Question: What is meant by the judgment of the great white throne? (Ky.)

Answer: The above expression is found in Rev 20:11 "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." The scene depicted here is one of judgment and the final disposition of the wicked. "Throne" indicates the authority to exercise power, or in this case judgment. A similar phrase is found in Mt 25:31 "When the son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he the throne of his glory:" This verse is a part of several that depict the final judgment when all nations shall be gathered before him (Jesus). The "great white throne" and the "throne of his glory" are one and the same. Both refer to the fact that Jesus will judge the world in righteousness. (Acts 17:31) Other passages confirm the same fact i.e. Rom 14:10 "...for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." 2 Cor 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." All of these passages teach that there will be a general judgment, with Christ seated upon the throne of his power (authority), judging the world, and separating the good from the bad. These truths bring a most solemn scene to the mind of all men who respect the word of God. What an occasion this will be. Men of every tribe and nation. The high, the mighty, the poor, the lowly, all standing before the "great white throne". Every work of man, evil deeds, unspeakable actions, hidden works, all brought before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. May God help us to prepare for such a day as this.

Question: Are Christian schools religious institutions? In paying tuition are we supporting them? (TX.)

Answer: The words "Christian" and "religious" are used rather loosely by most people today. What many think of as being Christian may not be at all. For example I often hear people refer to America as a Christian nation. Obviously we are far from being a Christian nation in any sense of the word. The actions and behavior of the people attest to that. A Christian school or college, in the minds of most people, is one that is supported by some church or denomination as opposed to one supported by the state or some private concern. Such schools are neither Christian nor religious, according to bible definitions, so far as this writer is concerned. They are neither commissioned nor sanctioned by the bible. The church of our Lord is not in the education business. Secular education is not a work of the church. Eph 4:12 describes the work of the church as threefold: i.e. (1) the perfecting of the saints, (2) the work of the ministry, and (3) the building up or enlarging of the body of Christ. The Lord never gave the church authority to build anything but the church. No new testament church ever built or maintained any human organization as a means of doing its work. Since education is not a work of the church, building secular schools or colleges is not a work of the church. Neither is the church in the business of building hospitals. If as an individual I purchase a service from a hospital, owned and operated by the Catholics' or Baptists' I do not feel that I have supported the Baptist Church or the Catholic Church. I have merely paid for a service rendered. In the same way if I choose to go to a school (elementary, secondary, or college) operated by a denomination my tuition goes for the purchase of a service not to support the denomination. There are a number of things to be considered in the selection of a school. The final choice, however, is a personal decision and a matter of judgment on my part. The Lord or His church has no connection whatsoever with any educational institution.