The Idea of a Standard of Ethics

Aaron Blumer

Not long ago, I was paging through my copy of Voice magazine. The issue theme was “measuring church maturity,” and I wanted to see what the issue’s writers had to say on the topic. For whatever reason, church maturity didn’t suggest the idea of “ethics” to my mind. So I was surprised to see Ken Bickel’s article calling for renewed emphasis on pastoral ethics (posted here yesterday), and even more surprised to find two pages devoted to a two-part ethical standard for IFCA members.

I am not an IFCA member, and—believe it nor not—they haven’t hired me to recruit for them! But I have a lot of respect for these guys. I offer the ethical standard below as an example of the idea of a standard of ethics—an idea that more fundamentalist organizations should seriously consider, and an idea more fundamentalist pastors should seriously consider as well (present company included).

Discussion

Leviticus

jwolf6589
I just started an adventure through the third book of the Bible. Prior to the read I read some introductions on the book. I am not interested in learning everything there is to know (why I did not read the material in some of my resources), but just a general understanding of the book which even a basic cursory understanding is lacking among MOST christians. I am adventuring through the book with the NIV translation which is all too often much easier to understand the comprehend. Its not perfect, but its my preferred translation for bible reading.

Discussion

Answering the 95 Theses Against Dispensationalism, Part 7

Paul Henebury

Republished with permission from Dr. Reluctant. In this series, Dr. Henebury responds to a collection of criticisms of dispensationalism entitled “95 Theses against Dispensationalism” written by a group called “The Nicene Council.” Read parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Thesis 31

Despite the dispensationalists’ strong commitment to the “plain interpretation” of Scripture (Charles Ryrie) and its dependence on Daniel’s Seventy Weeks as “of major importance to premillennialism” (John Walvoord), they have to insert into the otherwise chronological progress of the singular period of “Seventy Weeks” (Dan 9:24) a gap in order to make their system work; and that gap is already four times longer than the whole Seventy Weeks (490 year) period.

Response

The 70 Weeks prophecy is not at all unusual in containing a long time-gap between one aspect of its fulfillment and its final consummation. As with so many other OT prophetic passages, one often finds predictions of the first and second advents sandwiched together without any apparent time lapse. An example is Micah 5:2:

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.

Nobody doubts the literal truth of this prophecy when it speaks about (a) the place of Messiah’s birth, or, (b) the pre-existence of Messiah. But there is a hermeneutical decision that has to be made about the prediction regarding, “the one to be Ruler in Israel.” Those who prefer what might be called the “selective-allegorical” approach will say that Christ is now ruling spiritually over the Church, the “New spiritual Israel.” Dispensationalists will look for a more literal interpretation of this part of the prophecy in line with the two other parts. They are encouraged to do this because this is not the only prophecy of an actual Messianic Rule over ethnic Israel; a prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled (cf. Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 33:14-17; Lk. 1:31-33).

Discussion

How do we know what goals to pursue?

J Johnson
We’re to be diligent in the position we currently have, as 1Co 7 and when David was told that he would be king, yet went back to tending to the sheep.

But can we set goals, God willing? Some people may want to be a missionary, local or abroad. Others may work chiefly to being a good father and husband. And business men or even ‘plain’ workers who simply want to give to the church, the poor and the widows. You might decide to stay single so you can live cheap and free to teach and disciple. And on it goes..

Discussion

Concerning concience and damnation

J Johnson
As Rom 14 and 1Co 8-10(?), if we doubt and eat we are damned.

What happens if there are only two choices, and we doubt both of them? Such as, should I take this job, or not take this job? Should I marry this girl, or not marry this girl (You can say to look for another, but that falls under ‘not marry “this” girl’)?

Discussion

When must we ask forgiveness?

J Johnson
Simple question, when do we have to ask forgiveness from other people?

For long past sins, recent sins, minor sins, major sins? Sins only, or also transgressions? What if the other person isn’t angry? What if you don’t remember the offense? What if you have committed many offenses, can you ask forgiveness for all with a single sentence (as a cluster)? Hopefully you can think of more scenarios, but you get the idea.

Discussion