On Debt

Prov. 3:27-28 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.“

This is an odd application of these verses, which I had always thought had to do with charitable giving. “Those to whom it is due” however can be translated “its owners.” Charitable giving is an obligation laid on a person by God. It is not a claim on someone’s property held by someone in need. Therefore, the verses can indicate paying your debts off when you can, not pretending to be unable to pay.

Train Up a Child

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

Here is an injunction to train children pointing out its lifelong effects. Jay Adams makes much of the literal Hebrew wording, “... in his way...” to make a point that this could be a negative warning. If you train a child up according to his natural, sinful bent, he will be bent like that for life.

Eli’s children exemplify failure to raise children properly. David’s children, also.

Happy Pluralism?

A few native Americans include hallucinogens in their worship. Child sacrifice has frequently been a part of many religions. Temple prostitution is another frequent part, and may soon be making a comeback. Some believe in mercy-killing. Some polls (which are always suspect to me) indicate that a bare majority of Americans already believe in euthanasia. Birth control by any method, including abortifacient methods, is practiced by huge numbers. For the very few thoughtful ones in this group, the issue of abortion is often handled by religious concepts as to when the soul enters the developing human being, or when personhood begins.

We are awash in religious beliefs and the practices which stem from them. They are not at all compatible. Yet, we pretend that we can all live together in a happy pluralism. We cannot. It is absurd.


Excerpt from "Trusting God or Trusting Ourselves"

Parental Authority

Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

Parental authority is tied to the 10 commandments, though it is clear enough from Old Testament history that it is extant from the beginning. Parental authority leads to life – the first commandment with a promise.

“In the Lord” sets limits on parental authority. Children are not to disobey God in order to obey parents.

“Fathers (v. 4a)” sets the primary locus of responsibility on the Father. Responsibility does not mean that the father has all the power he wishes he had to bring about the ends he should. It means that he will be called to respond for the family.

“Do not provoke your children to wrath” sets responsibility on the father as to methodology. The authority is not cast as some kind of a contest (though children will maneuver from time to time to make it so) in which he pushes the children to the edge. A family is not a military boot camp run by a drill instructor who “breaks” recruits to his will.