07/05/2023
Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
Some guy was trying to tell me that when we die our soul goes to sleep until Jesus returns. That is not right, is it?
Soul sleep is an unbiblical teaching. A dead body resembles sleep and is sometimes described as asleep. (See John 11:11-14 and Acts 7:60.) However, it is only the body that can be described as sleeping after death.
God made man in His image with a soul, body, and spirit (See Genesis 1:26-27). “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – (1 Thessalonians 5:23) So though the body dies because of the curse of sin (Romans 5:19), the spirit and soul live on. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” – (James 2:26) See also John 11:25-26.
A Christian’s soul and spirit go immediately to heaven when he dies. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” – (2 Corinthians 5:8) The unbeliever goes immediately to hell after death (Luke 16:22-25). The rich unbelieving Jew in hell could see, hear, talk and feel great pain. The believing beggar, Lazarus, on the other hand, went straight to heaven upon death and was comforted.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, it declares that those Christians who died previously to Christ’s return will be brought with Him when He returns. The Lord said to the dying thief who called on Christ for salvation, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” – (Luke 23:43) Did not Moses and Elijah appear with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration? (Matthew 17:3)
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
Is it wrong to want to be rich, especially if I want to help others?
Ask yourself this question: Do I want to live a very average life myself and give all the rest of my riches away, or do I want to live a fairly affluent life and have much money left over for others?
There is nothing wrong with being rich if that is God’s will for you and you handle your riches as He directs. “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” (I Timothy 6:17-19) The problem comes with a personal desire for personal riches. It is called the “love of money,” which brings many problems. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (I Timothy 6:10) No wonder Proverbs 23:4 says, “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.” Psalm 62:10 says, “…if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.” Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth…” (Matthew 6:19a). In verse 21 He says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
God wants your whole heart (Matthew 22:37). You cannot love money and God at the same time (Luke 16:13). So just trust, obey and serve Him, and He will choose the financial level best for you. If He chooses for you to live at a lower level here, He will more than make it up to you like He did with His Son and the apostles. “Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But they shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:28-31)
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
My son doesn’t want to go to church anymore. If I force him, he may turn away from the things of God. What should I do?
Modern reasoning and philosophy says don’t force a child to do something they don’t want to do. God’s Word says, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together…” (Hebrews 10:25). If you are going to a good church, take your son along whether he wants to go or not.
If you love your son, do what is best for him regardless of the guff he gives you. God’s commands should not be a matter of debate or further discussion. What if your son says he doesn’t want to go to school anymore? Who is in charge and who is responsible?
As for the fear of turning him away from the things of God, it sounds like he already has turned. He is rolling back down a hill in a wagon with a rope by which you have been pulling him up. Your chances of getting him through this stage are much better if you keep pulling than if you turn loose from the rope.
As we mature we tend to do what is important, whether we were made to as a child or not. As a child, my mother made me take a bath against my wishes. She is no longer around but I still take baths. Now I can see, feel and smell the value.
God gave children parents for many good reasons, one of which is to rear them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4) See also: “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:20) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” (Ephesians 6:1)
What do you think God wants for your child and what does He want you to do?
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
Is su***de an unforgivable sin?
Su***de is definitely a sin, for our life is not ours to take. Psalm 100:3 says, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (I Corinthians 6:19-20)
When a person accepts Christ, he receives the total atonement for all sins: past, present and future. “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” (Romans 5:10-11) “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God:” (Hebrews 10:12) He received eternal life – “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:28) The only sense in which su***de is unforgivable is if the victim is unsaved. Su***de ends the opportunity to become born again and receive Christ’s atonement. “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” (Hebrews 9:27) Su***de to the unsaved becomes the final rejection of the Holy Spirit’s call to salvation.
Though a Christian who commits su***de still goes to heaven, it is nevertheless devastating to God, family and acquaintances. It is selfish and it terminates one’s opportunities to minister to others for Christ.
Those who have to live with the su***de of a loved one should reject Satan’s attempts to get them to concentrate on and judge that person’s whole life by that one senseless act that ended their life.
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
How can you know someone interpreting tongues is accurate?
There were such gifts as tongues and interpretation of tongues in the early church (I Corinthians 12:4-8). Their purpose was God’s confirmation of the new truths being proclaimed in the New Testament (I Corinthians 14:22; Mark 16:17-20). When the Bible was complete (Revelation 22:18-19), the main purpose of the gifts dissipated (I Corinthians 13:8-10).
There are, however, ways to test those who claim to have the gift of interpretation of tongues. First, they should be able to tell you accurately what is being said in any language from the Word of God, the Bible. Second, if they are interpreting something being prophesied, it should always come to pass just as it was interpreted (Deuteronomy 18:20-22).
Some years ago a visitor came forward in our church during an invitation and started speaking in tongues. I kindly asked him to stop because there was no interpreter. He said he would interpret for himself and blurted out what he said the Lord told him. Within about a week, everything turned out the exact opposite of what he said.
I had a college professor who was invited to go hear a preacher. After his message, to my professor’s surprise, there was a tongues speaking session. It just so happened the evil spirit which was causing a man to speak in tongues was speaking in the Hebrew language. The people who were listening and the false interpreter were all excited and praising God, but my professor, who taught Hebrew, said he had never heard such blasphemy of Christ in his whole life.
Stick with the inspired, complete Bible for your source of truth. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1)
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
A dear member of our family has taken his own life. We are devastated and could use help in coping with this.
I’m sorry! Let me make five suggestions.
First – Accept it.
The reality of it will not go away. You cannot spend all your time trying to understand the “whys” and what all caused it to come about. It is like trying to put a puzzle together that has eighty missing pieces. Only God has the missing pieces.
Second – Depend on God’s help.
You can’t successfully get through this traumatic experience alone. God’s grace is like a huge sponge. The more you lean on it, the more grace comes out. Try these Scripture passages:
(Hebrews 4:15-16) – “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (I Peter 5:7) – “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Third – Seek and accept forgiveness from God.
• For your personal regrets and shortcomings (I John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
• For forgiveness from you toward your departed loved one who deeply hurt you by their selfish act. (Ephesians 4:32) – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Fourth – Give thanks for the good memories.
The only thing many people focus on in this situation is their loved one’s final act. List and revisit all the pleasant and good memories of your departed loved one. (Philippians 4:8) – “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Fifth – Substitute
Help fulfill the good part of your departed loved one’s unfinished calling, and do some beneficial things in their memory. (Galatians 6:10) – “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Is it possible that all religions pray to the same God, but just call Him by different names?
There are many false gods or idols, but there is only one true and living God, who is the God of the Bible. (Isaiah 44:6) “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Jeremiah 10:10) “But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation."
THINGS THAT ARE DIFFERENT ARE NOT THE SAME!
The false god Molech supposedly wanted worshippers to offer him their children by fire. Baal invites worship through fornication. Allah claims God has no son. We could go on with Ashteroth, Chemosh, Dagon, Buddha, and many more. If they do not have all the acts, attributes and beliefs of the God of the Bible, they cannot be the same.
1. They must have created all things (Genesis 1:1) “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Psalm 96:5) “For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens:”
2. Be everywhere present (II Chronicles 2:6a) “But who is able to build him an house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him?”
3. Have always been (Psalm 90:2) “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou are God.”
4. Have all power ((Revelation 1:8) “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
5. Be judge of all (Romans 14:12) “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.”
6. Divided the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21) “And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry and, and the waters were divided.”
7. Died to prove their love for us (I 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.”
8. Raised themselves and others from the dead (Luke 7:15) “And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.” (Acts 3:15) “And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.”
9. And be accessed only by Jesus Christ (John 14:6) “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
(I Timothy 2:5) “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” …AND MUCH MORE!!!
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
What does “surety” mean in Proverbs 6:1?
“Surety” means becoming a guarantee for someone’s debt. Today we call it cosigning. God indicates it is not wise (Proverbs 11:15) – “He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretyship is sure.” (Proverbs 22:26) – “Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.”
All we have belongs to God (Psalm 24:1) – “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.” We are His stewards. We should use His funds to give or purchase things for His use. We should not put at risk our ability to freely and fully serve Him.
If we have extra and want to help someone, we should just give it to them or become their lender (Matthew 5:42) – “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.” If we don’t have the extra we should not risk our testimony for the Lord and our ability to care for our own obligations, not knowing the future. (James 4:14) – “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”
I have also seen many relationships ruined because a cosigner had to pay another’s debt. Often someone who needs a cosigner is jumping into something too soon, and the cosigner is aiding them in going against God’s will.
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
What is the significance of the helmet of our salvation as part of our armor against the devil?
The helmet of salvation is mentioned in Ephesians 6:17 – “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” This is not just salvation, but the HOPE or ASSURANCE of our salvation as given in I Thessalonians 5:8 – “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
If we are saved, Satan wants us to doubt it or discount its ability to give us victory over him. Paul was writing to Christians in Ephesians and I Thessalonians. Putting on the helmet does not mean the need to get saved again, but it is declaring verbally and reminding ourselves and Satan we are a born again, blood-bought, eternal child of God and the devil has no right or rule over our lives.
Then, like Jesus did during His temptation we can say, “It is written,” and quote an appropriate portion of Scripture like 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.” (John 10:28) – “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Romans 10:13) – “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (James 4:7) – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
That helps us stand in the power of God and His Word against the devil. I do this every morning and whenever I am tempted by Satan or my flesh. Try it, you will like it!
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Parson to Person by Dr. James Bachman
Dear Parson,
My son always wants to argue with me. How can I stop that?
Arguing, contentions and strife are sin. “The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.” (Proverbs 17:14) “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3) So – we made a rule in our home: Arguing is not allowed!
It takes at least two to argue. Decide you will not be one of them. Pride is the root cause. “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10) So stay humble and in control – “It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.” (Proverbs 20:3) Anger only stirs up more strife. “An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.” (Proverbs 29:22) “Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.” (Colossians 3:21) “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)
It should go like this: “Son, I need your input.” – “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” (Proverbs 18:13) “You may share everything you want if you do so in a respectful manner, but when you are done, you are done, unless I ask more questions.” Then let him share without interruption. When he is finished, thank him and tell him after further checking and prayerful consideration you will let him know of your decision.
If he continues to be argumentative, you either walk away or send him out of your presence. “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.” (Proverbs 22:10)
If it is not a matter of right or wrong and of no real significance, flip a coin. “The lot causeth contention to cease, and parteth between the mighty.” (Proverbs 18:18)
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