Our home decorated for Halloween 1992

False Religion By Frances M. McCrory-Meservy 1992

I am not necessarily talking about a cult here.  I met good Christian people who enslaved themselves to rules and regulations that are not Christian.  It does not necessarily mean the church is a bad church.  It does mean the fine folks that go there are enslaved to things that are not from the Bible.  It is wrong to say God said something when he did not.  Until a congregation diligently reads/studies the Bible for themselves, they will stay enslaved to things that are not of God.

False religion gives a person rules and regulations that are not Biblical. They are rules made by man that sound good because in them you have to do something that you personally can be proud of. This makes a person pious/stuck-up.

People who read God's word know what is of man and what the Bible says. They know what is truth and what is not. The person who has a problem is the one who does not read the Bible for him/herself and believe what others tell them. This person is subject to false doctrine and believing a lie.

The Bible says God wants us to have a pure heart. What we think and say (how we treat people) is what makes us pure. Loving our fellow man is only second to loving God. Love does no harm and that's what makes us pure.

Man has a habit of putting on religion that is not pure to hide his sin. Jesus released us from this when he died on the cross and then rose from the grave to set us free. That's why Christianity is foolishness to the world. Men can't comprehend salvation through trusting God to do things in us and for us. Our natural tendency is to work for all we get. That's why Jesus said we were to come as a little child.

A one year old child trusts almost all adults with everything. You tell a child to jump and you will catch them and they will jump. That's faith. You tell a child to do almost anything and you'll keep them safe and they will believe you and do it because they trust you. Jesus is more trustworthy than parents.

If you think I am wrong, prove it to me in scripture in context.

What we believe is important.

IE

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Clean hands in the Bible are symbolic of doing no harm.

Jesus and his disciples ate without washing their hands. The Pharisees rebuked them for eating without washing their hands. Jesus rebuked them and told them that it was not a sin to eat without washing ones hands.

When Martha came to Jesus and complained that Mary was not helping her prepare the meals and cleaning, Jesus told her that Mary had chosen the better thing to do (she was listening to Jesus - learning from Him).

We have a saying in our family: "Our house is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be comfortable." We clean our house because we can't stand it when it is dirty - not because we have to. I don't even notice how a person's house looks when I go to see them because I went to see them and not their house.

I have been to people's homes who were what I call "nasty neat." They had it so clean you could eat off the floor and it was so neat you were afraid to wear shoes in their house or sit down and relax.

These same people told me that their children started catching everything when they started to school. Their Dr. told them that they kept their children and homes too clean and the children never built up their immune systems as a result.

Things that make a person unclean are anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language that come out of a person's mouth and fornication (includes adultery).

I had a friend who thought "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" was in the Bible. She was depressed because no matter how hard she tried, she could not keep up with the cleaning. She was running a licensed day care out of her home and teaching those precious children about Jesus and love. I did not know how she kept her house as clean as she did.

I showed her in scripture that the teaching was not true and she was freed from a tremendous burden. Strange thing happened: she was freed from the depression caused by a falsehood and filled with joy.  The Joy gave her more energy. She kept her house cleaner. The truth set her free.

You'll go to hell for smoking

Our Pastor in KS says, "You won't go to hell for smoking - you'll just smell like you've been there." I like that

The scripture taken out of context to prove smoking is a sin is: "Your body is the temple of God and you should not defile it." In context that scripture was about being unequally yoked (married to an unbeliever) or idol worship or immoral sex (one with a prostitute or sex outside of marriage).

My Grandmother dipped snuff.  If anyone got a bee sting, she would put a spit & tobacco paste on the sting and it would instantly quit hurting and never swell up. 

A friend's daughter got stung by about 20 hornets.  She tore up several cigarettes and made a spit and tobacco paste out of it.  She pulled each stinger out and put the paste on each sting. 

Her daughter was screaming and as the paste was applied the screaming got less and less and when the last sting was covered the screaming stopped.  She never had a whelp.

I breath wrong and that causes me to have too much oxygen to my brain.  I have had 5 or 6 different doctors tell me that if I would smoke 5 cigarettes a day, it would regulate my breathing. 

Every time I tried I was smoking a carton a week after a couple of weeks and two a week after a month.  I am a smoke-a-haulic. I smoked for about 30 years.  I quit on September 4, 2002.  I know that if I smoke one cigarette, I will be hooked all over again.  Like an alcoholic - I can never have just one.  When I quit in 2002 it was with the mind set that I would never have another one.

My point is that in spite of the fact that I abused tobacco, God had lots of good uses for it. 

It's a sin to drink (fermented, alcoholic beverages).

The Bible says "do not be drunk on wine - be drunk in the Spirit, be sober minded and if you take the Nasserite vow you are not to drink wine or even eat grapes."    Past that, nowhere does it say do not drink wine or fermented drinks.  In fact it tells us to celebrate our tithe the third year by having fermented drink with our feast.  Almost every time the Bible talks about a celebration, it says to drink fermented drink with the feast. 

A person can drink an alcoholic beverage and not get drunk - drink it slowly and have it with food.  If you don't get drunk, you will be sober minded.

If you personally believe you should not drink an alcoholic beverage, don't.  But do not condemn someone who does. 

Alcoholics can not drink at all because they have no self-control over the drink.  They can not drink just one - they drink until they pass out. 

Most people who hate people who drink had someone they love who abused alcohol and caused harm while they were drunk.  Some have learned to hate the abuse of alcohol without hating the person who is having a drink. 

People who know it is OK to drink should not drink while with someone who believes it is wrong to do so.  Our brother might sin by drinking with us when he thinks it is a sin and have a guilty conscience or he might condemn us for drinking and sin by judging us (If the Bible does not say it's a sin, he has judged us and not God). 

Finally Jesus drank wine and turned water into wine.  If it were a sin to drink, he would have done neither.

Almost everyone I have known that had a drinking problem also had an emotional pain problem.  As soon as they accepted Jesus or forgave the person who was causing the pain, they quit drinking. 

My husband's brother had a VA doctor that did not believe in giving pain medication to people even though they really needed it.  Dean had burned lungs and liver damage from mixing agent orange in Viet Nam, quad bypass surgery and other ailments.  When we finally had our congressman intervene and he got the medication he needed, he quit drinking.  Until then, we never saw him without a drink in his hand.  It was all he had to kill the pain.

It is a sin to gamble

No where in the Bible does it even mention gambling except where the disciples cast lots to see who would take Steven's place. 

I was teaching a training union class for 10 year olds in 1984.  The subject of "it is a sin to gamble" was in my next lesson guide.  There were no scriptures in the text.  I looked everywhere in my Strong's Exhaustive Concordance for every word I could think of that could mean gambling.  Nothing!  I called our pastor and asked him for some scripture - he admitted there was none.

Now I had been teaching my children (about 15 of them) that if someone told you something was in the Bible, they should say show me.  I was teaching them a little each week about how to avoid joining a cult.  Now I had a dilemma.  I explained this to our pastor and he said, "do not teach that lesson.  Teach something else." 

I taught them the Trinity instead and two of my most unruly boys went down and accepted Jesus during the worship service after training union.  They told our pastor it was something I said that reached them - I didn't think they heard a word I said.  They were no longer unruly.  The truth had set them free. 

Our only truth should be God's word not our feelings or what we think should be a truth.  God's truth (scripture) is the only truth that carries power.  Our truth (rationalizations) falls flat and makes us look foolish.  There is no power in our rationalizations.

It is a sin to dance

King David was the apple of God's eye.  He was so joyful that the Ark of the Covenant had been returned that he danced half naked through the streets of Jerusalem with citizens of Israel.  This made his wife angry and she admonished him for dancing.  God made her baron for admonishing King David for dancing. 

It is not a sin to dance.  No where in the Bible does it say it is a sin to dance.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves ("If I take care of what I can do God will do the things I can't do.")

If you believe this is true you really need to take the "Experiencing God " course by Blackman.  That is probably the best course I have ever taken in my life.  If you have not taken this course, call a Southern Baptist Church and find when they are going to do it and if they have already, who is having it next.  When they gave that course in KS, other denominations sent people to take it.  You can also purchase the book and workbook in any Christian Book Store and do it at home. 

If Jesus who was God incarnate (Trinity) could do nothing without the Father, what makes us think we can?  If we could do stuff without Jesus, why did he have to die for us?  If we do it ourselves we become prideful.  Pride comes before the fall. 

God wants us to rest in him and let Him work through us to do things.  He wants to be involved in every area of our lives.  He does not want us to do anything without talking about it to him first.  He wants a close, personal relationship with us - so close that He wants His Spirit to come and live in us.  He wants to be in us and us in Him.  Does that sound like He wants us to do anything alone?  Jesus wants to be involved in every area of our lives. 

I hear over and over again that I should set aside at least one hour per day (6 AM) usually to pray and read my Bible.  I like talking to my Lord all day and grabbing the Bible when I have a question about anything.  I read some in my Bible every night.  If I got up at 6 AM and read the Bible and talked to Jesus, I would be doing it in my sleep.  I would also be doing it less than I do now. 

If you ask God to lead you in when to talk to Him and when to read your Bible, you will get the prefect times for you.  You will also be talking to Him more than one hour a day. 

Summation

God gives us all things for us to use in moderation.  We can abuse what he gives us or allows us to do.  It's not the use of what he gives us that is a sin - it's the abuse of what he gives us.  The Temple in Jerusalem was a holy place but it was abused by money changers and Jesus drove them out of the Temple.  He did not tear the temple down because it was being abused - He turned it back into a house of prayer.

The above are just the most glaring things that are not in the Bible.  If you study your Bible, you will find rest in God's truth and no one will be able to fool you. 

Importance of truth (doctrine)

Psa 15:1-5 LORD, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Psa 25:5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.
Cleanliness

Psa 33:4 For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.

Psa 43:3-4 Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.

Psa 45:4 And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness; And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things. (God's right hand is the Holy Spirit)

Psa 91:4-6 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

Psa 96:13 For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with His truth.

Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Prov 16:6-7 In mercy and truth Atonement is provided for iniquity; And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil. When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Isa 38:19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.

John 3:21 "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

John 4:23-24 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Eph 4:11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head; Christ; from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

1 Tim 4:16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

2 Tim 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

2 John 1:10-11 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (here he is talking about someone who does not preach sound doctrine, another Jesus - from a cult, etc.)

Pure in Heart

Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

Col 2:20-23 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations;"  Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

Col 3:1-15 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

James 1:26-27 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

1 Tim 1:317 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia; remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

2 Tim 2:22-26 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

Titus 1:15-2:1 To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine:

Heb 10:22-23 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Eph 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Mat 7:1-5 "Judge not, that you be not judged. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

John 3:17-18 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Cleanliness is Next to Godliness

2 Sam 22:21-22 "The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God.

2 Sam 22:24-27 I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to my cleanness in His eyes. "With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.

Psa 18:20-27 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not wickedly departed from my God. For all His judgments were before me, And I did not put away His statutes from me. I was also blameless before Him, And I kept myself from my iniquity. Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; With the pure You will show Yourself pure; And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.

Mat 15:17-20 "Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?" But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. "For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. "These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

Mark 7:2-23 Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other things which they have received and hold, like the washing of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"  For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men; the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition."  For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death. '"But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"; ' (that is, a gift to God), "then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, "making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do." When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: "There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. "If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!" When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Luke 10:38-42 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Thou shalt not Smoke

1 Cor 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Mark 7:18-23 So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, "because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?" And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

2 Cor 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

Thou shalt not drink Alcoholic Beverages

Gen 9:21 Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, (Notice he became drunk drinking wine - when the Bible says wine it does not mean grape juice.)

Num 6:1-6 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD, 'he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. 'All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. 'All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the LORD, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 'All the days that he separates himself to the LORD he shall not go near a dead body.

Deu 14:24-26 "But if the journey is too long for you, so that you are not able to carry the tithe, or if the place where the LORD your God chooses to put His name is too far from you, when the LORD your God has blessed you, "then you shall exchange it for money, take the money in your hand, and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. "And you shall spend that money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen or sheep, for wine or similar drink, for whatever your heart desires; you shall eat there before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household.

Judges 13:3-5 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, "Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. "Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. "For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

2 Chr 31:4-5 Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the LORD. As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the first fruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything.

Psa 104:14-5 He causes the grass to grow for the cattle, And vegetation for the service of man, That he may bring forth food from the earth, And wine that makes glad the heart of man, Oil to make his face shine, And bread which strengthens man's heart.

Prov 20:1 Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Prov 31:4-9 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink; Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to him who is perishing, And wine to those who are bitter of heart. Let him drink and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.  Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Eccl 9:7-8 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.  Let your garments always be white, And let your head lack no oil.

Eccl 10:19 A feast is made for laughter, And wine makes merry; But money answers everything.

Isa 5:11 Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!

Ezek 44:21 "No priest shall drink wine when he enters the inner court.

Mat 9:17 "Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved."

Luke 5:39 "And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, 'The old is better.'"

Luke 7:33-35 "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' "The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' "But wisdom is justified by all her children."

Luke 10:34 "So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

John 2:3-10 And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, "Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast." And they took it. When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!"

Rom 14:21-23 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Eph 5:18-21 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

1 Tim 3:2-5 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence. (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);

1 Tim 3:8-9 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

1 Tim 5:23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities.

Titus 2:1-10 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Gambling

Lev 16:8 "Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Josh 18:6 "You shall therefore survey the land in seven parts and bring the survey here to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.

1 Chr 25:8 And they cast lots for their duty, the small as well as the great, the teacher with the student.

Jonah 1:7 And they said to one another, "Come, let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this trouble has come upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

Dancing

Psa 30:11-12 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Luke 15:25-27 "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. "So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. "And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'

Psa 149:3-4 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Psa 150:1-6 Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!

Eccl 3:1-8 To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, And a time to lose; A time to keep, And a time to throw away; A time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace.

Jer 31:13 "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.

2 Sam 6:14-23 Then David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet. Now as the ark of the LORD came into the City of David, Michal, Saul's daughter, looked through a window and saw King David leaping and whirling before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart. So they brought the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. And when David had finished offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts. Then he distributed among all the people, among the whole multitude of Israel, both the women and the men, to everyone a loaf of bread, a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins. So all the people departed, everyone to his house. Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" So David said to Michal, "It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD. "And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight. But as for the maidservants of whom you have spoken, by them I will be held in honor." Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

Col 2:16-23 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations; "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.


Col 3:1-11 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

John 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

John 5:30 "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.

John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

1 Tim 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

1 John 2:16-17 For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

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