaching and focus, one must
from time to time address current issues.  One hot issue today is
border control. While I am concerned about this issue from the standing
of America, I am more concerned from a spiritual perspective.  The new
Current Truth is, "Controlling Our Borders."  To read this material in
www.bibletruths.net , when on the home page, enter through the door
and click on "Current Truth" in the directory.  I have also published a
number of articles to Bible Truths since our last update notice.  Check
out the Archives page for new material.  If you have not done so, click
on the article, "The Guardian of Truth Foundation and Florida College"
and notice the articles at the conclusion with provided links.  Be informed,
and gain the facts behind the privately supported societies to preach the
gospel as well as all other issues.  When I designed Bible Truths about
nine years ago, one intention was to have a site that taught the truth on
all issues and avoid politics among brethren.   Here is an excerpt from,
"Controlling Our Borders."

     "...The greater concern to me is the doing away with the spiritual
borders and allowing, even promoting the merger of many diverse
spiritual cultures; thus, seriously changing the complexion of the Lord's
church.  The Ecumenical Movement has long sought to merge religions
and produce an amalgamated version of "Christianity."  In order to
accomplish this goal, ecumenical proponents have attempted to play
down doctrine and redefine biblical love, fellowship, and protocol.  In
many sectors, they have succeeded.  Progressive liberal "churches of
Christ" have followed suit with their own version of ecumenicalism.  First,
advocating confluence with the "Christian Church" and then increasing
the loop to include other religions such as Baptists, etc.  Men such as
Max Lucado have been influential and leaders in this movement, changing
even more the very nature and fiber of liberal Churches of Christ.  We
are also observing the empire impetus among these churches. Each
merging group is allowed to keep their own doctrines and beliefs in the
exercise of unity in diversity....."

The Featured question for www.biblequestions.org is, "What does 'kick
against the pricks' mean?  (See below.)

As always, thank you for being on of the millions now making use of Bible
Truths and Bible Questions.

     Question: What does "kick against the pricks" mean?

     Answer: The question is probable referring to Acts 9: 5 or 26:14.
Saul (later called Paul) had been persecuting Christians (Acts 9: 13,14).
Even though Saul had been sincere, Saul was wrong (Acts 23: 1, 26: 9). Saul
was acting according to the law of Moses, but this system had been abrogated
(2 Cor. 3). Hence, Saul had no authority for his actions.

    A large percentage of people in the first century were tillers of the
soil. Oxen were used to work the soil. The prick or goad was a necessary
devise. The prick was usually a wooden shaft with a pointed spike (prick)
at one end. The man working the ox would position the goad in such a
way as to exert influence and control over the ox. You see, if the ox
refused the command indicated by the farmer, the goad would be used
to jab or prick the ox. Sometimes the ox would refuse this incentive by
kicking out at the prick. As result, the prick would be driven deeper into
the flesh of the rebellious animal. The more the animal rebelled, the more
the animal suffered. Hence, the statement to Saul: "It is hard for thee to
kick against the pricks." (Saul was rebelling against God.)

    God possesses total authority (see Matt. 28: 18). God therefore, has the
right to "boss" man. God has given man commandments to be obeyed
(I Jn. 5: 3).  However, man may elect to disobey God (Josh. 24: 15). When
man disobeys, however, man pays. "The way of transgressors is hard," wrote
Solomon (Prov.13: 20). God/man is analogous to the farmer/ox situation.
When we disobey god, we hurt ourselves. When we continue to disobey
and rebel, we are like the ox - driving the prick in deeper and deeper,
hurting ourselves in rebelling against authority! Beloved, when will we
learn?  Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey him (Heb.
5: 8, 9).

Cordially,
Don Martin  dmartinbtbq at comcast.net

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