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. 

On Education

Deuteronomy 6:1-9:  Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’ “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

First, the parents must learn the commandments. Next, the parents must obey them. Then the parents teach sons and grandsons. Daughters are not omitted here, but are covered under the principle of federal headship. Teaching is embedded in life. It is a daily endeavor. Mnemonic devices are not eschewed, though here reference to them is symbolic. One of the benefits of education is prosperity (v. 3).

Fighting Infection

Being exposed to a microbe is clearly not all that is required to become infected. Being ready to receive the infection is the other side. Have you slept well? Have you eaten well? Are your relationships with other people in good condition? Have you done something needful for someone who cannot do for himself?

Psalm 41:1-3 says, “Blessed is he who considers the poor, the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed.”


Excerpt from "Pharmacy and Medical Interventions"

Pragmatism

The Bible is neither impractical nor silent on the practice of medicine. What is truly impractical is a philosophy of pragmatism. What is true is not determined by observing that it serves our purposes over a span of a few years.


Excerpt from "Impractical Pragmatism"