I posted this tweet on the Catholics & Muslims closed group on Facebook about 1 hour ago. Luis Dizon the Admin deleted it without warning or explanation. Just recently Luis left the evangelical faith and became a Roman Catholic. He set up the group and invited me on. There is clearly much defensiveness and insecurity in his new faith.
I had considered asking him to write for this blog. I will not be inviting him now.
Well, Paul, the reason he did that is simple as God explains in the Qur’an:
“…I sent Jesus the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. I placed in those who followed him, tenderness and mercy. But the monastery lifestyle is something they invented on their own accord. I did not prescribe that for them but they chose it wanting to seek God’s approval and even then, were unable to observe their innovation properly. Then I gave those of them who believed among them their rewards. However, a huge number of them are corrupt, immoral transgressors. (57:27)
Evangelical Protestants agree that the Roman Catholic priestly celibacy rule is wrong. It violates God’s creation (Genesis 1-2) and 1 Timothy 4:1-5
There are a few people who have the gift of celibacy ( I Cor. 7:7-9), but if they have that gift (Charismata – grace gift), then they won’t violate a standard of celibacy. Most men do not have that gift.
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:1-5
More likely, the author was referring to his own times. Paul was expecting the end in his time, so it is silly to assume that he was referring to modern times.
Matthew 24:1-34 is about 70 AD mostly; but the rest of Matthew 24:36 ff and 25 is about the second coming, still future to us. “But of THAT day” – the day when He returns.
But earlier, the context is when the temple will be destroyed – see Matthew 24:1-4, 15 – about 70 AD – temple was destroyed.
Yeah, so that would mean that your “end days” have been imminent for 2,000 years! What is your savior waiting for?
The reality is that NT theology considered the “last days” to be coming in the 1st century. That is why Paul said the following:
“What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)
There is no ambiguity. He was certain the end was near. Why else would he say this? It’s like when the Millerites were told to sell all their belongings because the end was near, so they did. And then it didn’t come and they were left looking like fools. The same thing happened to Paul.
we are to live “as if” Christ could come any moment, with a perspective of eternal values as more important than this world of money, fame, relationships. God can take our money, health, children away from us and cause our wives and children to die (as in the sufferings of Job chapters 1-2 – Job lost his children and material possessions and health), tragedies come; but eternal perspective helps us live with the right priorities.
The main point in every passage about waiting for the Lord’s return:
Luke 21:34-36
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Paul didn’t say that. He was emphatic that the time was short. The only reason he would have said that is if he truly believed it was imminent. This foolish spectacle has repeated itself throughout Christian history.
I posted this tweet on the Catholics & Muslims closed group on Facebook about 1 hour ago. Luis Dizon the Admin deleted it without warning or explanation. Just recently Luis left the evangelical faith and became a Roman Catholic. He set up the group and invited me on. There is clearly much defensiveness and insecurity in his new faith.
I had considered asking him to write for this blog. I will not be inviting him now.
Well, Paul, the reason he did that is simple as God explains in the Qur’an:
“…I sent Jesus the son of Mary, and gave him the Gospel. I placed in those who followed him, tenderness and mercy. But the monastery lifestyle is something they invented on their own accord. I did not prescribe that for them but they chose it wanting to seek God’s approval and even then, were unable to observe their innovation properly. Then I gave those of them who believed among them their rewards. However, a huge number of them are corrupt, immoral transgressors. (57:27)
See that simple…
a good quote
Evangelical Protestants agree that the Roman Catholic priestly celibacy rule is wrong. It violates God’s creation (Genesis 1-2) and 1 Timothy 4:1-5
There are a few people who have the gift of celibacy ( I Cor. 7:7-9), but if they have that gift (Charismata – grace gift), then they won’t violate a standard of celibacy. Most men do not have that gift.
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:1-5
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will [a]fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3 men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.
1 Timothy 4:1-5
More likely, the author was referring to his own times. Paul was expecting the end in his time, so it is silly to assume that he was referring to modern times.
Shocking news!
New Testament theology defines “the last days” as the time between the first coming of the Messiah until the second coming of the Messiah.
Hebrews 1:1-3
1 Peter 1:20
So, since Christ has not returned yet; we are still in the period known as “the last days”.
Acts 2:17
(context of Acts 2:14-36)
1 Corinthians 15:20-28
the NT is many places predicts the end occurring in the first century.
Matthew 24:1-34 is about 70 AD mostly; but the rest of Matthew 24:36 ff and 25 is about the second coming, still future to us. “But of THAT day” – the day when He returns.
But earlier, the context is when the temple will be destroyed – see Matthew 24:1-4, 15 – about 70 AD – temple was destroyed.
Yeah, so that would mean that your “end days” have been imminent for 2,000 years! What is your savior waiting for?
The reality is that NT theology considered the “last days” to be coming in the 1st century. That is why Paul said the following:
“What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)
There is no ambiguity. He was certain the end was near. Why else would he say this? It’s like when the Millerites were told to sell all their belongings because the end was near, so they did. And then it didn’t come and they were left looking like fools. The same thing happened to Paul.
we are to live “as if” Christ could come any moment, with a perspective of eternal values as more important than this world of money, fame, relationships. God can take our money, health, children away from us and cause our wives and children to die (as in the sufferings of Job chapters 1-2 – Job lost his children and material possessions and health), tragedies come; but eternal perspective helps us live with the right priorities.
The main point in every passage about waiting for the Lord’s return:
Luke 21:34-36
34 “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Paul didn’t say that. He was emphatic that the time was short. The only reason he would have said that is if he truly believed it was imminent. This foolish spectacle has repeated itself throughout Christian history.