NADAB AND ABIHU: INIQUITY’S JUST BUT AWFUL PRICE!

Parson to Person

BY: William Andrew Dillard

From the vaults of important events, recorded by the ancients, comes an arresting account of two men whose deed must be ever underscored and heeded in the life of every child of the King.
Nadab (generous) and Abihu (he is my father) were two of four sons of Aaron, (light bringer) the brother of Moses (drawn). All five males of this family were chosen by the LORD to minister as priests in the Tabernacle. Their names are recorded some one dozen times in the Old Testament, but the most arresting is in the context of what these two did that was deadly wrong.
They were instructed specifically what, when, where, an how they were to perform their duties before the LORD. In no instance did God give any of them latitude to alter that service in the least. Moreover, the LORD went into great detail regarding even the mixture of the incense to be used. The recipe was to be kept secret and anyone attempting to duplicate it committed a sin that would cause him to be cut off from his people.
It is impossible to ascertain the motive of these to men, Nadab and Abihu, other than simply observing what they did. They mixed an incense not divinely given, and used it to offer fire before the LORD which was strange (different, unauthorized). The immediate result was the loss of their life, as that very fire consumed them.
Now be careful, very carful! Do not think the LORD to be unjust or unduly harsh! Everything He does is totally righteous! But, on the other hand, be observant and learning by allowing this Old Testament lesson to drive home an indelible impression in your own thinking. Consider the application! What one does in spiritual things beyond the plain authorization of the Holy Word is called “Iniquity.” Iniquity may not cause one to fall down dead instantly, but will just as surely render the life of a person rewardless in the day of the LORD, and that is the loss of the greater meaning of one’s life. Thus does the specific intention of such lessons come to us with great consistency from the pages of the Old Testament.
In these modern days, there is an abundance of religious mindsets expressed as “I think,” or “in my opinion,” instead of “God’s Word says!” Such is ungiven latitude called iniquity, and it will reap the same practical results as that portrayed for all time in the actions of Nadab and Abihu!

YOUR NAME

You got it from your father,

’twas the best he had to give.

And right gladly he bestowed it.

It’s yours, the while you live.

You may lose the watch he gave you

and another you may claim,

But remember, when you’re tempted,

to be careful of his name.

It was fair the day you got it,

and a worthy name to bear,

When he took it from his father,

there was no dishonor there.

Through the years he proudly wore it,

to his father he was true,

And that name was clean and spotless,

when he passed it on to you.

Oh, there’s much that he has given,

that he values not at all.

He has watched you break your playthings,

in the days when you were small.

You have lost the knife he gave you,

and your’ve scattered many a game,

But you’ll never hurt your father

if you’re careful with his name.

It is yours to wear forever,

yours to wear the while you live.

Yours, perhaps, some distant morning,

another boy to give.

And you’ll smile as did your father –

with a smile that all can share,

If a clean name and a good name

you are giving him to wear.

A GREAT MAN ONCE SAID:

It is for us to dig the well, it is for God to send the rain and the water.

It is for us to plant the seed; it is for God to make it sprout and grow.

It is for us to cultivate the field, it is for God to give the harvest.

It is for me to witness, it is for God to give the increase, to save the soul.

When I have done the best I can, then God must do the rest, and He will.

 

Unknown Author

A VITAMIX COCKTAIL OF RELIGIOUS PAGANISM

This is the day we need to check and see if we are standing on the rock solid foundation of the teaching of the Word of God.

According to “Berean Research,” and article posted by Amy Spreeman on February 22, 2016 in “Discernment”, there will be a great and grand meeting that will put aside doctrinal divisions and unite different demoninations together.

This is styled, “Next Great Awakening,” and those attending will be: Assemblies of God represented by Supt. George O. Wood; Southern Baptist Convention represented by president Ronnie Floyd; Pentecostal Charismatic Churches of North America; Grace Communion International (Formerly the Armstrongism Woldwide Church of God); Hillsong United. Persons represented will be: Francis Chan, Hillsong’s pastorix Christine Caine, Ravi Zacharias, Kari Jobe, Josh McDowell, Luis Palau and others.

There are some Missionary Baptists that have prepared their youth for events like this. They have carried their youth as a group to “Passion” and other gatherings where Calvinist, John Piper has spread his doctrine and Beth Moore has incorporated a long disregarded Catholic practice. These have included the favorite (rock) contemporary Christian, head banging bands.

Does anyone know the beliefs of the church that the Vertical Church Band is from? I know the pastor of that church will not reveal his salary to the church or the church elders. He also was on a board of Mars Hill church when that potty mouth pastor practiced plagerism and other not so christian practices. His elephant room discussions had a pastor that teaches and preaches modalism.

David Nasser, from Liberty University. Universal Invisible Church and open communion. I should not have to say any more about this person. The use of this person puts the stamp of approval upon them. We wonder why we lose so many people from Missionary Baptist Churches. This is the reason. Affiliation with those that are not doctrinally sound.

Understand – I am not questioning the salvation of any of these people. I am not questioning their love of the Lord. If this has plucked one of your emotional strings, save it for someone less grounded in the Word of God and the doctrines that are taught in His Word. The point I am making is; we prepare our people to be led astray because we grease the path with groups that bring emotional response instead of doctrinal reflection.

This “awakening” is a casting away of truths and a compromise of beliefs. It is wrong.

Elder James S. Coleman

Source: Elder James S. Coleman

A Sign of the Times

Source: A Sign of the Times

(7) Tara Ross – On this day in 1862, the New York Times reports on an…

Source: (7) Tara Ross – On this day in 1862, the New York Times reports on an…

I Used to Be Transgender. What I Think About Transgender Kids.

I used to think I was a girl.

Source: I Used to Be Transgender. What I Think About Transgender Kids.

One Man’s Trash | Storyshucker

Source: One Man’s Trash | Storyshucker

The Day Congress Approved Religious Missionaries

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Tara Ross

On or around this day in 1778, the Oneida Indians offer assistance to George Washington’s troops, then quartered for the winter at Valley Forge. One Oneida woman, in particular, really went above and beyond the call of duty!

The Oneidas were one of the few tribes to openly declare their support for Americans during the Revolution. The tribe was part of the Six Nations Confederacy. Most of those tribes sided with the British, but the Oneidas sided with the Patriots. In large part, their allegiance can be credited to the work of an American missionary, the Reverend Samuel Kirkland. He was good and kind to them, and they respected him. Kirkland’s efforts were important! Indeed, early in the war, Washington wrote to Congress, soliciting assistance for Kirkland’s missionary and peacekeeping efforts.

“[Reverend Kirkland] can need no particular Recommendation from me,” Washington wrote, “But as he now wishes to have the Affairs of his Mission & publick Employ put upon some suitable Footing, I cannot but intimate my Sense of the Importance of his Station, & the great Advantages which have & may result to the United Colonies from his Situation being made respectable. All Accounts agree that much of the favourable Disposition shewn by the Indians may be ascribed to his Labour & Influence.”

Congress was receptive to the idea and approved funds for Kirkland’s efforts to “promote the happiness of the Indians, and attach them to these colonies.”

The Oneidas were also doubtless influenced by other factors. For instance, an earlier boundary negotiation had not gone well for the Oneidas. Perhaps they were wondering if the British would respect their sovereignty. It’s not like the British had a great track record of respecting the American colonists, either!

The Oneidas heard that Washington’s army was having a tough time at Valley Forge. It was cold! They lacked sufficient clothing and food. Diseases wreaked havoc. Washington wrote of this time: “To see Men without Cloathes to cover their nakedness, without Blankets to lay on, without Shoes, by which their Marches might be traced by the Blood from their feet, and almost as often without Provisions as with; Marching through frost and Snow . . . is a mark of patience and obedience which in my opinion can scarce be parallel’d.”

The Oneidas decided to help. A group of tribe members, including a woman named Polly Cooper, set off toward Valley Forge. They brought as many as 600 baskets of corn with them. Once they arrived, Polly showed the Continentals how to cook the corn. The process of cooking white corn, making it edible for human consumption, was pretty different from the yellow corn that Americans normally ate. Polly endured the rest of the winter at Valley Forge with the American army, cooking for them and nursing sick soldiers.

According to oral legend, Polly would not accept payment for her services. However, the soldiers were so grateful that they gave her a black shawl. In some versions of the story, the soldiers themselves bought the shawl. In others, Martha Washington herself gave the shawl to Polly. The Oneidas still keep that shawl as a treasured artifact, to this day.

The Oneidas helped the American effort at other points during the war, too. Naturally, those are stories for another day. wink emoticon

Yes, obviously, the relationship between Americans and Indian tribes has had difficulties. But there were good moments, too. Shouldn’t we remember both the good and the bad, to get a balanced picture of our founding?

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Gentle reminder: History posts are copyright © 2013-2016 by Tara Ross. I appreciate it when you use the Facebook “share” feature instead of cutting/pasting.