Difficult Times Ahead

[Paidiske]

An unbeliever has no interest in hearing about salvation,

I disagree. Many have a very great interest; if it is presented to them in terms which they can appreciate.

 

[philadelphos]

There's no one answer to that. You've listed verses from ten different books, by (at least) seven different authors, written in different times and places and contexts. The web of connections between them is complex and multi-layered (and that's before we consider how they relate to our own lives and contexts).

For example, I take Paul's comment about preaching in season and out of season; and then I consider the rest of my day, which includes a communion service in a nursing home, a workshop in a secular setting on what it means to "die well," and an interfaith forum on prevention of domestic violence. Which "season" does each of those occasions reflect, and how might I adapt my approach accordingly?

That's not a simple question with a one-size-fits-all snappy answer!

Shalom,

Actually there is an answer, to the ignorance of the West.

Many Western Christians think along your train of thought, contrary to God's ordination of 'appointed times and seasons', or 'Moedim' (מוֹעֲדִים), being understood in a Hebrew mindset, and Jewish and Eastern schools of thought, but also as something that links with God's original creation ordinance of "signs and seasons" (1 Gen. 14).

For details see, Hebrew4Christians, https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Parashah/Summaries/Emor/Moedim/moedim.html; and BLB for Gesenius' Lexicon and references in Scripture, Genesis 1:1 (KJV) and see, Charles Whitaker's article, Genesis 1:14 (KJV) - Forerunner Commentary

The Western lack of understanding reveals our error of thinking, unable to systematise the '10 different books' as you say. But Scripture has an answer. Sure, they are 10 separate books or 66 books for that matter, but those divisions are particular to the canonization (from Origen of Alexandria 3rd C up to the Council of Trent 1546 -- Who I'd argue all fall in a line of false teachers) and later Stephanus 1551 who gave us our convenient chapters and verse divisions, except, "scripture cannot be broken" (Jn. 10:35), and that consistency is certainly true and appreciated by Jews, and others like for instance the Scribes at Qumran who brought us the Dead Sea Scrolls. The 66 books are one word, of one God.

Now,

What Paul refers to as the ON season ("in season" or "in times") is according to the pre-existing Jewish calendar and prescribed patterns of worship (what we call liturgy, for lack of better term), that includes, Sabbath, Pesach, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, and Shavuot ('Pentecost') and 3 other 'Times' making a total of 8 'Times' (see again Hebrew4Christians). Where 5 out of 8 'Times' have already been fulfilled and met by the Lord and the HS.

What Paul implies in for the OFF season ("out of season") are the times in between where one would ordinarily "labour and do all thy work" (4th commandment) and go fishing like Peter and the men, or do women's work like Mary and the women, hence Paul writes of expressly reports of having been constantly active throughout the week doing both physical labour "working with my hands" and teaching at synagogues, similar to the Lord himself who was constantly travelling and teaching. These are the examples for what believers and 'followers of Christ' are to be be like. The rest are hypocrites.

Again, most Christians have no concept of this, and being a Presbyterian, my mindset is similar to everyones' posts here, but Scripture says otherwise and actually condemns our "ignorance" and denial of God's "appointments" and ordination. Meaning that our religious notions and practices are idolatrous in God's eyes, and can indeed expect to be judged by his standard of "righteousness".

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

Referring of course to Time #6 out of 8, Yom Teruah (יוֹם תְּרוּעָה), literally "day of shouting or blasting", or 'feast of trumpets', aka Rosh Hashanah (רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה), literally the "head of the year". What we know as the proverbial day of "judgement", a day the Jews have been preparing and rehearsing annually for for millennia, a day the West and most Gentiles will be utterly unprepared for.

For those still confused, perhaps about how Old Testament practice is relevant to New Testament and New Covenant people, see Living Strategically for a demonstration on HOW the Lord fulfilled the aforementioned times / seasons and WHY one should KNOW about these things, if not also practice them until the Lord's return,

.

Blessed be the name of the Lord

 

[Radagast]

Are you absolutely sure that you don't believe in absolute truth?

I certainly do believe in absolute truth, but that includes believing that 2 + 2 = 4 and that the volume of a sphere is (4/3) π r^3.

 

[Aabbie James]

I certainly do believe in absolute truth, but that includes believing that 2 + 2 = 4 and that the volume of a sphere is (4/3) π r^3.

Thank you. This is why Jesus said in John 17:17, "Sanctify them by the truth. Your Word is truth." The Bible alone is the standard for truth. The main reason why people reject God's Word as truth is because they don't want anyone telling them how to live their lives. Our culture shuns authority and looks down upon biblical values. Man has discovered only a sampling of God's physical laws and the language of mathematics, things within the natural world of God's creation, things God created and knew perfectly well from eternity past.

 

[Aabbie James]

An unbeliever has no interest in hearing about salvation, but hearing about salvation and the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is their only hope. They must hear the gospel. If they reject it, that's on them. Jesus said "go and preach the gospel."

God's Holy Spirit will, in our Sovereign God's perfect timing, and from those He chooses, convict a sinner to believe in Christ, and be born again of the Spirit. It is the responsibility of the unbeliever to believe.

I disagree. Many have a very great interest; if it is presented to them in terms which they can appreciate.

Then God's Holy Spirit has given them a new heart and opened their ears. Otherwise, they are like oxen and stiffen their necks, refusing the yoke.

Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.