Evangelistic Education Ministries

The purpose of Evangelical Education Ministries is to propagate spiritual truth so that people may have a saving subjective experience with Christ based upon objective truth that will enable them to sustain holiness of heart

IN MEMORY OF GARY KENNER

Gary Kenner went to be with God Saturday May 3, 2008 in Rockford, IL.  Gary had been ill for several months.  Gary was born on December 29, 1930 in Britton, South Dakota.

Funeral Services were held on Tuesday May 6, 2008 in Rockford, IL.  Services were conducted by the family remembering the ministry and the love Gary shared with all with whom he had contact.

Gary was involved with the development of the Rockford Rescue Mission as well as the organizing of the ministry of Evangelical Education Ministries, Inc.

Gary was influential in the lives of many people teaching them to develop the ability to think and to thus be able to determine the truth of God.  Gary was very strong in his love for the truth in the scriptures and to be sure others understood those truths.  Gary quoted scriptures making no mistake in letting others know his love for God.

Gary spent his working years in the communication industry working for Illinois Bell, A T & T, and his own consulting company KenTel Communications.  Gary had retired serving God locally with love affecting many lives.

Gary will be sadly missed by his family and friends for the influence he had in there lives and his ability to add humor to many situations.  Gary was very determined in his love for God and sharing that love with others.

Pray for Gary’s wife Ila Belle and his family during this time.

Considerable Comments

Evangelistic Education Ministries, Inc (EEM, Inc) is reorganizing with new Board members and with the recent death of EEM, Inc founder Gary Kenner.  With God’s blessing EEM, Inc will be making an impact for the glory of God.  Pray for the ministry of EEM, Inc as we reorganize and continue the ministry of EEM, Inc.

Included in this issue is an article by Dr J W Jepson discussing the body, heart and soul of the individual.  Take time to digest this is excellent material to understand who we are in the ministry of God. A thorough understanding of the whole person will give insight in understanding truth. Dr Jepson includes a discussion of the human body, the human spirit, and the human soul.

An insert concerning the fall EEM Conference is included. The speakers will be Rev Jed Smock of Campus Ministry USA, Peter Smith missionary to Nigeria and Robert Reid with Faith Tech. Make plans to attend not only for the teachings but also for fellowship of Moral Government believers.  This will be an opportunity to fellowship with other Moral Government believers, to learn the Moral Government ministry is alive and active. Meet other Moral Government believers.  Plan to come and to visit with those who understand the truth of the scriptures.

As the ministry of EEM, Inc. continues the vision of the ministry to serve as a gathering place for Moral Government believers through conferences, on the web, through emails, the distribution of the spoken word, printed material and the periodic free distribution of the Notes & Quotes.  If you have a moral government ministry or are involved with a moral government ministry would you share with EEM, Inc your ministry and the materials you have developed to teach the truth of God?  Others may be interested and want to contact you for fellowship or to receive copies of your teaching materials.  Would you want to share with us about your ministry? EEM, Inc will share this information in the Notes & Quotes and our other ministries

What Is Really Worth Living For?

By J. W. Jepson, D.Min

In this chapter we shall examine the true basis, or foundation, of moral obligation. It is of vital importance to understand clearly just what we are required by the moral law to aim at and live for as the great ultimate goal or value of life.

But first we need to define some terms. Finney frequently uses the word “intrinsic.” Intrinsic means “within itself.” Something intrinsically valuable is valuable within itself. It is valuable, not because it is scarce or because of demand, but because it has worth or value within its own nature.

Finney also uses the word “intention.” He does not use the word in the popular sense of “I mean to do it someday.” Rather, he uses the word to mean actual and immediate choice.

Here is what Finney   says about the foundation of moral obligation:

“The ground of obligation, then, is that reason or consideration intrinsic in or belonging to the nature of an object, which necessitates the rational affirmation that it ought to be chosen for its own sake.”

“The well-being of God and the universe…is intrinsically important or valuable, and all moral agents are under obligation to choose it for its own sake. Entire, universal, uninterrupted consecration to this end…is the duty of all moral agents.”

“God’s ultimate end in all he end, and this comprises their whole duty does or omits is the highest well-being of himself and of the universe. All moral agents should have the same end and this comprises their whole duty.”

“Thus it is self-evident that moral character belongs to the ultimate intention and that a man’s character is as the end for which he lives, moves and has his being.”

Let us proceed to the examination of the various conflicting theories of the ground of obligation.

1. THE WILL OF GOD AS THE GROUND OF

OBLIGA TION

I will first consider the theory of those who hold that…God’s sovereign will creates, and not merely reveals and enforces, obligation. To this I reply:

Obligation to do what? Why, to love God and our neighbor. And does God’s will create this obligation? Should we be under no such obligation had he not commanded it? Are we to will this good, not for its own value to God and our neighbor, but because God commands it?

If the will of God does of itself create and not merely reveal obligation, then the will and not the interest and well-being of God ought to be chosen for its own sake, and to be the great end of life.

The reason does indeed affirm that we ought to will that which God commands, but it does not and cannot assign his will as the foundation of the obligation…God requires me to labor and pray for the salvation of

souls. Now his command is necessarily regarded by me as obligatory, not as an arbitrary requirement, but as revealing infallibly the true means or conditions of securing the great and ultimate end, which I am to will for its intrinsic value.” 25

It is always God’s will that we love Him supremely and others as ourselves, because of the value of His highest good and the good of others.

But when people become self-convinced that the will of God is an end in itself, and not the means to the end, the result is fanaticism. Any code of ethics built on this premise becomes completely detached from real, practical values.

The Crusades provide us with a classic example. Once they had convinced themselves that it was God’s will to “rescue the holy sepulchre,” the crusaders felt perfectly justified in killing everybody who stood in their way. A modem example is the religiously based but politically motivated terrorism that has resulted in so much violence and bloodshed in the Middle East and elsewhere. “God wills it” is used to justify all kinds of evil and foolishness.

People who struggle to “do the will of God” without a real love for God and others are under a delusion. They are only trying to provide a moral rationale for the gratification of passion and ambition. They have no real regard for the good that truly doing God’s will would bring to God and to others.

The will of God is not an end in itself to which all interests, human and divine, are to be sacrificed. Rather, the will of God is always to be understood as the course of action that results in the highest practical good to God and man, and for that reason it is the will of God

2.  THE THEORY OF SELF INTEREST

This theory…makes self-interest the ground of moral obligation. Upon this theory I remark-

If self-interest be the ground of moral obligation…to be virtuous I must in every instance intend my own interest as the supreme good.

Upon this hypothesis I am to treat my own interest as supremely valuable, when it is infinitely less valuable than the interests of God

“But enough; we cannot fail to see that this is a selfish philosophy, and the exact opposite of the truth of God.” 26

This is a popular one today. It is the “live-and-let-live” philosophy. We hear it every time someone says, “I just mind my own business. I don’t bother other people and they don’t bother me.”

What they mean is, “I’ll live for myself and you live for yourself, and we’ll try to stay out of each other’s way.”

Each cares for only self or what is in some way related to self.

There’s no love, no morality in that.

3. THE UTILITARIAN PHILOSOPHY

This maintains…that the tendency of an act, choice or intention to secure a good or valuable end is the foundation of the obligation to put forth that choice or intention. Upon this theory I remark-

The tendency is valuable or otherwise as the end is valuable or otherwise.

A choice is obligatory because it tends to secure good. But why secure good rather than evil? The answer is, because good is valuable. Ah! Here then we have another reason, the one which must be the true reason, to wit, the value of the good which the choice tends to secure.

The obligation to use means may and must be conditionated upon perceived tendency, but never founded in this tendency The end must be intrinsically valuable, and this alone imposes obligation to choose the end and to use the means to promote it.” 27

The utilitarian philosophy is the “good works” tread mill. Its objective is to maintain one’s moral self-image by piling up moral “credits.”

4. THE THEORY OF RIGHT AS THE FOUNDATION OF OBLIGATION

The law of God does not, cannot, require us to love right more than God and our neighbor. What! Right of greater value than the highest well-being of God and of the universe? Impossible!

When we pray and preach and converse, must we aim at right, must the love of right, and not the love of God and of souls influence us?.. Did he [God] give his Son to die for the right, for the sake of the right, or to die…for the sake of souls?

“Consistent rightarianism is a godless, Christless, loveless philosophy.  ‘Do the right for the sake of the right’ But now, having adopted this maxim, the mind…finds God and being to exist and sees it to be right

to intend their good But…we are to will their well-being as an end or for its own sake, or because it is right? If for its own sake, where then is the maxim, ‘Will the right for the sake of the right’?” 28

This system is the opposite of utilitarianism. Here is where millions of people are deceived. They struggle to do “right,” thinking that this is true religion and morality. But ask them to surrender their hearts to God, and what do they reply?

“Well, I’m trying to do right. I pay my debts. I try to treat my family and my fellowman right. I try to live a good clean life.”

They endeavor to assure themselves that they are “right,” while all the time self sits enthroned in their hearts. Not once are they motivated by true love for God and for all mankind. They just struggle to be “right.” And when they feel that they are “right,” they often find pleasures in judging other. It makes them feel righteous, and reinforces their moral self-image. The world accepts them as “good,” and often the church accepts them as Christian. Deluded souls!

5. THE PRACTICAL TENDENCY OF THE VARIOUS THEORIES

I will begin with the theory that regards the sovereign will of God as the foundation of moral obligation.

One legitimate and necessary result of this theory is a totally erroneous conception both of the character of God, and of the nature and design of his government. If God’s will is the foundation of moral obligation, it follows that he is an arbitrary sovereign…….But if his will is under the law of his reason,…then his will is not the foundation of moral obligation, but those reasons that lie revealed in the divine intelligence….

There is ground for perfect confidence, love and submission to his divine will in all things ………His will is law…in the sense of its being a revelation of both the end we ought to seek, and the means by which the end can be secured.

I will next glance at the legitimate results of the theory of the selfish school.

It tends directly and inevitably to the confirmation and despotism of sin in the soul. All sin…resolves itself into a spirit of self-seeking…….This philosophy represents this spirit of self-seeking as virtue, and only

requires that in our efforts to secure our own happiness we should not interfere with the rights of others in seeking theirs. What! I need not care positively for my neighbor’s happiness,…yet I must take care not to hinder it. But why? Because it is intrinsically as valuable as my own.

Practical bearings and tendency of rightarianism. “Having…in mind a law of right distinct from, and perhaps opposed to, benevolence, what frightful conduct may not this philosophy lead to? This is indeed the law of fanaticism.

It sets men in chase of a philosophical abstraction as the supreme end of life instead of the concrete reality of the highest well-being of God and the universe.

Lastly, I come to the consideration of the practical bearings of what I regard as the true theory of the foundation of moral obligation, namely, that the intrinsic nature and value of the highest well-being of God and of the universe is the sole foundation of moral obligation.

If this be true, the whole subject of moral obligation is perfectly simple and intelligible.

Every moral agent knows in every possible instance what is right and can never mistake his real duty.

His duty is to will this end with all the known conditions and means thereof.

“Multitudes of professed Christians seem to have no conception that benevolence constitutes true religion; that nothing else does; and that selfishness is sin, and totally incompatible with religion. They live on in their self-indulgences, and dream of heaven.” 29

No code of conduct or system of ethics that leaves the soul under the control of selfishness is real morality. And no “faith” that does not break the power of selfishness in the heart is true religion.

Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). If a person’s religion does not break the bondage of sin in the heart, it cannot be the truth, because the truth always liberates the soul from the power of sin.

The true foundation or reason for moral obligation is the highest happiness of God and His creation. God’s happiness is supremely valuable; therefore, we are morally obligated to place His happiness first. Living supremely for anything else is not living right because it is not living supremely for God; it is placing something that bears an ultimate relationship to self ahead of God; it is sin.

What is to be said about the “religious” person who regards the will of God as a moral justification for some selfish end, and not out of love for God? That person’s religion is a delusion. He wants to feel that God is on his side. But he has not the love of God in him. Serving God only for selfish reasons must be terribly tiresome. Religion is a burden if one does not love Jesus Christ.

The same is true of utilitarians, the folks who are always involved in doing “good,” and promoting the “cause.” Their “morality” consists in quantity, not quality. They strive to achieve higher quotas, more productivity. They are busy in good causes, always “involved.” It is “so rewarding” and gives them such a good feeling.

But ask them why they are so active, and they become uneasy, defensive. In their hearts they know that they are not motivated by true love for God and man.

Jesus said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”

(Matthew 7:22,23).

Remember 1 Corinthians 13. That great love chapter teaches that it is possible to give all our goods to feed the poor and even to give our body to be burned without being motivated by love.

Works motivated by self-gratification are of no moral value.

And then there is the rightarian–always a stickler for the letter of the law, regardless of whether or not it does God or anybody else any good

In the Bible the prime example of rightarians are the Pharisees. Jesus healed a lame man and told him to carry his bedroll home. The Pharisees, however, complained that he was carrying it on the sabbath. In their twisted morality, it was wrong for Jesus to heal on the Sabbath, but perfectly “right” for them to plot His death on the Sabbath.

Jesus summed up all their religious activity, and then disposed of it all by saying, “All their works they do for to be seen of men…” (Matthew 23:5).

In other words, their motive was wrong, and when the motive is wrong, all is wrong. All their praying, fasting, tithing were only means to a selfish ultimate end–to be seen of men.

Rightarians are motivated by a smug, self-satisfying regard for the “right,” not by real love for God and man. If people just believe and act “right,” they are satisfied. Their standing for the “right” keeps them in good stead in the church and/or community, and bolsters their hope that they are on the road to Heaven.

No good deeds, right opinions, firm beliefs, or fervent feelings can be moral or Christian, even in the slightest degree, while the will is not surrendered to God.

When we turn our hearts to God and love Him supremely and others as ourselves, the will of God becomes our delight as the indispensable means of glorifying Him; active service flows freely and gladly; and for the first time we are truly right!

Instead of being objectives in themselves, all these things and others like them become means and conditions for promoting the great end, the great goal, of every true heart–the highest well-being of God and His creatures. Genuine Christians are motivated by the highest possible values. Love for God and for others commands the full commitment of their whole being and motivates them to the development and employment of their full potential. God’s highest happiness and the greatest good of all mankind–these are the values worth living for. These are the values that all true believers seek. They are the basis of all morality.

It is simple, “It all adds up to love”.

Yet, many people feel that they can be somewhat good and somewhat bad at the same time. But is this possible? Is there a certain amount of goodness and a certain amount of evil mixed together in all of us? Can we be partly holy and partly sinful at the same time?

References are from Charles Finney’s Lectures On Systematic Theology one volume addition published 1878.

EEM, Inc Vision 2008

6-25-08

1. Promote the Moral Government of God as the basis for understanding the truth of God

2. Develop and distribute Christian educational materials in association with other Moral Government groups.

(Books Articles, CD’s & etc)

3. Promote the ministry and the cooperation of Moral Government groups in teaching truth.

4. Identify and develop fellowship and sharing amongst Moral Government groups

5. Distribute recordings and written material in the EEM, Inc library.

6. Build and promote the use of the EEM, Inc website

7. Sponsor meaningful teaching conferences. Use these as an opportunity to develop teaching recordings for the distribution to others.

8. Teach the realization all must have a pure heart relationship with God.

ACTS 2

Jerry L Leavell

After Jesus ascension to the right hand of God, the disciples and others who were with them returned to Jerusalem as Jesus had instructed them.  They were all together in one room devoting themselves to prayer (v 14) discussing the things that had just happened over the past several days.

On the day of Pentecost God filled each with the Holy Spirit.  The disciples were speaking the words that Jesus had taught.

This might be considered the beginning of the New Testament Church.

Acts 2 v. 1-4  Day of Pentecost;  they were all together in the same room; there came a noise as of a mighty rushing wind that filled the room.  There were tongues as of fire landing on each of them filling them with the Holy Spirit.

v 5  Jews and committed men from every nation were in Jerusalem.  Because it was the Day of Pentecost

V 6 All heard the sound gathered to hear the disciples speaking to them in there own language and dialect (6-12)

This teaching in Acts 2 was the beginning of the New Testament Church.  God with His Son Jesus established a new covenant to live and to receive the forgiveness of sins as well as to worship God.  The Moral Law did not change in the New Testament Church.  All now would be able to receive the power of the Holy Spirit personally.  This requires a pure heart relationship with God through the death, resurrection and the ascension of His Son Jesus. A personal pure heart relationship with God is must to be God’s disciple.