Q&A: Vaping, Polygamy, Sabbath Day, Modesty, Entertainment
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Q&A: Vaping, Polygamy, Sabbath Day, Modesty, Entertainment
Notes on a questions and answers sermon by Glenn Colley
Vaping
Q. Do you think juuling/vaping (E-cigarettes) is wrong?
Nicotine in E-cigarettes contributes to heart disease
Marketing (advertised flavors) appeals to the young
Consider: There is a category of activities that are not completely sin in themselves but you should just not participate in; things uncharacteristic of Christians
Matthew 5 : You are the light of the world…
1 Corinthians 6:12 : Not all things are expedient… (Opposite: impediment -- that which causes you to stumble)
A: It is inconsistent with how a Christian must live. It is discouraged.
Polygamy
Q. If a polygamist is converted today he would have to divorce all but the first wife?
(Were early Christians polygamists/households required to break up due to the New Law or were they grandfathered in?)
Polygamy was never God’s intention.
See Matthew 19 on Marriage, Divorce, Remarriage
“...and the two shall be one…” - not two, three, four, etc.
Acts 17 -- God winked at the ignorance,, about some of these practices of the Old Testament people
Acts 2 Repentance was a prerequisite for being baptized. Person should have repented and that includes polygamy.
A: Yes. One man for one woman.
In Mark 11:23 : For surely I say to you whoever says to this mountain be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart that those things will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I tell you whatever things you ask for when you pray, believe you will receive them, and you will have them.
Q. Is this really true? And if not, why?
Context: Jesus has cursed the fig tree. Leaves indicate that there was fruit.
It professed itself that it had fruit but had none.
It is an illustration of hypocrisy.
Miracles were never done like a magician’s trick; miracles were done with deliberate purpose.
A: This never happened. There is no record of disciples ever casting a mountain into the sea.
Sabbath Day
Q. Was it possible to have two Sabbath Days in a row?
Ex. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) on Friday followed by the weekly sabbath
Read in Leviticus 23, Leviticus 16:29
Performed in the 7th month,10th day of the month (specific)
A: Today’s Jews have ensured that it doesn’t happen on a Sabbath.
They use a Perpetual Calendar arranged to guarantee the Day of Atonement would never fall on a day of the sabbath
Leviticus 16:31 Day of Atonement is called a Sabbath of Solemn Rest
Modesty
Background: 1 Timothy 2 on modest apparel (Def. as not to call attention to one’s self, with scanty clothing)
Q. Is it wrong for us to dress up for the Prom Alt (prom alternative)... what about our Wedding Day?
Both Prom Alt and Wedding Day draw attention to the girl/bride.
A: Attire must be modest and appropriate to the occasion.
Def: modest: orderly, of good decorum and behavior.
Appropriate for the time, occasion which has an influence on appropriateness
Is this too revealing?
i.e. Some things that you wear would draw attention to yourself on one occasion but it wouldn’t on another
Consider: Would it cause undue attention to yourself?
Praying
Q. Is it wrong to think something else when you are praying?
Prayer requires a focusing of your attention. While praying we are offering an obeisance to the Almighty.
When we’re tired, our mind may stray.
Mark 5:1-15
A: If you’re not thinking about what you are doing, then you are not praying.
Recommendation: God won’t be offended but when your mind wanders, apologize to Him.
Lord’s Supper
Q. Would it be wrong if we had Communion after morning services and Bible class?
See Acts 20:7, 1 Cor 11:33
The centerpiece of Sunday Worship in the early church is the eating of the Lord’s Supper.
A: It would be inconsistent with the New Testament pattern.
TV shows
Q. Is it wrong to watch animated movies or TV shows that have immodesty in them?
Today there is much unholy garbage that young people are feeding on.
Matthew 5:28
A: Yes, it is.
God, Our Friend
Q. Does the Bible teach us that God is our friend?
John 5:14
James 2:23
A: Yes.