A Christian Woman and Modest Dress

Posted on July 16, 2023 by issuesandopinions

A Christian Woman and Modest Dress

Does The Bible Define Modesty?

            The older I get, the more I see “modest dress and modest behavior” abused by both men and women on this earth. It is totally misunderstood by the women of this world in general, and as time goes on it is more and more misunderstood by women within the church of Christ; and not without good reason. The culture of this world has, for some time now, been influenced by the powers of Satan. And has evolved in the direction of less and less regard for any authority at all, and even less regard for the authority of the Word of God, the Bible.

            Now you would expect this by the world in general. But as time goes on, the desire to incorporate immodest dress into the women of the church of Christ has become more and more overpowering and almost impossible for women to ignore. As women become more and more influenced by the culture of the secular world, many develop a “boldness” in the type of clothes they consider appropriate to wear. This boldness also comes with changes in attitude and in the types of clothes women of the church are beginning to accept. And some are accepting the styles found on women at the mall and on TV. And I don’t have to tell you that little is left to the imagination. Some pants are so tight that they reveal a woman’s figure almost to the same degree as if her body was just covered with a coat of paint. Now all Christian women do not accept this type of clothing and many understand that it is sinful for a woman to dress in an immodest way. But even so, the desire to follow the culture of the world around us is so strong and overpowering, it continues to be accepted more and more and criticized less and less.

            There was a time in my life that I remember when the subject of modesty and nakedness was understood by almost all women. Even women who were not “religious” understood that it was wrong to reveal their nakedness in a public way. But Satan has a way of chipping away our moral reservations and allowing the culture of our environment to become more and more acceptable a little bit at a time. This has been going on so long now that there is not even a clear definition of what nakedness really is. Are tight revealing pants nakedness? Is bikini swimwear nakedness? How about short revealing short pants and low cut tops? I could go on with this description but everyone sees these clothes almost every day. Just go to Walmart.

            How do we judge just what nakedness really is? Do we just accept the culture of our land and adjust our consciences to adapt the new and evolving definition as our society dictates what it is? Surely no Christian really believes that would be an acceptable answer. If we accepted that reasoning then there would be no stopping where this would lead. If we can accept the world’s view on the definition of nakedness then we would be forced to accept the world’s view of what is required to be saved. We would also be required to accept the world’s definition of the church. Or for that matter, which world religion is acceptable with God. No, we cannot accept the world’s definition of any moral absolute. We need a fixed and definite set of standards and we know that this fixed standard is the Bible. God created our moral laws. They are fixed and unchangeable and they are revealed to us in the Bible, our guide for moral behavior of all types.

            So, do we find nakedness defined in the Bible? Does the Bible tell us what nakedness really is and when it is a sin? You bet it does. And in case you are not clear on where you stand, let’s review how the Bible defines nakedness.

            I know that almost everyone has some basic knowledge of the creation of man and woman in the Bible. God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and there were 2 trees there planted by God. There was the tree of life, and Adam and Eve could have eaten from this tree and lived forever. But there was another tree there as well and it was the tree of “the knowledge of good and evil”. Look at what the Bible says happened.  

Genesis 3:9-13  

9. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you       not to eat from?”

12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”

            The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 

            As you can see, this part of the story takes place after Satan convinced the woman to eat from the forbidden tree of “The Knowledge of Good and Evil”. You might notice here that the first evil thing Adam noticed after he ate from the tree; the very first sin recorded by man and woman after they ate from the tree, was the evil of “public nakedness”. This “story” needs to be written and published and talked about and explained from the pulpits all over the world. We need to make it clear to everyone who will listen that public nakedness is a sin.

            Now Adam and Eve had just ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This knowledge of good and evil was enough for them to know that their nakedness was a sin. And so they tried to correct it in their own way. And then we learn from God that their effort to clothe themselves was not enough to cover their nakedness properly.

Genesis 3:6-7

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

            This was their method to clothe themselves. Note that the KJV says that they made themselves aprons. Some translations say they made themselves girdles. We are not sure exactly what these “aprons” covered but it is obvious it did not cover enough. God made them clothes which He approved of, and the Bible calls them coats (or tunics NKJV)

Genesis 3:20-21

20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living.

21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

            So there you have the story of the very first sins recorded in the Bible. Public nakedness was right at the top of the list right along with the sin of eating from the forbidden tree.

            But you might argue that revealing clothes is not public nakedness. Well, according to the standards set by the new culture of our land, this argument would be good enough for them. But the culture of our land is not the standard from which God judges us. We get our definitions from the Bible.

Exodus 20:25-26

And if you make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone; for if you use your tool on it, you have profaned it. 26 Nor shall you go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.’

            Now use your logical reasoning here and decide what God is trying to say about nakedness. How can a person’s nakedness be exposed when they go up steps? Well, I think that’s pretty clear, don’t you. You could see under their robes and garments and see their thighs. God defines this as nakedness and He judges it “unacceptable”. Exposing the thighs in public is nakedness and it is unacceptable with God and therefore it is a sin.

            Also, look at Isaiah 47:3-5 2 Take the millstones and grind meal.

2 Remove your veil, Take off the skirt, Uncover the thigh, Pass through the rivers.

3 Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your shame will be seen; I will take vengeance,

            Does the Bible define exposing the thighs as nakedness? You can see that it does.

            What happens when a man looks at a woman who has exposed her nakedness for him to look at? All men will tell you that this will create impure thoughts with almost all men. Now some may be too young and some may be too old for these feelings to be aroused within them, but any normal man will struggle with impure thoughts when he looks on a woman’s nakedness. These thoughts are sin. Look at this passage in Matt. 5:28.

28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her                   in his heart.

            Now many women will say that their dress and behavior is not to blame when a man looks at her and has impure thoughts. They would deny that they have any blame or responsibility when a man loses his soul over their immodest dress. But the Bible has a different explanation concerning a woman’s dress. In 1 Timothy 2:9.

                                    Women are urged to have modesty in dress and behavior

             9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

            It is true that God created a woman to have a strong desire for a man. God gave her these emotions and they are useful in her role as a mother and a wife. These emotions and desires are so strong in a woman that God placed her under subjection to a man all her life to keep these desires in check.

            See Genesis 3:16. The first man in her life is her father and eventually it becomes her husband. If you doubt these desires, look around you at the females you see. Are they doing anything to attract the attention of a man? You can see that they are by the way they are dressed. Does it not make good sense that God created a way for these desires to be kept under control? These desires are kept under control by a woman being in subjection to a man.

            But the world is changing and in my lifetime I have seen a lack of respect for Bible authority. This is happening even in the church. Teachers and preachers and men in general have lost their courage to admit that women are in subjection to men and they are finding ways to soften the Bible phrases to allow women to think there is no subjection at all. 

            I challenge all fathers, husbands, preachers and elders, everywhere, to teach the women in your lives to respect the authority of God and dress according to the morality defined in the Scriptures.

Carl O. Cooper

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Electronic Church Crisis

Posted on July 22, 2020 by issuesandopinions

Electronic Church Crisis

 

Our reaction to the Covid 19 virus is creating within our young people “an electronic church crisis”. Unlike the older people in our congregations, our younger members are accustomed to and very comfortable using electronic media to communicate with others and gather information “On Line”. This is causing a mindset within this group that is allowing them to be just as happy to stay at home and miss church as to attend at the building. And to make this situation worse and to allow this mindset to prevail, we have announced to the congregations that “staying at home and watching on line” is perfectly fine and acceptable. Now in the beginning of this pandemic many people felt like we had a Bible mandate to assemble together due to the Scripture in Hebrews 10:25.

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Because of the strong feelings about this Bible command, many people were unsure and uncomfortable with having church on line. And because there seemed to be no alternative at the time, church leaders set out to try to relieve people’s minds by announcing publicly that it was perfectly acceptable to God that we have our services by electronic media.

But now, looking back and looking ahead, we can see where this “lack of assembly” is leading the church. Some congregations are having some forms of assembly again but none seem to be back to normal. In fact, with blocking pews and face masks and social distancing, most congregations are having very abbreviated services at best. This has the “look” of some kind of “new normal” with the church of Christ. For years many denominational churches have had one assembly on a Sunday morning only, with very little attention paid to Bible classes and Bible studies. But this has not been so with the church of Christ. We have always had several assemblies each week. A typical week could include AM and PM services on Sunday that include a Sunday morning Bible class and a mid-week Wednesday assembly for Bible study. Most congregations also have other weekly assemblies for Bible classes and women’s classes as well as teen and young people’s assemblies. And now this lack of assembly is taking its toll on many of us. I think most of our members are feeling this change in their motivation for assembling together as we once did.

In reviewing this Scripture in Hebrews 10:25, I have a new understanding of what God knew about the importance of assembling together as a church. Frankly, to stop this assembly takes its toll on all of us. Some will not recover and their salvation will be in jeopardy because they are losing their enthusiasm for Jesus and the church. It is time that we stop giving a green light to electronic assemblies and missing church as though it was OK and acceptable to God as a “new type of assembly”.

            We need to use every means we can to make it perfectly clear to every member of the church that it is not OK to forsake the assembling of ourselves together and substitute a “stay at home electronic assembly” as a “new normal” for the church of Christ. This is not what the Bible is referring to when it tells us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together.

Now here is the hard part and the loop hole for some.

Yes, there are some who will need to stay at home and not assemble together. We don’t expect the sick to attend the assembly. This could infect many other people. And there are some whose health and mobility just won’t permit them to come. No one is telling these people that it is sinful for them to stay at home and watch the services on line, which is the best that they can do. For these people the electronic assembly is better than no assembly at all.  But even with these groups it should never be portrayed as a proper alternative to a personal assembly but only as a temporary substitute until they can do better. It should never be said or even hinted at that skipping the assembling of ourselves together and substituting the electronic media is a proper replacement to a regular assembly of the church.

We are not in normal times, no one disputes that. But you can rest assured that a prolonged flight from our assemblies will take its toll on the church. You can already see it having the effect of reducing the numbers when the congregation is cleared for an assembly. You can also see very short services and a lack of meeting more than once per week. If this does not change soon our membership will suffer great loses.

What can we do about this?

            Well, first off we must get the word out that skipping these assemblies is just not acceptable. People must be told that skipping assemblies will weaken the church and is not an acceptable situation. If we are forced to cancel some assemblies because of Government mandates or the Covid pandemic it is not an acceptable alternative to convert to electronic media as a new normal but is only a poor substitute as a very temporary alternative. We must not give the implication that the electronic live stream honors the command in Hebrews 10: 25 to assemble ourselves together properly.

If we give the impression that assembling ourselves can be done acceptably with the computer while we shelter at home by ourselves or with our families then it will not be very long until this will be the choice of many people who find this convenient for them as normal. This will lead to a weakening of their faith and commitment to Jesus and the church.

We must not let Satan find his way into the church through the Covid 19 pandemic. God knew what He was doing when He instructed us in Hebrews 10: 25; And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Carl O. Cooper

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The Mystery of Racism

Posted on November 26, 2025 by issuesandopinions

Among Black and White Christians

A White Man’s View

By Carl O. Cooper

            Regardless of whether you are black or white, how long has it been since you sat down with one of your Christian friends of the opposite race and discussed your feelings of politics and race relations? The answer to that is, NEVER! RIGHT? No wonder this is such a great mystery. There is almost no communication between Christian people of the “feelings” and “world views” between the races. Why do we think the way we do? And why do we act the way we do? We go to church together and we worship God together but there is hardly any communication of each other’s real feelings about Race relations or our political views. Did you know that according to 2020 political estimates only 6% of black voters admit that they will vote for a Republican president? That leaves 94% who will either vote democratic or else refuse to say. And at the same time about 60% of all white voters say they will support the Republican Party. Why does such a great mysterious divide exist among Christian people?

                        It has always been a mystery to me as to why black and white Christians can read the same Bible and listen to the same sermons week after week and then have different and contradicting opinions as to how they should vote in political elections. And what’s more, they do not talk about their differences and they do not communicate as to why they have different motives and world views.

            Recently it has come to my attention through more study and information, that I may have found what seems to me to be a reasonable explanation as to why this condition exists.

            Until recently I thought, like most white people do, that the black vote was motivated by an unrealistic memory of the history of slavery in our country. And although that was a dark and evil part of the history of our country, no black people alive today have ever been slaves. In fact, not even any of the parents of any black people alive today have ever been slaves. For over 150 years there have been no slaves in our country. I also think I would be safe in saying that no one today, black or white, would ever want another slave to exist in our country at all. I can say this as a white Christian who is 78 years old and have never met a white man who would want slavery introduced into our country ever again. In my world, which I feel would be a typical white Christian’s environment; all the white people I know would only want all people to be equal under the constitution of the US government.

            White Christians in the world I live in would tell you that all people should be equal and they should be treated alike and there should not be any special privileges for any special groups or races. Americans as well as Christian Americans should be united as one people with no special groups or privileges for anyone. America should be a world where every person should have an equal opportunity to excel to the limits of their ability with no person or group standing in opposition to their success as long as it is morally obtained. Of course, all people will not excel to the same level because all people are not created equal by God. Some are exceptionally intelligent and some are mentally challenged. Some are exceptionally strong and fit and some have physical disabilities. No one objects to a responsibility for people to help the poor and the disabled but most of the people I know would object to a socialist view of penalizing those who excel and confiscating what they have accumulated to take care of those who for whatever reason have not been able to excel in the same environment where everyone exists.

            Now these views are coming from me as a white Christian.

            But what I have discovered is that black Christians may not have a world view that corresponds to a white Christian’s view at all. 

            I don’t think that a black Christian is thinking about the history of slavery when he steps into a voting booth. I think his thoughts are on a much more recent history than that.

            When a white Christian enters a voting booth, his thoughts are concentrated on the moral issues of the day. Can we elect leaders and judges that will reverse the moral decay of our society? What can we do to eliminate abortion and same sex marriage? What about the rise in divorce and couples living together without marriage? What about the changes in laws making it a crime to teach against homosexuality and false science in our school systems?

            What about the indoctrination and perversion of the minds of our children in the public school system? How about the rise in credibility of the religion of Islam within our government?

            These are just a few of the issues white Christians are concerned about. Race does not enter into the mind of white Christians when they vote.

            On the other hand race relations are very much on the mind of black Christians when they vote. Many black Christians remember the way blacks were treated in the 1950’s and the 1960’s. In fact, I remember those days myself. I remember the “white” and “colored” water fountains in public places. And I remember when black people could not enter a restaurant and eat with the white people setting at the lunch counters and tables. I watched black people being served their food in paper bags by handing it out the back door. Even in some churches many black Christians were forced to have their own meeting places and churches or being placed in the back of the room away from the white people who were there. This was a dark time in our history and I lived through it myself. I will say this, I did not think it was right then but like most of the people in my world around me there was nothing I felt like I could do about it and so I just accepted it as a normal part of life. There was nothing anyone could do about it as just an average citizen. This behavior was too much imbedded into the culture of the day and the times. It took a revolution of the black people to change this behavior and culture of our country.

            These memories are driving the votes of black people everywhere and that also includes black Christians. Yes, black Christians care about the moral issues facing Christians today, but there is a memory of a dark and degrading recent past on the minds of voting black people everywhere. Black Christians fear a return to those recent days of disrespect and this need for proper treatment from white people overshadows their need to correct the moral issues of the day. The black vote is biased on the recent treatment to them that has been disrespectful and degrading.

            But that’s not all. There is another thing driving the black vote. I am not sure that black Christians fully understand this part themselves. I will give the benefit of the doubt and say they do not. But many black people in our society today carry a grudge against the white race because of what our fathers did to them. In fact many of the people are still alive that were disrespected and many people who disrespected them are also still alive. I would have to include myself in that last category as well. Although I did not approve, I did little to change anything that was going on either. I will say this in my defense, I worked as a laborer on a farm for a black man as a teenager and he fed me and other white teens at his table as his employees. I did many things such as this during this time. But acts like that did little to change the culture of America in those days.

            There is a great majority of black people who do carry a grudge against white people for what white people did to them. I wonder how I would feel if it were reversed?

            This anger and grudge against white people is driving the racist environment we are in today. This anger is driving black people to punish white America by voting our country into a fear of a capitalist’s government and rushing into a socialist / Marxist form of mild communism. This anger is causing black Americans to hate American history and to intentionally vote to rid our history of anything that they feel offends the views of the Black race. This anger overrides any attempt by Christians to vote with any consequence to correct the moral conditions that are spiraling out of control in our land.

            I have what I believe is a Christian solution to this problem.

            Here is a Bible example of “racism” among Christians in the early church.

Galatians 2:11-13 (NKJV)

                Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 

            I would ask black Christians; does this sound familiar? For hundreds of years the Jews shunned the Gentiles and would not have contact socially with them. They would not intermarry with Gentiles and they even refused to eat at the same table with them.

            And then one day God told the Christian people that all men were equal in Christ and there was no difference in the Jew and the Gentile. But even good men were slow to endorse this new freedom for Christian people. Here in Galatians 2 we find the Apostle Peter being “racist” against Gentile Christians. And it was not just Peter alone. It was all those Christian Jews who came to Antioch from James. They refused to eat at the same table with any Gentiles. The Apostle Paul saw that this racism was wrong and he said, “Peter was to be blamed”.

            Now this very same thing has happened to black Christians in America. Many good white Christian men have treated black Christians wrong. And like Peter they are to be blamed. But like Peter, they were caught up in the long standing culture of the day and it took time for many white Christians to learn that “racism” was ungodly and wrong.

            Now let me ask you this; how should we feel about the Apostle Peter? And how should he be written up in the history books? Should we think hard and bad thoughts about him and write him in history books as an evil and racist “white man” because of what he did? Nothing in the Bible tells us that Peter repented for his “racism”. I think we can conclude that he learned better and did repent. And he went on to be a great man and he gave his life for the Gospel. Peter is to be honored and not condemned.

            There have been many white men who have made racist comments about black Christians. Some have gone on to become very respected Gospel preachers. During the course of their lives they understood their actions were racist and wrong and they have repented of what they did. Now, how should we remember them? Like Peter, they made a grave mistake. And like the Gentile Christians of Peter’s day, our duty is to forgive and to forget what they did in the past.

            Now this is how black and white Christians should treat each other. I don’t really think I need to explain this mindset but it doesn’t seem to be accepted in the general black population in the US. However the great majority of black America (just like white America) is not made up of Christians. I can only hope and pray that black Christians are not influenced to hold a grudge against white Christians who treated them like Peter did the Gentiles.

Carl O. Cooper

ccooperapp@aol.com

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Carl O. Cooper

Posted on March 16, 2025 by issuesandopinions

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

Consider this scripture.

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 (NKJV)

            Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 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.” 

            What picture comes into your mind when you read these verses? Most people envision an oxcart with 2 oxen yoked together to pull the cart. In their vision one of the oxen is unstable and disrupts the team work and so the cart cannot be properly pulled. Does that sound familiar? Well, let me tell you this; that is the wrong example and it is not what this scripture is describing at all. When 2 oxen are yoked together it is not a case of being unequally yoked together. You see, to yoke 2 oxen together is perfectly normal and they are not unequally yoked.

            They belong yoked together. Just like 2 Christians who are yoked together in marriage. They would not be unequally yoked together. To yoke a team of animals together unequally would be to yoke together an ox and a horse. Or for that matter, a Clydesdale horse and a Shetland pony. As you can see, these are “unequally yoked”. Common sense tells us they could not properly work together. This is also an Old Testament principle found in Deut. 22:10. “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. To be unequally yoked together never works out for the Christian.

            To be yoked together is a very special type of union. It is a union where 2 are expected to have equal respect and responsibility in their specific part of the union. This includes marriage and it could also include a joint business venture such as a grocery store. Suppose a Christian and a non-Christian go in business together and open a grocery store and suppose they have an agreement that both of them have the same and equal authority in the business. And then suppose the non-Christian was to decide that they need to start selling beer and alcohol drinks. Now what is the Christian’s proper action to that situation? The answer is in the text we have been reading.

2 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV) Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.” 

            This alone shows the common sense of God’s rule about being “Unequally yoked together with non-believers”.

            At this stage in our understanding of these Scriptures it is pretty clear what these verses mean. Do not be unequally yoked with non-believers means just what it says and I think we would all say it makes perfect good sense.

            To be yoked to a non-believer drags a Christian down and limits his Christian life. There could be some exceptions where a Christian would be so strong in their faith and influence that the non-Christian would not have any influence on their life. But this individual is not the average person. This would be especially true for a woman. She would not have the authority to dominate her husband and so her Christian life would surely be affected.

            Do not marry a non-Christian and do not hesitate to advise others not to marry a non-Christian. To do so is to be unequally yoked together. 

            This scripture poses a problem for members and elders alike. Does this apply to marriage? If it does, is it sinful for a Christian to marry a non-Christian? And what if they marry anyway; what are they to do? These questions have plagued members of the church of Christ for many years and the solutions are tough and hard and very difficult for many people to have to deal with.

            One thing that is clear here is that these instructions do apply to marriage. Verse 15 asks the question, “Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?” However, this touches the lives of so many people that honoring this command becomes more than many are willing to do. And in many cases people find ways to weaken this command on marriage and attempt to find alternate ways to explain what Paul means when he says “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers”.

            It is very unfortunate but over the past many years many of the great patriarchs of the church have struggled with the ability to allow these Scriptures to apply to a Christian marrying a non-believer.

            The reason is clear. Frankly, I struggle with it myself. Preachers, elders, and members have struggled with “how do you handle” a family when they have violated or intend to violate this command. “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers”.

            There are 2 categories to be considered here. The first category is when a family exists where only one of the spouses becomes a Christian and is added to the church.

            The answer to this is covered in 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 (NKJV) But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband, who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

            In order to understand this statement properly, you must consider the context where these statements are made. Paul is writing to the Christians at the church in Corinth about marriage. He first tells them that they would be better off if they did not get married at all.

            This is because of the persecution that the Christians were having to endure at that time period in history. Nevertheless, to those Christians who were married he gives instructions to them in 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NKJV) Now to the married (Christians in the church) I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

            Now notice his next category of instructions.

1 Corinthians 7:12-14 (NKJV) But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe. Do you see that he now addresses another category? He says, “but to the rest”. Now who are the rest? This is another category in the church at Corinth. These are the people where they were both non-Christians and only one was converted and added to the church. These are the rest. Paul has special instructions for them. They are to stay together if at all possible, but if the non-believer departs let him depart. The Christian is not bound to the marriage duties if they depart. This does not say that the Christian can remarry, but they do not have to fulfill the duties as a spouse.

            Why would Paul have to tell the Christian what to do when married to a non-believer? Because they fall under the category of being unequally yoked to a non-believer.

            Now what do we know that the category called “the rest”? These are those where only one had found the church and became a Christian?

            Look at the verses that follow those we quoted. Remember, we are still following the context of what we are reading about.

1 Corinthians 7:17-20 (NKJV) But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

            So, were you called unequally yoked together with an unbeliever; then Paul has special instructions for you.

          Now there is a second category, also.

          You see, it is one thing to come into the church “already yoked to a non-believer”. But it is something else again to blatantly violate God’s command and intentionally marry a non-Christian anyway.

            There could be a Christian in the church who wants to marry a non-believer. Now this is a correctable situation. Just don’t do it! Elders, preachers, members alike need to be comfortable in being confident in advising and telling a Christian “do not marry a non-believer”. If necessary, let’s put up a billboard in the churches and say, “do not marry a non-believer”. (You realize this is hyperbole)

            However, it is unfortunate, but Christians do this anyway!!!!!

            Now what do we do?

            This is the part where preachers and elders have struggled with the answers for all these years. I struggle too. And so do you or you wouldn’t be reading this article.

            Paul gives his instructions for cases where Christian members of the church disobey this command, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers”.

            Look at his solution in 2 Corinthians 6:17 (NKJV) Therefore “Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you.”

            Can you see why this is hard medicine to take? I think you can and I think everyone can. In fact, many just won’t take this medicine. It is the same way when it comes to light in a congregation that 2 people have an improper divorce and remarriage. Many elders and preachers will lead their congregations in just ignoring an improper marriage. The same is true when people refuse to obey the command, “do not be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever”.

            Now this situation is not quite equal to an improper divorce and remarriage; where remarriage is not a possible answer.

            There is another solution. The spouse could become a Christian.

            So there are 2 possible solutions for a situation where a Christian marries a non-believer. It is clear that they are living in sin by violating the command not to yoke themselves to a non-believer. But the non-believer can repent and become a Christian. This is not like an improper divorce where they cannot repent and correct the adultery. In that case, separation is the only solution without the option of being able to remarry. But not so with a Christian who violates the command not to be unequally yoked together. The non-believer can repent and become a Christian. At that stage, both would need to repent of the sin of violating a command of God. 

            The conclusion is this; do not become unequally yoked to a non-believer.

This especially means marriage.

            This does not mean working at a job where the boss is a non-Christian. Although it could if your duties included being involved in non-Christian behavior. Nor does it mean that as an owner of a company that all your employees will be fellow Christians. However, your rules will be expected to keep any non-Christian behavior under control.

Carl O. Cooper

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Does John 3:16 Prove

Posted on March 16, 2025 by issuesandopinions

Salvation By Faith Alone?

John 3:15-16 (NKJV)

          For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes                   in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

          Almost everyone who can quote any Bible verses can quote John 3:16. And if you are a Baptist, a Methodist, or a member of almost any denominational church, you have a special connection to this verse. Without properstudy of the context of this verse, it seems to confirm a long held doctrine of almost all denominational groups that “Salvation is by faith alone”.

          First off, let me make it clear that everything the Bible says is absolutely true.

          That also includes the statements found in John 3:16. It is absolutely true that we are saved by “faith in Jesus Christ”.Without faith, we are told, “it is impossible to please Him”.

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

          6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe                 that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

          So, there is no doubt that faith is needed for salvation.

          But the problem comes in when we add something to this Scripture that is just not there.What this Scripture does not say is, “we are saved by faith alone”. There is no doubt that we are saved by faith, but no where in the Bible does it say that we are saved by “faith alone”.Go ahead and try to find this “faith only” concept in the Bible if you think the Bible authorizes this method of salvation. I can tell you right now that this concept of “Salvation by faith only” is not supported by any Bible Scripture. In fact, it is just the opposite. The words “faith only” are found only one time in the Holy Scriptures and that is in James 2:23-24 (NKJV.)

          23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was              accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.

          24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

          The context of this Scripture in James 2 is telling us that the heroesof the Old Testament, like Abraham, showed their faith in God by their “obedient works” done by their great faith; and it was accounted to them as righteousness. They were saved by a combination of “faith” and “works of obedience”.

          See how that concept is explained by James in;James 2:14 (NKJV)

          14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?              Can faith save him?

          James 2:17-20 (NKJV)

          17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

          18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without               your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

          19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble!

          20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

          So, there you have it. The Bible is perfectly clear. We are not saved by “faith only”.

          We are told by James, that in addition to faith we also need “works of obedience”.  No, this is not saying that we can “buy our salvation” with “works of merit”. There is a major difference in being obedient servants by doing God’s bidding by “obedient works” versus trying to “earn salvation” with “works of merit”.Could Noah have been saved had he not obeyed God by building the arc? And Abraham obeyed God by offering his only son, Iaasic, on an alter as God commanded him to do.

          But let’s go back to John 3:16. We need to understand the context of this section of Scripture if we are going to understand what it means. And in order to understand the context, let’s read John 3:14 to help us understand.

John 3:14-15 (NKJV)

          14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be                  lifted up,

          15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

          Now just about everyone skips right over verse 14 when they read this Scripture. And the reason they do is because there is already a “bias” concerning what verse 16 means. And, oh what a mistake this is. Verse 14 tells us about the type of works that are involved in the salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

          Do you remember the story of “Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness”?It is found in Numbers 21. It was during the travel in the wilderness as Moses led the Children of Israel out of Egypt and the people sinned against God. What a rebellious people they were. To punish the people for their sins, God sent “fierySerpents” among the people. The serpents were biting the people, and they were dying from the bites of the snakes. The people cried out to God for salvation and forgiveness for their sins. God heard the people’s cries and had mercy on them.

          By God’s grace he instructed Moses to erect a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole for the people to look at if they were bitten by a fiery serpent.

          Now that sounds easy enough, right? But let’s look at the actual mechanics of obeying this command from God for them to receive salvation from the bite of this poisonous snake.

          First off, do you realize that these people numbered from 1.5 million to 2 million people?  The Bible tells us that 800,000 adult men left Egypt. And in addition to this number were the children and young men below fighting age as well as all the women and girls. Most commentaries place the number between 1.5 to 2 million people in their traveling group.

          So how big was their community when they camped? That is more people than live in the entire county where I live.

          Now just suppose that a bronze snake was placed on a pole in the center of their city. Now if you were bitten by a poisonous snake and you knew you could be saved by looking at the snake what would you do? In a town this sizeit might be several miles for you to get to the bronze snake. Would you be rebellious and say, “I don’t need to do anything. I have faith in the serpent, and I will not be saved by works”.

          I don’t think you would. I think you would be willing to travel to the snake in order to obey God and look at the snake.

          So, as you can see, some “works of obedience” were required to obey God and be saved. This is the context of John 3:14-16. Not only is proper faith required but this properfaith will lead you to obey God and do what He commands you to do. These works of obedience done because of your faith will be counted to you as righteousness just as they were to Abraham.

          So, faith alone is not enough. Salvation also requires obedient works because you obey God out of a faith in Jesus Christ.

          Now this is not the end of the story, there is more to know about salvation.

          Just what are these works of obedience that God expects us to do in order to be saved?

          Have you understood what you just read about the context of John 3:14-16? I think you have. This is not hard to understand at all. And now we know, the long misunderstood doctrine of “saved by faith only” is just not true. So, what do we need to know and to do in order to be saved? Well, we know we need faith, that part is clear. And we also know from John 3:14 and James 2 that “works of obedience” are required as well. What else?

          How about repentance? What does the Bible say about repentance. Can you be saved if you don’t repent? Look at what the Bible says about repentance. Here are the very words of Jesus.

Luke 13:5 (NKJV)

5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

Does this leave any doubt that repentance is required for salvation?

And what does the Bible say about “confession”? Is confession required for salvation? Now I am not talking about the type “confession” you see in the Catholic Church. No, the Bible does not recognize this type of practice at all. I am referring to what the Bible tells us to do. I am talking about a public confession that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Romans 10:9-10 (KJV)

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

          Any doubt? The Bible says it ant that makes it clear. Confession that Jesus is God’s Son is required to be saved.

          And here is the one requirement that makes denominational people squirm. The Bible says it, but denominations have been denying it for almost 1,000 years.After this much “advertising” of a false doctrine like “salvation by faith alone”, people have been led to believe what they have been told so many times that they won’t look at the Scriptures and they fight to defend what they have been told. Where do you stand with that mindset?

          Look at this Scripture and see what Ananias said to Saul when Saul was saved.

Acts 22:16 (NKJV)

          16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, “and wash away your sins”,                   calling on the name of the Lord.’

          Is there any doubt? In order to be saved do you need your sins washed away? According to this Scripture, what is the purpose of baptism?

          There is much more that could be said about the requirement to be saved. But the purpose of this article is to educate everyone about the meaning of John 3:14-16.

Carl O. Cooper

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Does God Cause Men To Act and Do His Will?

Posted on February 15, 2025 by issuesandopinions

            There has always been confusion and debate within the church as to just how much and “if” God influences men to think and act a certain way in order to carry out the will and desire of God’s plans. For instance, did God harden Pharaoh’s heart so he would not let the children of Israel go? Or did God just “know” that Pharaoh would act a certain way on his on to carry out God’s plans?

            I think the following Scriptures will show, without doubt, that there are times when God influences men to act a certain way by using divine intervention in order to carry out His plans and His will. I do not mean by this that God causes men to do things that are contrary and against their own nature and creates in them a mindset to sin. But God uses the nature and personalities of men in ways that they are already influenced by their own desires. God uses these traits at times to cause them to act in ways to further the plans God intends to take place. .
Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV)

9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.  

Exodus 4:21 (NKJV)

21 And the Lord said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go.

Deuteronomy 2:30 (NKJV)

30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass through, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into your hand, as it is this day.

1 Kings 22:23 (NKJV)
23 Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”  

Romans 9:17-18 (NKJV)

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

Daniel 1:9 (NKJV)

9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs.

Ezra 6:22 (NKJV)

22 And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy; for the Lord made them joyful, and turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.  

            So there you have several Scriptures that show, without doubt, that God can influence the hearts of men in order to do His own will. God can influence the minds and hearts of men in ways that causes them to act in ways that carries out His divine will and plans.

            Does the potter have power over the clay?

Romans 9:20-23 (NKJV)

20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?”

21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,  

Carl O. Cooper

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Things to make a successful marriage

Posted on January 26, 2025 by issuesandopinions

By Carl O. Cooper

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

Things That Make a Successful Marriage

1. A mutual cause that is important to both.

            (The best is when it benefits others by benevolence) A. Church, Business, Hobby

2. Friends and family who love you both.

3. Special time together, doing something you both like.

4. Commitment to true principles.

5. Complete honesty and total trustworthiness.

6. Character and principles will only come   from a true religion.

7. A trustworthy faith

8. Communication to each other…Talk about your feelings and desires.

9. Never go to sleep angry with your mate.

10. Never, never lie to your mate, or deceive your mate.

            A. No surprises at all.

1. Never, never flirt…even as a joke, or to get even, or accidentally, or even give the slightest                        appearance of doing so…never.

2. Be quick to forgive.

3. Be quick to be sorry.

4. Cultivate compassion on anything.

5. The man is the leader, with no uncertainties,

no doubts, and no regrets.

6. Learn to laugh together.

7. Never use alcohol…it will cause unfaithfulness.

8. Do not counsel those whose marriage is breaking up until you are 50 years old.

A. Do not have them as friends.

9. Do not have a depressed person as a friend.

10. Stay away from people without good character and morals.

11. If your mate objects to something you do…stop it at once.

12. Stay away from questionable situations, and people and places.

13. Do not go out with friends alone.

14. Never, never take a job assignment where you are expected to go out of town with an                                   opposite sex business associate.

15. Do not discuss any marital problems you have with a friend of the opposite sex.

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When you see your marriage in trouble By Carl O. Cooper

Posted on January 26, 2025 by issuesandopinions

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

Advice To a Married Man.

Keeping a Marriage Healthy

            I’ve been married for 52 years. I’m now an old man. But I was young once and I remember full well what I was like as a young married man. I didn’t do everything right, I admit that. And looking back on my own life and watching how things have turned out for other men, have taught me a thing or two which I would like to pass on to you.

             Wisdom comes from experience. There is so much to be learned by watching how things begin and watching as they progress through the years and then seeing how they turn out in the end. This is a genuine learning experience that teaches life by living it. I have seen many marriages start out and watched as they progressed through time, including my own. I have seen things that caused marriages to fail and things that could have been corrected if there had only been an effort to keep the marriage healthy.

            Young married men are tugged at from every side. Everyone and everything want part of your time. From my own experience I can tell you that there is always something that seems to demand your time. There is your family and church, but there is also your job.

            The job seems to make big demands on your time and attention, and it never seems to be satisfied with a small part. It requires constant attention if you expect to be a success and get ahead in your career.

            Most of the time, no one else seems to realize and understand what this job means, except you. Not only are you constantly measured and judged by your coworkers and managers, but you also measure yourself. You judge your own value and worth by how you measure up in your work. Most all men measure themselves in two ways: how do you measure up in your work and how do women think you look. If a man fails to measure up in at least one of these areas, he will do many things to try to compensate for this. Some of the things will cause a man to self-destruct.

            Another thing that pulls and tugs at a young man’s attention and time is personal recreation. A huge mistake that a young married man makes, that many times causes a marriage to fail, is personal recreation “with the guys”. This is almost a sure way to destroy your marriage. Stop and think for just a minute. A young wife has needs that cannot be overlooked and ignored. A young woman has a need for fun and recreation just as much as a young man does. However, the activities that are required are much different than a man in both type and motive. Her recreation needs to include some attention to her that lets her know that her husband loves her and wants to be with her.

            She needs your attention and your appreciation so that there is no doubt that she is the most important thing in your life. You may be controlled by your job in ways that cannot be avoided, but you can avoid leaving your wife alone to go out with the guys. Never, never, and I say never, choose the “guys” over your wife when you plan your recreation activities.

            Another thing that causes marriages to fail is a man who will place his mother on a higher pedestal of importance than his wife. I am not saying that you should not love your mother. But you must never love her more than your wife. Remember what the Bible tells you to do about your parents when you get married.

Genesis 2:24 (NKJV)

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

            There is a Godly separation that takes place with a man and his mother, and the wife is now the most important person in his life.

            Never choose your mother’s opinions about how you raise your children, how you run your house, and never side with your mother in a disagreement with her and your wife.

            Now I know mothers can sometimes be wise and sometimes they can have good advice, but if a disagreement arises between your mother and your wife, support your wife.

            Of course, you know that I am not talking about anything immoral or against Bible principles. The rule is this: never give any cause for your wife to think that you hold your mother’s love to a higher degree than you do hers.

            Do not go to your mother to seek advice, without taking your wife with you and only then if your wife thinks it is a good idea.

As a general rule, a woman is motivated by emotion more than a man. She needs attention, she needs romance, and she needs you to show how much you care by the way you treat her. This need is exceptionally strong in a woman. It was placed into her by God himself. A woman needs this emotion, this tenderness, and this loving nature to fulfill the role of a woman in taking care of babies and children and in being a loving wife to a man. Look what the Bible says about these emotions and desires.

Genesis 3:16 (NKJV)

16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.”

            A woman has a strong desire for the attention of a man. If you neglect these emotions in your wife, then one of two things will happen. Either you will be the cause of a miserable existence for her, or

you are looking at a failed marriage for you when she

finds this attention from someone else.

            There is another thing that you need to know to help you to have a happy and successful marriage. Never take your wife or allow her to go where alcoholic drinks are being served.

            Without a doubt, alcohol can ruin your marriage. The Bible declares it and tells you what to expect if either of you involve yourself with social drinking. The Bible tells us, flat out, that social drinking can cause flirtation and improper sexual thoughts between your wife and another man. Surely, you don’t want to take this chance. Look at what the Bible tells you that wine causes in people’s lives. Proverbs 23:29-33 (KJV)

20. Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

30. They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31.  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.

32. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

33. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

Keep your wife away from any place where drinking is going on and stay away from there yourself.

            The Bible does not lie. When it says your wife will be tempted to look on other men in an improper way, you know it is true, and you would be a foolish person to allow your wife to be tempted in such a way. Do not ever, be involved in drinking alcohol with your wife. This is a sure way to ruin your marriage.

            The next thing I would advise you to do is to develop common interests. Your wife needs to be your best friend. Take her places often, where she finds enjoyment. To some women it is a place where she is expected to dress up. In fact, most women like this. Almost all women love to go out places where they are expected to dress up to the 9’s and dazzle their husbands and have the feeling of being something special in your eyes. If you are smart you will find ways to set up “dates” with your wife. And there are other things as well. Find things you both can enjoy together. Sometimes women like the outdoors. Many women like hiking, fishing, boating, golf, and sports events. Just make sure whatever you do is centered on your wife and includes her in such a way as to never let her have a doubt that she is the most important thing in your life. After all, she is. Can you imagine what your life would be like without her?

            One last thing you need to know. As a man, you are the head of your house, as Christ is the head of the church.”

            The Bible explains it like this: your wife is expected to run your household. She has the authority to take care of the children as she sees fit. She has the authority to make the purchases for the house as she sees fit. And in general, she is the manager of the house. If there were to come a time when there is a decision that needs to be made and the two of you cannot agree on a decision, then as the head of the house you become the tie breaker. But remember, you are to love your wife as Christ loves the church. Christ would never hurt the church. And you should never hurt or be unfair to your wife.

            However, the organization of the church is not a democracy for members to vote on how it is set up. Christ is the head. But he loves the church, and he only does what is best and good for the church. We look to His word to settle disputes and make decisions. This is how it is with a husband and a wife.

            The two of you need to settle this in a calm and loving way before a problem comes up.

            You cannot expect your wife to understand this principle unless she understands and respects what the Bible has to say about these matters. As head of your house, you need to lead your family into a relationship with God and Jesus Christ. Do not delay this. Start that process now before it is too late for your marriage relationship.

            Unless you and your wife understand and become committed to a Godly way of life found in the

Bible, there is no absolute standard to govern your life and your marriage. You need this standard and if you and your wife are both committed to it you will never argue and question what “is the right thing to do.”

So, be a “man”. Stand up and lead your family into a relationship with Jesus and be the leader of your wife and family as Christ is the head of the church. Most women respect a husband who leads.

            Unfortunately, by the time you are reading these words your marriage may already have fallen on hard times. If you want to save it and if your wife is willing to be included, it is not too late to start practicing these things I have told you to do. You fell in love once and you can do it again. Love can be rekindled between two people if they behave in such a way as to let it happen. Give these suggestions a try. There are not many women that would not respond if you treated them the way I have advised you to conduct yourself in this book.

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If you see your marriage in trouble By Carl O. Cooper

Posted on January 26, 2025 by issuesandopinions

Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage

What can you do if you see your marriage in trouble?

            The first thing you need to do is to consider the seriousness of a separation or a divorce. If you are a Christian and you are married to a Christian, you should already know what the Bible says about divorce and separation. You are not to separate from your marriage partner, but if for some reason you do have to separate, then you will remain single and therefore celibate or you will reconcile. Consider this Scripture.

1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NKJV)

  1. Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
  2. But even if she does depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

            There are many reasons why a wife might have to depart from her husband. She just might not have any choice in the matter. Some women have to depart to escape violent behavior and the fear of bodily harm. And some husbands divorce their wives because they don’t want them anymore. Of course, anything said about a wife having to depart could also apply to a husband.

            There can be an innocent party to a divorce that would have no choice but to depart. No divorce can only involve one party. The law divorces both marriage partners at the same time even though one may not have wanted the divorce.

            But even when this is the case, your options for remarriage and starting over are extremely limited. You are not free to remarry unless the divorce was caused by sexual immorality, and you are the innocent party. This situation is extreme, and I have no words of my own to make this emotional trauma, this suffering, this distress, just go away.

            My only advice will have to be in harmony with the Scriptures. Before you decide to walk down the aisle in marriage, make sure you count the costs. Are you really confident and ready to spend the rest of your life with this individual? Marriage is always for life for both of the marriage partners involved.

            Don’t yoke yourself with an unbeliever or someone who is involved in a false religion that does not follow the pattern of the church we read about in the New Testament. More than anything else, you want a marriage partner that will help you and your children live a Christian life and spend eternity in heaven.

            But if you see your marriage in trouble, don’t wait too long to start some type of first aid that will help it to heal. The first thing to do to heal a marriage is to talk to one another.

            Try to find out why your marriage is in trouble and isolate the cause or causes as you can. If you cannot work this out between the two of you, then you may need help. Whoever you choose to counsel you both will have no effect unless both partners have respect for his opinions. The ideal person to do this would be a fellow Christian with these types of skills. I don’t advocate that you choose just any Christian: not even if he is an elder or a preacher or someone who is respected by other Christians. He really needs to have some counseling skills. And I don’t mean by that to include only someone who has some type of professional counseling certificate.

            You may not know anyone that fits all these qualifications I have just listed. If that is the case, you may have to choose a stranger. If that happens you will most definitely have to choose a qualified professional. But be careful about this because they might be so worldly that they advise you to sin against your Lord.

In the meantime, while you are trying to work out solutions to the problems and details, there needs to be some new patterns and changes designed in your relationship with your mate. You fell in love together once, it’s time to try for that relationship once again. It’s true that things may have gotten in the way of this dating and togetherness, but now is the time to find new ways to spend time together. Pay attention to what activities make the other person happy and learn to find happiness in those things yourself.

            If your husband likes football or sports, learn to like them yourself. If your wife likes to go to plays or concerts, learn to like them yourself. Spending time together won’t have the same effect if one person is complaining about the activity you are involved in. Stop your complaining about anything and find a way to be happy when you are with your spouse. There is a great contentment that comes over a man when his wife is singing around the house. All men feel good when they see their wife happy and contented and singing for no reason other than they are happy. I’m sure women must feel the same way.

            Having some type of togetherness that is planned out and anticipated is a soothing balm for a marriage. Part of the fun and enjoyment about these planned events is the planning and the anticipation. Being able to look forward to these events and enjoying the waiting and then the event itself is marriage therapy.

            Don’t wait until your marriage is in trouble and out of control before you start the medicine to keep it healthy.

            Love is a powerful emotion and has the power to change the world. People will change their personalities and their lives because they discovered the emotion of love. People will make and keep commitments because of love. Drug addicts and alcoholics can change their lives because of the love of a woman or a commitment to God.

            A person can fall in love suddenly. Sometimes it takes a touch, sometimes only a conversation. But love changes lives for the better when the two people have a right to be together.

            But love is an intellectual emotion as well. You have the ability to control the emotion of love. You can keep yourself under control and in check if you find yourself in a tempting environment and you don’t have to sin. God has told us that there will always be some way of escape.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

            Now unless we want to call God a liar, this Scripture is true. Don’t ever try to say that a temptation was too strong for you to overcome.

            Most marriages that fail because of adultery follow the same pattern of excuse. The guilty party will almost always say, “I didn’t mean to fall in love with this other person.” The real truth is that they did not want to escape the temptation.

            God will provide a way for you to escape temptation, but you must want to find it.

                        If this should happen in your marriage, it is a cause for a Scriptural divorce and only the innocent

party will ever have the right to marry again. Don’t ever let this happen to you. If you let it happen, you are faced with the rest of your life living celibate without another wife if you expect to go to Heaven when you die.

            If you have sinned against your partner, you need to repent. You have wronged them in a most horrendous and awful way. You need to pray to God for forgiveness and try to find forgiveness from your mate. Your only hope to have a marriage partner would be to reconcile with your spouse. If that cannot be done you can never marry again. And what is even worse; if you do remarry, then you cause your new spouse to commit adultery because they married you.

Matthew 5:32 (NKJV)

32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

(This verse applies equally to a woman or a man)

            By now we have covered the seriousness of this situation. Do your best to keep your marriage healthy before it has a chance to lose its health. Start today and don’t delay. Pay attention to your mate. Everyone needs the 3 A’s to have good emotional health.

Everyone needs the 3 “A’s”

Attention, achievement, and appreciation.

Find a way to generate all three of these things in your spouse. It will make you happy as well.

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Explanations for 1 Corinthians Chapter7

Posted on January 26, 2025 by issuesandopinions

Explanations For 1 Corinthians 7

Concerning Marriage and Divorce

By Carl O. Cooper

I. 1 Corinthians 7:1-9

          A. In these 1st. 9 verses Paul is advising the church in Corinth that they would be better off if they did not get married. At first that seems to be unusual advice for Paul to give. But when you consider the environment the people of Corinth were living in, it actually makes good sense. These Christians were being severely persecuted for their Christian faith. Paul realized that if a man had a wife and a family to worry about he would be more worried about them that he would be about serving Christ. How could you publicly confess Christ if you were afraid your family would be targeted for abuse for your actions? This was a very real problem in Corinth during that time in history.

II. 1 Corinthians 7:10-11

          B. In these verses Paul gives his advice for the married Christians in Corinth. And in the process this advice from the Holy Spirit touches the lives of all married Christians everywhere and in every age. This advice is clear. They are not to separate and divorce.

          C. The words “separate” and “divorce” are used in the NKJV and some others but the Greek words here carry multiple meanings just as English words have multiple meanings. Verse 10 reads like this;

                      1 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NKJV)

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.  

          Now in these verses the differences are not significant because we understand the meaning of the context. The context is clear. Married Christians are not to separate and divorce.

          Now it was not easy for a woman to separate from her husband in those days. Women had no rights in a marriage as a man did back then. She may have been able to separate in some cases, but her husband had all the power and authority and she had none. She certainly did not have the authority to sue her husband for a divorce as women have today. Her husband, on the other hand, could divorce his wife at will. You will remember that Jesus had to set the record straight when he revoked the concessions Moses had made about divorce. This is found in Matthew 19:9. But either way the message is clear. Christians are to stay together. This was Paul’s command to the Corinthians and it applies to us today just the same.

          Now as far as these Greek words are concerned, “to depart” is a translated English word for the Greek word with the Strong’s reference number “G5563”. This word carries multiple meanings. This word is translated 13 times in the KJV Bible and never translated “Divorce”. Other definitions are used such as “depart”, “separate”, and “put asunder”. This is the word used for the woman’s action in verse 10.

          In verse 11 the man is told not to divorce his wife. But even here the Greek word carries the Strong’s number “G863”. This word is translated 146 times in the KJV and is translated using the English words, “put away”, “leave” and even “forsake”. It could, by implication, be translated divorce as in the case of this man in verse 12. The KJV never translates this word “divorce, in the KJV the English words “put away” are used.

However, let us never forget what Jesus told the world in Matthew 19:9.

Matthew 19:9 (NKJV)

9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”  

So there you have it. Christian people are not to separate or divorce. The only exception to this command would be if there was sexual misconduct involved with one or both.

III. 1 Corinthians 7:12-17

          A. 1 Corinthians 7:12-17 (KJV)

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 

B. As anyone can see with these verses, Paul starts addressing a new category of Christians starting in verse 12. This new category is designated as “The Rest”. These are Christians in the church who have married a “non-believer”.

          Now as my daddy uses to say, “this is serious business”. The reason this is so serious is because a Christian is commanded in the Scriptures not to marry a non-believer.

          In 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (KJV)

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?  

          These Scriptures now take up the subject of a man or woman who is in the church as a Christian who’s spouse is not a Christian. These people are “Unequally yoked to a non-believer”.

          Now this is not talking about a Christian in the church who wants to marry a non-believer. This context is about someone who comes into the church already married to a non-believer. How do we know that this is the context of these verses?

          Well, look at verse 17. That clears up the context with no doubts.

17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.  

          So,  “the rest” that Paul is referencing here in this section are those who have come into the church already married to a non-believer. Not some Christian in the church who wants to commit sin by marrying a non-believer.

          Well, what are these people suppose to do about this situation?

          Simple to see, right? They are not to separate or divorce.  

          What did Jesus say about divorce? There is “only one reason for divorce”, right? That would be for sexual misconduct. So what do these people do about being yoked together with an un-believer? Paul says they are to stay together if at all possible. But if the non-believer leaves, they are to let him leave.

          The ideal solution to this dilemma would be for the non-believer to become a Christian.

          However you will also notice here that there is no mention of either party marrying someone else. This separation is not grounds for an approved divorce by God. To divorce for this cause is still a sin.

Now a Christian who would want to marry a non-believer is not mentioned in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7.

That situation is covered in 2 Corinthians 6:14

IV. 1 Corinthians Verses 25-38

          A. In this section Paul talks about unmarried women. He advises them to remain unmarried if they can but if they cannot they have not sinned. He lists many reasons why it would be better for them not to marry given the times in which they were living.

V. 1 Corinthians 7:39 Paul here address Christian widows whose husband has died.

          A. 1 Corinthians 7:39 (KJV)

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.  

          B. So a Christian widow must marry a man who is also a Christian. That is the meaning of “only in the Lord”. Now I know that there are many, many people who would like to find some way, any way, for this Scripture to allow a Christian widow to just marry anyone she wants to. Many ways have been suggested to spin these verses to allow a Christian to violate the command, “do not be unequally yoked together with a non-believer”.

          Now I ask you, the reader, is that good advice? What is likely to happen to a Christian widow if they marry a non-Christian? Doesn’t everyone see clearly the problems with that type of remarriage? God sees it too. That is why He says not to do it.

          Some people would explain this verse by saying that the phrase “only in the Lord” modifies the word “Marriage”. If it did then it would be saying that the marriage must be in the Lord. In other words, the person this widow married must be properly divorced or he must be able to marry without violating God’s commands about marriage.

          Let me tell you this! That explanation is not correct!

        Once again let’s explore the Greek text for these verses.

          The Greek word that has been translated into the English words “only in the Lord” or “in Christ” carries the Strong’s reference numbers G1722 (in) and G5547 (Christ).

          The Greek word here is “en” which is translated “in the”.

          The meaning of “en” is:

          A Primary preposition denoting a “fixed” position. (In place, time, or state). Strong’s Greek and Hebrew Dictionary. Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition. Strong’s Talking Greek and Hebrew Dictionary.

          Now in case this explanation is not clear, it means this; The Greek word “en” is a preposition that shows a fixes position in time, place, or state and it never modifies an action verb unless another preposition separates the phrases.

          So there you have it from the Greek. Marry is an action verb. And the preposition phrase  “in the Lord” cannot modify an action word. Instead, it modifies “whom she wishes” which would be the man she marries. (Which is a fixed state without an action verb).

          I don’t usually endorse the NIV translation but in this case they got it right.

1 Corinthians 7:39 (NIV)

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.  

1 Corinthians Chapter 7 covers several things about marriage and divorce of several types. But everything we need to know about these subjects is not covered in these verses. Don’t forget Jesus’ explanations about divorce in Matthew 19. And don’t forget about Paul’s commands in 2 Corinthians about being unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The command not to be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever is so important to the young people in our churches. We are losing 60 – 80%  of our young people and a large part of the reason is because they marry the wrong people. If we don’t teach them that the Bible commands a Christian to marry another Christian we will lose many, many more.

Carl O. Cooper

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Grief

Posted on June 13, 2024 by issuesandopinions 
Grief 

My Friend, I plead, don’t waste your grief.
You’ve suffered hard with no relief.
But in this life you’ve crossed a line
And through the fire you’ve been refined.

These lessons came with such a loss
Don’t waste what came at such a cost.
What did you learn from all this pain?
And did you get some kind of gain?

Are you wiser and smarter than you were in the past?
Do you think that this wisdom is likely to last?
Somewhere there’s a brother, who has such great needs.
Help him my friend, for you know how he bleeds.

You suffered hard, I understand.
You’re not alone, all through this land
People are trying just to live through the day.
Use all that you’ve learned to help them some way.

You can carry this heartbreak of yours to the grave,
Or you can reach out to others and try just to save
As many as listen to what you can say
And find comfort from you as they get through the day.

Don’t waste your grief!!!!

By Carl O. Cooper
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Home On The Range

Posted on May 16, 2024 by issuesandopinions

Home On The Range

By Carl O. Cooper

I got a 10 gallon hat,

And a horse named Old Blaze.

And 10 thousand acres

For my cattle to graze.

And a river runs through it

And cuts it in two.

And the land runs forever

And the sky is so blue.

I got an oil well that’s pumping

And it’s pumping black gold.

I have a race horse that’s healthy

And she’ll soon have a foal.

When I look in the distance

I see the mountains are white.

I think Old Blaze could make it

In a day and a night.

Now I long for the freedom.

And the stories I’d tell.

If Old Blaze could just take me

To that far mountain trail.

I know I’m not happy

‘Cause something’s not right.

I long for the distance

Where the eagles take flight

I know someday I’ll make it

But the time is not now.

I long for that freedom

But I just don’t know how.

If things come together

And in just the right way.

I’ll mount up on Old Blaze

And we’ll just ride away.

I can still see the freedom

It’s just over that hill.

And someday I’ll find it

I know that I will.

Note; Can be sung to the tune of

Mockingbird Hill

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