Q&A Fridays, Issue #58
11/06/09 - 6th Day - Afternoon. Preparation of the Sabbath.
To you new folks, this is a little segment we call "Q & A Fridays". Q & A Fridays does not always (in fact almost never) come out on Friday, and sometimes it doesn't come out but a couple of times a year. You decide. If I have questions, we have Q & A, if not, we don't. You may submit questions via email, or by asking your question in the comments section of this blog. Your question may be about anything at all... Here is my standard intro...
Welcome to Issue #58 of Q&A Friday for Friday the 6th of November, 2009. I want to thank you all for your great emails and questions. I want to remind everyone of the rules by which I will be playing: Not all questions will be answered, and not all those that are submitted can be fitted into one issue. I may combine similar questions from multiple people into one question. Those that did not make this issue (for length reasons) might be included in a future one. Questions might not be answered or included in the Q&A for the following reasons:
The scope may be too broad, or it may involve a topic on which I have taught at length... ex: “Can you explain the whole Creation?”. The question might need to be asked more specifically, or with fewer presuppositions that I would have to handle before actually getting to the question (I do reserve the right to rewrite questions to make them more clear and understandable or to make them more amenable to the format here). Answering the question might drag me off of “message” or into an area on which I am currently teaching, but at a point where I haven’t gotten to yet. If the question is answered in an upcoming teaching, or would involve getting into a topic I have planned for the future, then I will likely choose not to answer it yet. The question might be considered rhetorical, or might involve me bearing witness against myself... such as “What gives you the right?"
To you new folks, this is a little segment we call "Q & A Fridays". Q & A Fridays does not always (in fact almost never) come out on Friday, and sometimes it doesn't come out but a couple of times a year. You decide. If I have questions, we have Q & A, if not, we don't. You may submit questions via email, or by asking your question in the comments section of this blog. Your question may be about anything at all... Here is my standard intro...
Welcome to Issue #58 of Q&A Friday for Friday the 6th of November, 2009. I want to thank you all for your great emails and questions. I want to remind everyone of the rules by which I will be playing: Not all questions will be answered, and not all those that are submitted can be fitted into one issue. I may combine similar questions from multiple people into one question. Those that did not make this issue (for length reasons) might be included in a future one. Questions might not be answered or included in the Q&A for the following reasons:
The scope may be too broad, or it may involve a topic on which I have taught at length... ex: “Can you explain the whole Creation?”. The question might need to be asked more specifically, or with fewer presuppositions that I would have to handle before actually getting to the question (I do reserve the right to rewrite questions to make them more clear and understandable or to make them more amenable to the format here). Answering the question might drag me off of “message” or into an area on which I am currently teaching, but at a point where I haven’t gotten to yet. If the question is answered in an upcoming teaching, or would involve getting into a topic I have planned for the future, then I will likely choose not to answer it yet. The question might be considered rhetorical, or might involve me bearing witness against myself... such as “What gives you the right?"
As always, send your questions to Q&A Fridays:
editor@lazarusunbound.com
Dear Michael, I would like to buy a study bible. There are so many to chose from. I don’t want to be lead astray by liberal commentary. Could you tell me which one would be the most closely aligned with your teachings?
Thank you
I do not recommend using a Study Bible, for the reason you mentioned. I think adding notes or comments in the text (or even footnoted in the text) comes very close to adding to or taking away from the Word of God. Although I really appreciate the Geneva Bible notes, I do not use that Bible when studying for this reason. In my opinion there are a few things in life you should save up and spend some money on, and two of those things are - a good Bible and a good knife. Everyone should get a good Bible, and one that doesn't have a lot of "junk" added into or onto it. My Bible is the KJV 1611 Cambridge wide-margin Bible. It's just the Bible with a lot of room to write in it, and dozens of pages of note paper and blank papers to write on. It's got the Epistle dedicatory and such at the beginning, and some maps and stuff at the end. That's it. It isn't cheap, but it is a real tool and not a toy.
As for study, that is where diligence requires that we make use of good resources. Every serious student of scripture ought to save up, sacrifice if need be, and spend whatever is necessary to have those things that are absolutely needful - and in my opinion, those things are these:
1. A good Bible.
Thank you
I do not recommend using a Study Bible, for the reason you mentioned. I think adding notes or comments in the text (or even footnoted in the text) comes very close to adding to or taking away from the Word of God. Although I really appreciate the Geneva Bible notes, I do not use that Bible when studying for this reason. In my opinion there are a few things in life you should save up and spend some money on, and two of those things are - a good Bible and a good knife. Everyone should get a good Bible, and one that doesn't have a lot of "junk" added into or onto it. My Bible is the KJV 1611 Cambridge wide-margin Bible. It's just the Bible with a lot of room to write in it, and dozens of pages of note paper and blank papers to write on. It's got the Epistle dedicatory and such at the beginning, and some maps and stuff at the end. That's it. It isn't cheap, but it is a real tool and not a toy.
As for study, that is where diligence requires that we make use of good resources. Every serious student of scripture ought to save up, sacrifice if need be, and spend whatever is necessary to have those things that are absolutely needful - and in my opinion, those things are these:
1. A good Bible.
2. A good dictionary and concordance.
3. A good commentary/commentaries on the Chapter being studied.
4. A good and diligent teacher.
Get a good Bible Dictionary, a complete Concordance, and seek help from your teacher to find the best commentaries or books on the book of the Bible you are reading or studying. For example, I would recommend A.W. Pink's books on Hebrews and John. If I could have only one commentary, it would be John Gill's. Now, when you read the Bible, first - read the Chapter through without any assistance. Pray on it, and note any difficult passages or things you hadn't seen or noticed before. A good Pastor/Elder/Teacher will be available to you for questions if you have any. Then, in my opinion, it is a good idea to get the BEST book written on the subject. Again, a good Pastor/Elder/Teacher should already know what book you ought to get on any particular Bible chapter, or will be able to point you in the right direction. Say you are reading Hebrews and you get Pink's Exposition of Hebrews - then read it through with your Bible at hand. TEST EVERYTHING the writer says against the Word. If you cannot afford to get a book or books on the Chapter, then rely on your good commentary and your teacher. Write down specific questions and send or give them to your teacher. Expect (especially if you are supporting him as you should be - 1 Tim. 5:17) full and complete answers to your questions. If you are still confused or unsure, seek more counsel and read more on the subject. Don't expect to get it all figured out, and be willing to move on - since hopefully you will be studying this Chapter your whole life. My main point is that Bible study needs to be systematic and in depth. Prayer is primary.
Anyway, I think that this plan is better than getting a Study Bible.
Michael, In your writings there is no evidence of Gods love it is full of hate and judgement (sic). If God is love should not this be our defining characteristic? Judge not lest ye be judged.
Gansen Pappiah
Durban South Africa
Wow, what a condemning and judgmental email. Why do you hate so much. How dare you judge me. I see no evidence of love in this email.
Michael, I'm wondering if you would be willing to put your pen to writing about the responsibilities of a man in the position of Prophet, Priest, and King and the practical applications that they involve. If the Christian Virtuous Woman has so much on her plate, I can imagine that loving a wife as Christ loves the Church can be a very important task. Being a relatively newly wed I can imagine that I haven't begun to understand the responsibility that weighs on my shoulders and I would appreciate your teachings in this matter. Thank you.
Thank you for your question. There is certainly no way to give this topic the attention it desires in this forum, but I will give you a cursory answer and in it I hope you will learn how to find the larger answer. First, since this boils down to loving the wife as Christ loved the Church, it is necessary that we answer some questions...
If Christ loved the Church (and He did), how did that love manifest itself?; and how do we contrast this love with what is taught as "love" by the world today? Did Christ just hold hands with the Church and put up with her tantrums? Did He skip along the beach with her and tell her "I love you just the way you are?" Did He tell her that he was going to share authority with her 50/50 and seek her advice and counsel always? Did He tell her that all the important decisions were up to her and he'd just "go make the money?" Did He tell her He was perfectly happy with her in her sins and rebellions?
In fact, most of how men supposedly love their wives today is not love at all. It is submission to the Devil is what it is, and it is Roman in origin (Romance... anyone?).
Christ loved the Church in such a way that showed that her eternal address was more important to Him than her temporal "happiness" or comfort. He told her to obey Him in all things, without question, and without regard to consequences. He served her by encouraging her, teaching her, chastising her strongly, and demanding that she submit or that she leave. He refused (and refuses) to share her with the world, meaning that he over-rules and rejects her natural proclivities to carnal comfort, domination, self-preservation and esteem, vanity, and worldliness. He promised He would not leave her comfortless, in that He would comfort her IN affliction, IN persecution, IN trials, IN tribulations. He told her that IF she loved Him, she would obey His commandments; and He told her that if she did love Him and obey Him, that she would be hated by her family, friends, and the world. Christ's love of the Church is such that His rebukes and chastisements are in direct relation to her commitment and submission. If she submits and obeys, she will receive innumerable benefits, both here on earth, and eventually in heaven. If she rebels and refuses to obey, then national Israel was given to her as a threat and a promise of what may become of her. He wrote her letters with great promises and great threatenings, and He encouraged her to read and heed what He wrote to her. He served her best interests, even when that was contrary to what she wanted... including leaving her on earth to go and prepare a place for her. He is living water to her when she is athirst, and He is the Bread of Life to her when she is hungry.
In short...
When I see a loud-mouthed, obnoxious woman who calls herself a Christian, I see a husband who has not loved his wife enough. When I see a troublesome meddler, a gossip, or a busy-body, I see a husband who has not loved his wife as Christ loved the Church. When I see a woman who bedevils her husband, nags him, or makes his life less than a blessing, then I see a man who has not loved his wife enough or properly.
Christ loved His wife in such a way that it was necessary for Him to die in order to redeem her from her fallen state. He permitted Himself to be brutalized and crucified in order to propitiate her sins, her errors, and her rebellion. Such is the love that Christ had for the Church.
When the woman looks at her duties and obligations in the Bible, she sees that she is called to be a help-meet for her husband. She is called to serve him, and to assist him in his life and ministry. She is to be a blessing and a glory to Him. In other words, Her duty is to help her husband in his work OUTWARDS. A husband's duty is to help His wife in her work INWARDS.
... and that is the shorthand version. I hope it helps.
I am your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker
Get a good Bible Dictionary, a complete Concordance, and seek help from your teacher to find the best commentaries or books on the book of the Bible you are reading or studying. For example, I would recommend A.W. Pink's books on Hebrews and John. If I could have only one commentary, it would be John Gill's. Now, when you read the Bible, first - read the Chapter through without any assistance. Pray on it, and note any difficult passages or things you hadn't seen or noticed before. A good Pastor/Elder/Teacher will be available to you for questions if you have any. Then, in my opinion, it is a good idea to get the BEST book written on the subject. Again, a good Pastor/Elder/Teacher should already know what book you ought to get on any particular Bible chapter, or will be able to point you in the right direction. Say you are reading Hebrews and you get Pink's Exposition of Hebrews - then read it through with your Bible at hand. TEST EVERYTHING the writer says against the Word. If you cannot afford to get a book or books on the Chapter, then rely on your good commentary and your teacher. Write down specific questions and send or give them to your teacher. Expect (especially if you are supporting him as you should be - 1 Tim. 5:17) full and complete answers to your questions. If you are still confused or unsure, seek more counsel and read more on the subject. Don't expect to get it all figured out, and be willing to move on - since hopefully you will be studying this Chapter your whole life. My main point is that Bible study needs to be systematic and in depth. Prayer is primary.
Anyway, I think that this plan is better than getting a Study Bible.
Michael, In your writings there is no evidence of Gods love it is full of hate and judgement (sic). If God is love should not this be our defining characteristic? Judge not lest ye be judged.
Gansen Pappiah
Durban South Africa
Wow, what a condemning and judgmental email. Why do you hate so much. How dare you judge me. I see no evidence of love in this email.
Michael, I'm wondering if you would be willing to put your pen to writing about the responsibilities of a man in the position of Prophet, Priest, and King and the practical applications that they involve. If the Christian Virtuous Woman has so much on her plate, I can imagine that loving a wife as Christ loves the Church can be a very important task. Being a relatively newly wed I can imagine that I haven't begun to understand the responsibility that weighs on my shoulders and I would appreciate your teachings in this matter. Thank you.
Thank you for your question. There is certainly no way to give this topic the attention it desires in this forum, but I will give you a cursory answer and in it I hope you will learn how to find the larger answer. First, since this boils down to loving the wife as Christ loved the Church, it is necessary that we answer some questions...
If Christ loved the Church (and He did), how did that love manifest itself?; and how do we contrast this love with what is taught as "love" by the world today? Did Christ just hold hands with the Church and put up with her tantrums? Did He skip along the beach with her and tell her "I love you just the way you are?" Did He tell her that he was going to share authority with her 50/50 and seek her advice and counsel always? Did He tell her that all the important decisions were up to her and he'd just "go make the money?" Did He tell her He was perfectly happy with her in her sins and rebellions?
In fact, most of how men supposedly love their wives today is not love at all. It is submission to the Devil is what it is, and it is Roman in origin (Romance... anyone?).
Christ loved the Church in such a way that showed that her eternal address was more important to Him than her temporal "happiness" or comfort. He told her to obey Him in all things, without question, and without regard to consequences. He served her by encouraging her, teaching her, chastising her strongly, and demanding that she submit or that she leave. He refused (and refuses) to share her with the world, meaning that he over-rules and rejects her natural proclivities to carnal comfort, domination, self-preservation and esteem, vanity, and worldliness. He promised He would not leave her comfortless, in that He would comfort her IN affliction, IN persecution, IN trials, IN tribulations. He told her that IF she loved Him, she would obey His commandments; and He told her that if she did love Him and obey Him, that she would be hated by her family, friends, and the world. Christ's love of the Church is such that His rebukes and chastisements are in direct relation to her commitment and submission. If she submits and obeys, she will receive innumerable benefits, both here on earth, and eventually in heaven. If she rebels and refuses to obey, then national Israel was given to her as a threat and a promise of what may become of her. He wrote her letters with great promises and great threatenings, and He encouraged her to read and heed what He wrote to her. He served her best interests, even when that was contrary to what she wanted... including leaving her on earth to go and prepare a place for her. He is living water to her when she is athirst, and He is the Bread of Life to her when she is hungry.
In short...
When I see a loud-mouthed, obnoxious woman who calls herself a Christian, I see a husband who has not loved his wife enough. When I see a troublesome meddler, a gossip, or a busy-body, I see a husband who has not loved his wife as Christ loved the Church. When I see a woman who bedevils her husband, nags him, or makes his life less than a blessing, then I see a man who has not loved his wife enough or properly.
Christ loved His wife in such a way that it was necessary for Him to die in order to redeem her from her fallen state. He permitted Himself to be brutalized and crucified in order to propitiate her sins, her errors, and her rebellion. Such is the love that Christ had for the Church.
When the woman looks at her duties and obligations in the Bible, she sees that she is called to be a help-meet for her husband. She is called to serve him, and to assist him in his life and ministry. She is to be a blessing and a glory to Him. In other words, Her duty is to help her husband in his work OUTWARDS. A husband's duty is to help His wife in her work INWARDS.
... and that is the shorthand version. I hope it helps.
I am your servant in Christ Jesus,
Michael Bunker
posted by Michael Bunker at 11/06/2009 01:53:00 PM
1 Comments:
Mr. Bunker,
Hello!
I have recently begun to cover my head out of submission to the Lord and my husband. There are a couple of questions that keep lurking around in my head, though, and I'd be interested to know your thoughts on them.
If a woman is to cover her head when praying or prophesying, it would seem to make sense to cover all the time. I have six young children and I certainly pray A LOT as I go about my day! No problem there. BUT--- if a man is to have his head UNcovered when he prays, would the same logic not indicate that he not wear a hat-- ever? Do you remove your hat every time you pray silently in your head or whisper a small prayer for wisdom or guidance in some situation? Is it a shame for a man to cover his head--- at all?
And maybe this question could be better answered by your wife: Is it acceptable to pray after your cover is removed? Like in bed at night? I'm quite in the habit of praying before I go to sleep or when I am up with a little one. Do I need to cover then, too? It seems so strange, after all these years of crying out to Him at any moment that I need to, to have to think about whether I have something on my head or not! Not that it matters what I think is appropriate, I just want to be obedient.
I'm sorry if these are weird questions. This is all quite new to me!
I thank you for your time!
Kim
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