Week twelve: 6.1-10 Good works should be our goal

Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.

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6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

In this study I will be using the term confront in relation to this restoration process - there seems to be that form of let them know of their sin, but there is also the "what are we going to do about it" part.

Here we see one of the clearest expressions of church discipline that you can find, outside of the Matthew text which lays out the specific methods to be used. How much more clear might Paul have been? Yet, there are pastors and boards across the country that will not function in this capacity within their congregations. When it comes to trouble, leave it alone and it will go away, seems to be the mind set.

Yes, that action, or inaction as it really is, can work. Let that person's sin go, and then someone else will get involved in it and another and another, and soon the church won't notice that most of the congregation is living in sin.

Paul also addresses the issue in I and II Corinthians with the man that was involved in sin, removed from the assembly and then restored when his life was back to proper ways.

Remember this comment is still in the context of a letter to the Galatians where Paul mentioned that little nugget of truth that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. Spose these two are related? Well, Yaaaaa! As some would say.

Verse one is here so that the leavening process is stopped in its tracks. If you don't there will be ramifications within the congregation as well as the person's life. We owe it to our congregation and the individuals to root out sin as soon as it is known. Anything less is incompetence and slacking of duty.

Note first that "man" is a general word that can include the ladies as well. ANYONE overtaken in a fault is the clear idea of the verse.

It is of note that both times the word "tempted" is used it is in the passive voice, that is that the temptation snuck up on the person and hit them over the head. It was something that happened unexpectedly, without forethought. Something that just happened.

This is of note for two reasons. First, that the spiritual are to work closely with people in relation to their spiritual lives - keep them straight even when something comes out of nowhere and they get involved with it. Secondly, we ought to recognize that these things do happen, even to those that normally walk with God.

These short comings might include the sin that is related to something they did not know was sin. A new believer might well enter into activities that are not proper because they did not know that they were not proper. These sins might also include those things that creep up on us, like a sudden situation where your anger explodes. It might relate to situations where you are carried along with the crowd and they decide to take a turn down a wrong path and you just get into a mess.

Now, recognizing this does not give us license to let these situations happen, it gives us insight to be better prepared for such situations.

We need also to realize that the believer would not have been surprised by this sin had they not had their mind open to incorrect things. Sin is the action of the mind and without the mind in the wrong area of thought there most likely won't be any action.

I will close the thoughts on this verse with a grand reminder from Barnes. "In the spirit of meekness. With a kind, forbearing, and forgiving spirit. Not with anger; not with a lordly and overbearing mind; not with a love of finding others in fault, and with a desire for inflicting the discipline of the church; not with a harsh and unforgiving temper; but with love, and gentleness, and humility, and patience, and with a readiness to forgive when wrong has been done. This is an essential qualification for restoring and recovering an offending brother. No man should attempt to rebuke or admonish another who cannot do it in the spirit of meekness; no man should engage in any way in the work of reform who has not such a temper of mind."

2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

This is one of those items where the church often falls down on the job. When another person is having a hard time, they are not the most pleasant person to be around. You feel uncomfortable because you don't know how to help, indeed, often you can't help. Sometimes the person is in a bad mood and strikes out at anyone that is around. It also takes time to get involved, and it often means you will be involved in the suffering to some extent. You may well begin to hurt with the person if it is related to death or injury.

HOWEVER, Paul tells us to do it. That is part of the support system of the church. We are to uphold one another so that we are all strong and standing for God.

One thing I give the Mormon Church - they know this principle and they practice it. If one of their people has a problem, they all have a problem until the trouble is over. They support their folks well in time of trouble.

This ability to care for everyone requires not only a willingness to become involved, but it requires that the church have some system of caring, of knowing when someone has a need. When a problem arises, many believers will just tuff it through on their own. Unless someone knows of the problem, the church can do nothing to assist.

3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Now, don't we all know someone like this? Someone that is so full of himself that they have convinced themselves they are great and go around trying to convince everyone else of the same.

Reminds me greatly of a few presidential candidates, so sure they are the answer that they set themselves up and take months of time and millions of dollars trying to convince others of the same.

On the backside of this problem is the other problem, those that think so little of themselves that are really great. This is the better side to be on for sure, but we need to see how we measure up before God so that we can find our own standing as it is in reality. God's value measurement is the one that counts.

I think there are many today that allow others to puff them up as well - this is not a good thing. Some of the "preferred" authors/speakers of our times have been elevated to near deity in print, yet they are still only mortal man. Read that as tongue in cheek. I once saw an ad of one author’s notes on the Bible as "The man that makes the Bible live." Now, the last I heard it was God that did that in the words themselves, rather than some mortal doing it via some notes at the bottom of the page.

Beware how you and others puff up your importance - you may have to answer to the shortcoming someday either before God or before man. Personally, I could adapt to some embarrassment before man, but to gain some before God would not be the pleasant thing that I would desire.

4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

Simply put, keep your eyes on your own work and value it personally as you will, but don't put too much stock in what others tend to say about you. You will be held responsible for your own work, and your own perception of that work, not for someone else’s view of your work.

This relates in a couple of ways. First, in the way we have suggested, but also to the negative values that some might put on your work. If someone views you as worthless, as trouble, as inadequate to your job, don't pay them a moments notice, it is you that will stand before God to give answer for your works and how you evaluated them.

Because someone calls you glorious or worthless matters little to God, it is what you do for God and what He thinks that is of value to your life. It is also God's "glorious" or "worthless" that we should be considering.

That should free up a lot of us that have allowed negative reactions from others to slow our work for God. Negatives are negative only if we submit and subscribe to the supposed truth of them. If we hear a negative we should evaluate in light of God's leading and Word. If we find ourselves lacking then remedy it, but if we find that the negative is untrue, set it aside and attempt to go on as if it never was voiced.

Not that putting aside these negatives is easy. They hurt and they hinder and they harm, but they are "false" negatives, they have no standing, they are falsehood, yet we all too often take them upon ourselves as if they were granted to us by God. He says in this passage "prove his own work" and not try to find rejoicing in the eyes of another.

You might find the following references of interest as well (Rom. 14:5, 10, 12; cf. 2 Cor. 5:10).

6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.

A new concept for the Galatian folks. The Jews were required to tithe (actually almost three tithes) and out of that money came the pay for teachers etc. The Gentiles had to pay taxes for all of their services as well. Here, Paul is suggesting that they honor their teachers out of love, rather than duty or requirement.

Uhhhh, got that churches and congregations? Support your pastor out of love, not requirement. Uhhhh, got that pastors? The church is to support you out of love not by way of what you require.

A friend told me of a young man that candidated in a small country church in the northwest. The church extended a call to the man offering him $20,000 a year, a parsonage, and a large freezer that would never be empty. This was many years ago when $20,000 wasn't bad income without the parsonage and frills that he had been offered. He turned them down because it wasn't enough money.

Now, I hope the church relied on our previous verse for their joy, for they had done well in their labor, but the candidates negative did not reflect reality and the congregation should have been proud to have offered so nice a subsistence to the man. They were taking verse six to heart, they were communicating unto the prospect "in all good things."

I don't for a moment think this verse is basis for high pay for pastors. It is a principle, however, that if someone communicates the word to you, you should communicate in return "in all good things" which might include money, but it might also include helping him paint his house or taking them a meal when they are burdened with a hectic schedule.

Our present day "pay package" mentality in the pulpit is not Biblical, nor is it logical. A congregation should certainly care for their pastor if they opt for a full time man. However, that "care" need not be only in the area of money.

Another application of this principle might run along the lines of the large church that has multiple staff. When the giving is good and if this is the congregations will, then let them be paid, however if the giving drops and the congregation wants certain programs to continue but there isn't enough money because it is going to salary, might it not be time for someone to move on? Often this possibility is not thought of, or just rejected out of hand by the leadership.

Multiple staff is usually based on need of hands to stir the pot, but if the pot is getting smaller, there is less need for the same number of hands to do the labor - someone should go stir elsewhere.

I might also step on the toes of the church and suggest that they hold their staff accountable to that phrase "taught in the word." Many churches I have attended have men that are not teaching the word. They are teaching every philosophy under the sun and very precious little of the Word. These ought not enjoy the communication from the congregation.

I once sat and listened to a man that read a verse and said he was using it for a jumping off point. Literally it was a jumping off point, because he never once referred to it or its principle again. Indeed, he never mentioned Scripture again. He carefully linked one story into another and into another until the time was gone.

After the service, I was having coffee and the buzz was about this great sermon that we had just heard. I contained myself for awhile, and then asked a few questions. What was the point of this message, what Scripture did he use, how did he use the Scripture, did he make a point from the Scripture? The silence was beyond silence. Finally a couple of the young men saw that little light bulb go on over their head and realized that it was a good story time, but as a sermon, a message from God it was lacking in the grandest fashion.

The congregation needs to watch their use of what they have. God will hold them accountable for how they use that which God blesses them with.

I would add one other thought to this section. I personally believe that Paul was discerning in accepting money. I believe he taught that one feeding should be remunerated in some way. I also personally believe that the paid full time pastor is not Biblical, but allowable if a congregation chooses to do so. I think there are more beneficial ways to use the money and also believe that most laymen could preach and teach as good a sermon as many I've heard in churches.

I was working in a small rural work on a part time basis and being paid a small sum each week. When I elaborated my beliefs on this subject one of the women said after the message, "Well, if you really believe that we just won't pay you any more." I told her that was up to the church. That week was the last check that I received from that congregation - be careful who you share your beliefs with :-) (She happened to be the church treasurer.)

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

This is a grand principle of the Word, and it is a grand principle of nature. If you sow oats, you reap oats, if you sow corn, you reap corn, if you sow sin, you reap sin. Imagine the farmer that sowed corn and went out with his corn picker and found a field of wheat. Hum, do you think he would be a tad confused? I think we all know the reality of this verse well. We can't live in sin and expect grand blessings from the God we thumb our nose at.

The politician that constantly lies cannot wonder why he is labeled a liar, the worker that steals from his employer, cannot wonder why he is labeled a thief, and the bookkeeper that takes from the boss, cannot wonder why he is labeled an embezzler. So, the Christian that lives in sin cannot wonder why God labels him carnal or sinful. One results in the other, no matter how much we would desire it to be otherwise.

The young Christian couple that is living together that says God is leading them - NOT - God does not lead His people into sin! Rather takes sin to the edge when you sin as you please and then blame it on God. Talk of the height of arrogance.

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Let me be blunt here for Paul seems to be. If a man and a woman, outside the bounds of marriage, decide to have a little pleasure in the flesh, they cannot wonder why they reap a child in nine months. Many couples are like Aaron when he declared that he dumped a bunch of gold into the fire and out came this golden idol - like how did that happen?

Man is infamous for declaring innocence, but this verse calls us to understand that principle of God and of life - you sow - you will reap in like kind no matter how hard you want or try to make that principle change - it will not.

The reverse of sowing to flesh or sin is to sow to the spiritual side of the equation. Sow spiritual and you shall reap life everlasting. I might add that if you sow to the spiritual you will reap abundance in the spiritual realm as well. You may leave this life a pauper, a despised individual, and one that seemingly has failed in life, but you will enter a life that is so full of abundance that the lackings of this life will matter little.

9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

The antidote for coming up at the end in the negative - "well doing" is the key. If we sow "well doing" we will reap "well doing." No other possibility exists nor can exist. Sow well, and you will reap well - it can't be any other way, for God has set the principle and here He promises that principle will stand.

Your good works will be rewarded with Good. Now, it might be that the reward is a long time off in the future, but it will come. God guarantees it.

Many weary in good works, for they do not immediately see the good reward, but we should continue in good works and allow God to have His time table for reward.

Barnes on the subject: "We shall reap, if we faint not. If we do not give over, exhausted and disheartened. It is implied here, that unless a man perseveres in doing good to the end of life, he can hope for no reward. He who becomes disheartened, and who gives over his efforts; he that is appalled by obstacles, and that faints on account of the embarrassments thrown in his way; he that pines for ease, and withdraws from the field of benevolence, shows that he has no true attachment to the cause, and that his heart has never been truly in the work of religion. He who becomes a true Christian, becomes such FOR ETERNITY. He has enlisted, never to withdraw. He becomes pledged to do good and to serve God always. No obstacles are to deter, no embarrassments are to drive him from the field. With the rigour of his youth, and the wisdom and influence of his riper years; with his remaining powers when enfeebled by age; with the last pulsation of life here, and with his immortal energies in a higher world, he is to do good. For that he is to live. In that he is to die; and when he awakes in the resurrection with renovated powers, he is to awake to an everlasting service of doing good, as far as he may have opportunity, in the kingdom of God."

10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Another principle of life. Do good to all men, but to Christians do even more.

Now, that is a hard one in this day. Christians are no more than worldly often times, and it is hard to distinguish the believer from the world. I mention from time to time how much the church is like the world. I won't take further space to prove that point here, but know that it is a principle - we need to find out just who it is that is a believer, even though it is a hard job for us to do.

I think this passage also tells us that we need not go looking and searching for ways to do good, but as we walk through life, we need to do good as we go "as we have therefore opportunity." When we have a chance, grab it and fulfill it.

One might wonder why we are to do good to ALL. We are all God's creation and as such we ought to treat each other as such, but to the Christian, our brother or sister in Christ, we ought to do more, do as we would to our earthly brothers and sisters.

In our present society this is a hard one to apply. We have so many today that are working the system, that are abusing the system of welfare, of charity, of being kind to one another. We have panhandlers that are making more than we are at work by begging on the street - people that could hold a regular job, but choose not to.

We have Christians going from church to church seeking assistance from brothers with no compunction against abusing their relationship in the Lord.

How do we cope with this Scripture in this climate? Do good to all and more for the believer. The passage is clear in its commandment, and it is not stated that we should concern ourselves of the outcome.

A man knocked on our door one evening needing money to buy gas for his car. He said he would pay it back the next day. I had my doubts, but felt he might be telling the truth so gave him the money. He turned as he left and said, "May the Lord Bless." I said, He does, that is why you have the money in your hand. He knew full well it was God that would deal with it from there and I fear the man will have a lot to answer for when God deals with him.

Do good and let God care for the results.

APPLICATION:

1. In 6.1 the one confronting is warned of being tempted. How does this tempting come to be in the person’s life? Is it seeing the person is enjoying their sin and actually getting away with the sin thus far, and the spiritual person becomes tempted to dabble in the same incorrect activity? Or, is it that the one that is not spiritual might have rationalizations that sound so good that the spiritual is tempted to buy into the falsehood?

I suspect both of these would be dangers. The term tempted has two ways of being used. In the usual thought of someone tempting you trying to get you to do something that you ought not. It is also used in a positive sense of trying something to see if you can do it. If you have never gone skydiving, you have no idea whether you could take that first step or not, so you might tempt yourself, or try it to see if you actually have the courage to step out into nothingness.

The warning may relate to Paul not wanting them to try some of these sins to see if they were up to the challenge or not, whether they could actually do it or not.

When we confront another we need to be sure we aren't in the same boat as the one we would confront.

2. Again, in 6.1 we are told to do it in meekness. The meekness may extend both directions in the verse. Being meek in the confrontation and if we are meek, we might not think ourselves great enough to tempt ourselves with this sin.

I have only been confronted a time or two, and it was always from some of the most arrogant people I've met. Their confrontation was of little value, because they were loaded down with sins of their own, and their approach to me was that I was the sinner of sinners. Yes, I took some time and considered their accusations before the Lord, but took little extended thought to the situations.

3. Verse one through five is quite usable as individual verses, but they seem to be a unit. They seem to be one line of thought. If you know of a brother in sin, confront him, however when you are considering yourself, be sure to know that you will stand before God yourself, as will the brother.

Verse four may relate back to the word "tempted" in verse one. Also, the thought of thinking one self great when you aren't may well relate to the idea of thinking you are spiritual when you are not and that you probably shouldn't be confronting someone else that is not spiritual. Verse four may also relate to the meekness of verse one.

4. Verse six has been used to discuss paying pastors, but in the context it may well relate to some communication from the one confronted to the spiritual one that is confronting him. If you are taught in the word you need to communicate back - you must give a due response, rather than to blow the spiritual man off. Indeed, the term communicated has the idea of coming into fellowship with, or the idea of sharing or becoming a partner.

The verse may indicate that the confronted and the spiritual are to come to partnership to care for the sin of the sinner. To become a part of the cure. This would seem also, to be the reason for the warning - because you are in such a close partnership don't allow the sin to taint your life.

You might find the word translated communicate of interest. It is the verb form of the term usually translated fellowship - koinonia - they are to share together in some manner.

5. In verse nine we are told that good will come if we "faint not" and in other passages the term "overcomer" is used. There is indication that continuing in hard times, suffering all that is sent, and the pressing on toward the mark is a desired attitude - that if we hang in there, good will come.

The question will probably come up, what if you don't continue, or what if you don't suffer, or you don't press on? What will happen, will you be lost? Never will you be lost, but lost will be your reward might be the possibility, if not probability.

6. When I read verse three and its challenge not to think more highly of yourself than you ought, it struck me rather funny - all those detractors of mine over the years, all those negative comments about me, and all those tales behind my back, were sin to the one involved, yet good for me, because I tended toward beating myself down - taking upon myself the truth of what they said, without evaluating the validity. Maybe this was one way God saw to it that I did not value myself too highly.

I would guess the real sin of over estimating your own value would be the raising up of yourself toward God - an impossible task, yet isn't that about what is at work in the back of our minds - trying to make ourselves look better to God. If not that, surely the problem is raising ourselves up above others.

7. Barnes takes a hard view on verse one and it is of note, because it is a view that many of the older men of God take toward sin. He suggests that the idea of being overcome relates to being caught off guard by some temptation and falling into sin. This, indeed, is the thought of the passage - something that just happens in a moment of temptation - a good reason to constantly check on who it is you are walking with, God or self.

Barnes goes on to say quite clearly that this needs to be the case, because no Christian would ever knowingly step off into sin. A Christian does not sin unless his temptation catches him off guard. In a sense this is true as true can be. If we are walking with God, we surely will not say "Hang on a sec Lord, I gotta go commit adultery - get back to ya!"

8. The spiritual one confronting, must be spiritual, he must also have the reputation of being spiritual, and he must have been spiritual for a time. If one in sin is confronted by someone of this stature, there will be serious contemplation before rejecting their words. On the other hand if someone that was drunk yesterday confronts a drunk today, the listening might not be too long, and the confrontation might well be quite short.

9. The whole of this passage pictures spiritual Christians, standing along side sinning Christians in an attempt to bring them out of their sin in a meek, yet sure way. It is a grand picture of standing one with another - strength standing with weakness, pure standing with impure and ministering standing with ministered to - what a beautiful picture of the Church.

Not only do we have that picture but we also have a picture of a church with sin in it - people that are impure, yet the work is on to bring about the final grand picture, of purity in the church.

What a goal to have as a church, to seek to attain purity in the church by assisting those that are having problems into a proper life of purity.

Now, consider your own church. How do you and your fellow members stand up to this picture? Is this picture even on your radar screen? Is there a concerted effort to assist those in sin, rather than to just condemn them? Is there a concerted effort to bring about purity of the assembly? Is there a concerted effort to raise up Godly, spiritual people that can minister to others in this manner?

10. In relation to this evaluation of one's self: Prov. 14.14 mentions ".... and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself." I think we as believers need to take on this concept of self evaluation, and then self estimation. We need to look to the Word constantly to see how we measure up to it, we need to look to God in prayer to see how He values us, and we then need to consider all we are before God and His Word and come to some estimation of who we are.

This automatically blocks out the negative, the back biting, and the tearing down of others when it comes to our character. Yes, be sure to evaluate, yes, be sure to measure, yes be sure to come to a conclusion as to your own character - this character that we present to the world must come from within, rather than from someone else.

Teens, where are you on this, in most cases the individual teen looks to their peers for value, for estimation of their worth, however Proverbs says it MUST come from within. AND don't get upset teens, because I know wayyyyyy too many adults that do the same thing as you - look to peers for value instead of to God.

It puzzles me just why we look to peers for value - we have a God that thinks we are special enough to be rewarded for our lives here on earth, special enough to make us heirs, and special enough to send His Son to die on the cross for, so why in the world would we look away from Him for value and look toward people that are phony, two faced, and opinionated?

Now, if that hasn't convinced you maybe the words of an old timer will give you an assist. Barnes mentions: "The sentiment is, that he will find in himself a source of pure joy. He will not be dependent on the applause of others for happiness. In an approving conscience; in the evidence of the favour of God; in an honest effort to lead a pure and holy life, he will have happiness. The source of his joys will be within; and he will not be dependent--as the man of ambition, and the man who thinks of himself more highly than he ought, will--on the favours of a capricious multitude, and on the breath of popular applause."

Now, if that isn't enough let me just quote a little more of Barnes comments on the passage. "He will not be dependent on others for happiness, Here is the true secret of happiness. It consists,

"(1.) in not forming an improper estimate of ourselves; in knowing just what we are, and what is due to us; in not thinking ourselves to be something, when we are nothing.

"(2.) In leading such a life that it may be examined to the core; that we may know exactly what we are, without being distressed or pained. That is, in having a good conscience, and in the honest and faithful discharge of our duty to God and man.

"(3.) In not being dependent on the fickle applause of the world for our comfort. The man who has no internal resources, and who has no approving conscience; who is happy only when others smile, and miserable when they frown, is a man who can have no security for enjoyment. The man who has a good conscience, and who enjoys the favour of God, and the hope of heaven, carries with him the source of perpetual joy. He cannot be deprived of it. His purse may be taken, and his house robbed, but the highwayman cannot rob him of his comforts. He carries with him an unfailing source of happiness when abroad, and the same source of happiness abides with him at home: he bears it into society, and it remains with him in solitude; it is his companion when in health, and when surrounded by his friends; and it is no less his companion when his friends leave him, and when he lies upon a bed of death."

11. Verse seven tells us that God is not mocked - not that He can't be, not that He isn't, but that He will not be - He will not stand for it. Certainly we can mock Him, certainly we can abuse His character, and certainly we can receive just recompense for it.

As I see the ads for some of the trash on the television I wonder how long God will allow the mockery to continue. The networks have taken sin and made a joke of it, they have taken sin and made it common place, and they have taken sin and uplifted it to the place where sin is rather a mute item in our society. Nothing is wrong, nothing is sin, and nothing is off limits.

The media will one day answer for their abuses and mockery of Almighty God. I do not want to see the results. I dread that day for them even though they have not the wisdom to know it is coming. God will not be mocked forever - take that one to the bank.

12. One must wonder at the situation that Paul had heard about at Galatia that brought about this series of thoughts in his letter. Some must have been spiritual in the assembly and others must have been faltering. It may well be that he is speaking of the Judaizers problems in this text. You that are spiritual, those that haven't accepted this false doctrine, meekly and gently assist those that have accepted it to find their way out of the web they are in.

One commentary related this to the thought that legalists were trying to confront the sinners of the church, but I feel that would require the legalists to be the spiritual and Paul has just taken five chapters to rip on the legalist. Why in the world would he see them as spiritual? He would not.

13. It is with great glee that some hold this passage out to prove that sinless perfection is not possible. They go on to suggest that if we are sinlessly perfect, why would Paul have to include this passage. It is for this situation precisely Paul would insert it. If one is walking with God sinlessly, there is no guarantee that sin won't find its way in - then this passage is necessary. Not that I believe in sinless perfectionism as taught by many, but the logic of some commentators needs to be picked up at the door where they must have checked it when they came in.

One such logician continued on to discuss the "WAR" that goes on in the person and the impossibility of not sinning. Guess he hasn't read that the Holy Spirit is within to give us the victory rather than the Devil to bring us to defeat.

14. In verse two we have a phrase that we need to deal with. "fulfil the law of Christ." Just what will we do with this phrase? Tear it out of all our Bibles? Black it out? It can't really belong here because everyone tells us that we can't have a list of do's and don'ts to live by else we be legalists.

Surprise, Christ has a list of do's and don'ts - He has a law that we are supposed to follow. My goodness, what a shock to the system this must be when those folks read it.

We need to be clear that we aren't under the Law of Moses, but we are under some requirements left to us by the Lord Jesus.

15. In verse six the word translated "that is taught" is the Greek word from which the English word Catechism is drawn. We, in the fundamental circles, tend to shy away from that term today because we don't want to be associated with the Roman or Reform churches, however the thought of a Catechism might not be too bad considering some of the refuse being offered up in churches today. Sunday school lessons for kids can be based on anything - well almost anything, most avoid using the Bible I fear, but anything else works.

You can find curriculum in all sorts of odd and varied formats today.

The catechism is not a four-letter word; it is simply a way of teaching. Some of the older Bible Institutes used this method of question and answer to train their students. Indeed, I was asked if I didn't teach like a SEMINarian! rather than as a Bible institute teacher, because I used questions to elicit thoughts of a topic or passage from the students mind rather than from a root book of questions and answers.

A catechism would be much preferred than a lesson based on an overweight purple dinosaur. Sorry if that offends, but God is going to require of us more than animal stories - HE GAVE US THE WORD FOR HELPING US TRAIN others. Others have reportedly used the TV show "The Simpsons" to teach spiritual things, and even others use "Harry Potter" books.

Isn't that about the height of arrogance and stupidity to take the Word of God, set it aside and pick up tools of the world to try to teach spiritual truth?