blog Archives - Georgetown Baptist Church https://old.gbcpg.org/tag/blog/ IMPACT one life at a time Thu, 26 May 2022 08:10:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.9 https://old.gbcpg.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/cropped-logo_red_512x512-32x32.png blog Archives - Georgetown Baptist Church https://old.gbcpg.org/tag/blog/ 32 32 True Shalom https://old.gbcpg.org/true-shalom/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=true-shalom Tue, 10 May 2022 06:36:32 +0000 https://old.gbcpg.org/?p=5232 Shalom (שלום). As a Christian, we may have been greeted with this word at least once. There is something unique and heartwarming about being greeted with this Hebrew word. But what is it about this word that comforts the heart of every believer in Christ? Simply put, shalom is the Hebrew word for “peace”, and it is commonly used among Israelis and occasionally used among Christians as a greeting and a farewell. And in both modern and Biblical days, shalom is also used to ask about one’s wellbeing. Most of us think of peace as a state of quietness or tranquility. It can also be thought of as the absence of conflict or trouble or war. While all the mentioned definitions are true to a certain extent, there are deeper and more powerful meanings that are carried by this ancient word. As I have been studying Hebrew for the past couple of years on my own, I have discovered rich and profound meanings of this seemingly simple word, that have encouraged me in my walk with God. Shalom in the Bible: Perfection Mentioned approximately 250 times in the Old Testament, the most basic definition that this word conveys is being complete, whole, or perfect. As an adjective, it refers to something that is intact, uncut, and undamaged, with nothing missing or lacking. It also describes a heart that is undivided and fully committed to God. Examples in the Scriptures include: “…[Joshua] built [an altar] according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses – an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.” – Joshua 8:31b, when Joshua was building an altar on Mount Ebal after capturing the city of Ai. “You will keep in him perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” – Isaiah 26:3 “Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in Your eyes.” – 2nd Kings 20:3a, a prayer that King Hezekiah uttered at his point of death. Subsequently, as a verb, one of the definitions is to complete or to make something whole. It refers to taking what is missing or broken and restoring it to wholeness. An example is found in Nehemiah where the broken wall of Jerusalem was completed: “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.” – Nehemiah 6:15 Making Restitution/Payment In the process of restoring something to wholeness, this verb also means to pay back what was owed or to make restitution for any loss. An example of such usage is found in Exodus 22:1-15, where restitution is required in cases of theft or damage. Other examples in Scripture include: “He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” – 2nd Samuel 12:6 “Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution – life for life.” – Leviticus 24:18 “She went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” – 2nd Kings 4:7 Reconciliation Another meaning that this verb conveys is to reconcile or to heal a broken relationship. In the Scriptures, this definition was not only applied on broken relationships with a family member or friend, but it also applied to relationships with an enemy. Such an example is used in Proverbs 16:7, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” – Proverbs 16:7 This word can also be used in relationships with kingdoms and nations, as stated in 1st Kings 22:44, “Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.” – 1st Kings 22:44 What is amazing is that this word does not just mean cessation of war, conflict, or transgression against another person. It also means seeking the benefit of each other. The Gospel of Shalom So, how do all the earlier definitions relate to the gospel of peace that we have today? What does it really mean when Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27 hours before He retreated to Gethsemane: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27 When God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, all creation was in the state of perfect peace and in complete communion with the Creator of all things. However, because of man’s choice to disobey God, that perfect relationship that God intends to have with mankind was broken. The world is cast into brokenness and left in shambles. The fallen world that we live in, along with its violence, heartache, pain and death are the consequences of that shalom that was lost so long ago. Because our sins have destroyed mankind’s relationship with Him, God, who is righteous and just, simply could not overlook our sins without payment. Sin had to be dealt with. The penalty for that broken fellowship must be paid, which is death. Nothing we could have done or we could ever do in our own strength, can ever meet God’s perfect standard of righteousness. Yet, this world was not left without hope because God, in His mercy and grace, has promised to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to make all things right and complete again. The moment that Adam and Eve sinned, God prophesied against the serpent that tempted them: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” – Genesis 3:15 And through the prophet Isaiah, God promised that Christ would come as the “Prince of Peace”, and that there will be no end to the greatness of His government and peace (Isaiah 9:6-7). Paul in his letter to the Ephesians says: “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.” – Ephesians 2:14-16 Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can now come into God’s presence as His sons and daughters freely and boldly. Because Jesus paid the ultimate price by bearing our sins upon Himself on that cross, our broken relationship with our Maker can be mended. We, who were once God’s enemies can, therefore, be reconciled to Him through faith in Christ. We can have perfect peace with God because sin has already been paid for by the blood of Jesus. Through the finished work of Christ, the shalom that was lost in the garden has been restored and is available to us again today. And He will one day restore all things back to the way God intended with the promise of His presence dwelling among His people (Revelation 21:3). J.I. Packer, an eminent theologian and one of the most influential evangelicals in the world today, penned about God’s peace very well in his classic “Knowing God”: “The peace of God, then, primarily and fundamentally, is a new relationship of forgiveness and acceptance – and the source from which it flows is propitiation. When Jesus came to His disciples in the upper room at evening on His resurrection day, He said, ‘Peace be with you’; and when He had said that, He showed them His hands and side. (John 20:19 f.) Why did He do that? Not just to establish His identity, but to remind them of the propitiatory death on the cross whereby He had made peace with His Father for them. Having suffered in their place, as their substitute, to make peace for them, He now came in His risen power to bring that peace to them.” – “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer Our Response Having said that, true shalom can only be found in God alone. This shalom cannot be found in the absence of bad news or conflict or noise, nor is it dependent on circumstances, physical conditions, or what we feel; it can only be found by trusting in God, who is the eternal Rock of our salvation, just as the prophet Isaiah exhorts in his book: “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” – Isaiah 26:3-4 Trusting in God means to give Him complete control, enthroning Him in every aspect of our lives, as He guides us and leads us in the way everlasting in our walk with Him. If you are not yet a believer of Christ, I pray that you may experience His peace that transcends beyond human comprehension and understanding by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and in His finished work. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” – Romans 5:1-2 Our Mandate to be Peacemakers As God’s children who have received His peace, Christ has therefore given us the mandate to be peacemakers and in being peacemakers, we are also given the ministry of reconciliation – reconciling people to God and reconciling one another in love. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” – Matthew 5:9 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” – 2nd Corinthians 5:18-20 Paul in his letter to the Ephesians also exhorted the church to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3), which requires humility, patience, and bearing with others in love. Let us be channels of God’s peace by exemplifying Christ’s life here on earth. Let us bring love and forgiveness in relationships that are scarred with hatred and hurt. Let us bring hope and light in a world that is filled with darkness and despair. Let us be reconcilers in every relationship filled with conflict and let our lives be a signpost that point people to Jesus Christ. “The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you [shalom].” – Numbers 6:24-26 “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” – 2nd Thessalonians 3:16.

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Shalom (שלום). As a Christian, we may have been greeted with this word at least once. There is something unique and heartwarming about being greeted with this Hebrew word. But what is it about this word that comforts the heart of every believer in Christ?

Simply put, shalom is the Hebrew word for “peace”, and it is commonly used among Israelis and occasionally used among Christians as a greeting and a farewell. And in both modern and Biblical days, shalom is also used to ask about one’s wellbeing. Most of us think of peace as a state of quietness or tranquility. It can also be thought of as the absence of conflict or trouble or war. While all the mentioned definitions are true to a certain extent, there are deeper and more powerful meanings that are carried by this ancient word.

As I have been studying Hebrew for the past couple of years on my own, I have discovered rich and profound meanings of this seemingly simple word, that have encouraged me in my walk with God.


Shalom in the Bible: Perfection

Mentioned approximately 250 times in the Old Testament, the most basic definition that this word conveys is being complete, whole, or perfect. As an adjective, it refers to something that is intact, uncut, and undamaged, with nothing missing or lacking. It also describes a heart that is undivided and fully committed to God. Examples in the Scriptures include:

“…[Joshua] built [an altar] according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses – an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.” – Joshua 8:31b, when Joshua was building an altar on Mount Ebal after capturing the city of Ai.

“You will keep in him perfect peace, him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” – Isaiah 26:3

“Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in Your eyes.” – 2nd Kings 20:3a, a prayer that King Hezekiah uttered at his point of death.

Subsequently, as a verb, one of the definitions is to complete or to make something whole. It refers to taking what is missing or broken and restoring it to wholeness.

An example is found in Nehemiah where the broken wall of Jerusalem was completed:

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.” – Nehemiah 6:15

Making Restitution/Payment

In the process of restoring something to wholeness, this verb also means to pay back what was owed or to make restitution for any loss. An example of such usage is found in Exodus 22:1-15, where restitution is required in cases of theft or damage. Other examples in Scripture include:

“He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” – 2nd Samuel 12:6

“Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution – life for life.” – Leviticus 24:18

“She went and told the man of God, and he said, ‘Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” – 2nd Kings 4:7

Reconciliation

Another meaning that this verb conveys is to reconcile or to heal a broken relationship. In the Scriptures, this definition was not only applied on broken relationships with a family member or friend, but it also applied to relationships with an enemy. Such an example is used in Proverbs 16:7,

“When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.” – Proverbs 16:7

This word can also be used in relationships with kingdoms and nations, as stated in 1st Kings 22:44,

“Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.” – 1st Kings 22:44

What is amazing is that this word does not just mean cessation of war, conflict, or transgression against another person. It also means seeking the benefit of each other.

The Gospel of Shalom

So, how do all the earlier definitions relate to the gospel of peace that we have today? What does it really mean when Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27 hours before He retreated to Gethsemane:

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – John 14:27

When God created Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, all creation was in the state of perfect peace and in complete communion with the Creator of all things. However, because of man’s choice to disobey God, that perfect relationship that God intends to have with mankind was broken. The world is cast into brokenness and left in shambles. The fallen world that we live in, along with its violence, heartache, pain and death are the consequences of that shalom that was lost so long ago.

Because our sins have destroyed mankind’s relationship with Him, God, who is righteous and just, simply could not overlook our sins without payment. Sin had to be dealt with. The penalty for that broken fellowship must be paid, which is death. Nothing we could have done or we could ever do in our own strength, can ever meet God’s perfect standard of righteousness.

Yet, this world was not left without hope because God, in His mercy and grace, has promised to send His Son, Jesus Christ, to make all things right and complete again. The moment that Adam and Eve sinned, God prophesied against the serpent that tempted them:

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.” – Genesis 3:15

And through the prophet Isaiah, God promised that Christ would come as the “Prince of Peace”, and that there will be no end to the greatness of His government and peace (Isaiah 9:6-7). Paul in his letter to the Ephesians says:

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.” – Ephesians 2:14-16

Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can now come into God’s presence as His sons and daughters freely and boldly. Because Jesus paid the ultimate price by bearing our sins upon Himself on that cross, our broken relationship with our Maker can be mended. We, who were once God’s enemies can, therefore, be reconciled to Him through faith in Christ. We can have perfect peace with God because sin has already been paid for by the blood of Jesus. Through the finished work of Christ, the shalom that was lost in the garden has been restored and is available to us again today. And He will one day restore all things back to the way God intended with the promise of His presence dwelling among His people (Revelation 21:3). J.I. Packer, an eminent theologian and one of the most influential evangelicals in the world today, penned about God’s peace very well in his classic “Knowing God”:

“The peace of God, then, primarily and fundamentally, is a new relationship of forgiveness and acceptance – and the source from which it flows is propitiation. When Jesus came to His disciples in the upper room at evening on His resurrection day, He said, ‘Peace be with you’; and when He had said that, He showed them His hands and side. (John 20:19 f.) Why did He do that? Not just to establish His identity, but to remind them of the propitiatory death on the cross whereby He had made peace with His Father for them. Having suffered in their place, as their substitute, to make peace for them, He now came in His risen power to bring that peace to them.” – “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer

Our Response

Having said that, true shalom can only be found in God alone. This shalom cannot be found in the absence of bad news or conflict or noise, nor is it dependent on circumstances, physical conditions, or what we feel; it can only be found by trusting in God, who is the eternal Rock of our salvation, just as the prophet Isaiah exhorts in his book:

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” – Isaiah 26:3-4

Trusting in God means to give Him complete control, enthroning Him in every aspect of our lives, as He guides us and leads us in the way everlasting in our walk with Him. If you are not yet a believer of Christ, I pray that you may experience His peace that transcends beyond human comprehension and understanding by putting your faith in Jesus Christ and in His finished work.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” – Romans 5:1-2

Our Mandate to be Peacemakers

As God’s children who have received His peace, Christ has therefore given us the mandate to be peacemakers and in being peacemakers, we are also given the ministry of reconciliation – reconciling people to God and reconciling one another in love.


“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” – Matthew 5:9

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” – 2nd Corinthians 5:18-20

Paul in his letter to the Ephesians also exhorted the church to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3), which requires humility, patience, and bearing with others in love.

Let us be channels of God’s peace by exemplifying Christ’s life here on earth. Let us bring love and forgiveness in relationships that are scarred with hatred and hurt. Let us bring hope and light in a world that is filled with darkness and despair. Let us be reconcilers in every relationship filled with conflict and let our lives be a signpost that point people to Jesus Christ.

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn His face toward you and give you [shalom].” – Numbers 6:24-26

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” – 2nd Thessalonians 3:16.

The post True Shalom appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

]]> Soli Deo Gloria https://old.gbcpg.org/soli-deo-gloria/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=soli-deo-gloria Thu, 20 May 2021 05:13:37 +0000 https://old.gbcpg.org/?p=4117 Just a few days ago, someone asked if I could recommend a daily devotional. Without hesitation, I recommended For the Love of God by Dr. DA Carson. It comes in 2 volumes, Vol 1 and Vol 2, and you can download them for free from the internet! Just search for these from your browser and you should find them easily. (In case you can’t, drop me an email at aslmok3@hotmail.com and I’ll send you a link.) The ‘comments’ in these volumes (as Dr Carson calls them) have been tremendously helpful to me because they direct me toward thoughtful reading & reflection of Scripture. Many have been blessed by these writings and I’m sure you would be too. Here is an extract from the Preface: “More seriously yet, the rising biblical illiteracy in Western culture means that the Bible is increasingly a closed book, even to many Christians. As the culture drifts away from its former rootedness in a Judeo-Christian understanding of God, history, truth, right and wrong, purpose, judgment, forgiveness, and community, so the Bible seems stranger and stranger. For precisely the same reason, it becomes all the more urgent to read it and reread it, so that at least confessing Christians preserve the heritage and outlook of a mind shaped and informed by Holy Scripture”. For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word This is a book to encourage that end. Devotional guides tend to offer short, personal readings from the Bible, sometimes only a verse or two, followed by several paragraphs of edifying exposition. Doubtless, they provide personal help for believers with private needs and fears, and hopes. But they do not provide the framework of what the Bible says—the “plotline” or “storyline”—the big picture that makes sense of all the little bits of the Bible. Wrongly used, such devotional guides may ultimately engender the profoundly wrong-headed view that God exists to sort out my problems; they may foster profoundly mistaken interpretations of some Scriptures, simply because the handful of passages they treat are no longer placed within the framework of the big picture, which is gradually fading from view. Only systematic and repeated reading of the whole Bible can meet these challenges. That is what this book encourages. So, I heartily commend these 2 volumes to you and trust that you will indeed benefit deeply through them. The last time I spoke with Dr Carson (about 2 years ago) he said he was working on volumes 3 & 4. I’m looking forward to that! Praise God for using this wonderful servant and teacher, and I thank God for Colin Kee too who first introduced these volumes to me. Soli Deo Gloria This message is prepared on 18 May 2021 by Mok Kok Hoong, a former pastor of Georgetown Baptist Church, 2011-2021.

The post Soli Deo Gloria appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

]]> Just a few days ago, someone asked if I could recommend a daily devotional. Without hesitation, I recommended For the Love of God by Dr. DA Carson. It comes in 2 volumes, Vol 1 and Vol 2, and you can download them for free from the internet! Just search for these from your browser and you should find them easily. (In case you can’t, drop me an email at aslmok3@hotmail.com and I’ll send you a link.)

The ‘comments’ in these volumes (as Dr Carson calls them) have been tremendously helpful to me because they direct me toward thoughtful reading & reflection of Scripture. Many have been blessed by these writings and I’m sure you would be too. Here is an extract from the Preface:

“More seriously yet, the rising biblical illiteracy in Western culture means that the Bible is increasingly a closed book, even to many Christians. As the culture drifts away from its former rootedness in a Judeo-Christian understanding of God, history, truth, right and wrong, purpose, judgment, forgiveness, and community, so the Bible seems stranger and stranger. For precisely the same reason, it becomes all the more urgent to read it and reread it, so that at least confessing Christians preserve the heritage and outlook of a mind shaped and informed by Holy Scripture”.

For the Love of God: A Daily Companion for Discovering the Riches of God’s Word

This is a book to encourage that end. Devotional guides tend to offer short, personal readings from the Bible, sometimes only a verse or two, followed by several paragraphs of edifying exposition. Doubtless, they provide personal help for believers with private needs and fears, and hopes. But they do not provide the framework of what the Bible says—the “plotline” or “storyline”—the big picture that makes sense of all the little bits of the Bible. Wrongly used, such devotional guides may ultimately engender the profoundly wrong-headed view that God exists to sort out my problems; they may foster profoundly mistaken interpretations of some Scriptures, simply because the handful of passages they treat are no longer placed within the framework of the big picture, which is gradually fading from view. Only systematic and repeated reading of the whole Bible can meet these challenges.

That is what this book encourages.

So, I heartily commend these 2 volumes to you and trust that you will indeed benefit deeply through them. The last time I spoke with Dr Carson (about 2 years ago) he said he was working on volumes 3 & 4. I’m looking forward to that! Praise God for using this wonderful servant and teacher, and I thank God for Colin Kee too who first introduced these volumes to me.

Soli Deo Gloria

This message is prepared on 18 May 2021 by Mok Kok Hoong, a former pastor of Georgetown Baptist Church, 2011-2021.

The post Soli Deo Gloria appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

]]> Should a Christian take fellow Christian to court? https://old.gbcpg.org/should-a-christian-take-fellow-christian-to-court/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=should-a-christian-take-fellow-christian-to-court Thu, 29 Apr 2021 09:27:36 +0000 https://old.gbcpg.org/?p=4079 Have you heard Christians say something like, “Christians should not go to court against each other”? If you have, you might also have heard them use 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 as the basis for the claim. So then, if you have a dispute with a Christian over unpaid rent, property damage, defamation, etc, the Bible mandates that you must not take up a lawsuit again them. Is this what the Apostle Paul meant and is this how he envisages it to be relevant to us today? Paul (in the bible) attacks the inappropriate manipulation of a fellow Christian through the use of superior wealth, power, patronage, social influence, or business networks. In Hermeneutics – An Introduction by Anthony C. Thiselton (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. , 2009), he provides a historical setting that throws light on this passage. I’d like to quote what he wrote below and trust that it will help us to better understand what Paul meant. “…I used another example from 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. Here Paul declares, “If one of you has a dispute with another, how dare he go to law before a pagan court” (6:1). “Must Christian go to law with Christian? … You suffer defeat if you go to law” (vv. 6-7). A widespread assumption is that these verses condemn any resort to the law on the part of Christians. But is this the point at issue, not least for twenty-first-century readers? Historical and archaeological research demonstrates that although Corinth was a Greek city in the geographical sense, the constitution, politics, law, and government of Corinth were modeled on the institutions of Rome, not Greece, in Paul’s day. … This bears on our passage, for while Roman criminal law was relatively impartial, civil lawsuits operated differently. It was expected that both parties to a dispute would offer incentives to the judge (and when applicable, to the jury) to grant a favorable verdict. This might be an unashamed financial bribe, or offering the benefit of business contacts,…gifts of property or slaves, or whatever. In such a situation, only rich and influential Christians would consider taking a fellow Christian to the civil courts. Paul attacks not a responsible use of law; indeed, he himself appeals to Roman law. Here he attacks the inappropriate manipulation of a fellow Christian through the use of superior wealth, power, patronage, social influence, or business networks. This amounts to using indirect force to gain what the wealthier party covets. Prohibition of resort to law as such, is not what these verses mean. … Careful inquiry into Paul’s purpose, the responsible use of reason, and respect for contextual constraints discern the meaning of the passage in relation to its rootedness in time and place.” In bringing this up, I do not intend to encourage more lawsuits among Christians! Neither am I saying that this is the only aspect which Paul raised in this passage. But I thought it would be helpful to highlight again how historical setting and context, among other devices, help us to arrive at the authorial intent behind a Bible passage, and thereby, its meaning and relevance today. After all, the Bible cannot mean just whatever we want it to mean. Blessings! Mok Kok Hoong Now watch a 9-minute interview video with Prof Anthony C Thiselton where he explains the importance of studying Hermeneutics.

The post Should a Christian take fellow Christian to court? appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

]]> Have you heard Christians say something like, “Christians should not go to court against each other”? If you have, you might also have heard them use 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 as the basis for the claim. So then, if you have a dispute with a Christian over unpaid rent, property damage, defamation, etc, the Bible mandates that you must not take up a lawsuit again them. Is this what the Apostle Paul meant and is this how he envisages it to be relevant to us today?

Paul (in the bible) attacks the inappropriate manipulation of a fellow Christian through the use of superior wealth, power, patronage, social influence, or business networks.

In Hermeneutics – An Introduction by Anthony C. Thiselton (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. , 2009), he provides a historical setting that throws light on this passage. I’d like to quote what he wrote below and trust that it will help us to better understand what Paul meant.

“…I used another example from 1 Corinthians 6:1-8. Here Paul declares, “If one of you has a dispute with another, how dare he go to law before a pagan court” (6:1). “Must Christian go to law with Christian? … You suffer defeat if you go to law” (vv. 6-7). A widespread assumption is that these verses condemn any resort to the law on the part of Christians. But is this the point at issue, not least for twenty-first-century readers? Historical and archaeological research demonstrates that although Corinth was a Greek city in the geographical sense, the constitution, politics, law, and government of Corinth were modeled on the institutions of Rome, not Greece, in Paul’s day. … This bears on our passage, for while Roman criminal law was relatively impartial, civil lawsuits operated differently. It was expected that both parties to a dispute would offer incentives to the judge (and when applicable, to the jury) to grant a favorable verdict. This might be an unashamed financial bribe, or offering the benefit of business contacts,…gifts of property or slaves, or whatever.

In such a situation, only rich and influential Christians would consider taking a fellow Christian to the civil courts. Paul attacks not a responsible use of law; indeed, he himself appeals to Roman law. Here he attacks the inappropriate manipulation of a fellow Christian through the use of superior wealth, power, patronage, social influence, or business networks. This amounts to using indirect force to gain what the wealthier party covets. Prohibition of resort to law as such, is not what these verses mean. … Careful inquiry into Paul’s purpose, the responsible use of reason, and respect for contextual constraints discern the meaning of the passage in relation to its rootedness in time and place.”

In bringing this up, I do not intend to encourage more lawsuits among Christians! Neither am I saying that this is the only aspect which Paul raised in this passage. But I thought it would be helpful to highlight again how historical setting and context, among other devices, help us to arrive at the authorial intent behind a Bible passage, and thereby, its meaning and relevance today. After all, the Bible cannot mean just whatever we want it to mean.

Blessings!

Mok Kok Hoong

Now watch a 9-minute interview video with Prof Anthony C Thiselton where he explains the importance of studying Hermeneutics.

The post Should a Christian take fellow Christian to court? appeared first on Georgetown Baptist Church.

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