http://ichthys.com/ 
Believers in the World XXX

Question #1:  
Hi Mr. Luginbill,

Apologies, the past couple days were very crazy (going back to work after being out sick, several evening plans, etc).

Thank you so much for this comforting email - and especially the verse (I love that passage, Jn.14:27). I am glad the Lord loves me and so I am thankful for discipline (although I'd rather just be a good child).

I'm feeling out of sorts, but I won't write you my list of grievances haha - I'll just thank you for being an amazing Bible teacher, sir. There are so many things I now know that I never did and never got in a church, and I appreciate your hard work.

I hope you have a good week!

Respectfully,
P.S. I am still thinking about writing/hosting an in-person Bible study. I consider that I might start with a short, somewhat straightforward topic - perhaps, if you think of it, if you might pray that I would know and follow the Lord's direction in that, as I don't know exactly what God's Will is on this. Thank you!
Response #1:   
It's my pleasure, my friend.

It's OK that you have a "list". Hard for any believer to be fighting his/her way through the devil's world without one! Things do add up. But the Lord brings us through them all, even if He has to part a sea for us.
He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot— come, let us rejoice in him.
Psalm 66:6 NIV
I think your writing ministry is a good idea. Keep in mind that adding more things is likely to take more time and effort. It's not a bad idea to "count the cost" before starting (Lk.14:29).

Keeping this and all other things in prayer for you, my friend.

Have a good week ahead!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #2: 
Thanks! 

Here is a question (+2):

1) Are Christian’s allowed to do sports like football or fighting because there is competition in it and the ground idea of competition is to try to be better than your opponent, or am I wrong?

Here is a verse that would make me think about this:

•Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred (!), variance (!), emulations, wrath (!), strife (!), seditions (!), heresies, Envyings (!), murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

2) I personally would say Christian’s maybe shouldn’t play the popular video games or watch the popular films (maybe documentary is excluded) because of 

-the worldly content

-the verses:
•Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
•Matthew 6:22-23
22 The light of the body is the eye: if thereforethine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
•Isaiah 33:14-15
The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil (!)

What do you think about this?

3) in the German language you write „sehr geehrte Damen und Herren“ when applying somewhere. This means something like much honored madams and sirs. Should a Christian write this? I’m not so sure if I honor them much.. 

Be blessed brother Bob. And by the way, why are you called Bob if your name is Robert? 
Response #2:  
My pleasure. 

1) I can think of a lot of reasons not to play football (concussions and knee problems, et al., at least in American football), but I don't think there is any biblical reason to refrain. Clearly, life is all about choices. There's nothing wrong with playing the violin (unless you play like I tried to do), but if you spend an inordinate amount of time on that, you're not spending that same time doing something else – like reading your Bible or listening to teaching or praying or ministering, etc. On the other hand, we all need a little R&R from time to time. How we get that is a matter of application. Making rules to NOT do ABC is generally legalistic and not helpful. Not going to orchestra concerts every weekend because you'd rather stick with your commitment to grow spiritually could be helpful (e.g.).

In terms of the passage you cite, here is the way I translate it:
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies – and whatever is similar to all these things. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.
Galatians 5:19-21
Clearly, if a Christian can't, e.g., play football without hating or getting angry or being overly ambitious and envious etc., then they probably shouldn't play. But, after all, people manifest these (and many other) "mental/emotional attitude sins" while doing all manner of human activities. The choir in many churches is often called "the war department" because of the rivalries and hostilities that often arise when spiritual immature people are involved in any cooperative activity, let alone any competitive one. So I would say it's not the activity that is the problem; it's the people involved in it that can be the problem. That is why Paul in the quote above focuses also on what may be going on in the heart (i.e., "hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy"), irrespective of any particular activity). 

2) Similar answer to #1. These are matters of application, not regulation. Writing rules to say Christians can or can't do XYZ is the definition of legalism, a poor substitute for spiritual growth and in fact inimical to it. Some people are more adversely affected by activity ABC than others are. They should clearly avoid it. Some people can't drink a glass of wine without then drinking several bottles, getting drunk and involving themselves in all manner of sinful activity, while others can easily keep themselves in check in this area. We all have our areas of strength and weakness. As we grow, we learn to recognize these, and learn to stay away from places and things where we have trouble avoiding sinful behavior. There is, generally speaking, nothing wrong with most games and with most fictional representations per se, but if they cause us personally to stumble, we would be wise to avoid them – especially as these are areas of recreation which mostly have no spiritually redeeming value in and of themselves. So to answer the question a bit more directly, if you made a rule for yourself to avoid video games, that might be a good thing on account of a) avoiding areas where you are tempted, and b) freeing up time for more valuable pursuits. Making that rule for somebody else, however, is legalism and dangerously wrong.

3) As I understand it, this is (one of the) conventional addresses. In English we say, "Dear sirs", even though the person receiving the letter is most likely not dear to us and may very well not be worthy of the address "sir" in an objective sense. However, it is right and appropriate for Christians to treat others with respect, especially if for whatever reason they are due that respect on account of their position.
Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Romans 13:7 NIV
FYI, "Bob" is a very common nickname for Robert in this country (much more common than "Rob"). Where it came from, I don't know (it goes back a long, long way). You can call me either!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #3:  
Thank you for the answer Bob,

1) this I understand somehow but I will continue thinking about it. Wouldn’t it be a problem if I as a Christian am able to play for example football without competition but play it with a atheist who plays with competition and therefore open the doors for sin to him? 

2) I didn’t mean that too much of video games or films is wrong, which ofc makes sense, but I rather meant that the whole thing in general is bad because we often see murder as well as sexual immorality in games as well as shows and those do afflict one. I also wouldn’t say that saying „XYZ is wrong“ is bad. If it was, then how would I be allowed to tell a brother something like: „you are not allowed to cheat on your wife“, or „we should not take those words in our mouth“. Correct me if I’m wrong, but if I understood it correctly, we are not under the mosaic covenant but rather under Christs law. But isn’t this still a law? Not a one that leads to death but rather to life and not one that is a heavy joke but rather one that is an easy one. I personally would say that the relation ship with Jesus Christ is NUMBER 1 in our life’s and this should produce the fruit not other way around. But that I think that doesn’t mean that do‘s and don’t s don’t Play a role. 

If I understood you incorrectly then I’m sorry to waste your time..

3) Wow. This really helps. Thank you Bob and be blessed!

Much blessings through Jesus
Response #3:
My pleasure.

1) I don't see anything wrong with competition per se. It's the attitude of heart a person has in competing that is the spiritual issue. Life is competitive. I can't think of any aspect of our lives in this world that doesn't have a competitive aspect nowadays. Believers understand that God gives us victory in the things we need (like getting a job in order to survive in this world), and we refrain from being negative to others even as we have to live in the world. There are even mental attitude sins in monasteries, so this sort of thing is unavoidable without "going out of the world" entirely which no one can do (e.g., 1Cor.5:9-13). We are responsible to the Lord for what we think and say and do. If we are doing what is right, then we don't need to be overly concerned with how others are receiving it. Finally on this point, scripture does tell us to refrain from behavior which is actually causing other believers to stumble. That doesn't seem to apply here at all (you are talking about unbelievers, after all). If we become too subjective about living our lives, we will easily twist ourselves into knots and become paralyzed. This is not what the Lord wants from us. I think it is possible to give a good Christian witness playing football – or being engaged in any secular activity which is not at its base immoral (as I say, we are all at different levels in our spiritual growth and some of us have more "problems" keeping a lid on doing some things than other things). The bigger question for us as believers is how best to redeem the time we have been given (Eph.5:16; Col.4:5).

2) Re: "I personally would say that the relation ship with Jesus Christ is NUMBER 1 in our life" Amen! In terms of what we should and should not do, obviously, we should NOT sin. Of course, being human, having sin natures, we do all sin every day (at least in our hearts), and we are responsible to confess to the Lord when we do. In terms of "dos and don'ts", New Testament scripture has plenty of those, and even if it didn't the Holy Spirit makes it clear to our consciences when what we are doing is not right. As we grow in grace, as we learn AND believe more truth, we get better at separating out these sorts of issues. Until we do, if something bothers us, we ought to at least think twice before doing it because, "whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom.14:23 NKJV). In other words, best not to violate our consciences, even if we suspect that we might be overdoing it (to use an example in the context, eating or not eating meat). Apologies if I'm still not understanding your question/issue correctly. Caveat: if guilt is our main motivation for action or inaction, then we not thinking aright. Guilt and fear are two of the devil's primary weapons.

It's good for Christians to want to please the Lord before all else. The best way to do this is to grow up to spiritual maturity so as to be able to pass the maturity tests that then come our way and, on the other side of testing, help others to grow too through the exercise of our spiritual gifts in whatever ministry the Lord gives us. That is the way to earn the eternal rewards our Lord desires us to win (see the link). 

Before we have "grown in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (2Pet.3:18), it is very common for believers to get hung up on "defense", often to the exclusion of "offense" – and no one every won anything that way. If we are not growing, moreover, then our defense against sin will never improve. But one of the worst things a Christian can do is to get caught up in legalism, that is, getting trapped in a system of rules. To use your example, we don't need any additional rules to know that adultery is wrong. Making all manner of additional rules to try and forestall it – rather than positively growing in the Word through the Spirit – will not prevent it but will lead to all manner of spiritual difficulties (see the links: What is Legalism? in HE #1; and Legalism, Past and Present VII [which will lead to many other links]).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #4:  
Thanks Bob! Before I continue with the other questions I will add another question: is it ok for me to join a group of evangelists on some days and work with them, even though there is no one watching over me and approving what I do, especially because the word of God is also spread in this work? And if no, what should I do?
Response #4:  
In terms of joining some evangelizing group, the question of whether anyone was "watching over me and approving what I do" would be the least of my concerns. The Lord is watching over you and you are responsible to Him to do things right. 

Any time we "join" with others, it behooves us to make very sure that we are not involving ourselves in the activities of immature believers or, worse, those with ulterior motives.
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
1st Timothy 5:22 NIV
If the group is not teaching works salvation and giving the gospel correctly, not adding conditions or engaging in a number of common heresies ("Lordship salvation"; "inviting Jesus into the heart"; preaching against sin when the issue is grace to be saved, trying to get people to be "baptized" with water when it's the Spirit they need), then at least you might avoid the above. However, my question would be why you would want to do this. To serve the Lord? That is great. But the Lord uses prepared Christians for anything He really wants done. If you have the gift of evangelism, as you grow that will become clear . . . along with just how the Lord wants you to approach using that gift. So my best advice would be to pursue spiritual growth as aggressively as possible. That will bring you to the point of clarity to know just what it is it is right for you to do as well as prepare you to do it as the Lord wants.
[Wisdom speaking] "All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge."
Proverbs 8:8-9 NIV

Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
For I believe in Your commandments.
Psalm 119:66 NASB

So [in all things] you should [always] be calculating what it is that pleases the Lord.
Ephesians 5:10

(9) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in full-knowledge (epignosis: truth believed) and in all discernment, (10) so that you may be able to evaluate the things that are good and appropriate [for you to do] to be sincere and without offense in regard to the day of Christ (i.e., to gain a maximum reward at Christ's judgment seat), (11) full of the righteous production Jesus Christ [commends] to the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1:9-11

Solid [spiritual] food is for the [spiritually] mature, those who by [diligent] practice have trained their [moral] perceptive faculties to [properly] distinguish between good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #5:  
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Response #5:   
I've got that situation in prayer. I'm hopeful that the shaking of the "comfort zone" will cause __ to consider that there are more important things that we need to address in this life. I know for sure that you are the best possible "sounding board" if and when questions are asked.

I also know that it's been a long hard road of deeply desiring your loved ones to come around to the truth. YOU are doing what you should be doing and I know that the Lord honors that. Sometimes we have to wait longer than we would like for our petitions to be answered. Very often, in fact. That is what demonstrates, validates and proves our faith.
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:18-22 NIV
Re: "I can say for sure that the Lord is taking care of me and protecting me." Amen! Indeed He is, you and all of us who belong to Him. And belonging to Him is better than anything else in this world.
They will be mine,” says the LORD of Armies, “my own possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him.
Malachi 3:17 CSB
Keeping you and yours in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #6:  
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Response #6:  
Fantastic news!  A real answer to prayer.

Re: "One day it will actually sink in". I am praying for that, and for the salvation of your entire family. Meanwhile, YOU are demonstrating your faithfulness, and God does honor that as we know. 

I appreciate your prayers very much as well, my friend!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #7:  
What does it mean to "repent in sincerity that's accepted by God"? Is there a "standard" we can know, or is it more about intention? Is a "perfect" repentance not really required?

And what does it mean to "resist temptation to the point of bloodshed"? Clearly, the borderline cultic method I'm using where I furiously avoid and reject, only to fall back in, is getting nowhere fast. I had assumed that's what to do with how you word that phrase but...what does it mean, really?
Response #7:   
Re: "repent in sincerity that's accepted by God", it would be helpful to know whose standard that is. I've never read that in the Bible. Repentance is a change of mind/thinking/heart, recognizing the error of our ways, so to speak. Being "spanked" and figuring out that the spanking is not worth the spanking, confessing and moving on is not a bad way to think about it. Here's a link to where repentance is discussed at Ichthys in BB 3B: Repentance, Confession, and Forgiveness. 

In terms of Hebrews 12:4, "to the point of blood" means getting serious about it. If a person is overweight and wants to lose weight, well, many of us want to do that, and many of us engage in half-hearted attempts to do that. But something truly difficult usually takes getting serious about it to accomplish, even getting deadly serious. That is what the verse is saying.

Hope you are doing well – keeping you in my prayers.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #8:  
On the clothing analogy-so is my understanding correct: we wash our clothes in His Blood, which represents cleansing of ourselves, and then for believers the clothing is our righteous works (which are based on and only actually genuinely good/righteousness when in line with) His righteousness (sacrifice on the cross)? Because I thought it might mean salvation (like in the wedding feast parable where the guest was thrown out). But this may be a intertwined thing-being saved means there will be some good works/clothing, lack of this clothing means no good works or faith (since they go together). And the commands to buy clothing or guard your clothing are in line with the verse to make one's calling and election more sure (maintaining faith via spiritual growth which results in genuinely good works). (Spiritual growth possibly itself a good work too). Is that right?
Response #8:  
Things are different in the modern world for certain . . . and getting "more different" all the time as the pace of change accelerates. Lots of change ahead too, especially during the Tribulation. We can speculate, but since we live this life for the Lord one day at a time, we will have to deal with the "what actually is" in any case.

In terms of clothing, it depends on the specific passage. Sometimes we are told exactly what it represents, as in "the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints" (Rev.19:8); whereas in the wedding feast parable the lack of proper garment represents salvation per se because without it the person is cast out. Also in Revelation of course we have . . .
"Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.”
Revelation 16:15 NKJV
So you are not wrong. "Nakedness" is something to be ashamed of and garments cover this, so on the one hand being covered is good (salvation); having a covering which is clean and/or appropriate is good. The opposites are not.

We have had conversations about spiritual gifts in the past. You have grown sufficiently, it seems to me, to be able now to figure out what the Lord wants you to do in terms of applying the knowledge and gifts you've been given in support of the Church. Just how and where is something that only you can figure out with the help of the Spirit and with prayer. But if the Spirit is prompting you, it is a good idea to listen.

Keeping you in my prayers on this, my friend.

Have a great weekend!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #9:  
Hi Dr L,

I appreciate what you are saying but I don't feel ready. If anything I feel/sense that if it does happen in the next year or so I should be really digging into a lot of Bible reading and Bible study and prayer. I have made progress, but I am not sure if I am as far ahead and you are thinking. 

I don't mean to harp on this but I do still have a lot of wounds and that is hard to deal with. Like the __ thing is a real barrier, even if I were to say, okay I will go serve others somehow. For the reason that it makes it hard on them, but also jabs at my own wounds when there are misunderstandings and things fall apart. 

I had a thought. You said that Christian's love did not mean being friends with fellow believers, and I realized maybe Paul wouldn't have liked me personally, though I struggle with the idea of loving like Him and yet putting someone outside the bounds of friendship, but I can at least say that God wants to be friends and more. But it did hurt a bit when I had the thought.

I am sorry, I am having a bit of rough time. Overall I doing alright. The job is mostly peaceful, and I am enjoying the studying and the cognitive stuff.

Anyway please take care of yourself,
Response #9:   
I can assure you that we'll all be "friends and more" in resurrection: the one perfect Bride, all united in Christ without spot or blemish forevermore.

On the ministry thing, the one the Lord has for you won't be something to dread but something to love. You'll know it when you see it and you don't need to force it. I was reading between the lines in your last set of emails (forgive me if I "read wrong").

Hope your week is going well!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #10:  
[omitted]
Response #10:   
We grieve for those we lose but not as unbelievers do, especially not if the loved one was saved and we know they are with the Lord (1Thes.4:13).

Did you lose someone? Something?

Trying to understand.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #11:  
[omitted]
Response #11:   
If we embrace the Lord's forgiveness, forgiveness to which we are entitled NOT because of being good NOR denied because of being bad but because Jesus died for our sins, then we can have peace. To this we have been called (Col.3:15).
"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 NIV
Being fixated on the past is not going to bring us peace. Focusing on the eternal future is what we need to do, then pick up our cross and follow our Lord.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #12: 
Thank you for the answer Bob. I will come back to one of the earlier topics:

1) Could you please bring biblical arguments FOR doing sport (Paul’s mentioning of sport while talking about the walk in faith excluded please)? I have sport in school coming up and I’d rather want to play with them then not. 

And a new one:

2) please bring strong biblical arguments which show that reading the Bible consistently and daily is unavoidable for a Christian. I have been discussing with two Catholics and both of them do not read the Bible daily and take part in actions I would classify as not Christian. 
Response #12:  
On "for sports", I can only give the one passage:
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1st Timothy 4:8 NIV
Other passages which speak of athletics do so as a metaphor for growth, comparing, for example, the eternal rewards we seek as being superior to merely temporal ones (and there's a lot about this at the link: in BB 6A: "The Physical Body and Athletics Analogy").
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1st Corinthians 9:25 NIV
This doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with playing sports . . . any more than there is anything wrong with playing a video game. They both use up valuable time, but the advantage of the former is that it is healthy.

In terms of why Bible reading is essential, it strikes me that if one has to explain that to someone it's probably a waste of breath. Why wouldn't a Christian want to know what God thinks about everything? Which begs the question of whether or not those not interested in the Bible are actually believers. If they are, they are very immature ones and heading in the wrong rather than the right direction. Please read this link: Read Your Bible: A Basic Christian Right and Responsibility (there also much more at this link: BB 7: Bibliology: The Study of the Bible).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #13:  
Ok, thanks for the help, Bob.

Which physical exercise is Paul talking about in 1 Tim 4:8? If we look at the cultural context, which exercise is he talking about? Competitive sports? Training like in the gym?
Response #13:
The word there is gymnasia (our "gym" comes from this root) and is very general for any kind of physical training (PT, as we called it in the USMC).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #14:  
Interesting, thanks Bob. I want to thank you because you answer quickly. For example I can write you at Tuesday evening and read your answer the next morning (in my time zone) and this can really help me out with difficult questions with which I fight with. Be blessed, Bob. I am only a worm in faith and love but I appreciate your ministry!

Now to the topic: so by gymnasia he means any kind of sport, including competitive sports? And if yes, did he really or does only the word also include competitive sports?
Response #14:  
It's my pleasure, my friend.

The word gymnasia is speaking of physical training (PT) in general for whatever reason, and this would definitely include preparation for participation in the Olympics and other secular games.

Otherwise, I'm not sure what you mean by "competitive sports", since, as far as I know, all sports are competitive. They all have scoring to see who wins and who loses. Not all physical training is competitive. When I walk/jog, I'm only competing against myself (and sometimes even then, I lose, LOL).

The word gymnasia would include formal training (for the games) and individual training (for physical health and strength).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #15:  
Thanks, Bob. I still have to think about this. Maybe the problem is not the sport but that I in my heart would still try to be better than somebody else in a bad way…

May the love of Jesus Christ fill you.
Response #15:   
If so, then the problem is not playing sports but how you are thinking about them.

We all have this problem, that is, sinning in our hearts. That is in many ways the "last frontier" of spiritual growth, namely, beginning to get into some control of our minds and emotions and rejecting knee-jerk compliance with our sin natures, falling into fear, anger, guilt, arrogance, etc., etc.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
2nd Corinthians 10:4-6 NKJV
The above doesn't happen by avoiding things. It happens through spiritual growth. 

A few pertinent links:
BB 6A: Peripateology: the study of the Christian Walk
The Battlefield Within: Fighting the inner spiritual Struggle
The Battlefield Within II
The Battlefield Within III
Who Controls our Thoughts and Emotions?
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #16:  
Hey Doc.

Should we still go to Church, even if it's a bad church? The ones I find are all the same wishy washy Evangelical or Nazarene ones my family has always gone to. Either that or actual cult churches. It's very frustrating, and we obviously don't have nearly enough time to drive hours for a round trip, just in hopes of finding a better one.
Response #16:  
As I say, "Ichthys is my church". It doesn't have a choir. It doesn't have a coffee hour. It doesn't have stained-glass windows. It doesn't require membership. But it does teach the Word of God. That, after all, and the fellowship which mutual interest in the Word along with the reciprocal ministries we each provide for each other, is what churches are all about . . . in the Bible (Heb.10:24-25).

Nothing wrong with going to a brick and mortar church which does the above. Finding one of those these days is exceptionally difficult if at all possible. That has to do with where we are on the eschatological clock, being the era of Laodicea, and late in the day at that.

Believers need to grow spiritually. If they can do that between four walls somewhere, well and good. We all prefer personal contact with other like-minded Christians. But if they can't get the help they need that way, well, that is why Ichthys, Bibledocs, and Bible Academy exist, e.g. (links)

Here are a few pertinent links:
Finding a Church – or Something Better? I
Finding a Church – or Something Better? II
Finding a Church – or Something Better? III
Church: The Biblical Ideal versus the Contemporary Reality
Church:  The Biblical Ideal versus the Contemporary Reality II
Church:  The Biblical Ideal versus the Contemporary Reality III
Church:  The Biblical Ideal versus the Contemporary Reality IV
Dysfunctional Churches
Mega-Churches, Emergent Christianity, Spirituality and Materialism
Red Hot or Lukewarm?
BB 6A: Ecclesiology: the Study of the Church
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #17:  
[omitted]
Response #17:   
Sounds to me like you passed this latest test – recognizing what is best to do and doing it in spite of pride arguing to the contrary.

It's no disgrace to get older – I sure hope not! A very good friend said to me recently when I was griping about not being able to run like I used to et al., "You have to be realistic". That is SO true, but if we're not sufficiently humble, we may press past the point we ought to. So while it's wimpy to not do all you can, it's stupid to try and do more than you ought to know you are able to do. 

Getting older is just another test. I think you are handling everything very well from what I know, guarding your first priorities – the Lord and your family responsibilities – jealously and zealously. That is what we should all be doing.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #18:  
[omitted]
Response #18:  
I'm pretty sure you never told me before that this was "the problem". I agree with you. Sexual sin is one of devil's main avenues of attack, and there are almost no (if any) human beings who are not vulnerable here, one way or another. Satan has a variation for everyone, variation, that is, away from the one legitimate avenue of sexual activity which is within marriage. Everything else along a very wide spectrum (which seems to be expanding over the years) is fraught with spiritual destruction. As Paul says, every other sin is "outside the body" but sexual sin is "sinning against one's own body" (1Cor.6:18). Which means, at least in part, that if we are caught in this particular trap, we're never going to get anywhere, spiritually speaking, unless and until we escape this trap.

So you are right. When it comes to these types of temptation, we have to be absolute in our refusal to have anything whatsoever to do with them. Anything else is a slippery slope to spiritual unraveling and eventually worse. 

There's no shame in being tempted. We are all tempted (just to different things). But in this area, recognizing the grave dangers is paramount – and then taking whatever godly measures are necessary to resist is imperative (link: BB 3B: Hamartiology: the Biblical Study of Sin).

Keeping you in my prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #19:  
Thanks for the answer Robert,

I still ask myself how I can interpret 1 Cor 5 on family members… there is a family meeting planned and I would like to know what to do.
Response #19:   
You mean, your family are not believers?

Family is an exception in any case. Compare 1Cor.7:12-16 where believers are supposed to stick with unbelievers to whom they are married if possible. We don't pick our families (except for whom we marry). If we can have peaceful relations with them without compromising our faith, that is a good thing.
But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
1st Timothy 5:8 CSB
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #20:  
My __ is a believer but I think living in sin.
Response #20:   
I don't know (nor do I wish to know) all the details. So this is matter of personal application on which I can't give you advice. I can only share my own application with analogous if not completely comparable situations I have observed. When it comes to family and close relationships, the best policy in my opinion is not to break fellowship or withhold love if at all possible, but at the same time never give approval to actions of which the Lord disapproves.

Hope this helps.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #21:  
Hi Bob,

This may be a nit pick. In your reply #13 in this Saturday's post "Sin, Guilt, and Salvation IX" you quote these two verses from HNV. I never heard of that version and it was not on the Biblegateway site. I wanted to compare KJV and NIV, but those two renderings seem quite different from your quote. What is HNV?

In Jesus.
Response #21:   
Thanks for catching this! The reference is to Psalm 130 and not 103. This is the kind of transposition my numerically dyslexic brain is apt to commit. HNV is the "Hebrew Names Version". It tends to be a bit more literal in translating the Hebrew, but like all versions, one has to take every verse on a case by case basis. Here is the way KJV does it:
If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 KJV
And for comparison, HNV:
If you, the LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, Therefore you are feared.
Psalm 130:3-4 HNV
The latter drives the point home more forcefully than even the very good here KJV (many versions are lacking on this verse): the Lord FORGIVES us when we confess – and He is due all awe, reverence and gratitude for that, especially since that forgiveness is founded on the sacrifice of our dear Savior on the cross.
[Jesus Christ], who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.
1st Peter 2:24 NKJV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
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