DISCIPLE

      Many people presume that the United States is, or was and should be, a Christian nation.     Assuredly God has blessed His Word in this country surpassing most others. It is conceivable that the impending Rapture of true believers will significantly reduce the population of America.     The problem is: How much of my life as a bondslave of Jesus Christ can be consecrated to improving this world? Bought with a price, am I at liberty to use my body as I please, or at the dictates of peers and culture? May I optionally dedicate my gifts from the risen Savior to objectives deemed worthy by men, themselves Christ-rejecters? Did my Savior set me free, to do my own thing? Go wherever I choose? Vocalize whatever invades my mind?     What did He say? Well, plenty. On earth He taught many things; the most momentous are recorded for us in the four Gospels. From Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit of God to steer us in the way we sho...

Commenting in 1 Timothy 2:2, J. Allan writes, "The NT provides clear instruction for believers in their attitude to imperial and civil authorities in Rom 13:1-6; 1 Pet 2:13-17; Titus 3:1. This passage takes the matter further. The men who comprise such authorities often are the object of hatred. In the NT period these men were frequently the originators, and the administrators, of edicts against the believers. In the days immediately subsequent to this epistle the believers were living in mortal fear of the magisterial powers of local administrators. The answer did not lie in rebellion or civil rights protests but in prayer for the salvation of the men. The words of the Lord Jesus were certainly applicable: 'Pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you' (Matt 5:44). For the names of such men to be publicly mentioned in prayer would be a testimony to the supernatural grace in the hearts of the believers. "It is an interesting fact that the recor...