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Introduction:
We have several questions submitted this month. I believe
we will be able to cover four of them. Discussion: I.
What is the meaning of “mansions” in John 14:2? A.
This question stems from one we discussed last month
regarding degrees of reward in heaven. One brother commented that
this mistaken concept of degrees in heaven probably stems from
misunderstanding “mansions” in John 14:2. I
believe he was correct. B.
The word translated “mansion” is the Greek word “mone.”
That word simply means “a staying.” It does not mean a golden
house that is silver lined. Evidently, our English translation
came from the word used in the Latin, “mansiones,” which in
the Latin, on into Middle English, also simply meant a dwelling
place. Thus, “mansion” is not a mistranslation so much as it
is a word that has grown broader than its original meaning and use
in this passage. C.
Jesus was not saying that He was preparing elaborate houses
for us in heaven. Rather, He was saying there is room in God’s
house for all of us. The statement was all the more meaningful
since He had just warned the apostles of their coming sin of
abandoning Him. His point was that through His death, a way into
heaven would be provided to each of us, even the worst sinners. D.
Some may ask why deal with this question in public? We need
to be aware of Christ’s real meaning because the myth of
palatial houses reserved for us in heaven simply perpetuates our
materialism. We spend so much time dreaming of wealth on earth,
that we imagine heaven as nothing more than living in the house on
the hill. Heaven will be so much greater than that. II.
What was wrong with Cain’s sacrifice? A.
In Genesis 4:3-5, God respected Abel’s animal
sacrifice, but did not respect Cain’s vegetable sacrifice. Many
simply read these verses and assume that Cain’s sacrifice was
flawed because it was of vegetables and not animals. However, note
very carefully that the text does not say that. That is our
assumption. Often that assumption is based on the fact that under
the Old Covenant the great majority of sacrifices were animal
sacrifices. However, that was not strictly the case. Allow me to
assure you that God did accept non-animal sacrifices. In Exodus
22:29, the Israelites were commanded to offer the first of
their ripe produce—fruits and vegetables. Note also Leviticus
2. The problem may well have been that God only wanted an
animal sacrifice from these two men. However, I do not know how we
would establish that. B.
What was really wrong with Cain’s sacrifice? I do not
know. Nor does anyone else. The only insight we are given to this
matter is found in Hebrews 11:4. Abel offered a better
sacrifice by faith. Evidently, Cain, while offering his sacrifice,
lacked faith or disregarded faith. According to Romans 10:17,
“Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
Evidently, Cain disregarded something God had said. Perhaps Cain
did disregard that it was supposed to be an animal sacrifice.
Perhaps Cain disregarded that he was supposed to give the best or
the first. We simply do not know. God did not tell us this story
to tell us why He accepted one sacrifice and not the other.
Rather, this story is told to demonstrate how sin continued in the
world and progressed from Adam to his children. III.
If women are to be silent in worship, why do we allow them
to sing? A.
This question stems from I Corinthians 14:34-35. In
the context of this chapter, the command for women to keep silent
in the church is not a command to keep from uttering any sounds
whatsoever in anything that is “church” related. Rather, this
is specifically talking about the assembly of the church (vs.
23, 26). Secondly, it is dealing with addressing the
congregation in a position of authority. That is demonstrated by
the fact that others were told in this chapter to keep silent in
the church. In vs. 28, Paul told the tongue speaker to keep
silent when there was no interpreter. That is, he was not to
address the congregation with his tongue-speaking revelation. That
did not mean he could never utter a sound, he could never sing and
never say the “amen” (vs. 16). In vs. 30,
prophets were told to keep silent if someone else received a
revelation. Paul was not saying once another man received
revelation the first prophet was no longer allowed to utter a
sound, but rather he was to cease addressing the congregation. B.
This passage is a specific application of Paul’s general
teaching in I Timothy 2:11-14. Paul demonstrates that God
established a universal order of relationship when he created man
first and then woman. Secondly, the initial sin of Eve, before
Adam’s sin furthered that irreversible relationship between the
genders. Based on these two unchangeable facts, God has said that
women are not allowed to have authority over men in His church,
but to learn submissively. C.
Further, in I Corinthians 14:35, evidently, some
were striving to address the assembly by claiming that their
addresses were simply for the sake of learning. Evidently,
however, their approach to learning was not submissive. Paul’s
rebuke demonstrates the care we need to take when dealing with
these issues. In our modern day, as we men are learning to relate
to women more equitably and are learning the numerous ways in
which we have misused and abused God’s word in our relationships
with women, some are trying to throw the baby out with the bath
water. Instead of walking God’s narrow path, some are striving
to see if under some cloak of legitimacy they can allow what God
has condemned. Any situation in which women are exercising
authority over men within Christ’s church is wrong, no matter
how we try to cloak it or make it appear legitimate. I have heard
of churches setting up classes with adult men or even high school
and college age in which a woman would teach. Their defense was,
“We have elders who are monitoring the class, she is teaching
under their authority.” Perhaps in some way she was still under
the authority of the elders. But she was exercising authority over
every other male in the class. This passage offers us a warning
against trying to legitimize these practices through some
twisting, turning means of justification. D.
Having said all of that, however, we must keep the
prohibition in context. The prohibition is an issue of addressing
the congregation as one in authority. It is not a prohibition
against ever uttering a sound. It is not a prohibition against
ever saying, “Amen” in worship. It is not a prohibition
against asking questions or even making a statement in discussion
oriented class settings. It is not a prohibition against speaking
within this building. It is not a prohibition against getting on
to unruly children. It is not a prohibition against confessing our
faith in God before a baptism. Finally, it is not a prohibition
against singing in the assembly. The command to sing is universal
(Ephesians 5:19). When the congregation sings together (I
Corinthians 14:15), no one is exercising authority over
anyone. The prohibition is simply this, women are not to exercise
authority over men in the church—singing does not violate this
prohibition. IV.
Some say that the God of Islam and the God of Christianity
are the same God, is that true? A.
Perhaps in some stretched sense that is true. Muslims claim
to worship the God of Abraham. So do we. Both Christians and
Muslims strive to trace their roots back to Abraham and his one
God that was different from the pagan gods multiplied throughout
the world. B.
However, that is where the possible connection ends. The
Muslim god gave promises to Abraham that were supposedly fulfilled
through Ishmael. However, the God of the Bible gave a promise that
was fulfilled through Isaac (Romans 9:6-9). Further, the
god of Islam is singular in person. There is only Allah. There is
no Father, Son and Holy Spirit as in the God of the Bible, our God
(Matthew 28:19). The god of Islam, sent numerous prophets
into the world, one of which was a man named Jesus. Our God, the
God of the Bible sent numerous prophets into the world. But Jesus
was not just a prophet, He was God incarnate (John 1:1-5, 14).
Finally, the god of Islam sent his greatest prophet Mohammed. The
God of the Bible did not. C.
For these reasons, despite the attempt to make a historical
connection with the God of Abraham, I believe the Muslims worship
a different god. However, let may say, if in some way it could be
firmly established that Muslims are worshipping our God, they are
doing so incorrectly. They are doing so according to the commands
of men and their worship is in vain (Matthew 15:8-9). We do
not want to have any part of that. Conclusion: We have had some interesting questions this month. I hope this has been helpful to you. Please, remember that you can submit your questions by putting them in the appropriate box outside of my office door.
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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