THE TRUTH

A Newsletter of PURSUING THE TRUTH MINISTRIES
July 2003

THE VISION

Pursuing the Truth Ministries is a ministry for and to the people. We endeavor to help you establish a personal relationship with the Father through the foundation of Bible study. The Bible is God's revelation of himself to us. Therefore, it would behoove us to read and know it, which would give us a better awareness of God.

Pursuing the Truth Ministries exists to serve you. We endeavor to provide resources for your use in your own pursuit of the truth. We believe that your relationship with God transcends your church membership or religious affiliation. We believe that your relationship with God is your responsibility and not that of your church or pastor. You have to take the initiative to answer God's call for you. Our vision is just that. For you to realize your position with God through Christ. We hope that you would grasp the liberty that you have in Christ so that you would be delivered from those things that enslave you and keep you from doing what God wants. We are here to minister to you from the foundation of the Word of God.

WHAT'S HAPPENING

We are going to have a community open house on Saturday, July 19th. This open house is designed to provide an opportunity for our community to get to know who we are. We will also explain our ministry and reveal our vision and mission to the community and abroad.

I preached at the Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church on July 12th and it was indeed a pleasure. The pastor there is Robert Kilby II and he is an college friend of my wife and I. See the lesson outline later in this newsletter.

BIBLE STUDY: Malachi Chapter Two

By William R. Cunningham
From the study, "Malachi"

PREFACE

Preachers many times use Malachi 3:8-10 to justify their teaching on the tithe.

(Mal 3:8-10 NIV) "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. {9} You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. {10} Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

We are told that the LORD commands us to tithe from the gross of our income and that disobedience to this law means that you are robbing God. However, I feel that it is dangerous to extract two verses of scripture from an entire text and develop a theology from it. It is better to understand the whole so that you know the details of the parts and how they fit together.

The purpose of this study guide is to reveal the context of Malachi and not to prove or disprove tithing. However, since tithing is taught with Malachi 3:8-10 as a type of standard, then I feel that it is necessary to understand what is really discussed in Malachi for proper understanding.

A proper technique of Bible Study and the acquisition of Biblical truths is to know the context of the scriptures as much as possible. This study guide is a specific application of that principle. This study guide will look into as much of the background of Malachi as possible so that a more precise understanding of its reference to tithing can be obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI

The author of this book is credited to Malachi (which means "my messenger"). The book of Malachi is the last book of the Minor Prophets in the Jewish Bible.

The returned Jewish exiles finished the temple in 516 BC spurred by the prophetic activity of Haggai and Zechariah. In 458 the coming of Ezra the priest and several thousand more Jews strengthened the community. King Artaxerxes of Persia encouraged Ezra to develop the temple worship (Ezra 7:17) and to make sure the Law of Moses was being obeyed (Ezra 7:25-26).

Thirteen years later (445) the same Persian king permitted Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the walls (Nehemiah 6:15). Nehemiah advocated policies to help the poor (Nehemiah 5:2-13), and he convinced the people to stay away from mixed marriages, to keep the Sabbath (Nehemiah 10:30-31), and to bring their tithes and offerings faithfully (Nehemiah 10:37-39).

During Nehemiah's absence after returning to the king in 433 BC the Jews fell into sin once again. Later, Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem and discovered that the tithes were being ignored, the Sabbath not being observed, the people had intermarried with foreigners, and the priests had become corrupt (Nehemiah 13:7-31).

The Jews were generally discouraged because:

1. Their land remained but a small province in the backwaters of the Persian empire
2. The glorious future announced by the prophets had not (yet) been realized
3. Their God had not (yet) come to his temple with majesty and power to exalt his kingdom in the sight of the nations.

The people began to doubt God's covenant love and no longer trusted in his justice. They therefore began to lose hope in their God. Their worship degenerated into forms and they no longer took the law seriously. Their revelation of the reality of God seems to have been lost.

Malachi rebuked the people and the priests for neglecting the worship of God and failing to live according to God's will. If the priests were unfaithful, how could they lead the people? They had become stumbling blocks instead of spiritual leaders. If the people were divorcing their wives and marrying pagan women, how could they lead their children? Their relationship to God had become inconsequential.

In general, the city of Jerusalem and the second Temple had been built, but initial enthusiasm had worn off. Following a period of revival under Nehemiah (Nehemiah. 10:28-39), the people and priests had backslid and become mechanical in their observance of the law. Though lax in their worship (1:7) and delinquent in their tithing (3:8), they could not understand why God was dissatisfied with them.

CHAPTER 2

ADMONITION TO THE PRIESTS - VERSES 2:1-9

Here we see that the main theme is a warning of cursing that would come upon the priests because they did not honor God. Though it is an admonition, the dialogue indicates that the cursing has already taken place. The main reason for the cursing is due to the fact that the priests violated the covenant that God had with Levi.

"CURSE YOUR BLESSINGS" - VERSE 2:2

This statement could mean that their material blessings would become, in effect, curses or that the blessings that they speak as priests will produce curses instead.

"REBUKE YOUR SEED" AND "OFFAL IN YOUR FACES"- VERSE 2:3-4

The NASB and the NIV interpret the word zera' as descendants or offspring (children). The KJV understands this to mean literally 'seed' and thus implies a poor harvest.

The offal (dung) of the sacrifices was to be removed and burned. The priests' practices were so contemptible that God said that they and their sacrifices would be removed from his presence (into the dung heap).

THE MODEL PRIEST AND PRIESTLY STANDARD - VERSES 2:5 - 6

God declares what the model priest is by describing Levi (the tribe of Levi). First God says that the covenant was of love and peace. The possession of this covenant demanded certain responsibilities. Namely, the Levites were to revere God and stand in awe of his name. Levi (the tribe) walked with God and caused many to turn from sin.

WHAT THE PRIEST SHOULD BE - VERSE 2:7

The priest should preserve knowledge and people should come to them for instruction. Also God declares that the Levite is his messenger.

THE VIOLATED COVENANT - VERSE 2:8

God declares, through Malachi, that the priests have violated the covenant that He had with Levi (the tribe) by not walking with Him and by causing others to stumble by their false teachings. Because of this violation, the priests were humiliated before all of the people (so all can see). God also declares that the priests showed partiality in matters of the law (God's law). The priests caused many to despise God's law by their contempt for God and therefore they would be despised before the people. People tend to be influenced by the leader.

THE PRIESTS DESPISED - VERSES 2:9

God informs the priests that they will be despised and humiliated by the people because of their actions and because they showed partiality in matters of the law.

PROFANING THE COVENANT BY UNFAITHFULNESS - VERSE 2:10

God rebukes people and tells them that they have one father and that one God created them (to be taken as God's special people). They were profaning the covenant with their forefathers by their unfaithfulness with each other (They couldn't trust one another).

DESECRATING THE SANCTUARY - VERSE 2:11 - 12

Malachi further reveals that they have desecrated the sanctuary because they intermarried with pagan women. They were forbidden to marry foreign women because it would lead to apostasy (See Ex 34:15-16; Deuteronomy 7:3-4), that is, they would turn from God and turn to the pagan God's that came with their wives. Malachi states that anyone who does this should be cut off from his people even though they may bring sacrifices and offerings.

FAITHLESS IN MARRIAGE - VERSES 2:13-15

God was no longer paying any attention to the people's offerings on the altar. They weeped and wailed and wondered why God wasn't being attentive to them. The reason God did not accept their offerings was because they were faithless with their wives. God states that the wife was the man's partner, the wife of the marriage covenant. It appears that the men were divorcing their wives and inter-marrying with pagan women.

GOD HATES DIVORCE - VERSE 2:16

I think a clearer understanding of this scripture can be obtained by reviewing the Amplified Bible's record of this verse. It states,

" For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and marital separation, and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep watch upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously and faithlessly [with your marriage mate]." [Amplified]

Let's look at the New King James Version and dissect this scripture so that we can understand what it says

(Mal 2:16 NKJV) "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garment with violence," Says the LORD of hosts. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously."

The key words in this verse are garment and violence. The word garment implied one's wife. The word violence implies wrong or injustice. Therefore, this verse tells us that God is against (rejects) the separation of a married couple. He also states that a man who separated his wife from himself (breaks the covenant between the two of them) covers his wife with wrong or injustice. One thing is for sure. God does not condone the separation of a married couple.

THEIR ILL WORDS THAT WEARIED GOD - VERSE 2:17

God says that their words have wearied them. They in practice stated that everyone who does evil is good in the sight of God and that God delights in these evil doers. They also stated that God's justice was not present. This is another sign of the contempt that they had for God.

EFFECTIVE UNITY

By William R. Cunningham

I preached this lesson at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church on 7/12/03

Read Ephesians 4:11-16

An Apostle is a special messenger of Jesus Christ who has the authority of Christ to accomplish the given task (Mark 3:14; 6:30). An apostle is called by Christ.

A Prophet is a person who declares a word (message) from the Lord through a direct prompting of the Holy Spirit. A prophet is a direct mouthpiece for God. The call of a prophet comes directly from God and there are no other qualifications.

An Evangelist is someone that has the authority to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The word literally means "one who proclaims good tidings." Evangelists were not attached or affiliated with a particular local church. They sometimes traveled long distances to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The early disciples were also called evangelists.

A Pastor is the feeder, protector, and guide of a "flock" of God's people. A pastor is a shepherd and therefore a servant.

Notice that most if not all of the above words have been religisized in such a manner that many do not know their biblical meanings. For example, many people think of a pastor as merely the head of a church or congregation when in fact the word pastor referenced a ministry in the body of Christ, not a title or position. So we have to be careful to view the above ministries in light of its biblical context and not in light of today's religious community.

These are given for....

1. The equipping of the saints for the work of ministry
   
2. For the edifying of the body of Christ (those that are equipped do this)
   
3. To reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ
   
4. Maturity in the faith

The knowledge of God requires intimacy and therefore assumes salvation. One cannot have an intimate relationship with God without being saved (born again, regenerate, etc.).

This edification will protect us from false doctrines of men.

• Matt 7:15-19, 16:6
  
• Gal 1:6-7
  
• 2 Pet 3:17)
  

We are joined together and form one body each supplying their own special calling or ability. Each person (joint) does his or her work in ministry.

• John 15:4-5
  
• Philippians 4:13
  
• Ephesians 2:19-21
  
• 1 Cor 12:12-28
  
• Col 2:19)
  

Working together in unity causes growth of the body and therefore more evangelism and the body grows.

Unity

• Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
  
• Psalm 133:1
  

Togetherness

There are at least two aspects of togetherness.

• Functional - Here the participants can effectively function together (do the job or get the job done). However, there is no intimate relationship between the participants and no real concern for each other is demonstrated outside of the call of duty. This type of relationship tends to be very typical in all types of relationships based on my observations.
• Intimate - This type of relationship is established by the bonding of hearts so to speak. Here two people are intimate with each other and therefore learn to work together and solve the problems that might come between them. I believe that the ideal marriage relationship should be this way and surely our relationship with God must be this way. First it is a matter of the heart and then it is a matter of function

Christians should know the word of God and be edified by what Christ has placed in the Body. We should all do our part based on the gifting that God has given each of us. We should do the work of ministry and become edified through ministry. We can accomplish so much if we are unified. Instead we many times fight over petty doctrinal issues that has nothing to do with salvation or heaven. We should learn to work together after first being one with each other in true togetherness (unity).

Jesus has placed ministries in the Body of Christ so that we could be edified to do the work of ministry. We should therefore do just that, namely the work of ministry. However, we must be unified in order to effectively do the work of ministry. Jesus said that he and the father were one and that he said what the Father told him to say. Jesus wasn't merely doing his own thing. We should follow that example and be unified in the faith and become and act as one body in Christ.

MEDITATION

By William R. Cunningham

Meditation is the practice of reflection or contemplation. A part of the meditation process in Christianity is the application of the results of such meditation or the object of that meditation to one's life. The word meditation and the verb meditate is mostly found in the Old Testament. In Scripture, meditation is many times the rolling over repeatedly of a particular matter (Scripture or biblical principle) in one's mind. Also, that the object of the meditation is of significant concern or importance.

Christian meditation is much different than other forms of meditations such as transcendental or Zen. The object of Christian meditation is always the word of God or a biblical principle revealed by the Word of God. In other forms of meditation, the object is basically self. For example, in transcendental meditation you are attempting to be at peace with nature by increasing your inner awareness, which changes your conscious state. Transcendental meditation is used by many people to deal with stress and to increase good health. It even claims to be scientifically validated. Now I can't say whether its claims are true, however changing ones conscious state is not a good idea.

Other forms of meditation likewise change the conscious state of the individual and claim to increase relaxation and reduce stress, such as Zen meditation (Zen Buddhism). These forms of meditation seem harmless enough however, the Bible does not teach us to do these types of things to deal with Stress. Consider what Jesus and Paul said.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Matthew 6:34 (NKJV) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

The Bible teaches us not to worry (be stressed out) in the first place. This is accomplished through prayer and interaction with God. It also implies many other things that Christians are typically not aware of since many Christians do not study their Bible. Jesus said not to worry because we have put our faith in God (read all of Chapter six of Matthew).

Now if you consider demons then it becomes quite apparent that you do not want to change your state of consciousness to open yourself to nature or any such thing. We have to remember that the enemy is a deceiver and will do anything to keep you bound, including a false sense of peace. Also, these other types of meditations (transcendental, Zen, etc.) are tied to eastern philosophies, which go contrary to Christian beliefs and practices. For that reason alone one should avoid participating in such things regardless of the claimed benefits. How much more benefits could we get from the Lord?

A major difference between Christian meditation and eastern type meditation is that Christian meditation does not focus inward (especially not on self). It instead focuses outward to God's word and therefore God himself. Consider that we become stressed out because we feel out of control or the chance of something really bad happening is very great. We become stressed when our jobs or the like causes us to make decisions and the weight of the world seems to be on our shoulders. We could still find peace and relaxation even in such hectic environments. To be honest, even exercise will help to eliminate stress.

Meditation will help you relax but at what cost. Christian meditation will help you to become more in tuned with and intimate God and his word and one of the benefits of that is decreased worry, i.e., relaxation. Paul said not to worry, but instead pray and the peace of God would guard you (Philippians 4:6-7). Is that real to you? Do you believe that or would you rather experience something that has been scientifically proven. I would rather stick with what the Bible declares and move closer towards God. If the reality of God's power and His love for us were counted as real to us then we wouldn't worry about anything. After all, why worry when God is on my side. The Bible says if God is for me who can be against me (See Romans 8:31).

Meditate on the word of God and relax. Learn to sit down and spend time with the Lord and relax. Read and study your Bible and relax? Trust God and relax? Do you want to decrease stress? Well stop! Sit down and relax. God is peace (Jehovah-Shalom). So meditation should be done according to the scriptures and we should avoid practicing such things that are not biblical and tied to Eastern philosophies. I especially don't like the idea of trying to become one with nature, focusing on self, or any such thing that would change my state of consciousness.

MEDITATE(S)

The following are scripture references for the word "meditate"

• Genesis 24:63
• Joshua 1:8
• Psalm 1:2; 4:4; 63:6; 77:6,12; 119:15,27,48,78,148; 143:5; 145:5; 119:23
• Isaiah 33:18 (meditate on terror: think about, ponder over)
• Malachi 3:16
• Luke 21:14 (worry, plan ahead)
• Philippians 4:8
• 1 Timothy 4:15 (plot, think about)

MEDITATION

The following are scripture references for the word "meditation."

• Psalm 5:1
• Psalm 7 (called a meditation of David)
• Psalm 19:4 (uttering)
• Psalm 49:3
• Psalm 64:1
• Psalm 104:34
• Psalm 119:97 (God's law is the object of the meditation)
• Psalm 119:99

ASPECTS OF MEDITATION FROM A CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE

• Meditation could be used to bring to mind what God has done to affect what you do in the future. Here you recall how God has been true to His word, which compels you to trust him further in the future.
• Contemplation on God's word for godliness. Here you allow the Word of God to anchor into your soul so that it is effortlessly recalled when needed.
• Memorization (uttering scripture over and over) for affecting one's life. Meditating on a scripture text will help you memorize that scripture.
• For prayer or a form of prayer and communication with God. We can meditate on the goodness of God or any such thing in the form of prayer for the sake of interaction and fellowship with God.
• A form of listening to God in that the word of God being meditated on will affect your life. One aspect of meditation is to listen to God as he speaks to you. This aspect is why it is so important to apply only the Christian aspect of meditation and to know the word. This is because Satan or demons will also attempt to talk to you and instruct you in order to affect your decisions and ultimately to destroy you and make you unfruitful. So watch as well as pray.

HOW TO MEDITATE

1. Simply ponder the word of God since that is the context of meditation in the Bible. You could recite a scripture for memorization purposes or simply rehearse a biblical principle for a particular situation or for personal edification.
2. Biblical meditation is not the reciting of a mantra, or listening to suggestive music, or clearing the mind. There are many systems that identify "Christian meditation" when in fact they are more new age then anything else.
3. Saying mantras, emptying your mind, and other meditation techniques that are akin to eastern philosophies has no place for Christians. Doing such things alters your state of consciousness and opens you up for demonic influence.
4. Christian meditation simply involves pondering and contemplating or rolling over the word of God in your mind. This will result in the word of God affecting your very thoughts and life.
5. The Christian should distinguish between the terms "Christian Meditation" and biblical meditation. All that is claimed to be Christian meditation may not be biblical at all and therefore something true Christians should avoid. True Christian meditation is biblical and involves the word of God as the object of that meditation.

LIVE LONG AND PROSPER

By Pastor Bill

I had visited my childhood church a few weeks ago and I talked with one of the members that was there when I was a member. She is eighty years old. The thing is that I had no idea she was even close to 80 years old. Even my wife was surprised to learn her age. I admit that many of the elders in my family do not look their age, but I was not prepared to hear how old this lady was. She had been at that church since I was a little boy. She was an usher and I think she still is an usher.

Well, after telling me her age I had to ask how she did it. I asked her what her secret was. After all, she was doing something right because you would never think she was eighty years old. We typically think that a person that old would not be very mobile. They would be slow and probably have a number of ailments. After all, life has been beating on such a person for a long time. However, this lady has pep in her step. She is very coherent and she has no trouble walking or doing things that you would figure an eighty year old would have trouble doing. I am sure she can't do the things that she could do when she was twenty, but she was getting around very well. Because of her gray hair and the fact she was at the church since I was a child, I assumed that she was around sixty something. Who would have known.

Another thing that struck me was that she was proud of her age. Many women seem to feel as though they have to hide their age. I could never figure that one out. I to this day don't get it. Why hide your age. Based on this woman at my old church, I can truly say that age is just a number. There are also other people that are very healthy at an old age. Such people as the late Steve Reeves and Jack Lalanne.

So what was her secret. Actually it isn't a secret at all. It is something that you have heard many times already, namely eat right and exercise. She said that she eats oatmeal every morning with a cup of coffee. She also said that she walks a whole lot. Now oatmeal obviously isn't the only thing that she eats. However, she doesn't fill up on fatty foods and the like. She ate responsibly and got natural exercise. She wasn't part of a gym or anything like that but she still got a workout so to speak.

Now there are many things that contribute to good health, however time and time again we hear about eating right and exercising. There are many fad diets that come and go but eating right and exercising still remains. We always want the quick way to good health but the body is a machine and there is no real quick way. Just eat right and get exercise. Stop eating the junk all of the time (far be it from me to deny chocolate cake) and eat more healthy foods. Eat your fruits and vegetables and the like. Be healthy. Take care of yourself. Consider what you put in your body and how it will affect it. Don't just sit around doing nothing. Get active. Eat oatmeal...I just had to say that <SMILE>.

THIS ISSUE'S QUESTION

What does the name "Jesus" mean?

You can submit your answer to question@pursuingthetruth.org if you would like.

God bless you all!