King's Business - 1957-05

wise, we must “ needs go out of the world.” God does not mean that we should go into monastic seclusion; nor does He take us to heaven as soon as we are saved. We are to witness to those who live in this manner. However, when it comes to a matter of church discipline and per­ sonal purity and keeping company with professing Christians whose lives dishonor the name of Christ, then God says we must put them away from us. Sue for Slander? Q. Should a Ch r i s t i an sue for slander? A. It all depends upon what you mean by slander. If you are suffer­ ing at the hands of others for Christ’s sake because you are a Christian, then you are to take it kindly and patiently. If however your personal character is being attacked, that is another thing; and courts and prisons were established for slanderers. Let us remember t h o u gh that “ prayer changes things” and I am convinced that Christians could accomplish far more through prayer than they do when it comes to such matters with­ out taking them to court. Temple and Synagogue Q. What was the difference be­ tween synagogue and temple? A. The temple was the only place where sacrifices could be offered. The synagogue was used for read­ ing, prayer and preaching.

A. Military academies for boys do not specialize in the science of war, in spite of the association with the name. They offer the regular cur­ riculum found in any school togeth­ er with a rigid training in disci­ pline. Whether such a school has an advantage over others depends entirely upon those who are guiding its policies. I see no reason why a Christian could not run such a school providing it was based upon the principles taught in the Word of God, that it was 9 perated for the glory of God and the spiritual good of the students. Separation Q. What is meant by the last clause of 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, “ . . . if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator . . . put away from among yourselves that wicked per­ son” ? A. The Apostle Paul in this entire chapter is exhorting Christians to live a life separated from this god­ less world. Therefore, he says in verses 9 and 10, “ I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.” Then he adds in the following verse, “ But . . . if any man that is called a brother [that is, a Christian] be a fornicator . . . put away from among your­ selves that wicked person.” This is but another way of saying that, as Christians living in a sinful world, we must of necessity come in contact with ungodly and im­ moral men but it should not be so in the church. In the world of busi­ ness, for example, we must have dealings with the ungodly. Other­

Divorce Q. What does the Bible teach about divorce? A. God has permitted divorce be­ cause of sin, . . but from the beginning it was not so” (Matt. 19:8). According to our Lord’s explicit words, there is only one scriptural ground for divorce and that is adultery. For Christ’s teach­ ing on this subject, read Matthew 5:31, 32; 19:3-12; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18. Paul also wrote on this subject — see 1 Corinthians 7:10- 16. Infant' Baptism Q. Why do you not baptize infants or very young children? A. Because it is my firm conviction that baptism follows conversion. I am happy to dedicate infants and young children to the Lord, in the Lord’s house or in the home. In fact, it seems to me that every Christian parent should dedicate his child to God, both as an act of devo­ tion to Him and as a safeguard to the child. But dedication is not baptism. Dedication is the act of the parent in which he presents his child to God and assumes responsibility for the training of that child for Him. Baptism, however, is the act of the believer himself (or should be) in which he confesses faith in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. Baptism is the outward sign of an inward work of God’s Spirit. Military Academies Q. Is it right for Christians to send their boys to a military academy? Should Christians maintain such schools?

Readers are invited to subm it questions to both Dr. Narramore and Dr. Talbot. Address questions to them c/o The K in g's Business, 558 So. Hope Street, Los Angeles 17, Calif.

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