A Thank You

Dr. Couch, your book "Messianic Systematic Theology of the Old Testament" is really unique. The way you present the biblical doctrines with quotes from the Rabbis (and correcting them when they are wrong) is invaluable. I found the chapter on "The Son of God" particularly profitable. I have had the opportunity to witness to Jews and they are extremely confused about their own Messiah. Evan messianic Jews are confused, many of them are into Arianism. This book is a tremendous tool for evangelism. God bless you and God bless Israel! --Dr. E. R., Brazil



ANSWER: Thank you for your kind comments on the book. I wrote it for messianic Jews but as yet I only have a few takers. They are, unfortunately, too much into their own thinking without any training from theologians such as myself. Some believe we "Gentiles" certainly could not know anything about the OT. I will try to get the book out at no charge to any messianic Jew or anyone working with Jews for salvation. I sense that the Jewish community does not really want to know what the OT teaches, and too, I sense the same thing from messianic Jews. Many are into emotionalism and the charismatic movement but fail to try to understand the Scriptures from a strong objective position. They are really babes when it comes to studying the Word of God, and it seems often they just want to stay that way. If this is offensive to some and provokes them—good! I want them to start thinking and studying the Bible seriously, or otherwise, they are going to fail in their mission and in their comprehension of God's Word!

Again, thank you for your kind comments. —Dr. Mal Couch (6/1)

The Gospel of the Kingdom

Dr. Couch, what is the gospel of the kingdom mentioned in Matthew 24:14?

Answer: It is the "good news" about the coming kingdom of Christ that would be preached during the terrible period of the tribulation. We know this by the context of 24:4-28. This is not what the apostles were proclaiming. While the tribulation is bad, it will be the most productive period of evangelism ever! The gospel of the kingdom is about the fact that the Messiah is both the Savior and the coming King. Salvation is embedded in that message but the focus is about the fact that His coming will counter the kingdom of the antiChrist. Note that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached "for a witness to all the nations and then the end shall come" (Matt. 24:14). This may not happen now because the dispensation of the church age could end at any time be the rapture of the church!

We know from Acts that the disciples were proclaiming the gospel of personal salvation. See Acts 15 and look at what was happening at the Jerusalem Council. "Conversion of the Gentiles" (v. 3) and the fact that the Jews, the Pharisees, were believing in Christ as their Savior (v. 5). The Jews and the Gentiles were having their hearts "cleansed by faith" (v. 9). "Signs and wonders were being performed among the Gentiles" (v. 12). But after this, someday the Lord would return "and rebuild the tabernacle of David which had fallen," i.e. the kingdom (v. 16).

This coming kingdom would be announced during the tribulation as the "gospel of the kingdom" mentioned in Matthew.

Thanks for asking.
—Dr. Mal Couch (2/11)

Witness to Homosexuals

Dr. Couch, how do we witness to homosexuals and how should we balance truth with love? ANSWER:  We witness to them just like we witness to anyone. Sin is sin! When we accept Christ, whoever we are, we are saying that we believe that Christ died for all of our sins, no matter what they are. But if we say, "I trust in Christ that He died for all of my sins, but not this or that sin, which I am going to hold on to," then we are not believing that He died for all of them! We cannot pick or choose which sins He went to the cross for.      Then I believe that person is not saved. Everyone I have ever met says that they believe He died for all of their sins, not just some and not others. I have never heard anyone say anything else!   However, all of us can then fall into sins later that we confessed when we got saved. And that is another matter. When I confessed Christ as my Savior that confession included all my sins that I had committed or that I would ever commit. When becoming a Christian I could not hold back on certain sins. Christians can and do sin. But when becoming a believer I did not hold back certain sins of convenience or deny that Christ died for certain ones that I wanted to hold on to.    I hope this answer helps. Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch (10/11)

Man Leave Family to Pray and Blames God

Dr. Couch, I heard the other day of a fellow who believes God speaks with him, and told him to travel the earth and go about praying over everything. He leaves his wife and children and just travels! What do you think? ANSWER: Don't be fooled by pious activities. In a certain reverse way, this is what the monks of the Middle Ages did. They hid themselves away and simply prayed night and day. First of all, God does not speak to this man. It is either indigestion or the influence of demons. God has given us all the revelation He has for us, for all of us! We need no more messages than what we have in Scripture. Notice how our flesh responds when we hear of such piety! "Oh, he must be so holy and Godly"! In my opinion, "What a waste of time!" He could instead be giving a clear message of salvation in plain language to a dying world that needs clarity about spiritual things.    In Paul's criticism of those who gibbered in tongues, he said, "If a harp, flute, or bugle does not produce a clear sound … it is like speaking into the air!" (1 Cor. 14:7-9). "So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air" (v. 9). If you think God is directly speaking to you and giving you messages, it's probably because of the bowl of chili you had last night! In a sense, what Paul says fits somewhat as to what this fellow is doing. He's going nowhere! (I wonder if charismatics have read these verses?)    Don't be fooled by foolish foolishness!    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch

Main Mission of the Church?

Dr. Couch, what do you think is the main mission of the church? Many “preachers” say it is evangelism, which is important, yet they tend to neglect the teaching of the Word of God. What do you think? 

 

    ANSWER:  By doing a concordance run on “doctrine,” “teaching,” even “preaching,” one finds that the key purpose of the churches, i.e. the work of the pastors, is to exegete and explain doctrine and biblical truth. Doctrine is like the atomic table of the elements in chemistry. If you do not know that table you cannot work chemistry! 

    The main problem is that many pastors are simpletons and do not study the Word. They do not know what their role is in the ministry. They are but reactionary and just “react” to the latest fad—they buy into it and embrace it! They embrace psychology, feel good devotionals, seeker friendly approaches, Rick Warren’s Forty Day Whatever! They are driven by adding numbers, focusing on false worship, building big buildings, etc. They call the first hour of the church service the “Worship Hour” instead of calling it the “Teaching Hour (with worship).” They have shortened their messages and use the Bible less and less. They want the flock to have “experiences”! They love ceremony, plays, rock music, etc. 

    They shun education (really really biblical education) and focus on Christian Ed, psychology, church management, etc. They love to have “staff” and build “worship” teams! They may talk about the Bible but they do not “teach” THE BIBLE! 

    One pastor of a so-called Bible church in the Metroplex area advertised a night in which the church would give away tickets to the Super Bowl football game. They thought this was “cool.” I thought it was an advertising gimmick and down right stupid! 

    Something must be wrong with the spiritual glasses of many pastors today. They cannot see clearly and what is biblical is apparently out of focus. What is sad is that they do not know they need another pair of spectacles! 

   Thanks for asking.

   Dr.  Mal Couch,