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NASB | Acts 15:20 but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Acts 15:20 but that we write to them that they are to abstain from anything that has been contaminated by [being offered to] idols and from sexual impurity and from [eating the meat of] what has been strangled and from [the consumption of] blood. |
Subject: Abstaining from things strangled, blood? |
Bible Note: Dear Cheri, You wrote, "...what the church has become (of which I really don't want to be a part)..." (sic) What do you mean by "church?" If you mean a corporate body of believers, then your separatism violates a clear command of God to worship Him with other believers. That is a far more serious an offense than ever has been by eating pork, touching a man while menstruating, or failing to offer a tithe. If you mean the invisible body of Christ, then you offend God by rejecting His perfect work (Ephesians 2:10-22). You wrote, "...before the break between the Jewish believers and the non-Jewish believers..." (sic) There was no break between Jewish believers and Gentile believers. Believers are believers. Those who will not follow Christ are just as wicked as the most perverse of sinners (John 5:36-40). As instructed by Torah (Isaiah 42:6), commanded by Christ (Matthew 28:19-20), and worked out by the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39), God is accomplishing His eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:11). He is simply redeeming the elect, a people for Himself (Deuteronomy 26:18; 1 Peter 2:9). You wrote, "...it [Torah] is not to be tossed away as unneedful..." (sic) Woah! Who said that? Not I! The Word of God is precious (Psalm 119:72), a treasure and heritage for all generations (Deuteronomy 29:29). We live by every word of God, none of it is disposable. There is an old adage that goes, "The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed." A proper understanding of the whole is only possible by studying the whole. Neither Testament is dispensable. Cheri, there are always two ditches for every road. If we aren't careful, while avoiding one ditch, we can fall into the other. This is just how it is with many Christian doctrines. We are right to disavow Antinomianism, but we must be careful about falling into legalistic Nomianism of the Judaizers. (The latter is the error of many Messianic Christian churches, I'm afraid.) A thorough study of Galatians will restore the proper balance. In humility, recognizing my own limitations and failings, I hope you will allow me to point out two issues revealed in your posts: First, distinguish between orthodoxy (what we believe) and orthopraxy (what we do). Every command of God reveals something about His nature. The study of God is what is called theology proper. We should be excited to ferret out everything He has revealed about Himself. However, not every command of God is for every believer to perform. Second, focus more on what God is doing than on what men are doing. Corrie ten Boom once said, "Look within, be depressed; look without, be distressed; look above, be at rest." Furthermore, as we come to love what the Holy Spirit reveals to us, the more we should love what He has revealed to others. We must keep the focus on Him. The more inadequacies we look for in the congregations around us, the more we'll find -- and, frankly, there'll be far more that we may never notice! However, the more we focus on God and His eternal purpose, the better servant of His we will become. But that service will always, always be within the context of other believers. In Him, Doc |