My dear readers,

Answering Remaining Questions from Calvary Pandan Church Camp 2022 (12) 

Question 1: Could you please explain a little more why the filthy dreamers include those who add to Scriptures? 

Answer 1: Jude 8: “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” Dreams and visions were vehicles the Lord used to give the Word of God. The difference between the two is that the receiver was asleep in the former, but awake in the latter. The end result is the same, i.e. God spoke to them and the perfect Word of God was given to them for our blessing. “Filthy dreamers” are those who claim to have a message from God but are liars. These would include those who teach in the name of God and say that they have a message from God but they are all make-believe. They twist the Word of God and undermine the veracity and truthfulness of the Word of God by adding to or subtracting from God’s Word. The warning from God is clear to anyone who adds to or subtracts from God’s Word. They are not believers! They will be severely punished by God! Revelation 22:18-19: “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” That is why these “filthy dreamers” include those who dare to add to or subtract from God’s Word. 

Question 2: What should be our response in the presence of someone who exclaims “Oh my god” or “Jesus Christ”? 

Answer 2: This is a casuistic issue where many factors need to be considered that will determine how believers ought to respond. If the “someone” is our child then we need to correct our child immediately. If the “someone” is a colleague who said these words during lunch break and if you know the colleague well enough then you can correct him immediately. If you are at the bus stop and among total strangers you may need to let the matter pass. If the “someone” is a church member, then tactfully explain to him that as Christians we do not use the name of God or Christ as exclamation points.

Taking the Name of God in vain is taught in the Third Commandment. Exodus 20:7: “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” The third Commandment is applied more to believers who do not live holy lives and call themselves Christians, rather than to unbelievers who use the name of Christ as an exclamation point. When believers live in carnality without repentance and do not bear a holy witness for Christ, they have taken the name of the Lord in vain. Christ is not carnal. They are presenting a false Christ to the world! Sadly, this is a common sin in the last days. Matthew 24:24 says, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” 

Question 3: “God loves the sinner, but hates the sin." Can this sentence be used wrongly as a permission to continue sinning? Are there any differences between "sinners" who are unbelievers and "sinners" who are Christians? 

Answer 3: Be careful of popular theology. They are usually half-truths uttered without a particular context. The context determines how verses and passages of the Bible are understood. “God loves the sinner but hates the sin” is true in the context of John 3:16. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

It is not true in the context of Psalm 5:4-6. Psalm 5:4-6: “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.” Psalm 5 teaches clearly that the LORD hates the workers of iniquities and the bloody and deceitful men. 

Question 4: Can we give gifts that are not costly to other Christians, such as things to reduce our burden in keeping such things? For other Christians, to keep good fellowship, do they have to accept if it's a burden to them as well? 

Answer 4: Gifts are to be given out of love for the brethren. It is not measured by the “cost” of the gift as the cost of the gift is subjective. Gifts are usually given based upon the giver’s affordability and usefulness to the receiver of the gift. There should be thoughtful consideration before it is given. Since it is a gift, the receiver should receive it as long as he knows that there are no “strings attached.” Gifts that come with pre-conditions are no longer gifts, but snares to ruin the receiver’s life and testimony for Christ. Every believer needs to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.

Abram taught us by his example when he rejected the “gifts” of the king of Sodom in Genesis 14:21-24, “And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself. And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich: Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.” Abram was a godly servant of God whereas the king of Sodom was already known for his evil deeds that included the sins of fornication and homosexuality that were prevalent in the city of Sodom. Abram needed to protect his holy testimony for Christ all the days of his life. He rejected what must have been a king’s ransom. The honour of Christ was priceless to Abram. It must be priceless to all believers too. 

Question 5: You mentioned that Ruth knew that she needed to live in Israel after being converted as a proselyte. With reference to 2 Kings 5:18-19, could you explain if Naaman the Syrian was supposed to do the same as Ruth? It seems like he went back to Syria to help his master worship his own god. 

Answer 5: During the time of the national witness, the people of God had to be part of the nation of Israel and live in the Land of Promise to be identified as the people of God, just like all believers who attend church today. This does not mean that there were no believers who lived outside of Israel. Naaman was one such individual. There are believers today who do not attend any local church as there may be no fundamental local church near where they live. Naaman’s calling was to return to Syria where he could witness for the LORD as he recovered from leprosy, having been sent to Israel by the king. It was the right thing to do, as he would be seen as being ungrateful if he did not return. What happened to him after this incident we have no further information from Scripture. His situation was different from Ruth. These are case-by-case incidents in life that must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.