Expert: Scott Talbot - 11/18/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi Scott! I have a couple of concerns. This is my first time on this website so please be patient with me. I have a friend (one of my college peers) who attends a church whose ministers live together in communal living --- they call it a faith home. I have never heard of anything like this and it is quite strange to me. These ministers say that they have forfeited everything for the Lord. They have actually forsaken their families, homes, material possessions, and prior occupations because they say that God told them to forsake everything and come and join in the full-time ministry to serve Him. But I am highly troubled at all of this. The basis of this ministry comes off of Matthew 19:29, but they only quote verse 29, but never read verse 30! When I read verse 29, what stands out to me is: "shall inherit eternal life." Is Jesus teaching that Christians should physically abandon their lives altogether to come and serve Him? Peter says earlier, "Lo, we have left all and followed you." Are these ministers just trying to reenact what the early disciples did and not understanding the context of what Jesus is teaching here? What does Matthew 19:29 really mean? (including verse 30, which they never mention). Please explain. Thanks and God bless graciously for your time!

ANSWER: Hi Erika,

It's nice to hear from you.

Let's take a look at Matthew 19:27-30.

Jesus had just finished challenging the rich young man to sell everything and follow Him. The point of this interaction was to demonstrate to the man (and to us) that we cannot and should not trust riches, but rather God alone, for salvation. It isn't wealth that Christ was condemning, but rather dependence on wealth rather than on God.

Peter responds by asking Jesus the question, "We have left everything to follow you! What will our reward be?"

To this, Jesus responded that the reward for believers will come at a later time, when He returns to earth, establishes His kingdom, and makes everything right. Jesus says that those who sacrifice physical blessings now will be more than compensated in the future for their losses. This will all be IN ADDITION TO the gift of eternal life (which the Scriptures clearly teach is received as a free gift with no strings or conditions--see Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5).

While it might seem to the disciples that they are giving up everything now and are "last," they will be receive blessings in the future and will be "first." Conversely, those, like the rich young ruler, who appear to have everything now (the first) will discover someday that they have lost everything (they will be last).

The circumstances at this time were much different than they are today. First, it is possible to be a committed Christ-follower in most cultures without having to make much of a sacrifice (though we still do well to remember to place our faith in Christ, and not material things, position, power, popularity, good works, or anything else). Second, the Messiah Himself was alive and walking on the earth! This presented a unique opportunity to follow Him and maximize the opportunity to get to know Him and learn from Him. Today we can do that without having to leave our homes, our families, etc.

The practice you mentioned of the ministers living together ... this sounds quite unusual to me, too. This parallels the practice of monks and nuns who believe that there is virtue in removing themselves in large part from society and family. But such practice seems totally inappropriate in today's setting and reflects a gross misunderstanding of what Christ was teaching in this passage.

A great deal of time is spent in the New Testament talking about families. The family is God's invention, and it forms the basic building block of society. Families are GOOD things. Now this is not to say that everyone MUST marry and have children, because God allows for some to not marry. But the Scriptures are clear that families are a good thing, and not something to be avoided.

I hope this helps. Feel free to write back if you would like to chat further.

Scott

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: QUESTION: Scott,so sorry for asking but how does the individual know if God does not allow them to marry? Are you talking about celibacy in this case? So say for example in my case I want to get married soon..when you say that God does not allow some to marry do you mean does not give them the desire to marry? I thought marriage was a honor before the Lord? Please explain....
I also have some more concerns to address about this my peer's church. There is more.... and it is serious and almost detrimental --- the ministers are tied to this church ministry for life; perpetually, that's it till they die! I know for a fact that when a minister passes away, that the church leaders do not inform their families and the church buries them. Prior to entering the ministry they say that God called them through dreams and visions to do full-time ministry and directly spoke to them to forsake EVERYTHING (jobs, homes, college degrees, and education, families). It is required that the ministers stay celibate, and married couples entering this church ministry have to forfeit their marital privileges and become celibate. They are sent to different locations of the church by church leadership to 'preach'. They also forbid the use of medication and strictly apply this to the members --- this includes even to the point of not going to see the doctor or go to the hospital. They say that Jesus is the healer so this is why Christians must not take medication. One of the ministers had a revelation that any Christian who partakes of medication will not be raptured. So the members are forbidden from taking medication. Can you provide to me anywhere in the Scriptures where medication is forbidden and where they are getting this revelation from? IS A christian SINNING by taking simple medication or going to the doctor when sick. We know to pray for God's healing but where is the Scriptures that implies that one should not take medication or visit the physician? I am so very  sorry; I am frustrated with my friend. Thank you sincerely for your time.
Blessings in Him, Erika

Answer
Hi Erika,

First, let's address your question about marriage. Marriage is indeed honorable, and I think it's the norm for most people. There are some who choose not to marry, or who, perhaps against their wishes, never find a mate and marry. I don't believe anyone is ever forbidden to marry. You will not find that in the Bible. Instead, as you say, some may simply not have the desire to marry.

You are struggling with the teachings of your friend's church, and I have to say, I am, too. What they're teaching is NOT sound, Biblical doctrine. This notion of separating from society and being pressured to live a life of celibacy sounds almost cult-like. Claiming to obtain special revelation through dreams and visions is highly suspect, especially when it contradicts the teaching of Scripture.

There seems to be a lot of control forced upon the ministers and the people which sounds unhealthy.

The idea that it's wrong to use medication or see a doctor is just plain idiotic. Luke, who wrote one of the gospels and the book of Acts, was a physician, and he was never condemned for practicing medicine.

Sure, we are taught to trust God, the Great Physician, for healing. It is ultimately He who heals. But how does He do it? Sometimes, it's through our using the resources that He has made available to us, including medicine and doctors.

Does God provide our financial needs? Absolutely! How does He do it? By our going out and getting a job. Just because God promised to provide our needs, this does not mean that we should sit back and do nothing and expect money to rain from heaven.

There's God's part, and there's our part. We trust God to do His part. But we are also responsible to do our part. And, when it comes to medical care, that includes using good, old-fashioned common sense and taking responsible action.

Think about it. You walk across the street and get hit by a car. Your leg is broken. The EMT's show up to take you to the hospital to fix your leg. What do you tell them? I'm fine, I'll just trust God to heal my broken leg? Of course not.

Your friend is involved in a religion of some sort that may seem OK in certain ways, but which is very dangerous. Be gracious with your friend, but do what you can to help her see the problems.

Scott