Do Not Pray

Dr. Couch, are there ever times we are told by the Lord not to pray?

ANSWER: Yes, there are such times. When Israel was so rebellious and sinful God told Jeremiah: "Do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me, for I do not hear you. Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?" (Jer. 7:16-17). He added: "Do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of there disaster" (11:14). And, "Do not pray for the welfare of this people. I am not going to listen to their cry; … I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine and pestilence" (vv. 11-12).

The Lord added, even if Moses and Samuel interceded for them I would not respond (15:1). "My heart would not be with this people; send them away from My presence and let them go!" They will ask, "Where shall we go?" They are doomed for death, and the sword, and for famine, as well as captivity (v. 2). "I shall appoint over them four kinds of doom: sword, dogs to drag them off, the birds to eat their flesh, and the earth to devour their flesh" (v. 3). All kinds of horror will overtake them.

So with America! We are doomed for destruction. We had it all and threw it all away. To pray for America is quickly becoming a waste of time. For Israel, even if Noah, Daniel and Job were in their midst, they could only save themselves, not the people of God (Ezek. 14:14).

The Lord will reach a point when He is finished with the sins of America and will not respond to our needs. People can push Him too far with He says enough is enough! We don't think that can happen but indeed it can! We try the Lord to the inth degree and He gives up on a wayward people. We must accept His mercy NOW and not try Him forever! I believe America has almost reached this point now.

Thanks for asking.
--Dr. Mal Couch (10/11)

Familiar Spirit

Dr. Couch, what is a familiar spirit?

ANSWER: The expression "familiar spirit" is referring to a spirit or demon that indwells a medium. "Familiar" implies the spirit that abides within a witch or warlock. That spirit is residing in and controlling the medium in carrying out demonic activities.

The KJV uses the expression "familiar spirit" but the NASB uses the expression "a medium." Leviticus 19:31 says "Do not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God."

"Defiled" is a reference to the fact that they were casting bones of the dead in order to read orders set forth by Satan or the demons.

In the Zondervan King James Commentary recently published I wrote on the book of Leviticus:

The Jews were not to follow pagan customs "in contrast to how the Lord (v. 30) was to be worshiped. Also prohibited were necromancy (worship of the dead) and the worship of familiar spirits (v. 31). Israel was not to seek advice from witches and warlocks (wizards). The Jews would be defiled by them. These verses give hints of how prevalent such practices were. Such prohibitions set the nation of Israel in contrast to the other peoples of the world."

America is moving back to spiritism and demon worship on our Mexican and Southwestern borders. In Mexico there are demon malls with shops that sell witchcraft items, books, booklets, skulls, amulets, watchcraft paraphernalia. These malls are now coming across the borders and selling such items in the Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California towns. One man told me that many kids are hanging out in these demon malls and being influenced by what is sold in these shops.

The flood of the illegal and legal immigrants is changing the moral and spiritual landscape of America. We are moving from a Protestant-European oriented nation to an Hispanic-Spanish, Catholic and demonic-oriented country. There is no turning back. This is a judgment of God. Our country will never be the same. The peace and quiet that we once had is disappearing.

You will not hear this from other Bible teachers but you will hear the truth from Dr. Couch. I am blaming no one but ourselves. We have changed as a people. We have embraced the other cultures. While God loves all, there is a truth to the fact that other cultures are not Reformation cultures. They do not see the Word of God as we do. We have forfeited our heritage.

I just heard that at our "big" secular universities, the young people are sharing names and photos with those who want to have sex together in the dorms of those schools. Those are the elite schools that cost $40,000 each year for tuition. Do the parents know what is happening with their kids? I doubt it! That is our next generation and leaders. We have indeed destroyed our heritage!

—Dr. Mal Couch (4/11)

Truth Today

Dr. Couch, what has happened to truth in today's world?

ANSWER: The core of all truth is spiritual and it comes from the Bible. God's Word is truth itself and the Lord says He is the Way and the Truth and that men must come to God through Him (John 14:6). He is also the Light of the world, and without Him, as clearly revealed in Scripture, the world gropes in spiritual darkness (9:5). The Way and the Light are being further erased from our culture. The Bible is being rapidly buried from sight, and thus Christ is being forgotten! There is no return in my view; and, we are sinking further into the apostasy of the church. This is impacting every aspect of life: political, social, domestic, educationally, and of course morally and spiritually!

The Lord has made Himself available to the lost but they must come to Him by way of Truth (Psa. 145:18). Truth comes only through the Lord (146:6). He keeps or maintains the standard of Truth personally. His truth is reflected only in Scripture!

Human beings cannot claim glory nor do they know what truth is apart from revelation! Glory belongs to Him and His name. He alone reflects true mercy and truth (115:1). A good synonym for truth is reality. We cannot know reality, what is true and right, apart from divine knowledge given only in the Bible.

We human beings will fade away because we are like grass (Isa. 40:8). "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever."

We are seeing the death of truth in the American culture. We are seeing it in choice of our elected officials by people who do not understand reality. Few are able to discern today. The judges and leaders are blind and the people do not know the difference.

Thanks for asking.
Dr. Mal Couch
#292

Conservative Talk Shows

Dr. Couch, what are we to think of the conservative talk show radio hosts? ANSWER: We should be glad they are on the air and that they are bringing us information about what is happening in our country and in the world. All of them believe in God and the Bible but we don't know for certain that they are born again. I hope so, and, we need to pray for them, for their salvation and for their protection. I do not expect them to be evangelical theologians and understand everything that I do about spiritual matters, but I still should be grateful for the fact that they are sticking their necks out for truth. My question to you: Are you doing the same thing as an evangelical Christian? Probably you are not, and neither am I! So we need to be thankful when truth goes forth. They could any day now be cut off the air and then we will fall into deep silence about what is happening in our nation. I think we will be more thankful if they disappear from the airways! Amos says: "Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and thus may the Lord God of hosts be with you. Just as you have said! Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the gate (in the public arena). Perhaps the Lord God of hosts may be gracious to the remnant of Joseph" (Amos 5:14-15). By the way, we should not be praying for things to go back the way there were, that is, simply back to prosperity and the purchasing of things, and more things! We should be crying out about our sins. But our country hates God, and Christ. Amos 5:10 says that the world hates the one who reproves the people at the gates. In fact "they abhor him who speaks with integrity." So they hate God when He reproves us from His Word. People do not want truth. --Dr. Mal Couch (12/10)

Unthankful

Dr. Couch, it seems that Americans are too unthankful. Do you agree? ANSWER: Paul reminds Timothy that marriage and food is given to us by God, created by Him, therefore we should gratefully share our bounty, that is, we who are "those who believe and know the truth" (1 Tim. 4:3). "Men," refers to the world and the lost, and here in this verse, are those who forbid marriage. The Greek is stronger. "Forbid" is "kaluo" and means "to prevent, hinder, restrain, deny, clip, lop off." This is happening in America now. Over 50% of people are just living together without marriage. 50% of all children born in this country are from unwed couples. The results of this promiscuity, this sleeping around, is that 50% of young people have some form of venereal diseases. Many of these diseases are incurable. Paul adds that "everything created by God is good and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude" (v. 4). Nicoll adds: "Paul does not merely desire to vindicate the use of some of God's creatures for them that believe, but the use of all of God's creatures, so far as they are not physically injurious. 'God saw every thing that He made, and behold, it was very good'" (Gen. 1:31). Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (11/10)

Tolerance and Truth

Dr. Couch, tolerance seems to be the word for today. No one can speak the truth with strong conviction as the apostle Paul in the NT. What do you say? ANSWER:  Paul comes out swinging with strong words in his epistles against sin and its consequences. For example, in 1 Timothy 1, he makes it clear that evil is thoroughly evil and must be addressed. He says that the law was righteous but it was given for those who were unrighteous and rebellious (1:9). He adds, the law was "for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers and mothers, for murderers, and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted."    Paul is saying that the gospel, and its indictment against the sins he has just listed, is to be applied to the culture and the society, not just for the acceptance within the church. These are sins that the gospel and the Word of God speaks against. Whether the culture likes it or not, these are sins that must be spoken against first by the Bible, and then by believers who are living in this world.    We presently have congressmen and judges in high places who are homosexuals and we should be able to speak out against them with the authority of the law of Scripture, that seems to be what Paul is saying in these passages.    We have been far too silent and passive. And I believe that we are all too afraid to address head-on the sinful state of our society. We have become quiet and do not have the ability to be vocal when the time arises.    Because of this silence, we will pay the price of seeing our nation sink deeper and deeper into the abyss of evil. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (11/10)

American Catholics

Dr. Couch, I appreciate your information about early America in your books, but what about the Catholics who came to this country early on? ANSWER: In Europe wars were raging between Protestant countries and Catholics but many Catholics realized that there would be a blessing in coming to America. The wars ceased in this country! The first Catholic settlement landed near what is now Baltimore. Thomas More, who was the Lord Chancellor of England, sanctioned the persecution of Protestants, even to the point of burning them at the stake. A century later, George Calvert, Lord Baltimore, projected a Catholic colony in America based on religious liberty. An expedition of Catholics landed on the island of St. Clement's on the Potomac River and held the first Mass on March 25, 1634. This was on the Feast Day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Lord Baltimore gave the Jesuits a subsidy to establish their work in that area. Strangely, Lord Baltimore, under the rule of Parliament, appointed a Protestant Governor with a majority of Protestant councillors. They submitted laws that brought the death penalty to any who spoke out against the Virgin Mary, the Apostles. As well, there could be whippings for anyone who said anything against Protestants or Catholics alike. The Catholics of Maryland settled in and lived at peace with their Protestant neighbors. They all accepted the peace between the two groups. Overt persecution did not raise its ugly head in the colonies. It was not until the first of the nineteenth century that many more Catholics arrived in America, and they were mainly (but not exclusively so) from Italy and the Latin countries. The Catholics accepted the spirit of America and lived side by side with the Protestant majority without major problems. While it can be said that there was peace between the two groups, it was Catholicism that became more "Protestant-ized" and accepted the good influences of the Reformation in America. Besides the East Coast, Catholics had pockets of populations in Louisiana, along the Southern borders, and in California. But for the most part, America would be Protestant in belief and opinion. Thanks for asking. Dr. Mal Couch (10/10)

President Obama and England

Dr. Couch, why does President Barack Hussein Obama hate England so much? That's easy. His grandfather and father were anti-Colonialists. They hated what they perceived were the sins of England. Now Britain did not do all things perfectly but we need to count her blessings in the past.    England gave to some degree the message of the gospel to the nations she went to. She also gave them roads, hospitals, English law, took away some of the horrible sins of the nations she had control over. For example, in India, the wives practiced sati,  the suicide by burning of the wife when the husband died! The English put in telephones, built railroads, etc.    Hussein Obama forgets all of this. England "made" the pagan nations and took them out of their paganism, at least to a degree. Hussein Obama forgets this.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (10/10)

Church Buildings and Money

Dr. Couch, a pastor near my home is building a half a million dollar church. He wants to rent it out to other groups in order to help pay for it. He wants to lease it out also to a Jewish group. Is this right? ANSWER:  It's not right to build such a monument to start off with. It's really a temple to the pastor, not to the Lord.     I would allow it to be rented out to a Jewish group. They are God's people though they do not trust the Lord Jesus, yet, as their Savior! But many will, soon!    The bigger error is the flashing of the money, just as we go into hard times financially. This is foolishness. But you cannot tell such a pastor. He's into the American way. Bigger is godly, according to his thinking, but this is not so! What a waste of time and money!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (10/10)

Feminine Movement

Dr. Couch, what is your view about "liberated" Evangelical women who buy into the Feminine Movement? ANSWER:  It is better to get the opinion of a well-educated Christian woman who knows her Bible, like Dr. Lacy Couch. She can't stand the fema-Nazis that are influenced by the culture. We find it funny that they want to appear so liberated but they actually are not. They go along with the crowd and throw the Bible to the wind.    It's like the kids today who want to be so liberated and uninhibited but again, they are not. They do what the crowd dictates and wear what everyone else is wearing.    Dr. Lacy Couch points out that the unsaved women, and the fema-Nazi evangelical women, are really ignorant of Scripture. They mix up the difference between VALUE and ROLES. Men and women  are loved equally by the Lord; they have the same VALUE before Him. But their ROLES are entirely different. And the dumb fema-Nazis can't seem to get that. They actually want to do what the guys do. So far it is 100% of men I talk to in the military who make it clear that the women in the military who try to be like the guys just can't make it! Behind their backs the guys just laugh. They put the gals in the motor pool to change truck tires, which they can't. So they give them the easier jobs and the gals think they are equal but again, they are not! The men just laugh behind their backs.    Statistics and biological facts make the difference. Men have 50% stronger upper-body strength, have 50% more stamina, and can run on the average 50% longer than the little girls. That's facts!     Each sex has its own ROLES. And this is the perfect plan of God. He knew what He was doing! We have concluded that the women just like to be in the company of the men. That's why they want to push the feminist agenda. Dr. Lacy Couch has had many of this kind in counseling and finds that they really have been brainwashed (but they don't think they have been!).    The prophet Isaiah blasts the feminist movement when he writes about what the tribulation will be like. He says "O My people! Their oppressors are children, and women [will] rule over them. O My people! Those who guide you lead you astray" (Isa. 3:12), and, "Seven women will take hold of one man in that day, saying, 'We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name, takeaway our reproach'" (4:1).    By the way, there are women today who want to keep their maiden names but this last verse points out that the women have always wanted to take the names of their husbands, which has always been done until recently when the fema-Nazis took over!    If you want some books that will really open your eyes, I suggest the classic on the subject, "Evangelical Feminism & Biblical Truth" by Wayne Grudem (Multnomah) and a fully researched volume entitled "Co-Ed Combat" by Kingsley Browne (Sentinel). The book is endorsed by Dr. David Buss, professor of psychology, University of Texas. One endorsement read: "Praise for Kingsley Browne's Biology at Work" volume!    On the issue of the women as Pilot-esses Browne points out "on flying, the highly differentiated sexes, one can only conclude that the temperamental difference between the average fighter pilot and the average women is huge!"    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (10/10)

Jesus' First Miracle - Juice or Wine?

Dr. Couch, I have some "fundamental" friends who say that Christ at Cana turned the water into grape juice and not into alcoholic wine? What does the Bible say? ANSWER:  I do not know any scholar who knows his salt who would say that. I know of no reference that would speak simply of grape juice, though strong drink is mentioned, which was virtually liquor that was certainly addictive and harmful.    The Bible warns of whiskey in Proverbs 20:1: "Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise." In biblical days they fermented grapes by putting them in wine-skins. The water in the juice evaporated out through the skin leaving the fermented drink, which we call wine. The wineskin also expanded and that is why that same bag, or skin, could not be used again because it had expanded by fermentation as far as it could be stretched. Christ spoke of this process in Matthew 9:17.    The Bible approves of wine with moderation. The Bible is not advocating total abstinence but it is against excess. "Eat your bread in happiness, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart; for God has already approved your works" (Eccl. 9:7). And, "Men approve a meal for enjoyment and wine makes life merry" (10:19). "Wine makes man's heart glad" (Psa. 104:15).    This is not to say that wine is for everyone. Some Christians in Paul's day felt that the eating of meat and drinking wine was wrong. Therefore, the "stronger" brother, who had no problem with the same, was not to drink in front of the other brother lest he makes that one stumble. "It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles" (Rom. 14:21). "Do not get drunk with wine for that is dissipation" (Eph. 5:18).    The Bible argues for inner spiritual maturity and self-control. Wine in and of itself is not evil but the abuse of it is the problem. Paul says that whatever is sin to you is sin. For "whatever is not from faith is sin" (v. 23). So if you are convicted to not drink wine, then don't do it! But please do not go into the realm of foolishness and misinterpret the Bible because you are a legalist or a "fighting fundy."    I knew a couple who came out of the Funda_____ Baptist church movement. They never smiled, they were rarely happy, they were legalistic and would cut your gizzard out at a drop of the hat. They were self-righteous and wooden headed. They said that Christ could not have made true wine because alcohol in itself was evil. I pointed out to them that all Christians in Europe for two thousand years drank wine, thus I asked, "Were they all sinning?" And they answered "Yes." Can you imagine that every believer for two thousand years was sinning? The wife was a nurse and said there were two kinds of fermentations!!! How silly! They could not face the facts of John 2:1-11. They had a preconception that helped their legalism out!    In John 2:6 Christ called for the water-pots to be filled with water. Some argue that they did not have lids so what happened inside of them could not be fermentation. This will be a miracle. Christ did not have to have the pots closed with lids to do what He was about to do.    Notice when the wine was drawn out it was better than the first vats of wine, and people in those days served the best wine first and the not-so-good wine last. But Christ made wine that was better than at the first. "You have kept the good wine until now" (v. 10). This is not a group of Christians. It is just a wedding in which fermented wine was being served.    Remember the story of the calling of Matthew. He invited tax-gatherers and sinners to a three day banquet. Christ was reclining with them at the meal. The Pharisees came and said to the disciples: "Why is [your teacher] eating and drinking [grape juice] with tax-gatherers and sinners?" (Mark 2:16). No, this was not grape juice, and the Lord was partaking with them, and witnessing to them.    Because the industrial revolution in Europe, and in America, was so devastating on workers who went to the pubs and got drunk, in America Christians pushed for total abstinence. While this is a good practice for those who cannot take their wine, this is not what the Bible argues for.    In the Bible Knowledge Commentary put out by the faculty of "old" Dallas Seminary, there is an interesting statement. God yearly turns water to wine in the agricultural and fermentation processes. Here in John 2 He simply did the process immediately as a gift to the young couple getting married.    The great old Greek scholar Henry Alford gets angry with those who try to say Christ turned the water into grape juice. He says this is a "miserable attempt" made by some in that movement of narrowness to say that this was unfermented grape juice. This is a degradation of the Bible, he adds.    I too get angry when people misinterpret the Bible foolishly because of their legalism and self-righteousness. Get the main point of the Bible! Don't reinterpret it!    Now having written all of this, do what your conscience dictates. Remember, if it's sin to you, it is sin!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Mosque by Trade Towers

Dr. Couch, what do you think of the issue of building the mosque near the fallen trade towers? ANSWER:  While I don't like it, there are far greater issues that we all seem to be afraid of addressing. How did millions of Muslims get into America when we were all not looking? Why did generations of Americans in the past realize that this would not happen to our population? What did they know that we do not understand?    For generations we had immigration quotas in place. The doors were open to northern and western European immigrants but limits were placed on those coming from other nations. You may ask, but is that not prejudicial? No, it was wise because they realized that you cannot mix peoples from extremely different cultures and religions. You will water down our heritage and destroy our cultural base.    Liberals do not get it! They believe that all religions are equal but those who read their Bibles know better. You do not swing open wide the doors and flood your social structure with those who hold extreme views. The country will be destroyed. And of course that is what is happening right now!    The liberals do not calculate religions in the cultural mix. They think it does not matter who comes in to the country because to them there is no difference between one group and another group. But there is and those of the past knew so.    Before President John F. Kennedy there were quotas on those coming from other nations, except for those arriving from northern and western Europe. And there was what I call "Peace in the Valley!" Are not other religions pagan religions? If you are a Christian you know that they are pagan! And if so, then we cannot look upon them as the same as Judeo-Christianity. Because the Jews are God's blessed earthly people we should always make sure they are welcome. And so with those peoples coming from Europe. Now I am not saying that just because they come from Europe they are Christians. But their culture is similar to ours as well as their thought forms and belief systems. This creates a unity in our thinking processes, and that is important when you are building and sustaining a nation!    Concerning the religion of the Egyptians, God warned that the people from Egypt should not come into the Holy Land. God said, in reference to the Egyptians, "You shall purge the evil from among you" (Deut. 13:5). And for the one who thinks the gods of other peoples were okay, the Lord said "You shall not yield to him or listen to him" (v. 8). You shall not even take in the booty from pagan peoples! Thus, "When the Lord your God cuts off before you the nations which you are going in to dispossess, and you dispossess them, ... beware that you are not snared to follow them after they are destroyed before you" (12:29-30).    A Christian American Indian was asked if he does the dances that his people were doing. He answered, "Oh, heavens no! Those are pagan dances to their gods and we have put those from us." He was also asked "Should Christian Indians have totem poles in their yards?" And he answered again, "No, those are worshipped because they represented our pagan gods."     Unfortunately, it is too late. We will not turn this issue around. The liberals will continue to push their agenda on us. And even the conservative talk show hosts fail to get this issue. We are doomed to be able to change the patterns and the direction the country is going. The majority of our population just does not "get it."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (9/10)

Apostasy

Dr. Couch, you seem to be right on about the cultural apostasy that is now sweeping our nation, and of course, the entire world. ANSWER: This is setting us up for the tribulation. It will be a horrible time, though the true believers will certainly not be here. However, the church may go through the storm clouds of the tribulation and experience terrible things before the rapture. Remember, the wrath of God will fall on a specific generation that is definitely deserving God's judgment. It is not going to fall simply indiscriminately. It will be a judgment on a specific period of history with the population in massive rebellion against the truth.    In my view a cultural apostasy is mentioned in 2 Timothy 3:2: "For MEN (the lost) will be lovers of self, ..." They will "hold to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power ..." (v. 5). As the church goes, so goes the culture. Or, as the culture goes so goes the church! However you want to say it! Thanks for asking, Dr. Mal Couch (8/10)

Wickedness on the Earth

Dr. Couch, sometimes it seems as if the wicked will prevail on this earth. But what does the Scriptures say about this? I cannot help but think of our present President! What do you think? And by the way, do you see a lot of false pride in our leader? ANSWER;  God allows things to happen for specific reasons. For example, I love Psalm 17. It reminds us that God will have the last word! David pleads with the Lord and says: "Keep me [O God] as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings" (v. 8). Without the Lord's protection the "wicked will despoil me" (v. 9a), and "My deadly enemies will surround me. ... Because they close their unfeeling heart; and with their mouth they speak proudly" (vv. 9b-10).    When the lost go about they have no perspective as to what life is all about. They just go about with their eyes cast "down to the ground" (v. 11). They do not look up and know what is happening all about them. They are blinded to the reality of living! And they certainly know nothing about the Lord. They think they are smart but in reality, they are not!    They love to harm and rule over the Godly. They are "like a lion that is eager to tear; and as a young lion lurking in hiding places" (v. 12). They for the moment look so majestic and at peace but this is not so! They are quick to pounce on the righteous.    The psalmist David then pleads with the Lord: "Arise, O Lord, confront him, bring him low; deliver my soul from the wicked with Your sword" (v. 13).    The lost, the men of this world, have their portion only in this life (v. 14). With God's goodness and His treasure, they fill their stomachs (v. 14b). They live out their life and have children, but they leave their abundance to their next generation, "their babes" (v. 14b). But then David, a righteous and Godly man, pleads: "As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake" from the sleep of going home (v. 15).    On David's Psalm 17 Unger writes: "David calls upon the Lord to hear his righteous cause, to attend unto his cry, to give an ear to his prayer, to let God's eyes see things that are equitable. Though David was not perfect yet he still walked in obedience to the Word of God, "the Word of Your lips (Psa. 119:9) that is, that which came from the mouth and the heart of the Lord! David's steps must hold fast to God's steps and His path.    By the way, the "apple" of God's eye is actually in Hebrew "the little man, that is the pupil" of the eye. When you look closely at someone's pupil, you see looking back at you "a little man." The Word of God has humor!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (7-10)

Thank you, Dr. Couch

Dr. Couch, You did it again. You produced an excellent discussion of the Constitution with a young man who is unquestionable excellent--viz. Dr. Andy Woods. I have recently   finished listening to the CD on the Death of the Constitution for the second or third time (there is so much to learn). In any event, you noted at the beginning if we wanted extra copies to share, to let you know. I can use two copies of each part of the discussion to share with men at my church  (1 copy each part) and my sister's  church in Pennsylvania (1 copy each part). Thanks for your kind offer and even more for your timely ministry. In His grace, for His glory, Kenneth R. Cooper, D.D., Ph.D.

The Significance of Japheth

Dr. Couch, what is the significance of Japheth as mentioned in Genesis 9:27? Does this name have any significance with what is happening with the nations today? ANSWER:  You have some keen insights about history! Yes, this is an important passage about the nations. Japheth in Hebrew means "May he have space." Japheth was the father of the European peoples, the Indo-European nations. The sons of Japheth would "be enlarged" or blessed by God in that they will "dwell in the tents of Shem." Shem is the distant father of the Jewish people, the Shemites, or Semites.    Genesis 10 that follows immediately after 9:27 is called by the Rabbis, "a Messianic document." It lists all the nations of the world, all that come from Noah's three sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth. The Japhethites, the Europeans have been most blessed by the Jewish people, i.e., through Christianity and by the blessings that were bestowed upon Europe by the Jews themselves.    Unger has said that verse 27 shows that "Jehovah was the peculiar property of the Shemites. The Japhetic line is predicted to enjoy not only expansion of temporal possessions, but spiritual blessings as well. Christianity has had great outreach upon the Japhetic peoples of Europe and America."    Are cultures equal? Yes and no! All peoples are sinners and need the saving grace of Christ, but all peoples have not been equally blessed by the Lord with salvation. It's a fact of history that the Europeans have been most blessed by Israel and the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. America was founded by Reformation followers and by Europeans who came to these shores driven by spiritual issues. Other cultures have not been so blessed. In fact, other cultures may pull down America because their heritage is not the same. But it also must be said, in reference to America, the Europeans have allowed the cultural degeneration of others to weaken morally this nation. While in one sense we can understand how we have been weakened, we have thrown away our own blessings and heritage ourselves.    The prophecy by Noah in Genesis 9:27 is a large and broad prediction. But it has still dictated the direction of history. Now, there is "no place to hide." The moral and spiritual protection of any culture is over! The nations are now polluted, something that was in a sense foretold in early Genesis. Much more could be written on this issue, but I hope that this helps.    -- Dr. Mal Couch (1-10)

America's Collapse

Dr. Couch, why have things collapsed so quickly in our country, on every level—political, social, theological, cultural, etc.? ANSWER:  Things were building up more quickly than we could imagine—we just didn't notice the changes coming. Theologically, I believe this is a judgment from God upon an apostate nation, and world. We are moving rapidly toward the end times. America for some time now has walked away from the Lord. But on the human level, there are some things we can observe that I believe are part of God's judgment.    (1) We have for some time now departed morally. Drugs, abortion, homosexuality, etc. has been destroying us from within for decades. (2) The mixing of cultures that did not have the Judeo-Christian morality behind them. And, those who have Christianity as a heritage have apostatized into immorality anyway. The founding of the nation, and our Reformation European heritage has been long ago lost to this culture. (3) Our secular state universities have moved toward liberalism and socialism, and these views have been fed to our young people now for decades. (4) And, our young people have been so brainwashed from grade school to buy into the lies of Satan. And as well, the repudiation in our schools of any form of recognition of Christianity.    In many schools, they have discarded Christianity but have honored Muslim and Hindu holidays in place of Christian traditions. Now I know having a holiday does not make our nation "Christian" but there is still a principle being trashed. And we will pay a price for that.    I know for a fact that many of my school friends came to Christ because Bibles were passed out at school and there were plays and musicals given over to Resurrection Sunday and Christmas. Everyone knew that America's morality had its origins from the Word of God, even though they may not have been born again or went to church on Sunday. Without doubt, we have departed on one level or another, and we are going to pay the price.    Someone recently sent me an article about a paper written by a chaplain in the Army saying that the real enemy in this country is premillennialism. Premillennialists, he said, see things black and white, and this is causing problems with those who are conciliatory on issues. We knew that this argument would be coming—blaming the facts of Scripture for how we are perceived in the world. Pray that this will not bring more havoc on those who are proclaiming the truth in our culture.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Dec., 09)

Social Apostasy

Dr. Couch, I am being persuaded in what you say about a social apostasy coming upon the world. Can you explain a little more? ANSWER:  Yes, what I mean is that the culture, that in some places, to a large degree, has been blessed by biblical Christianity, will turn and be even more evil that previously. And this is exactly what happened in Europe some decades back, and has now happened in America during my lifetime. Christianity held back sin to some extent but now the roof has collapsed and sin is becoming more sinful!    And, the church then is becoming more like the world and the culture! We have some verses that I believe point this out. For example, 2 Timothy 3:1-2.    "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money ..." The verses speak of "in the last days difficult times will come." Paul is not in those verses talking about church apostasy but about cultural apostasy and evil growing worse and worse. The Greek reads "Time of stress, fierce, savage times." Paul uses the Future Tense of the "to be" verb. "It will be this way ..."    Then in verse 2 he does not speak of the church folks, but of "the men" of the world, using the Greek word, with the article, "hoi anthropos." This will happen when "the time" (kairos, chronology) will come, and grow more savage, when the change happens in the culture. Paul connects this thought with 4:3 when he writes: "For that 'time' (kairos, chronological period) will come (Future Tense) when 'they' (supplied by the translator) 'will not endure healthy doctrine ... '" Paul here is not talking about true believers but about those in the culture who apostatize from what little they know of truth.    He is not talking about true"possessing Christians" in 3:13, as some think, but again, he is talking about the lost in the culture, when he writes "But evil men (poneeros anthropos) ... and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." These are the lost men of the society, the culture, not those who are Christians (though the true believers will be deceived.). Indeed, the evil men are "impostors" (goees). This is the only place in the NT where this word is used. It's often translated "seducers." This is a better translation; they will be seducing and leading astray those who are professors, and who are taken down the wrong path, who go into apostasy and join them in their worldly sinfulness! "Goees" can be translated "a juggler, enchanter, one who uses incantations to deceive." This is happening and going on today. The church is getting like the culture.    "They will proceed" (Future Tense) is from the Greek word "prokopos" meaning "they will go forward, go forward hammering (as a smith hammers metal)," "promoting further" their evil agendas. And nothing will stop them; it will get worse and worse, as the apostasy takes over the culture even more!     The Bible Knowledge Commentary seems to agree with my thoughts on the passage. Several times it mentions "the people (the lost), when they the world will see terrible times of societal degeneration."    I believe we are now in religious, spiritual, and social degeneration and this is the sign that we are in "the last days."    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Dec., 09)

Inalienable Rights

Dr. Couch, is the idea of inalienable rights found in the Bible? ANSWER:  Good question, and I would answer yes. By Webster, the word "inalienable" means rights that cannot be transferred. Or, rights that each person has because he has been created in the image of God, and all are equal before God, whether this is the king or the subject to the king. This was the great struggle when democracy was being born in America. "Is anyone less than the king?"     Since all are created in the image of God (though now polluted by sin) He sees all equally. God so loves the world equally (John 3:16). Does any believer in Christ want to be seen as unequal in America? I think not.    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (Dec., 09)

Manhattan Declaration

Dr. Couch, what do you think about the Manhattan Declaration and the statement put together by the leadership of Chuck Colson? ANSWER:  A few months back I wrote online about the fact that Christians need to stand together on immoral issues being imposed upon us by the culture and by our government. Colson has put together a consortium of leaders from the Protestant churches, Catholic and Greek orthodox assemblies. The three issues focused on are:    (1) homosexuality, (2) marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and (3) the issue of abortion.    Some ask, "Should we join hands even with different Christian groups that are so doctrinally diverse?" Because of the urgency of the times, I'm rethinking some of the positions we all have taken in the past.    For example, if I joined and came aboard with the Manhattan Declaration, would I have to compromise my doctrinal beliefs and distinctions? Would I still be free to share the gospel as I understand it from Scripture? And as far as I can tell, those coming on board do not have to compromise such distinctions and beliefs. If that is the case, maybe it is time for us to join forces in order to present a united front. Compromising doctrinal issues is not part of the requirement. I can still believe what I wish to believe and witness to the Scriptures as I see fit.    One of the things that Colson is pushing for is that those who buy into the Manhattan Declaration will stand firm even if it means losing tax-exemption for ministries, and even facing arrest by being accused of promoting "hate crimes." I think many believers in Christ are reaching the point where "enough is enough"! We have taken it long enough, and, it is only getting worse!    Someone has rightly said that none of us makes a firm stand on issues until our own interests are at stake; until what we believe becomes threatened, then we move! And maybe we have arrived where our own circle is threatened.    I would like for those reading this to send me an email on your opinion on what I have just written, and on your opinion on the Manhattan Declaration. We will use your name, or not, whatever you desire. Please let me have your thoughts quickly!    Dr. Mal Couch (Nov., 09)