Category Archives: Practical Theology

This category covers the area of what is commonly called, “Christian living”. In our context, it is the practical outworking of Christian theology.

Marriage: Leaving and Cleaving

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Marriage is a great institution and one which has been established by God.  This is the primary passage in the Bible regarding the union between a man and woman.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.  And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. (Gen. 2:24-25)

The first aspect of marriage is that it begins a new family.  The man leaves his parents and he and his wife start their own unique household.  This is not to say that the parents and other family members are forsaken, but that their union constitutes a newly formed family unit.

Marriage: Wedding rings over Bible

Marriage, rings over Bible

The second aspect is that there is a bond between the man and woman.  The husband cleaves unto his wife.  The Hebrew word for “cleave” means to “stick to” or “stay close to”.  Jesus elaborated on this theme when He said, “What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matthew 19:6)

The third aspect in this passage is that there is intimacy between the man and woman.  God reserves the expression of sex for marriage.  Our culture has moved away from this standard, but it is a timeless biblical standard which should be observed.  Sexual expression is a rite of marriage, so to speak.  As God instructs, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Hebrews 13:4)

Marriage is a God-ordained institution and as such, God defines it, not our culture.  This union is defined by God in the Bible as always between one man and one woman.  While this standard has been defined by our culture as narrow-minded, old-fashioned, and far worse, it has been the undeniable standard throughout the ages. 

Is Immigration a Biblical Issue?

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First of all, this is not an endorsement or condemnation of Donald Trump or the U.S. government’s immigration policies in general.  This article is simply addressing biblical interpretation errors and other fallacies in a Washington Post article written by a Yale Divinity School professor which takes issue with Franklin Graham’s insistence that immigration is not a Bible issue.  Here is the article:
 
 
This is not the first article I have read this week on this subject.  All of them have a common theme: Christians should let anyone immigrate to the United States because of how “strangers” are treated in the Bible.  Here’s my take:

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Charles Caldwell Ryrie Goes Home

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Today a giant of the faith and a humble servant of the Lord went home.  Charles Ryrie was a gifted theologian, teacher, and writer.  His ministry shaped the lives of many—both those who came in direct contact with him and those, like me, who were impacted by his books.

The Ryrie Study Bible taught a generation how to read and understand the Scriptures.  Dispensationalism Today (later republished as just Dispensationalism) helped many comprehend a vital, yet sometimes difficult topic.  So Great Salvation revealed the simple truth that Jesus saves and broadened that theme to help our understanding of what we have in Christ.  Dr. Ryrie authored more than 50 books which uphold the authority of the Bible, teach Its truths, and honor Christ.  They will be influential for generations to come.

In seminary, I was taught by one of Dr. Ryrie’s students.  He told me that when he was a struggling student at Dallas Theological Seminary and needed a place to live, Dr. Ryrie welcomed him into his home and gave him a room to use.  He spoke highly of Dr. Ryrie as a teacher, a mentor, and a brother in Christ.  He will be missed, but Dr. Ryrie lives today with the One he devoted his life to.

Food in Eden

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Eating in the Garden of Eden was meatless as is explained in the verses below.

Genesis 1:29-30  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.  30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

In Eden, food came from plants.  This was true for the land animals too.  Some may scoff that some animals cannot survive without meat.  That may be true in our fallen world, but not in Eden.  Even in a fallen state, some animals which normally eat meat sometimes choose not to.  (See No Taste for Meat and Unexpectedly Vegetarian Animals – What Does It Mean?)  The prohibition against eating meat ended after the Flood of Noah.  (Genesis 9:3)  So there is no biblical reason to practice vegetarianism in our current dispensation.

American College of Pediatricians Position on Gay Marriage

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The American College of Pediatricians published a page on their website entitled Same-Sex Marriage: Not Best for Children (see link below) where they provide medical and scientific reasons why gay marriage is harmful to children.  Great information from medical practitioners.
Proverbs 11:14  Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.