Trust and Obey

Greetings Beloved,

Just recently I attended the formal dinner Launching our new Seminary (http://stpaulsanglicanseminary.yolasite.com/). The Dinner was held at the Archdiocese in Belleville Illinois, and while traveling there from Pennsylvania I found myself in a small convenient store off of I-70, buying a few refreshments and overhearing a conversation between two women that I perceived to be Christians.

Now I know that eavesdropping isn't polite, but sometimes people talk so loudly that you just can't help it... and these two ladies weren't shy at all.

As the they chattered away, I gathered from my brief exposure to the conversation that one lady was talking about leaving her husband of 8 years to pursue a relationship with a man that she had met at a church bible study. She went on and described how abusive her husband was both physically and mentally and how she had prayed to be delivered from the marriage.

Friends, I don't condone spousal abuse in anyway, nor do I condone divorce and I don't believe the Bible allows either. I'm sure there were other avenues that this woman could have exhausted prior to seeking a deliverance from her marriage (which is "Christianese" for God approved divorce).

The woman proceeded to tell her friend that she believed God had sent the man from the Bible study to show her that He had granted her 'deliverance' and provided a new Christian man in her life. Unfortunately she was having a hard time leaving her husband because there was so much history between them.

Wow! Its almost unfathomable how ignorant people can be of our Loving Heavenly Father and of His nature, His will and His ways. Believe me when I say it breaks my heart and I feel the deepest sympathy for those people whose relationships are failing. But we must not allow our emotions to cloud the real issue. Divorce is a crucial subject and we must understand God's position concerning it.

The Scripture says that God HATES divorce (Malachi 2:16), and that men and women are bound together in wedlock until separated by death (Romans 7:1-3). Therefore God could never give His unconditional stamp of approval in this matter. When Jesus was questioned on the subject he said, "It has been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement (this was under Old Testament Jewish Law). But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication(unrepentant state of continual voluntary sexual intercourse with another; i.e. Adultery), causes her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her who is divorced commits adultery" (Matthew 5:31-32; 19:9). However, even if one's spouse has been unfaithful, if they are truly repentant, then reconciliation is the better way, the Biblical way (Luke 6:37; Matthew 18:21-22). So the general rule which God established is simply this: Divorce is only acceptable in the case of 'Unrepentant Marital Unfaithfulness.'

The exceptive phrase in this verse is obviously intended to bestow a right on one category of divorced persons. The Lord's rule now stands as this: no divorced person has the right of remarriage except for the one who has been faithful to his or her companion only to be betrayed by that spouse's sexual infidelity. To make it more simple, only the innocent parties in divorces for fornication may remarry.

Those who divorce for any other reason become guilty of adultery and if they remarry, they are in an Unlawful State of Matrimony whereby they engage in the act of fornication. The Greek verb for "commit" and "committeth" in those verses denotes the continual action of unrepentant cohabitation in the adulterous state.

Friends, in today's world it is so easy to justify divorce, especially if the other spouse was to blame. God allows divorce, but it is the remarriage that God has placed restrictions upon. I have often heard ladies say: "you know God doesn’t want me to remain single. My husband beat me often, or he was drunk all the time, or he abused me in so many ways." It is extremely sad to see someone in this condition. But the truth is God gives only one exception for divorce and remarriage. That is fornication. Weak kneed preachers can lie about what a person can and cannot do. But God is the ULTIMATE AUTHORITY! No preacher can change the word of God! We must follow what God says in His word, or else our actions condemn us.

This law of God is for every person upon the earth. For we will all be judged by God's word on the great judgement day Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48).

We are living in a very permissive society. The laws of our land allow things that God never approved. But if we hope to be saved in eternity, we must obey God rather than man. We must whole-heartedly believe that even if we do not agree with His laws, that God in His infinite wisdom and love for us knows best.

In the words of John H. Sammis' Hymn "Trust and Obey:"

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will, He abides with us still, And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way

To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, But His smile quickly drives it away;

Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, Can abide while we trust and obey.

Refrain

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, But is blessed if we trust and obey.

Refrain

But we never can prove the delights of His love Until all on the altar we lay;

For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows, Are for them who will trust and obey.

Refrain

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet, Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;

What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;Never fear, only trust and obey.

Refrain

God's blessings to you my friends!

Your faithful servant,

+Ernest A. Ross

A BETTER CHURCH

Greetings beloved in the name of the Lord!

We pray for Gods leading and that He would speak to us, or give us a sign, but how often do we find ourselves actually listening for His reply. From the Psalmist we learn that “We can know His power and presence this day (and everyday), if we will but listen for His voice” (Psalm 95 paraphrased).

We should be listening for the way God speaks to us through the breeze and through the rain, through the voice of a friend and the laughter of a child, and through a thousand other ways.

But we also should learn to listen for and to recognize the voice of God within us as well.

Recently I was approached by an acquaintance that was having problems with his family. He asked for my advice on how he could have a better home-life. I simply told him that if one wants a better home, then he must be a better family member. Sounds like some really good advice, and it is, but I can’t take credit for it. It’s the Golden Rule; “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

It’s truly amazing how God can work through us to edify another, and yet speak something so profound to our hearts. Time after time throughout the day His words invaded my thoughts “…whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.”

Later while having dinner with my family, my sister was complaining about the mistakes our new President and our government had made. She said that hard working, taxpaying citizens deserve better. I responded by saying that “If we want a better government, then we must be better citizens, which means also taking responsibility for the people we vote into office. Anything, including our government is only as good as the totality of its parts. If all the parts that make up the whole are good, fair and reliable then the whole itself is good, fair and reliable. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

Following dinner, my wife and I sometimes share conversation over a cup of coffee, and this evening we found ourselves discussing the state of our churches. We spoke of the dangers of the “Emergent Church” (although, I don’t know how the Church could emerge any further from what Christ has already brought forth), Seeker-sensitive churches, the abdication of Christian responsibility, the cave in of Christian courage, and how Christians today are afraid to stand up for God’s truth . As we talked, the words of St. Paul concerning a strong church came to mind; “From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). The "effective working" mentioned in this verse is according to the ability of all the parts together, each one contributing their best, since all the members have differing talents. When each part of this process is observed, it results in the increase or the growth of the body. And, the church will be built up in love and truth for her Head and for one another as members (Romans 12:17-21).

And so I said to my wife; “You know honey… if we want better churches then we need to be better church members. If every Christian would consider God and one another before himself in all things, then there would be better churches. Our Lord died for the church and He only wants the best for it, therefore each member must be the best they can be so that the church can be the best she can be.

If our congregations are going to be better congregations then each one of the members must realize his /her importance. They must realize that each one is important no matter what they do! The Lord is depending on us to do our part. The Lord is depending on each one of us clergy and laity alike to help our congregations to grow and function.

May our all-loving Heavenly Father help us to be kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, and ready to help others (Ephesians 4:31,32; Galatians 6:1,2). Let each one of us help our congregations by building them up instead of tearing them down and criticizing what they’re trying to do.

Furthermore, the best ways one can help their congregation is by guarding their daily life against sin and against doing or saying anything that would bring shame and reproach upon the church for which our Lord and Savior died (Ephesians 5:15).

Friends, the time to begin building a better church is now! Without sacrificing the truth of God and His Word, may we become one and be joined together in the same mind, the same judgment, and the same purpose (1 Corinthians 1:10).

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32).

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

God’s blessings be with you, and may your joy be full!

I remain your faithful servant in Christ,

+Ernest A. Ross