SHOULD A CHRISTIAN JOIN THE "OCCUPY MOVEMENT?"

            While the Word of God doesn’t have anything directly to say about the “Occupy Movement,” clear biblical principles can be applied to this present-day situation. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3 gives one biblical principle and makes several key observations that should guide our thinking about this movement.

The principle: If a man refuses to work, neither should he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Paul here isn’t giving a mere an historical truth that if a man doesn’t work then he will have nothing to eat but a much stronger exhortation, that if a man refuses to work, he should not be allowed to eat. Now the specifics of the situations between Paul’s time and now are different, but the general conclusion is the same – neither group wanted to work. In Paul’s day, the “disorderly” ones didn’t work because they thought the Lord was coming soon. In our day, the “disorderly” ones don’t work because they are lazy and feel others should provide for them. The result is the same regardless of the reason. The Scripture encourages personal enterprise and initiative not dependence upon others for livelihood or daily maintenance. This principle alone should discourage us from joining or helping the “Occupy Movement.”

Observation #1 2 Thessalonians 3:11 validates the idea that when people do not work they usually get into trouble. Those in Paul’s day who did not work became busybodies and caused problems by sticking their nose into everybody else’s business. Those in the present day “Occupy Movement” also get into trouble with each other and with the police. Christians have no place in a movement that encourages such personal irresponsibility.

Observation #2 In 2 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul commands and exhorts the lazy busybodies to go to work and provide for themselves. Although the circumstances are different between Paul’s group and the present day “Occupiers,” the result is the same and both need the same exhortation: get to work.

Observation #3 If such exhortations go back to work failed, the church was not to company with them that they might be ashamed (2 Thessalonians 3:14). God’s demands withdrawal from such “disorderly” people. His Word says don’t feed them, don’t support them, and certainly don’t join them.

            Christians should have nothing to do with the “Occupy Movement” because it violates God’s clear standards and the dignity He places upon work and personal responsibility. God doesn’t want His people to occupy but to be pre-occupied with earning a living, with personal duty to others, and with service to God.

            Don’t get me wrong, I am not equating the present “Occupy Movement” with the church or having to do with Christians. But I am saying that if the Head of the Church, the Lord Jesus Christ, commands His Church to work (2 Thessalonians 2:12), He certainly doesn’t want His children joining or encouraging in any way a movement that is diametrically opposed to individual enterprise and personal initiative.

How Can I Minister to (or Encourage) My Spouse?

By Kenneth O. Peterman

When a husband thinks about encouraging his wife, he usually thinks about bringing home flowers or taking her out to dinner. A wife who wants to cheer up her husband might make him a special dinner or do something to make his life easier or more enjoyable. Another way to encourage or “minister” to your spouse that is seldom considered would be to bear their burdens. Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear you one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

The word “burden” in this verse means a weight, the pressure of something that is difficult to bear. The connotation is usually something overwhelming, a trouble or affliction.

In addition to a physical burden this word also refers to a figurative weight such as a moral defect, the emotional consequences of sin, worries or fears. To bear means to shoulder a pack and carry it over a period of time. Therefore, a godly spouse will help shoulder or carry the pressures of their spouse in a time of need for as long as necessary.

In my years of counseling couples struggling with the moral weakness of adultery in their relationship, innocent parties have told me over and over again that he or she has the right to divorce (usually according to their interpretation of Matthew 19:9) but are willing to try to work it out. What about the right to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ? Everyone becomes an expert in interpreting the obscure “exception clause” of Matthew 19:9 but forget the very clear command in Galatians 6:2 to bear one another’s burdens! The great irony in all of this is that the one who feels they have a right to divorce is actually the one most responsible to bear a sinning spouse’s burdens. Any other attitude only adds more weight to an already heavy load. This should never be the case according to the teaching of Galatians 6:2.

If we are to carry or shoulder a spouse’s most grievous burdens, how much more should we be supportive of their lesser cares? A spouse, for instance, who is in a bad mood or having a bad day and out of sorts, should be treated as one with a burden, weight or pressure that needs support and encouragement rather than criticism, anger, and put down. We want our spouse to deal with our problems but too often become upset when we have to deal with theirs. We want our spouse to hear us, to smooth over the hurts, to tenderly care for us, but we forget to think about their day, their burdens and their pressures.

It would be good to say while driving home from work, “I wonder what my wife’s physical and emotional needs are right now. Am I prepared to help her deal with them?” If each partner would have this attitude what a difference it would make in a relationship. We must remember to “Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

For further information about this subject: Check the e-book entitled, Remain Faithful to your Spouse in a Soap Opera Society at the top right margin of this blog.

BOOK REVIEW: Your Ten-to-Fourteen-Year-Old

 
Book: Your Ten-to-Fourteen-Year-Old 
Louise Bates Ames, Ph.D. Gesell Institute of Human Development
Review By Kenneth O. Peterman

            When my son was a teen I used this book to help me understand him. Some may ask should a Christian counselor seek help from a secular book. In this case, the answer is yes because the Gesell Institute publishes books about young people that are effective. They actually allow youngsters to speak for themselves about their age-level characteristics. The Institute interviews hundreds of children and collates the results along with their own research to produce material that is extremely accurate. Each book evaluates the following important characteristics for every age level: physical, mental, emotional, sexual, daily habits, interpersonal relationships, activities and interests, school, and ethical sense.  

This series will:  

·          help you get inside their head

·          help you think their thoughts

·          help you see things from their perspective

·          help you communicate with them more effectively

            I don’t think I am exaggerating the benefits of this series. Each small (and inexpensively priced) paperback covers one year from ages one through nine. A separate larger single volume details the years from 10 to 14.

            Since these books do not come from a biblical perspective there may be some content that is questionable, but nothing that would prohibit their use. Certainly with any reference book we must “pick out the meat and throw away the bones.” These books have much more meat than bones. Aside from this one mild disclaimer, I highly recommend this series to help parents better understand the age-level characteristics of their children.

            As a child’s birthday approaches, I suggest parents read the book that outlines the material for their child’s new age level. These books give parents a “head start” in dealing with some of the pressures and problems their child will face in the coming year. Someone said, “To be forewarned is to be forearmed.” That’s exactly what these books do. They give you forewarning about the problems, pressures, and joys associated with each age level.

            After I read the material about my son’s age level, I realized that most of his behavior was not unusual or unique at all. He was just acting as a normal (if there is such an animal) fourteen- year-old. He didn’t have to adjust his behavior as much as I had to adjust my thinking.

            Please do not hesitate to comment or question this post. I would be glad to answer any questions you have about these books. After you read the one relative to your child’s age characteristics, I would love to hear your opinions, evaluations or questions.

Click the follow address to see the book on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_29?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-#/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_29?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=your+ten+to+fourteen+year+old&sprefix=your+ten+to+fourteen+year+old&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3Ayour+ten+to+fourteen+year+old

HOW TO AVOID THE INCREDIBLY HIGH COST OF DIVORCE!

By Kenneth O. Peterman

Divorce has a big price tag! The destruction of the family, separation of the children, the negative effects of the emotional turmoil are only a few of the damaging ingredients of divorce. And if you are someone who is concerned with the financial aspect of divorce, it usually costs much more than one imagines.

You can cut these costs by working out your differences and staying married! But how to do it is the rub. The Word of God provides the way to help you to begin -- through forgiveness.

Forgiveness is the only legitimate biblical response to all marital difficulties including adultery. Many interpret the "exception clause" in Matthew 19:9 where Jesus says, "And I say unto you, Whoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, commits adultery. . . " without ever considering the general context.

Observe that the entire previous chapter (Matthew 18) is given over to forgiveness. If the topic of a single verse of Scripture is important, how much more vital is a subject if a whole chapter is devoted to it? It is certainly no coincidence that the subject of forgiveness precedes Jesus' teaching in Matthew 19:9.

The first twenty verses of Matthew 18 emphasize the vulnerability of the weak individual and stress the restoration of the lost and erring brother. It focuses on the humble attitude necessary for true forgiveness. The following questions emerge from these first verses of Matthew 18:

1. If we are to possess a childlike mind where no personal grudges, ambitions or bitterness exists, (Matthew 18:1-4) how can we justify an unforgiving and hardhearted spirit toward a spouse?

2. If we are to seek and restore the weak (Matthew 18:11-15), how can we ignore a spouse who is caught in the weakness and shame of adultery? God wants us to gain a brother, not lose one through divorce.

3. If we are to restore a sinning brother (Matthew 18:15), how much more should we seek to restore a sinning spouse with whom we are one flesh?

The high standard of forgiveness is encouraged in Matthew 18 but still some might say, "Yes, everyone knows that forgiveness is the ideal in Christianity but when is enough, enough? When does a Christian have a right to face an irreversible situation and call it quits?"

History tells us that the Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders of Christ's day, encouraged people to forgive three times for the same offense. If we measure this standard of the Pharisees by our own behavior when forgiving others, we will quickly realize that forgiving three times for the same offense is not an easy thing to do.

In Matthew 18:21, Peter amazingly extends this number of forgiveness to seven times. He dared to stretch the limit of forgiveness to what he considered a superhuman level.

But Jesus blows everyone's mind when He said, "I say not unto you, Until seven times: but Until seventy times seven." If Peter's view of forgiveness (seven times) was startling, this remark of Jesus was utterly shocking to the crowd, to the Pharisees, and to the disciples.

Here's the essence: the Pharisees' view stipulated a rule of forgiveness by limiting it to three times. Peter's view, as lofty as it was, still proposed a final atttitude of intolerance. The Lord's statement lifts the discussion of forgiveness out of the legalistic realm altogether. He, in effect, said, "No, Peter stretching forgiveness to a superhuman level is not good enough for my children." The Lord taught that true biblical forgiveness never quits, has no number limits or toleration level.

Forgiveness is the only place to start.

For further information on this subject, order Dr. Peterman's e-book entitled Remain Faithful to Your Spouse in a Soap Opera Society. Click on the title at to top of the page under e-books by the author.

SHOULD CHRISTIANS BE CONCERNED WHEN SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS LEGALIZED?

By Kenneth O. Peterman

At the turn of the last century G. Campbell Morgan, one of  England's greatest preachers, stated that, "a nation must recognize the importance of God or come to ruin." I paraphrase his thoughts further when he said if God is taken out of the national life of a nation, it will have no moral standard at all. When a nation has lost its moral standard, it has lost its strength of individual character and with it the concept of social relationships. If you don't think this is true, just read today's headlines. Let me give one current example of the validity of these stages. Several states in the U.S. have recently passed laws legitimatizing same-sex "marriage." New York is the lastest to do so. When the governor signed the bill into law, those around his desk applauded. Such events show just how far we have fallen in our social relationships in this country. If Dr. Morgan is right, the degenerated social relationship of same-sex marriage demonstrates the loss of individual godly character signaling the abondonment of God's moral standard. Just how important is God in America?

ENCOURAGE OTHERS: A User's Guide to the Spiritual Gift of Exhortation

By Kenneth O. Peterman

Exhortation is a gift or ability from God with one purpose to accomplish and one destiny to fulfill. It is a gift that is not afraid to get down and dirty; a gift that rolls up its sleeves and goes to work; a gift that has no class distinctions, no racial problems, no gender barriers; a gift for all times and all seasons. If you have this gift, hold on to your hat because you are in for a wild ride.

Too often spiritual gifts are either ignored or exploited. While there has been a recent emphasis on the exercise of spiritual gifts in some denominations, there has not been an adequate stress on defining gifts from God's word. Vaguely defined gifts are as hard to handle as the proverbial loose cannon. As long as leaders talk in generalities about spiritual gifts, the longer it will take the church to function as God intended.

Another obvious problem regarding gifts is the tendency for the church to elevate some gifts above others. Many claim to have the gift of pastor/teacher, teacher, or evangelist because these platform gifts are usually recognized and accepted as leadership roles in the local church.

These platform gifts are sought after probably because they are usually the only ones clearly defined. While these gifts are very important, we dare not forget to utilize the other spiritual gifts as well. A few examples of other gifts include: giving, governments, exhortation, helps, showing mercy, faith, and healing (Romans 12:-8; I Corinthians 12:28-30).

Since God, the Father, gave all the gifts to men through the Lord Jesus Christ, none should be ignored. Exercising each gift of the Spirit should be a satisfying and powerful experience. God gives no second-class spiritual gifts to the Church.

The book, ENCOURAGE OTHERS: A User's Guide to the Spiritual Gift of Exhortation defines the gift of exhortation from an inductive study of the text of Scripture, and then shows its great potential for ministry to the body of Christ.

The term exhortation has been both misunderstood and misapplied too often. For many it conjures up images of the emotional hysteria associated with "hell-fire and brimstone" preaching. Certainly no one would quarrel with a preacher speaking to the sins of the day, but to label such activity as the function of the gift of exhortation is unacceptable. This book provides a simple and uncomplicated definition of this gift, one that is easily understood and readily applied.

Believers today are no longer satisfied with being mere by-standers; they want to be involved and active in the arena of faith. The exercise of spiritual gifts provides the means for each believer to have a vital ministry to the body.

If you want to help others in spiritual ways, this book is for you. It explains how to exhort or comfort in very practical terms. Anxious and troubled people in the church (and, perhaps, in your own family) long to have their needs met through the ministry of a biblical exhorter. Learn how to comfort others now!

For further information about this subject, order Dr. Peterman's E-Book entitled ENCOURAGE OTHERS - A User's Guide to the Spiritual Gift of Exhortation. Click on the book title at the top of the page under heading E-Books by author.