Bindi (Hindu mark of respect) and Christian believer.

Queston text:  Is wearing Bindi(Mostly Indian women wear on middle of forehead) wrong in christianity? Give us bibilical answer please.

Answer text:

Indian culture is very much influenced by the Indian religion. In fact, it is very difficult to separate Indian culture from its religion. Most of the cultural practices are based on some religious concepts. Bindi is no exception. It was originally given by the poojaries as a mark of approval after idols were worshipped. Though Bindi today has become just a beauty spot, originally it has had its religious implications. Now to answer your question whether it is right for a Christian believer to use it, you need to see it in this light. We are commanded in the Bible that no relics of idolatry is to be brought home lest we be cursed(Dt.7:25,26). Read what the Psalmist would say about other gods in Psa.16:4. God hates idolatry and worship of other gods because it destroys the worshipper and takes the worshipper away from God for time and for eternity. So no trace of idolatry is to be found any where near the child of God. God bless!

 

Am I Forgiven?

Question Text: My name is Dany.   I did a lot of wrong things in my life and I want a change now.  I prayed a lot and  I confessed to God the sins that I know of.  Now,  what about the sins that I forgot about?  How do I confess them?  I just said,   “Lord, you know me better than I know about myself.  I ask you to forgive me.”  I confessed all my sins like that.   Is that sufficient?   Honestly I believe that I confessed my sins to him but I don’t know whether they are forgiven.  Please tell me,  how to recognize God`s work in my life?  I know that I am still alive is because of  his grace but my life is still like yesterday’s.  I want to see God in my life.  In my prayers I said I will be waiting for his reply but i don’t seem to get any response.  I don’t know what to do.  Please help.

Answer Text:    I am so pleased to meet such an earnest soul like you with your question. I pray that the Lord will help me to give you a satisfying answer for His glory.

Dany, there are one or two things you need to remember when it comes to confessing sins to God. It is from 1Jn.1:8 & 9 that you get this knowledge. Please read the verses. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

Did you notice in v.8 it is ‘sin’ in singular and in v.9 it is ‘sins’ in plural? This is very significant. When you come to the Lord for forgiveness for the first time, all that you have to confess is that YOU ARE A SINNER. In fact, you are accepting the fact that you belonged to the devil and that you were living a self-life with out God till now. Repentance means to turn from sin and self to God. Then all that you confess is the sinful nature that you have and the Lord will accept all who call upon Him in truth. It is He who said that He would forgive us and give us rest (Mt.11:28). So if you ever went to Him with repentance and faith, He accepted your plea with out a question. He will forgive you.  Then you have to invite Him to come and live within you.   He will come in to live within you as the Holy Spirit and you then will be adopted into the family of God. This you have to believe  because this is what God promised in His Word.

When you begin to believe the promise of God and thank Him for forgiving you, the Spirit of God who has come to live within you will begin to witness to your spirit that you ARE a child of God (Rom.8:16). The Bible clearly says that as many as received Christ, God gave them authority to become children of God (Jn.1:12). 1Jn.3:2 says that we are children of God NOW. These are not any one’s opinion. This is the Word of God. So you can believe it with out a doubt or a question.

Rom 8:1 says that there is no condemnation to them who are IN CHRIST Jesus. Till then you were IN ADAM.    Now your position is changed and you became some one IN CHRIST. You can not and need not think about and confess ALL individual sins that you committed all your life till  that time. But if you had done some serious crimes against some one, like Zacheus (Lk.19:2,8), you need to make restitution for the same. All right. But after you became a child of God, it is your responsibility to confess and reject each individual sins in your life regularly.

Now, if you are NOT sure that God has forgiven you and that He has adopted you as His child, I request you to pray the prayer I am going to give you here. Remember, saying this prayer or any other prayer will not save you. It is only trusting in Christ that can save you from sin. This prayer is simply a way to express to God your faith in Him and thank Him for providing for your salvation. `God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness—the gift of eternal life! Amen!`

From now on you need to live a thankful life praising God for making you His child. Then you need to walk daily with God according to the Word of God. You must decide to spend time in the morning and evening to be alone with God and read His Word and pray. When reading His Word, He will speak to you and you need to make sure that you live according to what God has said in His Word. When you begin to do it regularly, you will begin to see the mighty working of God in your life. Here is what God has done for me. This I give here to encourage you to pray in secret. Surely this could be your experience as well. www.mathewpaul.org/2008/10/21/brief-testimony . Please feel free to write to us for any doubt or question. May the Lord bless you and give you a powerful life. To His Name be all glory.

 

How Could One Be Wise And Not Know God?

We must remember that we are living in a world which is under the power of the evil one (1Jn.5:19). We must also remember that the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they can not see the glorious light of the Gospel (2Cor.4:4). The spirit which is at work in the minds of the unbelievers now is the prince of the air (Eph.2:2).

So the natural man can not understand the things of God (1Cor.2:14). In 1Co 1:20-21 we read, “Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the lawyer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom did not know God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save those who believe”.

Yes, indeed, two world systems are under operation here. The wisdom of the world and wisdom of God. They work diametrically against one another. God told Adam that the day he ate the fruit, he would die. Satan told Eve just the opposite. Satan said that their eyes would be open. True it was. Their eyes were opened to see them as naked people!! This is what the wisdom of the world doing today to people. It looks appealing to begin with. Indeed they are very proud of their wisdom and their findings. Tragically they will come to know the reality later and it will be too late then.

The real wisdom is the knowledge of God. Christ is the wisdom of God (1Cor.1:24). The wise men of this world would never grasp this truth by their own wisdom. Satan has trapped them in a heavy fortress called the wisdom of this world and unless that fortress of the enemy is demolished by spiritual warfare using spiritual weapons the wise men of this world would never receive the wisdom of God. In 2Co 10:4-6 this is what Paul is talking about as to what he did in reaching them with the gospel. “For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, pulling down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ;and having readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled”. Unless the strong man is bound, his property can not be plundered (Lk.11:20,21).

Thus communicating the gospel to the wise of this world, as others who are trapped by the enemy in other strongholds, involves real spiritual warfare. May the Lord give us grace to see this truth! To His name be glory.

 

Two Issues

Question Text Can you help me with two issues. 1) What exactly did Jesus mean by `i never knew you` when casting those who believed they served him into hell. 2)How can anyone who has not yet received the holy spirit, therefore a carnal being, make the decision that he or she understands and believes the gospel which is surely a spiritual decision and if God does something in advance to remove the barrier of being deceived by the God of this world in the mind of some people, why not all?? please help,,thanks.

Answer Text The answer to your first question is that relationship with the Master is more important than service to the Master. There are ever so many who pretend to serve Him with out ever knowing Him in person. There are so many in the world today who believe in the gospel with out ever repenting while the clearest statement of the gospel is to repent and believe in the gospel (Mk.1:15). It is repentance towards God and faith towards Christ which makes a person a true child of God (Acts 20:21). Look at the Laodecian church. They are a church, alright! Yet Christ is standing out side and knocking for an entry (Rev.3:20)!! The Bible is written so that we KNOW that we have eternal life (1Jn.5:13). Tragically many who serve Him today do not KNOW for sure whether they are saved or not!! So, any one serving Christ must make sure that he/she has a right relationship with Christ to begin with. Otherwise they would face the same words one day being uttered to them like those others who thought they were serving Him as well!!

Your second question needs a little clarification. You talk about any one who has not received the Holy Spirit as being carnal. This is not what the Bible teaches. Any one who has not received the Holy Spirit is said to be a `natural man` (1Cor.2:14). It is the natural men who can not understand the things of God. On the other hand, carnal men are those who are born again children of God who never bothered to feed themselves daily with the Word of God and therefore have not grown and live like the natural men(1Cor.3:1-3).

Ok. I am sure, your problem is about natural men who are not able to understand the things of God. The Bible clearly states that no one can ever come to Christ unless the Father draws him (Jn.6:44). And it is the Spirit of God who convicts the world of sin, of judgment and of righteousness (Jn.16:8). Unless God the Holy Spirit convicts a person, and unless the Father draws that person to Christ, none can ever come to Christ. This is why INTERCESSION is most important in all our evangelistic activities. The one who presents the gospel must simultaneously pray that the Spirit of God will convict that person and the Father will draw him/her to Christ.

Evangelism with out prayer is cultivation with out water. Here the intercessor is entering into real spiritual warfare as he is trying to plunder the goods of the enemy (Lk.11:21,22). Some times the strongholds of the enemy where he has trapped them are very strong (1Cor.10:3,4). Unless these strongholds are demolished, those trapped inside can never see the light of the gospel (2Cor.4:4). That is why we are commanded to continue steadfastly in earnest prayers, praying always in spirit (Eph.6:18) for those who are preaching the gospel (Eph.6:19-20). This truth is amply illustrated by the history of the church. The early church in Acts was a praying church. The result was that the then known world was saturated with the gospel. When ever, where ever there was a praying church millions turned to Christ. The times of Wesley, Moody, Finny and others in history who made such impact in church history were simply because there was a movement of prayer associated with them. God is not partial. Even today such things can happen if there are individuals and churches who are willing to obey the clear commands of the NT about striving in prayer (Rom.15:30-32). These verses in Romans clearly tell us that God’s perfect will can ONLY be achieved by striving in prayer. May the Lord give us grace. To His Name be all glory. Amen,

 

Whom Do I Marry?

Question Text:   The Lord lifted me from scratch and gave me every thing I need in life.   Now  I really need some help in the form of a life partner.    I am willing to accept what lord Jesus choose for me.   Please make it sooner rather than later.   Please give me an honest answer and pray for me.

Answer Text :    I am so glad to hear how the Lord lifted you from scratch and gave you every thing you need in your life. I am also glad to hear that you are willing to have a life partner chosen by the Lord. It is indeed wonderful to talk to you.

The Bible teaches that the concept of the family originated with God. In fact the God-head is a unique family. Three persons in the God-head always think, will and feel the same thing! Thus though they are three separate persons, they together make One God – the Triune God of whom the Bible speaks. The triune God has ordained that man also should be in families. He looked at Adam and said to Himself, `It is not good for man to be alone` (Gen.2:18) and He decided to make a helper suitable for Adam. Thus man and wife became one flesh. In reality they became one family. Psalm 68:6 says that God sets the solitary in families. So even today, it is God who is uniting people in to families.

Talking about marriage Jesus our Lord said, `that which God has united, let no man put asunder` (Mt.19:6). So the uniting work is done by the Lord Himself. Now I am sure that some one some where is already prepared by the Lord as your spouse and it is for you to discover who it is by waiting upon the Lord in prayer and in consultation with fellow believers around. I am sure you are already on the move and that’s why you came to us with this question. So let me ask you to learn to pray in secret about this matter. I have set up a website just to talk about prayer and specially how to pray to get answers. Please go to www.mathewpaul.org and select `book on prayer` from categories and read about how to make prayer a secret habit with you. Then prayer must always be accompanied by steps in faith.

As a step of faith may I suggest you to register your name in www.believersmatrimonil.com and send your profile to them. You can also see there dozens of profiles of highly qualified believer girls from all language groups in India looking for life-partners. If you wish you can also register in one or two other matrimonials and wait upon the Lord to show you the right person of His choice as your life-partner. We pray that the Lord will indeed guide you in your decision for His glory. You must also remember that the Bible talks about another family for every man to be a member of. It is the church of the living God which is pictured as the house of God in 1Tim.3:15. If you are not already a member of the house of God, you need to think of it seriously and try to become one. Otherwise spiritually you will be like some one with out a house! May that not ever be true of you. May the Lord lead you in every step of the way. To His Name be glory. Amen.

 

Sin In The Life Of A Believer

Question Text.   Some people have accepted Christ but they keep sinning and don`t feel convicted. How is that? Are they really saved? If we confess with our mouths but don`t change our hearts are we saved?

Answer Text  The message which our Lord preached is to repent and believe in the gospel(Mk.1:15). Faith with out repentance is like that of the devils`. Js.2:19 says that devils also believe and tremble. It goes on to say that faith which does not show itself in life (i.e. in a transformed life) is a dead faith.

Now in your question you have quoted verses from the Bible and you know what it says. Why should you doubt what those verses tell us so clearly? That exactly is the clear teaching of the Bible. I have a Catholic friend who is now corresponding with me. That person believes that if some one confesses a particular sin to a priest, the person can go on living in that sin again! I have asked that person to give me the Scripture which teaches that particular doctrine!! I am yet to get an answer. I am sure that person would never be able to answer me.

1John talks about people who say spiritual things. (1Jn 1:6) `If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth`. (1Jn 2:4) `He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him`. (1Jn 2:6) `He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked`. (1Jn 2:9) `He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now`. (1Jn 4:20) `If anyone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar. For if he does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?`

The sign of being saved is a transformed life. `If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, behold every thing is new` (1Cor.5:17). Some one confessing with mouth but does not have a change of heart is NOT a saved person. No one accepting Christ as Lord can ever continue to live a life of sin!!

Yet it is tragically true that there could be people living like the one of whom we read in 1Corinthinans 5:1-5. Such would be brought under the chastening of the Lord here and now that their souls may be saved on the day of the Lord Jesus. 1Cor.11:29-32 teach us that believers who part take of the Lord`s supper unworthily would also be brought under divine chastening as well. Thus the Scripture gives the responsibility to a saved person to live a life acceptable to Him after being saved. May the Lord give us grace for His glory. Amen

 

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class (An Interesting Conversation)

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy speaks to his Class on the Problem Science has with GOD, The ALMIGHTY.
He asks one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren’t you, son ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So you Believe in GOD ?
Student : Absolutely, sir.
Professor : Is GOD Good ?
Student : Sure.
Professor : Is GOD ALL – POWERFUL ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.
Most of us would attempt to Help Others who are ill.
But GOD didn’t.
How is this GOD Good then ? Hmm ?

( Student is silent )

Professor : You can’t answer, can you ?
Let’s start again, Young Fella.
Is GOD Good ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Is Satan good ?
Student : No.
Professor : Where does Satan come from ?
Student : From . . . GOD . . .
Professor : That’s right.
Tell me son, is there evil in this World ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : Evil is everywhere, isn’t it ?
And GOD did make Everything. Correct ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : So who created evil ?

( Student does not answer )

Professor : Is there Sickness ? Immorality ? Hatred ? Ugliness ?
All these terrible things exist in the World, don’t they ?
Student : Yes, sir.
Professor : So, who Created them ?

( Student has no answer )

Professor : Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.
Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD ?
Student : No, sir.
Professor : Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD ?
Student : No , sir.
Professor : Have you ever Felt your GOD , Tasted your GOD , Smelt your GOD ?
Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter ?
Student : No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
Professor : Yet you still Believe in HIM ?
Student : Yes.
Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says your GOD doesn’t exist.
What do you say to that, son ?
Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith .
Professor : Yes. Faith . And that is the Problem Science has.
Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : And is there such a thing as Cold ?
Professor : Yes.
Student : No sir. There isn’t.

( The Lecture Theatre becomes very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,
a Little Heat or No Heat.
But we don’t have anything called Cold.
We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can’t go any further after that.
There is no such thing as Cold.
Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.
We cannot Measure Cold.
Heat is Energy.
Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

( There is Pin – Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor ? Is there such a thing as Darkness ?
Professor : Yes. What is Night if there isn’t Darkness ?
Student : You’re wrong again, sir.
Darkness is the Absence of Something.
You can have Low Light, Normal Light , Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .
But if you have No Light Constantly, you have Nothing and it’s called Darkness, isn’t it ?
In reality, Darkness isn’t.
If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn’t you ?
Professor : So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?
Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is Flawed.
Professor : Flawed ? Can you explain how ?
Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.
You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD .
You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.
Sir, Science can’t even explain a Thought.
It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.
To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that
Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.
Death is Not the Opposite of Life : just the Absence of it.
Now tell me, Professor, do you Teach your Students that they Evolved from a Monkey ?
Professor : If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.
Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir ?

( The Professor shakes his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument is going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and
cannot even prove that this Process is an On – Going Endeavor,
are you not Teaching your Opinion, sir ?
Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher ?

( The Class is in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever Seen the Professor’s Brain ?

( The Class breaks out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever Heard the Professor’s Brain, Felt it, Touched or Smelt it ? . . ..
No one appears to have done so.
So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that
you have No Brain, sir.
With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir ?

( The Room is Silent. The Professor stares at the Student, his face unfathomable )

Professor : I guess you’ll have to take them on Faith , son.
Student : That is it sir . . .
the Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.
That is all that Keeps Things Moving & Alive.

NB:
I believe you have enjoyed the Conversation . . . and if so . . .
you’ll probably want your Friends / Colleagues to enjoy the same . . . won’t you ? . . .
Forward them to Increase their Knowledge . . . or FAITH

 

Evil Thoughts in a Child of God

Question text:   I have a problem with thinking lustfully. I don`t understand, because I hate when I do it, but I like it at the same time. I want to stop because I know it`s against God`s will, but I still end up doing it and wanting to continue. I grew up as a Christian and I`m 15 now. Many times, as a born again believer, I`ve deliberately thought lustfully even though I knew it was a sin. Does this mean I`m not really saved? I`m so confused, because the Bible says we are made right with God as soon as we believe in Jesus, but then it goes on to say that those who continue to sin won`t be saved, or aren`t really saved in the first place. Christians are so quick to condemn those who have sex before marriage or commit physical adultery, but what about those who commit adultery in the heart by lust? I`m confused, because I truly believe Jesus is Lord, but sometimes I still willingly follow sinful desires. Am I saved? Please help.

Answer Text:  My dear son/daughter, I am so proud to meet you here with your question. At the age of 15 you are demonstrating such insights into life that very few ever have. Your insight that we are made right with God as soon as we put out trust in Christ is thoroughly Biblical (Jn.1:12; Rom.5:1). You are also right in saying that those who continue in sin are not saved (1Jn.3:1-10). Jesus our Lord condemns lust as adultery and there is no question about it either (Mt.5:28). Now, your problem is very real. THE FACT THAT YOU ARE DISTURBED BY YOUR BEHAVIOR IS THE INDICATION THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD! If you were NOT born again, you would have continued in your secret enjoyment of lust till it comes out as physical fornication or adultery.

What actually happens when some one becomes a child of God is that our spirits which were dead in trespasses and sins were made alive (Eph.2:1) and the Spirit of God comes to live in and with our quickened spirits (Rom.8:16; 2Tim.4:22). While we were unsaved, it was the soul which was guiding us. The word ‘natural man’ in 1Cor.2:14 is literally ‘soulish man’. In a child of God the ‘soul’ becomes ‘the old man’ or ‘flesh’ or ‘self’. The position of the soul in a child of God is that it is being crucified with Christ (Gal.2:20). As long as we are in our physical bodies, we are in the sinful flesh (Rom.8:3). We need to keep it always crucified with the Lord. And we need to strengthen the newly born ‘new man’ or the spirit in us to take control of our lives (Rom.8:14). And as long as we are in this body of ours, sin is at the door. Listen to what God says in Gen 4:7 “If you do well, shall you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at the door; and its desire is for you, and you shall rule over it”. This is true of every believer as well. Listen to what John the apostle has to say in 1Jn 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us”. So this is a reality in all our lives.  A child of God who does not strengthen his ‘new man’ by daily feeding on the Word of God and by prayer will continue as a carnal Christian, living like ordinary men (1Cor.3:3).  And God hates it (Rev.3:16).

People of the world indulge in sin to perish forever. People of God have to overcome them by the power of the Spirit of God within us. We are told to strive against sin till the point of blood shed (Heb.12:4). That means even if we have to shed our blood, we decide not to sin against God. If a saved person continues in sin, he/she is crucifying the Savior again (Heb.6:6). I hope you understand the situation that a child of God is in and I know that you will NEVER want to enjoy the lustful thoughts of your life. As long as they disturb you, you are in the will of God for this time of your life. So what to do about it?

In 1Pe 2:11 we are commanded to “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul”. So to have lustful thoughts is NOT sin. That happens as long as you live in your physical body. After all, the body is made of the dust of the earth and weeds are bound to come. But to enjoy it in secret IS sin. So it is our duty to bring every thought unto the obedience of Christ (2Cor.10:5). Arrest every thought and bring them to obey Christ. So from now on, think about what you are thinking. If any unwanted thoughts come, PLUCK them away immediately. Tragically our minds are so active that it can not remain vacant even for a second. So the moment you pluck away the weeds, PLANT the seeds of the Word. For that you need to be EQUIPPED with the seed of the Word. So take time out to memorize the Word of God and meditate on it night and day as the psalmist of old and you will find that you have displaced the lustful thoughts with the fruitful seed which will bring forth the abundant fruit of the Spirit which is: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Gal.5:22,23).

Remember, too, that at 15, your body is warring against you. Your mind is affected by the hormones raging through your bloodstream and causing all kinds of havoc. Take comfort in the fact that things will settle down in time as you mature. In the meantime, fill your mind with Scripture. David said, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). David was a man who understood the power of lustful thoughts, and he came to the conclusion that the Word of God alone has the power to redirect our thoughts toward godliness, which is certainly the desire of your heart.

Most of all, pray continually for the strength and ability that comes only through the Spirit of God that dwells in your heart. God loves to hear us say, “Lord, I can’t do this. Help me!” He will never leave such a prayer unanswered. He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Eph. 3:20).

Please feel free to mail to us for any further clarifications or for any other spiritual problem in your life. Kindly accept my holy kiss along with this answer. I BEG GOD TO BLESS YOU, MY DEAR CHILD, WITH SINCERE PRAYERS THAT GOD WOULD GIVE YOU VICTORY FOR HIS GLORY.. AMEN.

 

Dealing With Domestic Servants-Christian Attitude

Question text:  I am a born-again in Christ. I live in India and I have a 10 month old daughter as well. We have a system of many maid-servants working in our homes for domestic chores here. i have employed 3-4 of such maids in my house to help combat the terrible amount of dust, cooking and other home-making chores. Well, my question now is that I treat them really very nice and special, thinking that since life`s not kind to them on account of their poverty and hardships, then maybe i should make up in some way by providing financial and material help as well by way of lending advance money, clothes, etc. I behave very friendly and cordial towards them. In fact i give instructions and orders as well with a hesitant and requesting tone on my voice.  But I`ve realized the hard and painful way that they end up taking mean & undue advantage of me by not doing my housework dedicatedly enough and turning lazy and slack. Even the maids who are in Christ!!!! It comes to a point where my temper soars and I have to yell and try enforcing discipline….. too late with the result that they turn hostile due to seeing this unexpectedly hot-tempered side of me. ultimately it is just chaos, indiscipline and household out of gear.  i am totally confused about what kind of tone of voice should i order them and discipline them in, etc and how much `being nice` is really convenient and bearable for all? i am in awe of my friends who really boss around in a big way and their servants really freeze in total submission. I wish to do the balancing act. Help!

Answer Text:  Thank you for sending us your question.  You are not the only one who has this problem in life.  It is very important to have a golden mean as you deal with people who help you out, especially with your domestic work.  You are being tender and kind to them because of the Lord.  Tragically some people take advantage of the situation. 

 

Practically I will tell you what my wife does with people who come to help us with our domestic work.  She has a Bible reading and prayer session with them daily. All of them sit together on a mat and have a small song, a portion of scripture with two or three sentences of explanation as to what the Lord expects them from that passage. Closes with prayer.  Scripture reading time each one is given a verse or two to read.  After this is over my wife would tell before all what each is expected to do with a FIRM but a gentle voice so that every one would know what is expected from each one.  This is followed by a gentle warning. She would say some thing like this: “I wish to see that every thing is done in proper shape and if any thing goes wrong any where, I will be upset. Please do not let me be angry.  If any one gets a shout from me, it is SIMPLY because the work is not done properly.  I DO NOT want to do it”.  I find my wife gets all her work done neatly with out ever shouting at the servants at all.  You need to be FIRM but gentle with the house hold servants.

 

One other thing I must tell you is, as a born again child of God you must NEVER keep grudge or anger in your heart.  If you know that your words indeed did hurt them, please do not hesitate to apologize to them.  Once or twice I had to apologize to my own children when they were teens.  When I apologize to them, it is harder for them to take it than taking my shouts!!  So my children would behave themselves fearing that.  This I learned from my great grandfather who was a first generation Bible believer from the Traditional Thomas Church of India.  I knew him when he was in his late eighties as a well built and a strong man.  Then I was a kid. I remember him once going right in to the kitchen to apologize to his daughter-in-law for shouting at her a while ago.  If you knew the role of a great grandfather in an Indian joined family, some thing like that would be beyond any man’s imagination. But he did that. And we enjoyed the peace of God at home because every one wanted to honor God in their lives.  These are just two tips.  May be you could try them out for yourself.

 

I am sure you are familiar with the Scripture verses addressed to masters and servants.

Here are some of them. .(Eph 6:9)  “Masters, behave in the same way toward your slaves and stop using threats. Remember that you and your slaves belong to the same Master in heaven, who judges everyone by the same standard”. (Col 3:22)  “Slaves, obey your human masters in all things, not only when they are watching you because you want to gain their approval; but do it with a sincere heart because of your reverence for the Lord”.  Read also Eph.6:4-9;  Col.4:1, 1Ti 6:1, 2., Tit. 2:9.   The next verse comes form Solomon’s great wisdom.(Pro 29:21)  “If you give your servants everything they want from childhood on, some day they will take over everything you own”.  Literally that verse means if a servant is pampered from childhood, grief will be caused later. My vernacular puts it that way and I checked the Hebrew to confirm the meaning. Ok. Then.  May the Lord give you the right insight to handle your situation for His glory. When you do it prayerfully every thing will fall in its right place.   May all praise be His.  Amen.

 

Our Role To Alleviate Poverty And Sickness On Earth

Question text.  “if all things are in God`s plan, why should we send food and aid to countries facing disasters -or try to intercede with the abuse of a child – was it his will that these things happen – should we just stand by and let them occur? After all, isn`t it in pointless if we try to interfere with God`s plan?”

 

Answer text.   Your question is based on a total misunderstanding of the Bible teaching about the Sovereignty of God. It is the Quran which teaches that every thing under the Sun is ordained by Allah and no one can do any thing about it. The Bible on the other hand very clearly makes things plain saying that every thing that is happening in the world now is NOT according to the plan of God. Well, you may be surprised by my answer. Let me explain it to you.

That God is Sovereign is clearly taught in the Bible WITHOUT question. The whole universe was created by the Word of God (Heb.11:3). That God is the sustainer of it by His Word (Heb1:3). That it is He who sends His Sun and rain upon the righteous and upon the unrighteous (Mt.5:45). That with out Him not a sparrow will fall to the ground (Mt.10:29). That God has a plan for this earth and that He is taking it to its culmination. The Bible also CLEARLY says that nothing is too hard for the Lord (Gen.18:14; Jer.32:17,27; Lk.1:27). So we need to be aware of the fact that we are worshiping the Almighty God who is the SOVEREIGN LORD of the universe.

Having said that, I must also tell you what that Sovereignty does not mean. First of all it does not mean that God can go against His own nature. The Bible clearly says that He can not deny Himself (2Tim.2:13). He can not tell lies (Tit.1:2; Heb. 6:18). These are thus some of the limitations of the Almighty God. Can He literally do any thing and every thing? He can not. There are limitations on Him. But He CAN do what ever He WANTS to do. Man can not. In that God is Almighty. Now we have very clearly seen that He cannot lie or take back His word. See also Ps. 138:2 where it says that He has exalted His Word above His name. So once He said some thing, He will not go back or change His word. With this background let us look at Gen 1:28 where Adam was given the dominion of this earth. Read again in Psa 115:16 “Heaven belongs to the LORD alone, but he gave the earth to us humans”. We know from Ps.24:1 that the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness of it. But He as the Sovereign Lord of the universe, has given the earth to us humans.

We are here now as God’s caretakers of this planet earth. But tragically Satan has cheated man and has taken this dominion into his hands. Listen to what Satan says to our Lord. “And the devil said unto him, To thee will I give all this authority, and the glory of them: for it hath been delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it” (Lk.4:6). Now this world lies in the hands of the wicked one (1 Jn.5:19). All that we see here by way of sickness, poverty, crime, burglary,rape and war are all the doings of the evil one using men who are under his control. Now God is in the process of redeeming this world to restore it to its original shape. Since only man has been given authority to function here, God HAD TO become man in Jesus of Nazareth and by His death and resurrection He has disarmed the devil (Col.2:15). But the devil has not accepted defeat yet. He is continuing his warfare against God by accusing God and His people.

We who trusted in Christ are the redeemed ones and the glorious fact is that we are given an opportunity to participate in the redemptive process of God. That is why we are asked to remember the poor (Gal.2:9) and to bear one another’s burdens (Gal.6:2). A day is coming when this process of redemption will be completed. And those of us who participated with God silently in the process of redemption by trying to alleviate the troubles of many around us will be honored before all in that final day. Remember Jesus our Lord taught us to pray, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Obvious implication is that His will is NOT done here on earth today. May the Lord help us to enter into the fold of the redeemed ones and then participate in the great process of the redemption of this world. Remember our Lord had to give away His life in this process and we too shall do well if we too are willing to sacrifice our lives for His cause on this earth. To His Name be all glory. Amen.