As I was preparing to write this article, I looked over at my wife who was holding our youngest son who is now seven months old. As I watched them I began to think of Mary holding Baby Jesus so long ago. What a joy she must have had as she realized she was not holding just any baby, but the promised Messiah Himself.
-
She had been told about Him before He was even born. “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)
-
What a privilege it must have been to be able to give birth to the Lord and to raise Him from a little baby. No wonder both the angel and Mary’s cousin Elisabeth said that she was blessed among women.
-
The words of the angel leave no doubt that Mary was a wonderful woman. “And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” (Luke 1:28)
-
Though Mary was a wonderful woman, some have raised her much higher than she deserves, even suggesting she was sinless and saying that she provides for our salvation along with Christ. Such teaching is blasphemy, for Jesus Himself said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
-
Some may argue that by trusting in Mary, they are only trusting her in addition to Christ, but Acts 4:12 makes it very clear that there is no one else to trust other than Jesus Christ when it comes to salvation: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
-
Even Mary’s own words show that she was not depending on her own righteousness but on God Himself. “And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” (Luke 1:46-47)
-
So if Mary isn’t our co redeemer with Christ, why did the angel say that she was highly favored and blessed among women? The answer is easy. It was a wonderful honor for her to be able to give birth to God in the flesh. It was something no other woman would get to do, but that did not mean that Mary was the only woman in history that was highly favored or blessed by God.
-
In fact, hundreds of years before Mary another woman was also praised for the important role she played in God’s plan. “Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be, blessed shall she be above women in the tent.” (Judges 5:24)
-
Though Mary and Jael were both significant women in God’s plan and both were blessed to be used of God, neither of them can help us into heaven. There is only one mediator between God and man, and that mediator is Jesus Christ, not Mary or any other clergy for that matter. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5)
Friday, December 31, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Miracle of the Virgin Birth
Christmas has become a time to celebrate the eternally existing God coming to earth as a little baby born in Bethlehem. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
-
We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but how was the everlasting God conceived into a human mother? One of the miracles of Christ’s birth is that He was born of a virgin. Sadly the whole concept of the virgin birth has been challenged by Bible critics. For example they have pointed out that the word that was translated virgin can simply mean a young woman. Linguists could defend the choice of the word “virgin” to describe Mary, but even without that debate, the scripture is very clear that she was in fact a virgin when Christ was born.
-
Consider Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Notice that before she had even been with Joseph, she was with child. In fact, when Mary was told she would have a baby, she was confused. “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34) She had not been with Joseph or any other man for that matter. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)
-
The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ entered her womb. Soon He was born, and grew into a man. This was a fulfillment of the prophecy that God would be with us. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) These verses prove not only the virgin birth, but also the deity of Christ (that He is God).
-
Joseph took Mary to be his wife because an angel had explained to him about this virgin birth, and he did not come unto her until after Christ was born. “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:25) Mary later had other children. “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” (Mark 6:3) Joseph did go on to raise Jesus as his own son, but Luke makes it very clear that Joseph was not His biological father. “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,” (Luke 3:23). In fact, earlier in Luke 2:43, Luke refers to the parents of our Lord as Joseph and his mother, not father and mother.
-
So why does all this matter? Adam was the first man and all men since Adam, with the exception of Christ, have had a human father. Sin has passed on all men from their fathers. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12) Adam’s sin did not pass on to Christ though, because His father is God, not a descendant of Adam. Therefore Christ is perfectly sinless- not just in deed, but in position. That perfect righteousness of Christ, allowed Him to pay for our sins. “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18)
-
As you celebrate Christmas, understand that the virgin birth allowed God to be born into this world in perfection so that He could pay for your sins. If you have not trusted Him, what better time of year to give your life to Christ?
-
We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but how was the everlasting God conceived into a human mother? One of the miracles of Christ’s birth is that He was born of a virgin. Sadly the whole concept of the virgin birth has been challenged by Bible critics. For example they have pointed out that the word that was translated virgin can simply mean a young woman. Linguists could defend the choice of the word “virgin” to describe Mary, but even without that debate, the scripture is very clear that she was in fact a virgin when Christ was born.
-
Consider Matthew 1:18, “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.” Notice that before she had even been with Joseph, she was with child. In fact, when Mary was told she would have a baby, she was confused. “Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (Luke 1:34) She had not been with Joseph or any other man for that matter. “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35)
-
The Holy Spirit came upon Mary, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ entered her womb. Soon He was born, and grew into a man. This was a fulfillment of the prophecy that God would be with us. “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) These verses prove not only the virgin birth, but also the deity of Christ (that He is God).
-
Joseph took Mary to be his wife because an angel had explained to him about this virgin birth, and he did not come unto her until after Christ was born. “And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.” (Matthew 1:25) Mary later had other children. “Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” (Mark 6:3) Joseph did go on to raise Jesus as his own son, but Luke makes it very clear that Joseph was not His biological father. “And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,” (Luke 3:23). In fact, earlier in Luke 2:43, Luke refers to the parents of our Lord as Joseph and his mother, not father and mother.
-
So why does all this matter? Adam was the first man and all men since Adam, with the exception of Christ, have had a human father. Sin has passed on all men from their fathers. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12) Adam’s sin did not pass on to Christ though, because His father is God, not a descendant of Adam. Therefore Christ is perfectly sinless- not just in deed, but in position. That perfect righteousness of Christ, allowed Him to pay for our sins. “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” (Romans 5:18)
-
As you celebrate Christmas, understand that the virgin birth allowed God to be born into this world in perfection so that He could pay for your sins. If you have not trusted Him, what better time of year to give your life to Christ?
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Learning Through Instruction
My favorite class in high school was industrial arts. I quickly decided that I had the confidence to put in studs and hang sheetrock, but I did not have the confidence to finish the sheetrock or to put up the fancy wooden trim at the end. Any mistakes made at that late step in the process would be very difficult if not impossible to hide without much skill.
-
Several years later I was putting my basic carpentry skills to use helping on a church addition. The man who was planning to do much of the trim work ended up getting cancer and was too weak to do it. I was willing, but did not have the skills nor confidence I needed. I remembered some of the basics that I had learned back in high school about coping joints for corners and a few other tricks, but I still had much to learn.
-
Fortunately my friend Gerrit, the man with cancer, was patient enough to give me instruction as I worked, and the project was completed. Without him, I don’t think I would have even attempted it. Because of his help, I can now easily put up wood trim.
Instruction about the Bible is actually a lot like my carpentry instruction. Many of us know a little bit about the Bible, but we really don’t know how to use it. We need someone to explain it to us, just like Gerrit explained the carpentry to me.
-
In Acts 8:26-35, the evangelist Philip is able to do that for a man who he met on the road. The man was riding in a chariot and reading from the book of Isaiah (likely chapter 53). He did not understand what he was reading. Philip then comes along and explains to him what he is reading about.
-
As a pastor, I want to do what Philip did. I want to take the Bible and explain to people what it is saying so that they can understand it. But I don’t just want to show them what it says, I want them to start to use it themselves as they begin to understand it. Just as Gerrit was faithful in teaching me how to cut and nail wood trim, I want others to be faithful in using God’s Word. I want to teach them so that they can teach others just like Paul did with Timothy. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (II Timothy 2:2)
-
As I have talked to others, I have found that there are a few people that know their Bibles quite well, but there are also many who just know a few basic points from the scriptures. I have also found that there are a lot of people who really don’t know much at all about the Bible.
-
If that is you and you want to know more, please do not feel ashamed. I think of what the man that Philip met on the road said as he was asked if he understood what he read. He said, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Just as Gerrit guided me in my carpentry skills, it is my job to guide people in understanding what the Bible says. That is why at First Baptist in Bancroft, we study it verse by verse, as we explain it and relate it to our lives. If you want to learn more, you are welcome to visit our services or call me at my office anytime at 885-2702. I’d love to get together for a Bible study.
-
Several years later I was putting my basic carpentry skills to use helping on a church addition. The man who was planning to do much of the trim work ended up getting cancer and was too weak to do it. I was willing, but did not have the skills nor confidence I needed. I remembered some of the basics that I had learned back in high school about coping joints for corners and a few other tricks, but I still had much to learn.
-
Fortunately my friend Gerrit, the man with cancer, was patient enough to give me instruction as I worked, and the project was completed. Without him, I don’t think I would have even attempted it. Because of his help, I can now easily put up wood trim.
Instruction about the Bible is actually a lot like my carpentry instruction. Many of us know a little bit about the Bible, but we really don’t know how to use it. We need someone to explain it to us, just like Gerrit explained the carpentry to me.
-
In Acts 8:26-35, the evangelist Philip is able to do that for a man who he met on the road. The man was riding in a chariot and reading from the book of Isaiah (likely chapter 53). He did not understand what he was reading. Philip then comes along and explains to him what he is reading about.
-
As a pastor, I want to do what Philip did. I want to take the Bible and explain to people what it is saying so that they can understand it. But I don’t just want to show them what it says, I want them to start to use it themselves as they begin to understand it. Just as Gerrit was faithful in teaching me how to cut and nail wood trim, I want others to be faithful in using God’s Word. I want to teach them so that they can teach others just like Paul did with Timothy. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (II Timothy 2:2)
-
As I have talked to others, I have found that there are a few people that know their Bibles quite well, but there are also many who just know a few basic points from the scriptures. I have also found that there are a lot of people who really don’t know much at all about the Bible.
-
If that is you and you want to know more, please do not feel ashamed. I think of what the man that Philip met on the road said as he was asked if he understood what he read. He said, “How can I, except some man should guide me?” Just as Gerrit guided me in my carpentry skills, it is my job to guide people in understanding what the Bible says. That is why at First Baptist in Bancroft, we study it verse by verse, as we explain it and relate it to our lives. If you want to learn more, you are welcome to visit our services or call me at my office anytime at 885-2702. I’d love to get together for a Bible study.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
CHURCH WEBSITE
We now have a new church website.
It can be viewed by visiting bancroftbaptist.com
It also has a blog page where you will be able to find these same blog posts.
It can be viewed by visiting bancroftbaptist.com
It also has a blog page where you will be able to find these same blog posts.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Giving Thanksgiving to God
I think back to some of the Thanksgiving meals that I have had through the years and the word feast does not do them justice. Just think of some of the things you have eaten on that special day. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green bean casserole, candied carrots, cranberries, fresh baked dinner rolls, lefsa, and your choice of pecan, apple, cherry, lemon meringue, or pumpkin pie. Oh and did I mention that you could have ice cream on your pie? Of course there is no need to complain over having to eat the leftovers for it is just as good warmed up. Yes, we have had much to be thankful for, but as we step back and get the bigger picture, our focus will be taken off of the food to something much better.
-
As you bite into that turkey, did you stop to think where it came from? Did you thank the grocer and the check out clerk as you purchased it at the store? How about being thankful for the farmer who raised that turkey, or the farmer who raised the corn that he fed to the turkey? How about being thankful to the God who allowed that corn and that turkey to grow?
-
Let us not forget that without God sending the rain and right weather conditions, nothing would grow. Consider Psalm 65:9-11, "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness."
-
The last couple of years have been good crop years for the area farmers. Sure, many of them did the right things at the right time, but notice that according to the passage in Psalms, their ground wouldn't even be soft in the spring, if God hadn't sent the rains to loosen up those dirt clods as they were wetted and dried out again.
-
On an even larger scale, consider how God makes sure that we have the right amount of oxygen in the air we breath. Too much oxygen is toxic and too little we would suffocate. Consider as well that we have the sun to make the crops grow and to keep us warn without burning us up. If our earth was much farther from the sun, we would all freeze to death, yet if it were much closer, we would burn up. It is God, the creator of the universe, the creator of all, who holds it all together.
-
Colossians 2:16:17 reminds us of God's role in all this. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." A similar reminder is found in the first part of Acts 17:28, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being."
-
If it were not for God, we would not even be alive and if not for Christ's death on the cross, we would have no hope for eternal life. Therefore we should give thanks through Him continually, not just at thanksgiving. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15)
-
As you bite into that turkey, did you stop to think where it came from? Did you thank the grocer and the check out clerk as you purchased it at the store? How about being thankful for the farmer who raised that turkey, or the farmer who raised the corn that he fed to the turkey? How about being thankful to the God who allowed that corn and that turkey to grow?
-
Let us not forget that without God sending the rain and right weather conditions, nothing would grow. Consider Psalm 65:9-11, "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it. Thou waterest the ridges thereof abundantly: thou settlest the furrows thereof: thou makest it soft with showers: thou blessest the springing thereof. Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness."
-
The last couple of years have been good crop years for the area farmers. Sure, many of them did the right things at the right time, but notice that according to the passage in Psalms, their ground wouldn't even be soft in the spring, if God hadn't sent the rains to loosen up those dirt clods as they were wetted and dried out again.
-
On an even larger scale, consider how God makes sure that we have the right amount of oxygen in the air we breath. Too much oxygen is toxic and too little we would suffocate. Consider as well that we have the sun to make the crops grow and to keep us warn without burning us up. If our earth was much farther from the sun, we would all freeze to death, yet if it were much closer, we would burn up. It is God, the creator of the universe, the creator of all, who holds it all together.
-
Colossians 2:16:17 reminds us of God's role in all this. "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." A similar reminder is found in the first part of Acts 17:28, "For in him we live, and move, and have our being."
-
If it were not for God, we would not even be alive and if not for Christ's death on the cross, we would have no hope for eternal life. Therefore we should give thanks through Him continually, not just at thanksgiving. "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15)
Friday, November 5, 2010
Hating, Hateful Hypocrisy
I hate it when I hit my thumb with a hammer. My wife hates bugs in the house. My little boy hates it when his big brother takes a toy away from him. I think most of us could come up with some things we hate.
-
Even God has a list of things that He hates. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)
-
I must admit that there are a number of things that I hate. I hate child abuse. I hate that women are raped. I hate that drug cartels are killing police officers and innocent citizens.
-
Now what would you say if a drug cartel thug put a gun to your head and asked you why you hated what he was doing? He likely would try to justify his actions, even using force to do so, but that would not make it right. If you were in such a position it would be difficult not to hate what he was doing no matter how tolerant you are.
-
The prophet Amos brought this challenge: “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate:” (5:15a). Not only is it allowed that we hate certain things, it is commanded. “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:10) “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13)
-
So based on these verses, what should be the standard for the things that we hate? The standard must be our fear and love for God and what He classifies as evil. I wasn’t the one who decided that it was wrong for drug cartels to go around killing whoever they wanted to kill, it was God who determined that.
-
As I look at God’s standards for right and wrong, I hate the fact that innocent babies are killed. I hate the fact that pornography and sexual perversion are running rampant in our culture. For that I am called intolerant when the truth is that what is not being tolerated is God and His standards. Thus we have hatred on both sides. The one side hates what God calls evil and the other side hates God’s values. It is sad that those who fear God have been bullied into silence by those who hate what He stands for.
-
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
-
Romans 12:9 tells us to let our love be without hypocrisy and to abhor evil and to cling to what is good. Christians need to stop letting others define right and wrong. They need to love and fear God and let Him define the standard. Sure they may be called hateful, but it is good and loving to hate evil. Let us not be fearful to call evil what it is and to call sin “sin.”
-
Even God has a list of things that He hates. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)
-
I must admit that there are a number of things that I hate. I hate child abuse. I hate that women are raped. I hate that drug cartels are killing police officers and innocent citizens.
-
Now what would you say if a drug cartel thug put a gun to your head and asked you why you hated what he was doing? He likely would try to justify his actions, even using force to do so, but that would not make it right. If you were in such a position it would be difficult not to hate what he was doing no matter how tolerant you are.
-
The prophet Amos brought this challenge: “Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate:” (5:15a). Not only is it allowed that we hate certain things, it is commanded. “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.” (Psalm 97:10) “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13)
-
So based on these verses, what should be the standard for the things that we hate? The standard must be our fear and love for God and what He classifies as evil. I wasn’t the one who decided that it was wrong for drug cartels to go around killing whoever they wanted to kill, it was God who determined that.
-
As I look at God’s standards for right and wrong, I hate the fact that innocent babies are killed. I hate the fact that pornography and sexual perversion are running rampant in our culture. For that I am called intolerant when the truth is that what is not being tolerated is God and His standards. Thus we have hatred on both sides. The one side hates what God calls evil and the other side hates God’s values. It is sad that those who fear God have been bullied into silence by those who hate what He stands for.
-
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
-
Romans 12:9 tells us to let our love be without hypocrisy and to abhor evil and to cling to what is good. Christians need to stop letting others define right and wrong. They need to love and fear God and let Him define the standard. Sure they may be called hateful, but it is good and loving to hate evil. Let us not be fearful to call evil what it is and to call sin “sin.”
Friday, October 22, 2010
Is The Devil Really Real?
Halloween is often referred to as the devil’s holiday. Some laugh at the idea of this being his holy day, because they do not even believe that he exists. Let us take some time to examine scripture to see that the devil is real.
-
Christ told us that the lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41). This passage is interesting, for it makes it clear that men who do not trust Christ have the same eternal destiny as the devil. Further it shows that the devil has angels. In the Greek there is actually a separate word used to distinguish these demons from Satan, though in English the word devil is often used for them as well.
-
The Greek word diabolos refers to whom we typically think of as the devil. This is the word to describe the devil who tempted Christ in Matthew 4. Christ then addresses the tempter as Satan, showing us that they are the same. Revelation 12:9 also connects them.
-
Peter warns us to be on guard for he is dangerous. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8).
-
James drives home the reality of the devil as he commands that he must be resisted. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Notice that submission to God along with resistance to the devil, must happen before he will flee.
Peter warns about the devil, James says to resist him, and Paul tells Timothy that there is hope for those who are enslaved by him. “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (II Timothy 2:26).
-
The hope for being free from the devil comes from the one who resisted all his temptations. The same one who came to this earth as God in the flesh to die for our sins. In so doing, Jesus Christ destroyed what the devil was trying to accomplish. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil“ (I John 3:8).
-
Notice the connection between sin and the devil. When we sin, we are like him rather than like Christ and thus it brings us short of God’s glory. But notice as well that Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. By trusting Christ as Savior, the wages of sin are paid by Him and thus we are forgiven by His grace. Through Christ, the devil’s works are destroyed in many ways. First of all, the devil’s work of keeping us separated from God has been destroyed as we are delivered from the lake of fire and reconciled to God. Further, by trusting Christ, we are now able to say no to sin as we submit to Him. That doesn’t mean that we become sinless, but it does mean that Christ is there to enable us to resist when we couldn’t resist on our own before. Thus the devil’s victory of easily influencing us to sin has been destroyed as well.
-
As we look at the reality of the devil, we cannot miss the reality of the Savior who has come to deliver us from him. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ and submit to Him as you resist the devil and have him flee from you.
-
Christ told us that the lake of fire was prepared for the devil and his angels. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41). This passage is interesting, for it makes it clear that men who do not trust Christ have the same eternal destiny as the devil. Further it shows that the devil has angels. In the Greek there is actually a separate word used to distinguish these demons from Satan, though in English the word devil is often used for them as well.
-
The Greek word diabolos refers to whom we typically think of as the devil. This is the word to describe the devil who tempted Christ in Matthew 4. Christ then addresses the tempter as Satan, showing us that they are the same. Revelation 12:9 also connects them.
-
Peter warns us to be on guard for he is dangerous. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” (I Peter 5:8).
-
James drives home the reality of the devil as he commands that he must be resisted. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). Notice that submission to God along with resistance to the devil, must happen before he will flee.
Peter warns about the devil, James says to resist him, and Paul tells Timothy that there is hope for those who are enslaved by him. “And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (II Timothy 2:26).
-
The hope for being free from the devil comes from the one who resisted all his temptations. The same one who came to this earth as God in the flesh to die for our sins. In so doing, Jesus Christ destroyed what the devil was trying to accomplish. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil“ (I John 3:8).
-
Notice the connection between sin and the devil. When we sin, we are like him rather than like Christ and thus it brings us short of God’s glory. But notice as well that Christ came to destroy the works of the devil. By trusting Christ as Savior, the wages of sin are paid by Him and thus we are forgiven by His grace. Through Christ, the devil’s works are destroyed in many ways. First of all, the devil’s work of keeping us separated from God has been destroyed as we are delivered from the lake of fire and reconciled to God. Further, by trusting Christ, we are now able to say no to sin as we submit to Him. That doesn’t mean that we become sinless, but it does mean that Christ is there to enable us to resist when we couldn’t resist on our own before. Thus the devil’s victory of easily influencing us to sin has been destroyed as well.
-
As we look at the reality of the devil, we cannot miss the reality of the Savior who has come to deliver us from him. Trust the Lord Jesus Christ and submit to Him as you resist the devil and have him flee from you.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Glory Not For Us, But For God
Imagine if we were able to give a truth serum to husbands and wives and we asked them why they married each other. I suspect many of them would say, “so the other person could make me happy.” That sounds quite self centered, but what if you were to ask Christians why they trusted Christ? How many of them would say, “so He can make me happy?”
-
No doubt, I am happy to know that my sins have been forgiven and that God the Father loved this world so much that He sent His son to die for us. But, it is so easy to start to think that everything that God does is all about us, rather than all about Him.
-
Did God make us just so He could please us? Perhaps you have heard a few sermons or motivational speeches that have left you with that impression. Actually, the truth is that God made us for His own glory. Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” That includes us. We were created not so that He could please us, but so that we could please Him.
-
No doubt, as we trust Him and serve Him, we receive many blessings, but that is not the reason we are here. Revelation 4:11 actually gives us the meaning of life- the reason we are alive. That reason is to glorify the one who created us. Realizing Christ is the creator God, Hebrews 3:3-4 says, “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.”
-
We live in a society where people know about God, but they are so vain that they act as if their desires are more important than God’s. Roman’s chapter 1 talks about the downward progression of a society that has turned from God. Notice how that progression starts. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)
-
Too many Christians focus on what they are saved from and forget about what they are saved for. So what are we saved for? Often the focus is on heaven and its benefits, but consider I Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” This shows us that we are not saved JUST so that we can enjoy the benefits of heaven, but we are saved so that we can glorify God.
-
Some may be tempted to criticize God for being so self centered in wanting all that glory for Himself, especially when He says things like, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” (Isaiah 48:11) Any criticism of God is a misunderstanding of who He is.
-
Being self centered is wrong for a sinful human because it takes the focus off of a perfectly holy God, for all have sinned and come short of His glory. But, for a perfect God to reserve glory for Himself is only natural. “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” (Psalm 115:1)
-
No doubt, I am happy to know that my sins have been forgiven and that God the Father loved this world so much that He sent His son to die for us. But, it is so easy to start to think that everything that God does is all about us, rather than all about Him.
-
Did God make us just so He could please us? Perhaps you have heard a few sermons or motivational speeches that have left you with that impression. Actually, the truth is that God made us for His own glory. Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” That includes us. We were created not so that He could please us, but so that we could please Him.
-
No doubt, as we trust Him and serve Him, we receive many blessings, but that is not the reason we are here. Revelation 4:11 actually gives us the meaning of life- the reason we are alive. That reason is to glorify the one who created us. Realizing Christ is the creator God, Hebrews 3:3-4 says, “For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.”
-
We live in a society where people know about God, but they are so vain that they act as if their desires are more important than God’s. Roman’s chapter 1 talks about the downward progression of a society that has turned from God. Notice how that progression starts. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)
-
Too many Christians focus on what they are saved from and forget about what they are saved for. So what are we saved for? Often the focus is on heaven and its benefits, but consider I Corinthians 6:20, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” This shows us that we are not saved JUST so that we can enjoy the benefits of heaven, but we are saved so that we can glorify God.
-
Some may be tempted to criticize God for being so self centered in wanting all that glory for Himself, especially when He says things like, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” (Isaiah 48:11) Any criticism of God is a misunderstanding of who He is.
-
Being self centered is wrong for a sinful human because it takes the focus off of a perfectly holy God, for all have sinned and come short of His glory. But, for a perfect God to reserve glory for Himself is only natural. “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” (Psalm 115:1)
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Are You in Touch WIth God?
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to keep in contact with friends? People move away and we get caught up in the business of life and soon we remember that we haven’t talked to that good friend in a long time.
-
I think of my friend Mike. We went to school together from kindergarten until we graduated. He got married shortly after high school and I was able to be in his wedding, but after he went into the Air Force, we didn’t see each other very often. Now we only talk on the phone every couple of years. Though I still consider Mike a friend, in reality he really doesn’t have much of a part in my life anymore.
-
Both of my brothers live 2-3 hours away, but we still make it a point to get together. Travis just called me the other night. They were writing their will and wanted to know if we would take their kids if anything ever happened to them. We are definitely a part of each other’s lives. My other brother Dusty calls me regularly and we can talk for hours, even if we have just seen each other recently.
-
My brothers and I are so close because of our shared values and our shared faith in God. Neither of them are pastors, but God is a central part of both of their lives. They have each trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior and are committed to training their families according to His Word. Travis is not quite as outgoing as Dustin, but he is not afraid to talk to and about his God.
-
So how many of us are like that? Even for those who have trusted Christ as Savior, has your relationship with Him become like my relationship with my high school classmate? Have you become so distant from God that it is almost like you don’t even know Him anymore? I believe much of the downfall of our society is because people (even those who call themselves Christians) do not really know God. God declares in Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
-
If you really get to know God, you will find that Jeremiah 9:24 is true. He is a God of justice and righteousness and He is also loving and kind. But when people don’t even know Him and don’t understand who He really is, no wonder there are so many problems in our world. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:28).
-
I think of the most memorable moments of my life. In many of them my brothers were there. In all of them, my God was there, but did I really acknowledge that at the time? Was I walking close with Him, keeping in touch with Him, not just on a daily but on a moment by moment basis? Am I doing that now?
-
If you were to describe your most memorable event, what role would God have in that description? Would you even mention Him? As we consider the Psalms of David, we realize that he is describing things that happened in his life,. What makes those descriptions so important, is not the details of the events. Rather, it is God’s role in those events and David’s connection to his God throughout them that stand out. If someone were to read your diary, would they find God in it? As you go throughout your life, is God a part of it, or is He a distant acquaintance far far away?
-
I think of my friend Mike. We went to school together from kindergarten until we graduated. He got married shortly after high school and I was able to be in his wedding, but after he went into the Air Force, we didn’t see each other very often. Now we only talk on the phone every couple of years. Though I still consider Mike a friend, in reality he really doesn’t have much of a part in my life anymore.
-
Both of my brothers live 2-3 hours away, but we still make it a point to get together. Travis just called me the other night. They were writing their will and wanted to know if we would take their kids if anything ever happened to them. We are definitely a part of each other’s lives. My other brother Dusty calls me regularly and we can talk for hours, even if we have just seen each other recently.
-
My brothers and I are so close because of our shared values and our shared faith in God. Neither of them are pastors, but God is a central part of both of their lives. They have each trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior and are committed to training their families according to His Word. Travis is not quite as outgoing as Dustin, but he is not afraid to talk to and about his God.
-
So how many of us are like that? Even for those who have trusted Christ as Savior, has your relationship with Him become like my relationship with my high school classmate? Have you become so distant from God that it is almost like you don’t even know Him anymore? I believe much of the downfall of our society is because people (even those who call themselves Christians) do not really know God. God declares in Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
-
If you really get to know God, you will find that Jeremiah 9:24 is true. He is a God of justice and righteousness and He is also loving and kind. But when people don’t even know Him and don’t understand who He really is, no wonder there are so many problems in our world. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;” (Romans 1:28).
-
I think of the most memorable moments of my life. In many of them my brothers were there. In all of them, my God was there, but did I really acknowledge that at the time? Was I walking close with Him, keeping in touch with Him, not just on a daily but on a moment by moment basis? Am I doing that now?
-
If you were to describe your most memorable event, what role would God have in that description? Would you even mention Him? As we consider the Psalms of David, we realize that he is describing things that happened in his life,. What makes those descriptions so important, is not the details of the events. Rather, it is God’s role in those events and David’s connection to his God throughout them that stand out. If someone were to read your diary, would they find God in it? As you go throughout your life, is God a part of it, or is He a distant acquaintance far far away?
Friday, September 10, 2010
Girls are Prettier Than Boys
Our little boys have an assortment of bathtub toys, ranging from a boat, to bowls, to rubber duckies. The duckies actually came in a set, with the momma and her babies. My 2 ½ year old son brought a baby ducky and the momma ducky into my office and was showing them to me. He quickly understood which one was the baby because it was smaller. I had often told him that his own mother was pretty, so I pointed out the big long eyelashes that were painted on the momma ducky and said, “look, Jared, this is a momma because it is pretty.”
-
He then picked up the baby ducky and pointed to it’s long eyelashes and said, “baby mommy ducky.” It looks like our little boy is starting to understand the differences between boys and girls.
-
This reminds me of the little 5-6 year old girl I talked with. She had been on a field trip and was all excited to tell me about it. I told her that it sounded fun and that I would have liked to have gone. She informed me that I was too old. I responded by saying that I wished that I was her age for just a little while, then I could go on the field trips and we could play on the swings. She looked at me with total indignation and said, “I wouldn’t play with you.” I asked why not. She looked at me as if I were the most ignorant person in the world and said, “because you’re a boy!”
-
Yes, boys and girls are different. “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” (Mark 10:6) Though we can have the same relationship to Christ (see Gal 3:28) we are obviously different.
-
Some would like to minimize those differences and suggest that there is no distinction at all between the genders. This goes against nature itself. For example, I did not have the strain nor the pleasure that comes with being able to carry our children in a womb. I will never know or understand exactly what it is like to be a woman, nor will my wife understand what it is like to be a man.
-
The differences between men and women go far beyond the physical. It has been said that women tend to be more emotional than men. I fear that tension between men and women has resulted because too often those differences are not understood. It has become politically incorrect to even discuss them.
-
Consider how men tend to want to talk about a problem until a solution is found and women just want to know that the man cares. I have learned that instead of trying to find a solution to every concern my wife voices, I sometimes need to simply listen for a minute, be quiet, and give her a hug.
-
Now if I thought she was just like me, I would never do that. You see once we realize we are different and that those differences are not bad- just different- we are better able to relate to each other.
-
I fear the high divorce rate can partly be attributed to the lie that men and women are the same. If more couples went into the marriage aware of the differences and loved each other because of those differences, they would be better equipped to relate to one another. Yes, God created us male and female, and though different, those differences make us complementary to one another.
-
He then picked up the baby ducky and pointed to it’s long eyelashes and said, “baby mommy ducky.” It looks like our little boy is starting to understand the differences between boys and girls.
-
This reminds me of the little 5-6 year old girl I talked with. She had been on a field trip and was all excited to tell me about it. I told her that it sounded fun and that I would have liked to have gone. She informed me that I was too old. I responded by saying that I wished that I was her age for just a little while, then I could go on the field trips and we could play on the swings. She looked at me with total indignation and said, “I wouldn’t play with you.” I asked why not. She looked at me as if I were the most ignorant person in the world and said, “because you’re a boy!”
-
Yes, boys and girls are different. “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.” (Mark 10:6) Though we can have the same relationship to Christ (see Gal 3:28) we are obviously different.
-
Some would like to minimize those differences and suggest that there is no distinction at all between the genders. This goes against nature itself. For example, I did not have the strain nor the pleasure that comes with being able to carry our children in a womb. I will never know or understand exactly what it is like to be a woman, nor will my wife understand what it is like to be a man.
-
The differences between men and women go far beyond the physical. It has been said that women tend to be more emotional than men. I fear that tension between men and women has resulted because too often those differences are not understood. It has become politically incorrect to even discuss them.
-
Consider how men tend to want to talk about a problem until a solution is found and women just want to know that the man cares. I have learned that instead of trying to find a solution to every concern my wife voices, I sometimes need to simply listen for a minute, be quiet, and give her a hug.
-
Now if I thought she was just like me, I would never do that. You see once we realize we are different and that those differences are not bad- just different- we are better able to relate to each other.
-
I fear the high divorce rate can partly be attributed to the lie that men and women are the same. If more couples went into the marriage aware of the differences and loved each other because of those differences, they would be better equipped to relate to one another. Yes, God created us male and female, and though different, those differences make us complementary to one another.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Put Away Your Lying Lips
It’s another election year. Call me cynical, but I have a hard time believing that all politicians tell the truth. Voters do not like to be lied to. Whether it is a salesman making a false sales pitch, a politician trying to get elected, or a neighbor outright lying to our face, we do not like being deceived.
-
Now if we as sinful humans hate lies, what does God think about them? Proverbs 6:16-19 gives a list of things that God hates, and the second on that list is a lying tongue. Consider as well Proverbs 12:22, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
-
It may be tempting to lie to try to protect yourself or even your possessions, but Proverbs 19:22 says it is better to be poor than to lie. “The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.”
-
Some argue that the examples in scripture of the midwives in Exodus 1 and Rehab in Joshua 2, would show that lying in certain circumstances is acceptable. First, we do not know that the statement of the midwives to Pharaoh in Exodus 1 was actually a lie. Second, though Rehab did lie to protect the spies sent by Joshua, she is rewarded not for her lie, but for her fear of God. Though she is praised in Hebrews 11:31 for receiving the spies, nowhere is she praised for her lying. In fact, shortly after she had lied to protect the spies, the Gibeonites lied to Joshua to protect themselves. Though God is merciful in preserving their lives, He punishes their lies by making them servants.
-
I heard a story about an honest little girl during WWII. The Nazis entered her house looking for hidden Jews. They asked her were they were. She sincerely replied that they were under the table. Looking under the table and seeing no one there, they though they had been made fools of and left. They had not looked under the rug below the table to see the trap door and thus the Jews were safe. God rewards honesty. “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19)
-
Not only is truth rewarded, but lying is punished. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) Notice how lying is listed with murder and idolatry. It is also listed with the sin of unbelief. If we really believe God is holy, we will realize how bad lying is.
-
Most likely you have told a lie. Perhaps you are even known as a liar. Liars can expect the punishment of the lake of fire unless they repent and believe in Christ as their only hope of salvation. Know that when you trust the Lord, you are trusting in a God that cannot lie. He promises in John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
-
Christ died to forgive your sins, including your lies. The only way to have them forgiven is to trust Him. Once you have trusted him, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9).
-
Now if we as sinful humans hate lies, what does God think about them? Proverbs 6:16-19 gives a list of things that God hates, and the second on that list is a lying tongue. Consider as well Proverbs 12:22, “Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.”
-
It may be tempting to lie to try to protect yourself or even your possessions, but Proverbs 19:22 says it is better to be poor than to lie. “The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.”
-
Some argue that the examples in scripture of the midwives in Exodus 1 and Rehab in Joshua 2, would show that lying in certain circumstances is acceptable. First, we do not know that the statement of the midwives to Pharaoh in Exodus 1 was actually a lie. Second, though Rehab did lie to protect the spies sent by Joshua, she is rewarded not for her lie, but for her fear of God. Though she is praised in Hebrews 11:31 for receiving the spies, nowhere is she praised for her lying. In fact, shortly after she had lied to protect the spies, the Gibeonites lied to Joshua to protect themselves. Though God is merciful in preserving their lives, He punishes their lies by making them servants.
-
I heard a story about an honest little girl during WWII. The Nazis entered her house looking for hidden Jews. They asked her were they were. She sincerely replied that they were under the table. Looking under the table and seeing no one there, they though they had been made fools of and left. They had not looked under the rug below the table to see the trap door and thus the Jews were safe. God rewards honesty. “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” (Proverbs 12:19)
-
Not only is truth rewarded, but lying is punished. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) Notice how lying is listed with murder and idolatry. It is also listed with the sin of unbelief. If we really believe God is holy, we will realize how bad lying is.
-
Most likely you have told a lie. Perhaps you are even known as a liar. Liars can expect the punishment of the lake of fire unless they repent and believe in Christ as their only hope of salvation. Know that when you trust the Lord, you are trusting in a God that cannot lie. He promises in John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
-
Christ died to forgive your sins, including your lies. The only way to have them forgiven is to trust Him. Once you have trusted him, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9).
Saturday, August 21, 2010
What About Drinking Alcohol?
I recently read about the concern surrounding underage drinking in Algona. Many of the young people involved in this activity may wonder why if it is okay for someone over 21 to do it, why can’t they? They may even consider the older generation to be hypocrites. The older generation may argue that they have more experience and are able to act more responsibly. Sadly not everyone in the older generation does act responsibly. That is why organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving have organized to address the irresponsible behavior surrounding alcohol.
-
So what does the Bible say to both young and old about drinking? First of all, God makes it clear that drunkenness is a sin. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:10).
-
If drunkenness is sinful, why did Jesus turn water into wine when the men were well drunk? Actually the scripture does not say that they were drunk, it simply says that the governor of the feast noted that the best wine was saved till last when typically men waited to serve the best until after men were drunk. The fact that he could tell it was the best shows he was not intoxicated.
-
In Bible times, just as today, not all wine had the same alcohol content. In fact, the term wine could include both fermented and non fermented fruit juices. Before refrigeration, fermentation was a means of preserving, but the understanding of the dangers involved with alcohol led to many warnings in scripture concerning this substance. For example, the job of the priest was so important that they were to stay away from wine when serving in the tabernacle. (Leviticus 10:9). Proverbs 20:1 as well warns about it, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
-
So if alcohol is so dangerous, why didn’t the Bible just say to totally stay away from it no matter what? I believe the answer is found in the Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy. “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” (I Timothy 5:23) In that day, they did not have refrigeration nor many of the preservatives we now use, so fermentation into alcohol was an efficient way to keep fruit juices from spoiling. Further, many of the water supplies were contaminated and it was likely that Timothy was suffering from dysentery as a result. By drinking wine instead of the water, he could have some relief.
-
So what should a Christian do about alcohol today. First of all, there is not a verse that says, “thou shalt not drink alcohol,” but we have already looked at just a couple of verses that warn against drunkenness. I must ask, how much must you drink before you are affected by the alcohol? The laws concerning drunk driving suggest that the amount is very low. I do not want to even come close to being drunk so I just abstain. Along with God’s warnings, consider the obvious sins that occur during drunkenness. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8)
-
Because we have clean water and many ways to preserve our drinks I see no need to drink alcohol. Instead of being focused on getting my fill of wine, I want to focus on being filled with a submission to the Spirit of God. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
-
So what does the Bible say to both young and old about drinking? First of all, God makes it clear that drunkenness is a sin. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” (I Corinthians 6:10).
-
If drunkenness is sinful, why did Jesus turn water into wine when the men were well drunk? Actually the scripture does not say that they were drunk, it simply says that the governor of the feast noted that the best wine was saved till last when typically men waited to serve the best until after men were drunk. The fact that he could tell it was the best shows he was not intoxicated.
-
In Bible times, just as today, not all wine had the same alcohol content. In fact, the term wine could include both fermented and non fermented fruit juices. Before refrigeration, fermentation was a means of preserving, but the understanding of the dangers involved with alcohol led to many warnings in scripture concerning this substance. For example, the job of the priest was so important that they were to stay away from wine when serving in the tabernacle. (Leviticus 10:9). Proverbs 20:1 as well warns about it, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
-
So if alcohol is so dangerous, why didn’t the Bible just say to totally stay away from it no matter what? I believe the answer is found in the Apostle Paul’s advice to Timothy. “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.” (I Timothy 5:23) In that day, they did not have refrigeration nor many of the preservatives we now use, so fermentation into alcohol was an efficient way to keep fruit juices from spoiling. Further, many of the water supplies were contaminated and it was likely that Timothy was suffering from dysentery as a result. By drinking wine instead of the water, he could have some relief.
-
So what should a Christian do about alcohol today. First of all, there is not a verse that says, “thou shalt not drink alcohol,” but we have already looked at just a couple of verses that warn against drunkenness. I must ask, how much must you drink before you are affected by the alcohol? The laws concerning drunk driving suggest that the amount is very low. I do not want to even come close to being drunk so I just abstain. Along with God’s warnings, consider the obvious sins that occur during drunkenness. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8)
-
Because we have clean water and many ways to preserve our drinks I see no need to drink alcohol. Instead of being focused on getting my fill of wine, I want to focus on being filled with a submission to the Spirit of God. “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Telling God to Wash His Hands
Imagine men trying to tell God the difference between right and wrong. Christ had to deal with that in Luke 11:37-52 as He was challenged about washing His hands before a meal. It is not a bad idea to wash your hands before you eat, but let us not forget that Jesus is God, and God makes the rules. Some have argued that Jesus simply excused Himself from the law of God because He is God, but Mark 7:3 makes it clear that the hand washing was based on the traditions of the elders rather than the law of God. So Christ was not ignoring His own laws, He was ignoring man‘s law.
-
The Pharisees where the ones who were upset about the hand washing. They were known for being zealous over the law. Now following God’s standards of right and wrong is a good thing. The problem was that they had replaced God’s rules with man’s rules and became so focused on following the manmade standard that they missed what God had commanded. Thus Christ says in Luke 11:42, “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
-
Things like washing hands before a meal are good. In fact, my mom used to command it, and living on a farm where we got dirty outside, it was a good idea. Although it was something we should have done, it was not needed to obey God’s law. Giving mint and rue and herbs was good too, but it was not required by the law of God.
-
What really made the scenario in Luke 11 repulsive, was that man was rebuking God using a manmade standard of right and wrong. That problem was not isolated to those of 2000 years ago. We face it today as well. Man still wants to make up his own rules and exclude God’s rules. This is a problem shared by the nonreligious and religious alike. The nonreligious still have a standard of right and wrong but they exclude God from that standard. Too often the religious elevate their traditions above God’s Word.
-
After rebuking the Pharisees, Jesus as well rebuked the scribes. They were the ones who studied the scriptures. Again a good thing- a thing commanded by God. The problem was that as they studied scripture, they redefined it through their interpretations in such a way that it was hardly recognizable. No wonder they were in conflict with Christ.
-
Many looked to the oral traditions of the scribes as being more authoritative than God’s word because it was the interpretation of God’s word. We often see the same approach in churches today. We need to decide- will we believe God and His word as it is written, or man’s distorted definition of what God’s word is saying.
-
I must be honest. There are debates over certain passages of scripture. That is one of the reasons why we have so many denominations. But the problem is not solved when we ignore God’s word or even minimize God’s word by elevating the standards of man or even the decrees of the church above the Word of God. What it comes down to is that we must look at what God’s word actually says and not twist it no matter what our preconceived notions may be. You see, we as men have no right to tell God what His word should say.
-
The Pharisees where the ones who were upset about the hand washing. They were known for being zealous over the law. Now following God’s standards of right and wrong is a good thing. The problem was that they had replaced God’s rules with man’s rules and became so focused on following the manmade standard that they missed what God had commanded. Thus Christ says in Luke 11:42, “But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
-
Things like washing hands before a meal are good. In fact, my mom used to command it, and living on a farm where we got dirty outside, it was a good idea. Although it was something we should have done, it was not needed to obey God’s law. Giving mint and rue and herbs was good too, but it was not required by the law of God.
-
What really made the scenario in Luke 11 repulsive, was that man was rebuking God using a manmade standard of right and wrong. That problem was not isolated to those of 2000 years ago. We face it today as well. Man still wants to make up his own rules and exclude God’s rules. This is a problem shared by the nonreligious and religious alike. The nonreligious still have a standard of right and wrong but they exclude God from that standard. Too often the religious elevate their traditions above God’s Word.
-
After rebuking the Pharisees, Jesus as well rebuked the scribes. They were the ones who studied the scriptures. Again a good thing- a thing commanded by God. The problem was that as they studied scripture, they redefined it through their interpretations in such a way that it was hardly recognizable. No wonder they were in conflict with Christ.
-
Many looked to the oral traditions of the scribes as being more authoritative than God’s word because it was the interpretation of God’s word. We often see the same approach in churches today. We need to decide- will we believe God and His word as it is written, or man’s distorted definition of what God’s word is saying.
-
I must be honest. There are debates over certain passages of scripture. That is one of the reasons why we have so many denominations. But the problem is not solved when we ignore God’s word or even minimize God’s word by elevating the standards of man or even the decrees of the church above the Word of God. What it comes down to is that we must look at what God’s word actually says and not twist it no matter what our preconceived notions may be. You see, we as men have no right to tell God what His word should say.
Babies are Worth The Cost
Our youngest son continues to grow. It is hard to believe that he is over 2 months old already. The chubby round cheeks and bright eyes are a picture of health. That picture began to blur a bit the other night as he became fussy for no apparent reason, the bright cheeks flushed, and my wife informed me that he had a fever.
-
Having a sick baby is one way to make a father feel helpless. The baby cannot talk and tell you what is wrong, and daddy doesn’t know what to do to make it all better. Because daddies like to fix things, I went online to try to find information about young babies and fevers. I quickly discovered that if the fever is over 100.4 and the baby is less than 3 months old, you should call the doctor immediately. Crystal retook his temp and found out is was at 100.9.
-
We called the hospital and they suggested we bring him in. Now it was a Sunday, so the clinic was not open. That meant an emergency room visit, and I know that they are way more expensive than the clinic visits, but when it is your little baby, the cost doesn’t matter. We are under a medical plan, so the cost won’t be that high, but even if it were, a life is more important than money.
-
Fortunately the doctor found nothing seriously wrong and now Heath seems to be doing well again. This small trial reminded me how insignificant possessions are compared to a human life. It saddens me how many lives have been stopped before they were even born just so that the parents would not have to give up possessions or time to raise them. Few would even imagine doing the same thing to a growing baby after it has been born.
-
Perhaps that explains why once seeing an ultrasound, a mother is less likely to end a pregnancy. I recall how exciting it was to visit the doctor and get our first little black and white pictures of our babies showing their tiny heads, hands, and feet months before they were even born. No wonder Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
-
Even at 9 weeks, the head and feet can be distinguished as the little life is being molded and formed by God.
-
So is that baby really a life, or a clump of tissue before he or she is born? Consider what God said about Jeremiah. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) This shows us that God knew Jeremiah and set him apart before he was even born.
-
Another baby, John the Baptist, is also spoken of before his birth. “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke 1:44) Notice the scripture calls him a baby before he is even born.
-
Yes babies are precious, and it is worth the cost to see them live.
-
Having a sick baby is one way to make a father feel helpless. The baby cannot talk and tell you what is wrong, and daddy doesn’t know what to do to make it all better. Because daddies like to fix things, I went online to try to find information about young babies and fevers. I quickly discovered that if the fever is over 100.4 and the baby is less than 3 months old, you should call the doctor immediately. Crystal retook his temp and found out is was at 100.9.
-
We called the hospital and they suggested we bring him in. Now it was a Sunday, so the clinic was not open. That meant an emergency room visit, and I know that they are way more expensive than the clinic visits, but when it is your little baby, the cost doesn’t matter. We are under a medical plan, so the cost won’t be that high, but even if it were, a life is more important than money.
-
Fortunately the doctor found nothing seriously wrong and now Heath seems to be doing well again. This small trial reminded me how insignificant possessions are compared to a human life. It saddens me how many lives have been stopped before they were even born just so that the parents would not have to give up possessions or time to raise them. Few would even imagine doing the same thing to a growing baby after it has been born.
-
Perhaps that explains why once seeing an ultrasound, a mother is less likely to end a pregnancy. I recall how exciting it was to visit the doctor and get our first little black and white pictures of our babies showing their tiny heads, hands, and feet months before they were even born. No wonder Psalm 139:13-14 says, “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
-
Even at 9 weeks, the head and feet can be distinguished as the little life is being molded and formed by God.
-
So is that baby really a life, or a clump of tissue before he or she is born? Consider what God said about Jeremiah. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5) This shows us that God knew Jeremiah and set him apart before he was even born.
-
Another baby, John the Baptist, is also spoken of before his birth. “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (Luke 1:44) Notice the scripture calls him a baby before he is even born.
-
Yes babies are precious, and it is worth the cost to see them live.
Friday, July 2, 2010
No Fear is Not Wise, Fear God
The teenage years are often characterized by risk taking. I remember a marketing campaign that began about the time of my high school graduation that tried to capitalize on that drive for risk. Soon “No Fear” T shirts were popping up all over the place and the same logos could be seen in the back windows of teenager’s cars. Interestingly, a near animosity developed between those who gave into this latest trend and those who rejected it. Soon there was the response slogan, “No Fear, No Brains.”
-
Around that same period in my life, I also listened to advice promoting abstinence. Many of the arguments centered around fear. The warnings that I heard about included the dangers of STDs, unwanted pregnancy, emotional turmoil, violence, and a girl’s father with a gun.
-
So how effective are such scare tactics at reducing teenage sexual activity? Statistics tell us that few people wait until marriage. Some argue that with abstinence education, we could increase that number. I would not argue against such an approach, but the problem is that too many of the programs simply use scare tactics alone. The real reason to avoid sex outside of marriage is because God said so.
-
It seems that most people either do not know or care about God’s position on this issue. Many abstinence advocates actually tell teens to wait until they are ready instead of waiting until they are married. That is not what God says to do.
-
1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” Hebrews 13:4 tells us, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
-
Back to the fear issue. Teens love to take risks. Rock climbing, down hill skiing, and bike racing are all risky but not sinful. There is a difference between risk and sin. As a teenager I was willing to take risks. Given the opportunity, I would have ridden a bull or skydived. The reason I waited for intimacy until my wedding night was not because of my fear of all the dangers I had heard about, it was because of my fear of God. Further, sex outside of marriage is not just sinful for teens, it is sinful for all people.
-
If the dangers and consequences of sin were a sufficient motivator, sins like drunkenness would not be a serious problem, for the consequences are deadly. Immediate danger is not a sufficient motivator for many men. Perhaps it is because they have not grasped the concept that they not only need to fear consequences, but they need to fear God Himself.
-
The problem is that until you trust Christ, so many of the motivators to stop sin are quite ineffective. You see, Christ is the only answer to the sin problem. He is the answer both to having your sins forgiven and the answer to helping you to no longer be involved in them. Apart from Him, there is little motivation to even care about sin- let alone to get the victory over it. That is why you must come to the place where you admit you are a sinner and ask Him to forgive you as you agree with His standard of right and wrong.
-
Around that same period in my life, I also listened to advice promoting abstinence. Many of the arguments centered around fear. The warnings that I heard about included the dangers of STDs, unwanted pregnancy, emotional turmoil, violence, and a girl’s father with a gun.
-
So how effective are such scare tactics at reducing teenage sexual activity? Statistics tell us that few people wait until marriage. Some argue that with abstinence education, we could increase that number. I would not argue against such an approach, but the problem is that too many of the programs simply use scare tactics alone. The real reason to avoid sex outside of marriage is because God said so.
-
It seems that most people either do not know or care about God’s position on this issue. Many abstinence advocates actually tell teens to wait until they are ready instead of waiting until they are married. That is not what God says to do.
-
1 Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” Hebrews 13:4 tells us, “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.”
-
Back to the fear issue. Teens love to take risks. Rock climbing, down hill skiing, and bike racing are all risky but not sinful. There is a difference between risk and sin. As a teenager I was willing to take risks. Given the opportunity, I would have ridden a bull or skydived. The reason I waited for intimacy until my wedding night was not because of my fear of all the dangers I had heard about, it was because of my fear of God. Further, sex outside of marriage is not just sinful for teens, it is sinful for all people.
-
If the dangers and consequences of sin were a sufficient motivator, sins like drunkenness would not be a serious problem, for the consequences are deadly. Immediate danger is not a sufficient motivator for many men. Perhaps it is because they have not grasped the concept that they not only need to fear consequences, but they need to fear God Himself.
-
The problem is that until you trust Christ, so many of the motivators to stop sin are quite ineffective. You see, Christ is the only answer to the sin problem. He is the answer both to having your sins forgiven and the answer to helping you to no longer be involved in them. Apart from Him, there is little motivation to even care about sin- let alone to get the victory over it. That is why you must come to the place where you admit you are a sinner and ask Him to forgive you as you agree with His standard of right and wrong.
Why Bother With Church
I love to spend time out in the garage. It can be both relaxing and fulfilling. No wonder my father-in-law calls his garage the men’s crisis center.
-
I was recently able to get an old John Deere B to work on, and it is small enough to fit in the garage and still allow room to work on the lawn mower. It has given me further incentive to spend my evenings in the garage.
-
This actually reminds me of a statement that I have heard quite a bit lately: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.” I am obviously not a car, but I fear many church goers may not be real Christians either. God knows.
-
So if going to church doesn’t make one a Christian, why bother going? Some may ask, “If I don’t get anything for myself from church, why bother?” Such attitudes have led to people staying home, and churches attempting to cater to man’s desires through entertainment.
-
What man and churches are missing in all this is the glory of God. Is Christianity all about us, or is it about HIM? As I realize that God loved me so much that Christ died to pay for my sins, I want to honor Him. I want to know more about Him so that I can tell others about how wonderful my Lord and Savior is. I want to know what He expects of me. I want to be equipped for service to Him.
-
We should desire to go to church so that we can learn from God’s Word and be equipped by it. That is what a pastor of a church is supposed to be doing for the saints as he teaches. Ephesians 4:11-16 says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
-
Notice that we are to be taught so that we are not sidetracked by every doctrine or teaching that comes along- so that we understand God’s teaching and are equipped by it. If you really are a Christian and are not in a church that is doing that, find one. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
-
I was recently able to get an old John Deere B to work on, and it is small enough to fit in the garage and still allow room to work on the lawn mower. It has given me further incentive to spend my evenings in the garage.
-
This actually reminds me of a statement that I have heard quite a bit lately: “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.” I am obviously not a car, but I fear many church goers may not be real Christians either. God knows.
-
So if going to church doesn’t make one a Christian, why bother going? Some may ask, “If I don’t get anything for myself from church, why bother?” Such attitudes have led to people staying home, and churches attempting to cater to man’s desires through entertainment.
-
What man and churches are missing in all this is the glory of God. Is Christianity all about us, or is it about HIM? As I realize that God loved me so much that Christ died to pay for my sins, I want to honor Him. I want to know more about Him so that I can tell others about how wonderful my Lord and Savior is. I want to know what He expects of me. I want to be equipped for service to Him.
-
We should desire to go to church so that we can learn from God’s Word and be equipped by it. That is what a pastor of a church is supposed to be doing for the saints as he teaches. Ephesians 4:11-16 says, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
-
Notice that we are to be taught so that we are not sidetracked by every doctrine or teaching that comes along- so that we understand God’s teaching and are equipped by it. If you really are a Christian and are not in a church that is doing that, find one. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Normal Use of Allegory
The Encarta World English Dictionary defines allegory as a symbolic work: a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning. I am reminded of reading Animal Farm in high school where the pigs on the farm represented the communists. It was an interesting story that cleverly illustrated the deficiencies of a specific political movement.
-
In a similar manner, Christ used parables- stories that were given to illustrate a spiritual truth. When Christ spoke in parables, it was clear that He was saying much more than just what was seen on the surface, for He often gave the interpretation right after He gave the parable. As we read the Gospel accounts, the normal use of language makes it very clear when a parable is being used and when simple history is being given. For example, Matthew 13:18 begins with the words, “Hear ye therefore the parable.” Matthew 13:33a: “Another parable spake he unto them.” Matthew 21:33a: “Hear another parable.”
-
The point is that when the scripture uses allegory, there are clear indicators. The problem comes when men try to allegorize portions of scripture that have no indicators of specific symbolism. What ends up happening is that men make up their own allegorical interpretations to passages that should simply be read in their original normal meanings.
-
It has often been asked why people cannot agree on the interpretation of the Bible. Part of the reason is that many do not even use normal use of language rules when looking at the scripture and instead try to allegorize almost any passage they come across. Understand that a conservative will usually come up with a conservative allegory, a liberal will likely come up with a liberal allegory and moderate- you get the picture. The Bible should shape our way of thinking, but this approach tries to twist the scripture into man’s way of thinking instead.
-
It is an intellectually dishonest and potentially manipulative approach to interpreting what God has written. Some scholars actually try to make it look sophisticated by coming up with all kinds of intricate reasons for their interpretations, but let us remember 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
-
Instead of allegorizing the passages we do not understand, we should study them in their context and compare them with other scriptures. We must examine the audience, culture, and history at the time of the writing to understand the meaning in the setting of normal use of language. Sure this takes some work, but it gives us the pure meaning rather than just coming up with some symbolic idea that cannot be proven.
-
At First Baptist Church in Bancroft, you can expect to hear God’s Word preached and explained in its historical setting, as we use the normal use of language to interpret the Bible. We invite you to join us and see that the Bible really can be understood and that it is not just a bunch of broken up allegories. It is a book with continuity that shows the interactions between God and man and clearly gives us God’s expectations for man in a way that we can understand.
-
In a similar manner, Christ used parables- stories that were given to illustrate a spiritual truth. When Christ spoke in parables, it was clear that He was saying much more than just what was seen on the surface, for He often gave the interpretation right after He gave the parable. As we read the Gospel accounts, the normal use of language makes it very clear when a parable is being used and when simple history is being given. For example, Matthew 13:18 begins with the words, “Hear ye therefore the parable.” Matthew 13:33a: “Another parable spake he unto them.” Matthew 21:33a: “Hear another parable.”
-
The point is that when the scripture uses allegory, there are clear indicators. The problem comes when men try to allegorize portions of scripture that have no indicators of specific symbolism. What ends up happening is that men make up their own allegorical interpretations to passages that should simply be read in their original normal meanings.
-
It has often been asked why people cannot agree on the interpretation of the Bible. Part of the reason is that many do not even use normal use of language rules when looking at the scripture and instead try to allegorize almost any passage they come across. Understand that a conservative will usually come up with a conservative allegory, a liberal will likely come up with a liberal allegory and moderate- you get the picture. The Bible should shape our way of thinking, but this approach tries to twist the scripture into man’s way of thinking instead.
-
It is an intellectually dishonest and potentially manipulative approach to interpreting what God has written. Some scholars actually try to make it look sophisticated by coming up with all kinds of intricate reasons for their interpretations, but let us remember 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
-
Instead of allegorizing the passages we do not understand, we should study them in their context and compare them with other scriptures. We must examine the audience, culture, and history at the time of the writing to understand the meaning in the setting of normal use of language. Sure this takes some work, but it gives us the pure meaning rather than just coming up with some symbolic idea that cannot be proven.
-
At First Baptist Church in Bancroft, you can expect to hear God’s Word preached and explained in its historical setting, as we use the normal use of language to interpret the Bible. We invite you to join us and see that the Bible really can be understood and that it is not just a bunch of broken up allegories. It is a book with continuity that shows the interactions between God and man and clearly gives us God’s expectations for man in a way that we can understand.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Not All Advice is Good Advice
When I was a kid, I remember reading “Dear Abby” in our local newspaper. Readers would write in with questions and she would give an answer. Sometimes I would agree with her answers, but often I would not. So who was right, Abby or me?
-
No doubt Abby had many more years of experience than I did, but I consider my own mother who has lived in this world for more than 6 decades. She didn’t always agree with Abby either. So where should I get my advice- from a dear Abby or from dear Mom?
-
We should seek advice from others. The problem we face is that human hearts and minds have been corrupted by sin and often the advice we get encourages sinfulness rather than godliness. Consider the advice that is often given when someone has done wrong to us. So much of the worldly advice we receive concerns how to get back at them or to show them how it feels to have been done wrong. Such advice encourages bitterness rather than meekness.
-
Consider what James wrote in dealing with this very subject: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:13-18)
-
Notice what the scripture says. The sort of wisdom that says you should have bitter envy and strife in your hearts doesn’t come from God; it comes from the earth, from our own passions, and from the devil. The wisdom that comes from God is not ready to pick a fight, but is rather ready to look for peace. This doesn’t mean we compromise truth, but it means that we submit to God’s wisdom rather than our own or the devils. It means setting aside our selfishness for God’s glory.
-
It actually sounds a lot like the fruit of the Spirit that we read about in Galatians 5: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 5:22-6:1)
-
So who’s advice do I want- Mom’s or Abby’s? I want God’s advice and thankfully I have a mother who does as well. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)
-
No doubt Abby had many more years of experience than I did, but I consider my own mother who has lived in this world for more than 6 decades. She didn’t always agree with Abby either. So where should I get my advice- from a dear Abby or from dear Mom?
-
We should seek advice from others. The problem we face is that human hearts and minds have been corrupted by sin and often the advice we get encourages sinfulness rather than godliness. Consider the advice that is often given when someone has done wrong to us. So much of the worldly advice we receive concerns how to get back at them or to show them how it feels to have been done wrong. Such advice encourages bitterness rather than meekness.
-
Consider what James wrote in dealing with this very subject: “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” (James 3:13-18)
-
Notice what the scripture says. The sort of wisdom that says you should have bitter envy and strife in your hearts doesn’t come from God; it comes from the earth, from our own passions, and from the devil. The wisdom that comes from God is not ready to pick a fight, but is rather ready to look for peace. This doesn’t mean we compromise truth, but it means that we submit to God’s wisdom rather than our own or the devils. It means setting aside our selfishness for God’s glory.
-
It actually sounds a lot like the fruit of the Spirit that we read about in Galatians 5: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 5:22-6:1)
-
So who’s advice do I want- Mom’s or Abby’s? I want God’s advice and thankfully I have a mother who does as well. “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (1 Corinthians 1:25)
Saturday, May 15, 2010
How Much Can I Get By With?
How much will God let us get by with? When I worked as a chaplain with the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Department, I would regularly do ride alongs with the deputies while they were on patrol. When it came to enforcement of the law, they were concerned for the safety of the drivers as well as others on the roads, but they actually let people get away with a lot. They had a speed that was well above the posted limit that they would allow the drivers to drive at. Now I am not encouraging drivers to ignore the posted limits, but I do recognize that our human nature wants to push the limits as far as it can.
-
Perhaps that was part of the motivation for a question that Christ was asked in Matthew 22:36, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Christ’s answer was quite simple: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
-
So does that mean that as long as you are loving God with your all, and your neighbor as yourself, then you can get by doing whatever you want? Well, actually if you do really love God with your all, you will already be doing what He expects and will be treating your neighbor right as well. You see, if you love God that much, instead of seeing what you can get by with, you will be looking for ways to serve and honor Him.
-
Notice how Christ said that on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. That means that all the commands God gives us are based on our love for Him and others. No doubt a society that follows the rules of God treats their fellow man much better.
-
Instead of showing us what we can get by with, Christ’s response shows us the importance of all of God’s commands. Consider what James wrote, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) In other words, if you violate the least of the commands, you are guilty of violating the most important command of loving God completely. No wonder we are told that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
-
There is good new though. Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins. By believing on Him, trusting Him for our salvation, realizing that He died and rose from the dead for our sins, we too can have eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
-
Once we really believe in Him and trust Him, our love for Him motivates us to want to obey. It is no longer about what we can get by with, it is about believing that His way is best. You see, it isn’t about cleaning up your life so that you can trust Him. It is about trusting Him and letting Him clean up your life because you love Him.
-
Perhaps that was part of the motivation for a question that Christ was asked in Matthew 22:36, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” Christ’s answer was quite simple: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40).
-
So does that mean that as long as you are loving God with your all, and your neighbor as yourself, then you can get by doing whatever you want? Well, actually if you do really love God with your all, you will already be doing what He expects and will be treating your neighbor right as well. You see, if you love God that much, instead of seeing what you can get by with, you will be looking for ways to serve and honor Him.
-
Notice how Christ said that on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. That means that all the commands God gives us are based on our love for Him and others. No doubt a society that follows the rules of God treats their fellow man much better.
-
Instead of showing us what we can get by with, Christ’s response shows us the importance of all of God’s commands. Consider what James wrote, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) In other words, if you violate the least of the commands, you are guilty of violating the most important command of loving God completely. No wonder we are told that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
-
There is good new though. Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins. By believing on Him, trusting Him for our salvation, realizing that He died and rose from the dead for our sins, we too can have eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
-
Once we really believe in Him and trust Him, our love for Him motivates us to want to obey. It is no longer about what we can get by with, it is about believing that His way is best. You see, it isn’t about cleaning up your life so that you can trust Him. It is about trusting Him and letting Him clean up your life because you love Him.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Do You Have the Wrong Number?
You know you’re in a small town when someone dials a wrong number and you talk to them for five minutes. We actually get a lot of wrong number calls from people trying to reach Spa dee Dah. Now I do not know how to do makeup or to cut hair, so all I can do is tell them to call 2772 instead of 2702.
-
Now getting a wrong number in a small town isn’t that big of a deal, but what if you got the wrong number when trying to reach God? I fear that is happening more often than we would like to admit. Too many people don’t know God’s “number,” so they end up trying whatever they think might work. Romans 10:3 says, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” The point is, when we try to do things by trial and error because we do not know what God expects, we cannot reach Him any more than we could reach an old high school friend just by dialing random numbers on the phone.
-
Now if you dial 885-2702, you will reach the church, and you can talk to me, but you still will not be reaching God. You see, I cannot get you to God, all I can do is tell you how to reach Him, just like I can tell callers how to get ahold of the Spa. I am not the mediator, I am simply the messenger. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (I Timothy 2:5).
-
You see, you do not get ahold of God, by reaching me or any other clergy for that matter. You have to get ahold of Christ Jesus. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). To reach God, you do not dial a number, you trust in a Savior. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
-
If you want to call God, you don’t need to know His number, you need to know Him. God came to this earth in the person of the Son of God, Jesus Christ in order to die for your sins and to raise again victorious over sin and death. If He had the power to do that He has the power to save you and to hear your prayers when you call out to Him. You don’t have to worry about a bad connection if you will humbly submit to Him, turn from your sin, and trust Him as you call out to Him. He promises, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37).
-
Many have tried to reach God using the wrong number when His way is so straight forward. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) So if you have not yet gotten ahold of God and turned to Him, call Him now. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
-
Now getting a wrong number in a small town isn’t that big of a deal, but what if you got the wrong number when trying to reach God? I fear that is happening more often than we would like to admit. Too many people don’t know God’s “number,” so they end up trying whatever they think might work. Romans 10:3 says, “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” The point is, when we try to do things by trial and error because we do not know what God expects, we cannot reach Him any more than we could reach an old high school friend just by dialing random numbers on the phone.
-
Now if you dial 885-2702, you will reach the church, and you can talk to me, but you still will not be reaching God. You see, I cannot get you to God, all I can do is tell you how to reach Him, just like I can tell callers how to get ahold of the Spa. I am not the mediator, I am simply the messenger. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (I Timothy 2:5).
-
You see, you do not get ahold of God, by reaching me or any other clergy for that matter. You have to get ahold of Christ Jesus. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6). To reach God, you do not dial a number, you trust in a Savior. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
-
If you want to call God, you don’t need to know His number, you need to know Him. God came to this earth in the person of the Son of God, Jesus Christ in order to die for your sins and to raise again victorious over sin and death. If He had the power to do that He has the power to save you and to hear your prayers when you call out to Him. You don’t have to worry about a bad connection if you will humbly submit to Him, turn from your sin, and trust Him as you call out to Him. He promises, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37).
-
Many have tried to reach God using the wrong number when His way is so straight forward. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9) So if you have not yet gotten ahold of God and turned to Him, call Him now. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Friday, April 9, 2010
Judging Hot Potatoes
Both our little boys are on solid food now. When feeding small children you must be very careful. First you have to make sure that the food is cut up into small pieces so that they do not choke. Then you have to make sure that it is not too hot. I made a mistake with hot food a while back. I felt the potatoes and thought they had cooled enough but when A.J. grabbed them with his tender hands, he pulled back and began to cry. They were still too hot. My judgment was wrong.
-
As serious as a bad judgment on hot potatoes is, bad judgments on spiritual matters are even more serious, for they can have an eternal impact. In fact, because my own judgment is so prone to error- as all our judgments are- I try to avoid making spiritual judgments. That may sound strange coming from a pastor, but let me explain. Rather than making judgments from my own intellect, emotion, or life experience, I instead recognize my inability to judge perfectly and step back and let God judge. In doing that, I allow Him to be the ultimate authority and that means that I agree with what He has written in His Word.
-
In other words, I don’t make up the rules and decide what is right or wrong, God does. That means that I cannot ignore the parts of Scripture that I don’t want to see even if it would seem more convenient or popular to do so. The Apostle Paul was clear in rebuking man for making up his own rules while ignoring God‘s. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:3)
-
Now even if we agree that God makes the rules, not us, the question arises, “what parts of Scripture are the Words of God?” Is it just the red letters of words spoken by Christ? Should we consider the Old Testament, realizing that many of the ordinances written in that part of the Bible were given specifically to the Hebrew people and were done away with on the cross (Colossians 2:14)?
-
The answers are actually quite simple. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Now that verse was written by the Apostle Paul, yet the Apostle Peter testifies in II Peter 3:15-16 that what Paul wrote was Scripture. You see, the words for the text were not just the words of man, but were inspired by God and carried the authority of God behind them and still do today.
-
The Old Testament as well still has authority. Though the Hebrew ordinances have been done away with, much of what was written relayed God’s expectations for all mankind. For example Leviticus 18 is addressed to the Hebrews and it warns them against doing the sort of sexual sins that caused the land to be defiled by the Canaanites. God makes it clear in vs. 27 that this behavior was abomination for all people. In other words, it was a universal decree of right and wrong coming from God.
-
Judgment belongs to God and if we are to know what God has judged, we must look to all of His Word.
-
As serious as a bad judgment on hot potatoes is, bad judgments on spiritual matters are even more serious, for they can have an eternal impact. In fact, because my own judgment is so prone to error- as all our judgments are- I try to avoid making spiritual judgments. That may sound strange coming from a pastor, but let me explain. Rather than making judgments from my own intellect, emotion, or life experience, I instead recognize my inability to judge perfectly and step back and let God judge. In doing that, I allow Him to be the ultimate authority and that means that I agree with what He has written in His Word.
-
In other words, I don’t make up the rules and decide what is right or wrong, God does. That means that I cannot ignore the parts of Scripture that I don’t want to see even if it would seem more convenient or popular to do so. The Apostle Paul was clear in rebuking man for making up his own rules while ignoring God‘s. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:3)
-
Now even if we agree that God makes the rules, not us, the question arises, “what parts of Scripture are the Words of God?” Is it just the red letters of words spoken by Christ? Should we consider the Old Testament, realizing that many of the ordinances written in that part of the Bible were given specifically to the Hebrew people and were done away with on the cross (Colossians 2:14)?
-
The answers are actually quite simple. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Now that verse was written by the Apostle Paul, yet the Apostle Peter testifies in II Peter 3:15-16 that what Paul wrote was Scripture. You see, the words for the text were not just the words of man, but were inspired by God and carried the authority of God behind them and still do today.
-
The Old Testament as well still has authority. Though the Hebrew ordinances have been done away with, much of what was written relayed God’s expectations for all mankind. For example Leviticus 18 is addressed to the Hebrews and it warns them against doing the sort of sexual sins that caused the land to be defiled by the Canaanites. God makes it clear in vs. 27 that this behavior was abomination for all people. In other words, it was a universal decree of right and wrong coming from God.
-
Judgment belongs to God and if we are to know what God has judged, we must look to all of His Word.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thanking God for Melted Snow
We just finished a memorable winter. I must say that as a citizen of Bancroft, I am very pleased at the skill and efficiency our city workers demonstrated in getting our roads opened up. Even on Christmas day in the middle of a blizzard, though the roads were not perfect, I could still get around town because there was a plow out on our streets. I noticed how the snow was winged back away from the streets so that there was room for the next round of accumulation when it came. I noticed the extra time that was taken to clean the intersections as they as well built up with snow. I noticed the long hours that were spent just trying to keep up. For that I say thank you.
-
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to take things for granted? It is so easy to complain that the snow plow wing piled snow in front of our driveway again and forget that if they were not out on the road there would be no place to go once we left our driveway. How many times don’t we do the same thing with God? Do we realize that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
-
I recently heard about a study that said that the more thankful a person is, the more successful they are likely to be. That does not surprise me. God commands us to be thankful. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) Notice how thankfulness is connected with peace in the heart. If we complain about the pile of snow in our driveway, we end up with conflict in our hearts, but if we are thankful for the snowplows we have peace in our hearts in spite of the fact that we have a huge pile of snow to shovel. You might say that thankfulness helps us to make lemonade out of lemons. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)
-
So should we complain about the mud or praise God that the snow has melted? Should we complain that the sun is glaring in our eyes, or praise God that it will dry the mud? Should we complain that it is now cloudy, or praise God that the sun is not glaring in our eyes?
-
Actually such approaches to thanksgiving are not at all ridiculous. In fact, as we understand the goodness of God, they should be natural. It is no wonder Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So what can you give thanks for today? Have you thanked those around you? Have you prayed and thanked God?
-
Have you ever noticed how easy it is to take things for granted? It is so easy to complain that the snow plow wing piled snow in front of our driveway again and forget that if they were not out on the road there would be no place to go once we left our driveway. How many times don’t we do the same thing with God? Do we realize that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
-
I recently heard about a study that said that the more thankful a person is, the more successful they are likely to be. That does not surprise me. God commands us to be thankful. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) Notice how thankfulness is connected with peace in the heart. If we complain about the pile of snow in our driveway, we end up with conflict in our hearts, but if we are thankful for the snowplows we have peace in our hearts in spite of the fact that we have a huge pile of snow to shovel. You might say that thankfulness helps us to make lemonade out of lemons. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18)
-
So should we complain about the mud or praise God that the snow has melted? Should we complain that the sun is glaring in our eyes, or praise God that it will dry the mud? Should we complain that it is now cloudy, or praise God that the sun is not glaring in our eyes?
-
Actually such approaches to thanksgiving are not at all ridiculous. In fact, as we understand the goodness of God, they should be natural. It is no wonder Ephesians 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So what can you give thanks for today? Have you thanked those around you? Have you prayed and thanked God?
Friday, March 12, 2010
Do We Have a Good Culture?
The following is a condensed revision of an earlier article:
Too often people form their values based on their culture. The problem with such an approach is that it allows culture to determine values rather than God.
-
As we consider the subject of cultural relativism, is it acceptable to suggest that some cultures are morally inferior to others? For example, the Children of Israel were warned about a cultural practice of their neighbors the Ammonites who sacrificed their children to the false god Molech by burning them in fire. “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:21. Few would disagree that the culture of child sacrifice is evil.
-
The example of the Ammonites is not very controversial, for I do not know of any people who still worship Molech. Therefore I can use that example and not ruffle too many feathers.
-
What about a culture that encourages its children to strap bombs to their bodies and blow themselves up in crowded public areas with the purpose of killing as many people as possible? What about a culture that prides itself in honor killings of relatives who they feel have disgraced their families? From a Biblical perspective, not only must I condemn the religious beliefs of Islam, but also their culture of violence. Some would call me intolerant for such a statement, but what is more intolerant, writing about those we disagree with or killing them? A culture of intolerance that leads to murder is something we all must be concerned about.
-
I am saddened that the debate over culture often leads instead to a debate over race. Many Muslims are Arabs, but we must not come to the conclusion that all Arabs are more evil than anyone else. The issue is not their race, but what values they embrace.
-
Many of those same issues come up when we examine the values of some of our inner city cultures in this county. For example, a culture that encourages drug use, out of wedlock births, and violence should be spoken against. Sadly, instead of speaking against such a culture, many speak against a race. These behaviors are wrong no matter which races are involved in them. Further, not every person of a particular race does such things, and it is wrong to imply that they do.
-
At the same time, it would be just as wrong to ignore the sinful characteristics of a culture just because of a fear of offending a certain demographic within our society. What I am suggesting is judging a “culture” rather than a race by the content of its character, not by the color of its skin.
-
What about the culture of our own area. It is easy to pride ourselves in our small town values, yet cultural relativism has crept in here as well. For example, we live in a culture where premarital sex (fornication) is accepted. We live in a culture where our possessions have become our gods. We live in a culture were divorce and adultery are all too frequent. We live in a culture where we covet and want whatever someone else has. We live in a culture where it is not uncommon for our citizens to get drunk.
-
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
-
It is time for people to reject their cultures and embrace God.
-
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
-
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3.
Too often people form their values based on their culture. The problem with such an approach is that it allows culture to determine values rather than God.
-
As we consider the subject of cultural relativism, is it acceptable to suggest that some cultures are morally inferior to others? For example, the Children of Israel were warned about a cultural practice of their neighbors the Ammonites who sacrificed their children to the false god Molech by burning them in fire. “And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through the fire to Molech, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 18:21. Few would disagree that the culture of child sacrifice is evil.
-
The example of the Ammonites is not very controversial, for I do not know of any people who still worship Molech. Therefore I can use that example and not ruffle too many feathers.
-
What about a culture that encourages its children to strap bombs to their bodies and blow themselves up in crowded public areas with the purpose of killing as many people as possible? What about a culture that prides itself in honor killings of relatives who they feel have disgraced their families? From a Biblical perspective, not only must I condemn the religious beliefs of Islam, but also their culture of violence. Some would call me intolerant for such a statement, but what is more intolerant, writing about those we disagree with or killing them? A culture of intolerance that leads to murder is something we all must be concerned about.
-
I am saddened that the debate over culture often leads instead to a debate over race. Many Muslims are Arabs, but we must not come to the conclusion that all Arabs are more evil than anyone else. The issue is not their race, but what values they embrace.
-
Many of those same issues come up when we examine the values of some of our inner city cultures in this county. For example, a culture that encourages drug use, out of wedlock births, and violence should be spoken against. Sadly, instead of speaking against such a culture, many speak against a race. These behaviors are wrong no matter which races are involved in them. Further, not every person of a particular race does such things, and it is wrong to imply that they do.
-
At the same time, it would be just as wrong to ignore the sinful characteristics of a culture just because of a fear of offending a certain demographic within our society. What I am suggesting is judging a “culture” rather than a race by the content of its character, not by the color of its skin.
-
What about the culture of our own area. It is easy to pride ourselves in our small town values, yet cultural relativism has crept in here as well. For example, we live in a culture where premarital sex (fornication) is accepted. We live in a culture where our possessions have become our gods. We live in a culture were divorce and adultery are all too frequent. We live in a culture where we covet and want whatever someone else has. We live in a culture where it is not uncommon for our citizens to get drunk.
-
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
-
It is time for people to reject their cultures and embrace God.
-
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6
-
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3.
Missionaries
We are hosting a couple of missionaries at different times this spring. On March 28th, Chris Stoll, Missionary to Ireland is planning to be with us. He will teach Sunday School and be with us for the regular morning service. Instead of the evening service, we are planning a 1 p.m. service for that day after a fellowship meal.
-
We also plan to host Darrel Jingst for the morning of May 2. He is one of the Missionaries our church currently supports. He is involved in a Spanish printing ministry. If you are able to make it to any of these services, we would love to have you join us.
-
We also plan to host Darrel Jingst for the morning of May 2. He is one of the Missionaries our church currently supports. He is involved in a Spanish printing ministry. If you are able to make it to any of these services, we would love to have you join us.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Learning The Child's Language
Greek and Hebrew are not the only languages I struggle with. Lately I have been challenged with “toddler talk.” Our son Jared is learning how to speak, and it is fun trying to interpret his words. Dad is Daaee, Mom is Maee, and A.J. is Zae. One of his most used words though is “snack,” or as he says it, “sna.” A.J. can’t talk yet other than saying “mumma” or “daad.”
-
It is interesting how closely their language is tied to food. Not only am I learning baby talk, but I am learning what it takes to feed a couple of growing boys. Jared has gotten big enough that he can explore on his own, and often his exploits involve a hunt for a “sna.” We do not want him just rummaging through the cupboards unsupervised, so we have instructed him to ask for a snack instead of just taking it. Now he goes around pointing and saying, “wat sem” (want some).
-
He still cannot say apple, but knows the word ball, so if he wants an apple he will point at the fruit basket and ask for a “bau.” He has also learned that if he scoots his stool up by the counter, he can reach the apples himself but has been told not to take them without asking. He gets scolded if he grabs one without permission. Today I caught him doing something new. Instead of actually touching the apple in the basket with his hand, he was leaning over the basket attempting to eat the apple without holding on to it.
-
I must admit that it was quite clever for a two year old, but he got in trouble anyway. As I reflect on this little incident, I realize how much adults are just like two year olds. How often don’t we try to get around the clear commands of God. It was also a reminder of how important it is to work hard at training our boys to in obedience. The first word we trained them to understand was “NO”. We did this by touching their hands firmly when they reached for something off limits and repeating the word, “no”.
-
Child training is hard work. We only have two, but I am already finding how different each one is. What worked for the one may not work for the other. We can read child training books or talk to others and find out what worked perfectly for them, but it may not work for our child.
-
Regardless, I know that I cannot give in to their every whim. If I do, they will learn to blackmail us simply by throwing a tantrum. I have heard of parents giving into their children simply to avoid a conflict. That is a mistake. If you do not stop doing that when they are still infants, do not be surprised if you find them laying on the floor at Wal-Mart kicking and screaming until they get the toy they want.
-
Scripture is very clear about this. “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Proverbs 19:18). “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” (Proverbs 29:17)
-
It is sad when children become so unruly that they are no longer a delight to their parents. Often parents neglect to say “no” when the children are still babies, and then end up yelling and screaming at them when they are older. By this time the child has already learned to manipulate and often just tunes the parent out.
-
There are times we need to yell. For example if the child is ready to touch a hot stove. But yelling usually just trains children that losing their temper is okay. Instead, we must calmly take the time to train and develop godly behavior in the child, both by leading and example. Spanking must also be an option. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Proverbs 13:24) The problem with spanking is that many do not understand the difference between a physical reprimand meant to train and an actual beating. A Biblical spanking is done in love in order to train. It must be done calmly and not in anger, and generally once the child is trained spankings are rare. A parent who beats their child because they are embarrassed or inconvenienced needs to repent of their abusive sin.
-
Child training is hard work, but it yields lasting rewards. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
-
It is interesting how closely their language is tied to food. Not only am I learning baby talk, but I am learning what it takes to feed a couple of growing boys. Jared has gotten big enough that he can explore on his own, and often his exploits involve a hunt for a “sna.” We do not want him just rummaging through the cupboards unsupervised, so we have instructed him to ask for a snack instead of just taking it. Now he goes around pointing and saying, “wat sem” (want some).
-
He still cannot say apple, but knows the word ball, so if he wants an apple he will point at the fruit basket and ask for a “bau.” He has also learned that if he scoots his stool up by the counter, he can reach the apples himself but has been told not to take them without asking. He gets scolded if he grabs one without permission. Today I caught him doing something new. Instead of actually touching the apple in the basket with his hand, he was leaning over the basket attempting to eat the apple without holding on to it.
-
I must admit that it was quite clever for a two year old, but he got in trouble anyway. As I reflect on this little incident, I realize how much adults are just like two year olds. How often don’t we try to get around the clear commands of God. It was also a reminder of how important it is to work hard at training our boys to in obedience. The first word we trained them to understand was “NO”. We did this by touching their hands firmly when they reached for something off limits and repeating the word, “no”.
-
Child training is hard work. We only have two, but I am already finding how different each one is. What worked for the one may not work for the other. We can read child training books or talk to others and find out what worked perfectly for them, but it may not work for our child.
-
Regardless, I know that I cannot give in to their every whim. If I do, they will learn to blackmail us simply by throwing a tantrum. I have heard of parents giving into their children simply to avoid a conflict. That is a mistake. If you do not stop doing that when they are still infants, do not be surprised if you find them laying on the floor at Wal-Mart kicking and screaming until they get the toy they want.
-
Scripture is very clear about this. “Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.” (Proverbs 19:18). “Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.” (Proverbs 29:17)
-
It is sad when children become so unruly that they are no longer a delight to their parents. Often parents neglect to say “no” when the children are still babies, and then end up yelling and screaming at them when they are older. By this time the child has already learned to manipulate and often just tunes the parent out.
-
There are times we need to yell. For example if the child is ready to touch a hot stove. But yelling usually just trains children that losing their temper is okay. Instead, we must calmly take the time to train and develop godly behavior in the child, both by leading and example. Spanking must also be an option. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Proverbs 13:24) The problem with spanking is that many do not understand the difference between a physical reprimand meant to train and an actual beating. A Biblical spanking is done in love in order to train. It must be done calmly and not in anger, and generally once the child is trained spankings are rare. A parent who beats their child because they are embarrassed or inconvenienced needs to repent of their abusive sin.
-
Child training is hard work, but it yields lasting rewards. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
The Iowa Marriage Debate
There has been a lot of discussion about marriage in Iowa over the last year, and I would expect even more in the days and years ahead. A few years back, the Legislature of the state of Iowa passed a law stating that marriage was between one man and one woman. In April of 2009, the Supreme Court of Iowa issued an opinion against that law. Today there is a debate on whether or not a sitting Governor would have the authority to put a stay on that decision. At the same time, many Iowans are calling for a vote to just let the citizens of the state settle this issue.
-
Essentially, Iowans find themselves in a position of debating who has the right to be the final decider of this issue. In the midst of all the emotion, we run a grave danger of forgetting that this issue has already been decided. It was not decided by a legislature, or a court, or a group of citizens, or even by a church. It was actually decided by our Creator when He made them male and female and put them together in order to procreate.
-
This principle of man and woman coming together predates even the Scriptures which were given to us by God. In other words, God had established the natural order of things long before He even had Moses write the Pentateuch. Even today as we go into the hardware store and ask for plumbing and electrical connections we use the terms male and female because of the nature of how God made us. This was not something established by man, but rather by God.
-
If the courts were suddenly to declare that gravity does not exist, would it change the fact? Of course not. Some would then argue that if it doesn’t change anything why worry about it. I worry about it because lies are deadly. Of course I can understand that gravity does exist, but I remember when my little brother broke his arm trying to fly like Super Man.
-
What it comes down to is that we as the citizens of Iowa must oppose any decision of the court that so blatantly goes against reality. We all know that marriage is between a husband and a wife. To declare differently is to distort the truth and to even change the very definition of a word that was founded upon the principles of nature. To argue otherwise is not only to argue with God, but to argue with the reality of the creation that He made.
-
Essentially, Iowans find themselves in a position of debating who has the right to be the final decider of this issue. In the midst of all the emotion, we run a grave danger of forgetting that this issue has already been decided. It was not decided by a legislature, or a court, or a group of citizens, or even by a church. It was actually decided by our Creator when He made them male and female and put them together in order to procreate.
-
This principle of man and woman coming together predates even the Scriptures which were given to us by God. In other words, God had established the natural order of things long before He even had Moses write the Pentateuch. Even today as we go into the hardware store and ask for plumbing and electrical connections we use the terms male and female because of the nature of how God made us. This was not something established by man, but rather by God.
-
If the courts were suddenly to declare that gravity does not exist, would it change the fact? Of course not. Some would then argue that if it doesn’t change anything why worry about it. I worry about it because lies are deadly. Of course I can understand that gravity does exist, but I remember when my little brother broke his arm trying to fly like Super Man.
-
What it comes down to is that we as the citizens of Iowa must oppose any decision of the court that so blatantly goes against reality. We all know that marriage is between a husband and a wife. To declare differently is to distort the truth and to even change the very definition of a word that was founded upon the principles of nature. To argue otherwise is not only to argue with God, but to argue with the reality of the creation that He made.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Will We Ever Get Global Warming?
Well, the groundhog saw his shadow. So what does it mean? Besides the fact that there was enough sun for him to see a shadow, it means absolutely nothing. “But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7) In spite of the truth, this little varmint has become famous for predicting how long the winter will be. According to this years prediction we can expect 6 more weeks of what we have already been putting up with (well, a few less than that by now). Yes, this is turning into a memorable winter.
-
I must admit that I kind of enjoy pushing all the snow though. I doubt I would enjoy it so much if didn’t have a skid steer to use. It sure is fun to ram into a snow bank and just see how far I can push it before I have to back up and hit it again. It is also fun to spin that thing around on a dime. If I did the same thing with the van, I’d risk rolling it or getting a ticket. This year, however, I have begun to wonder if I will run out of places to push all the snow.
-
As much fun as I have playing on the skid steer, I look forward to all this snow melting. In fact, I have joked for years that I am in favor of global warming because I like the summer temperatures much better than the cold winters.
-
In all honesty, I must disclose that I have long been a global warming skeptic. I believe God is in control of the weather, not man. It has been interesting to listen to all the debate and even the recent scandals surrounding this subject, but does the Scripture have anything to say about weather patterns?
-
Psalm 148:8 tells us how meteorological activity is actually directed by the word of God. “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:” This tells us that all God has to do is speak and the weather obeys Him. Not only can Christ calm the storm, but God sends the storms or holds them back at His will. “And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.” (Amos 4:7)
-
I love to watch and listen to thunderstorms. I recently had the chance to preach on Psalm 29. This Psalm uses the language of thunderstorms, and it describes the different features of what was likely a powerful supercell. Over and over again through the chapter we read that the voice of God was upon these different parts of the storm. Now that is not hard to imagine when we think of thunder, but as we reflect on Ps 148:8 as well, let us not forget that the voice/word of God directs all the aspects of the weather.
-
I can’t tell you how much longer our winter will be or how much more snow we will have, but God knows. I don’t even know if the earth will warm up or cool down in the next few years, but God knows. I do however know that one day, global warming will occur and it will be far worse than anything Al Gore is suggesting. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (II Peter 3:10)
-
Nothing we can do will be able to prevent this warming. The only way to make sure we are not burned up is to trust Christ as our Savior. Consider the verse right after II Peter 3:10. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness”. This whole earth will be burnt up and dissolved before a new heaven and earth are made. Because the earth belongs to God- not us, we should take care of it, but we must also keep it in perspective. The earth will be gone, but God will remain. Who should we put or greater focus on? I will focus on God.
-
I must admit that I kind of enjoy pushing all the snow though. I doubt I would enjoy it so much if didn’t have a skid steer to use. It sure is fun to ram into a snow bank and just see how far I can push it before I have to back up and hit it again. It is also fun to spin that thing around on a dime. If I did the same thing with the van, I’d risk rolling it or getting a ticket. This year, however, I have begun to wonder if I will run out of places to push all the snow.
-
As much fun as I have playing on the skid steer, I look forward to all this snow melting. In fact, I have joked for years that I am in favor of global warming because I like the summer temperatures much better than the cold winters.
-
In all honesty, I must disclose that I have long been a global warming skeptic. I believe God is in control of the weather, not man. It has been interesting to listen to all the debate and even the recent scandals surrounding this subject, but does the Scripture have anything to say about weather patterns?
-
Psalm 148:8 tells us how meteorological activity is actually directed by the word of God. “Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word:” This tells us that all God has to do is speak and the weather obeys Him. Not only can Christ calm the storm, but God sends the storms or holds them back at His will. “And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.” (Amos 4:7)
-
I love to watch and listen to thunderstorms. I recently had the chance to preach on Psalm 29. This Psalm uses the language of thunderstorms, and it describes the different features of what was likely a powerful supercell. Over and over again through the chapter we read that the voice of God was upon these different parts of the storm. Now that is not hard to imagine when we think of thunder, but as we reflect on Ps 148:8 as well, let us not forget that the voice/word of God directs all the aspects of the weather.
-
I can’t tell you how much longer our winter will be or how much more snow we will have, but God knows. I don’t even know if the earth will warm up or cool down in the next few years, but God knows. I do however know that one day, global warming will occur and it will be far worse than anything Al Gore is suggesting. “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (II Peter 3:10)
-
Nothing we can do will be able to prevent this warming. The only way to make sure we are not burned up is to trust Christ as our Savior. Consider the verse right after II Peter 3:10. “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness”. This whole earth will be burnt up and dissolved before a new heaven and earth are made. Because the earth belongs to God- not us, we should take care of it, but we must also keep it in perspective. The earth will be gone, but God will remain. Who should we put or greater focus on? I will focus on God.
Friday, January 29, 2010
What Has Our Society Come To?
I just finished pulling my old high school year book off the shelf. It is amazing how quickly hair styles change. As I thumbed through the pictures of my old classmates, I thought about their parents. Of all those that I graduated with, as far as I know, none of their parents were divorced. Sure, it was a small public school in a rural area, but that is still amazing. Sadly, as we look at our society, now 20 years later, we realize that hair styles were not the only thing that changed. Today, not only are divorces common, but so are out of wedlock births. The whole family structure has deteriorated to the point that we now have a debate over the very definition of marriage.
-
Evil has become acceptable in our society. For example, sex outside of marriage is considered the norm by the world, even though it is clearly a sin. Wickedness is all around us. Even though we are blessed with so much, people are envious of what others have and want it for themselves. Some even kill to get it. People fight and lie. They have a hatred for God and His standards. Their bad character is displayed with pride as they brag about their sin. The children disobey their parents, the grown ups don’t keep their word, godly love is a foreign concept, and so many care about no one but themselves. (see Romans 29-31)
-
No doubt, we have always lived in a sin cursed world, but it seems to be getting much worse. So, I must ask, “how did we get here?”
-
The answer is clear. We are here because man has rejected God and His standards. Instead of worshipping God, the people of this nation have put their desires on other things. It sounds a lot like what we can read of in Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” You see, when man rejects God so blatantly, He punishes them by giving them over to their sin. The natural consequences of sin are severe punishment all by themselves. “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 1:24-25)
-
Not only did God give them up to uncleanness of the heart, but he gave them over to vile affections and reprobate minds. Romans 1:26-31 says, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”
-
The characteristics of our society that were listed in the second paragraph of this column came from these verses. They should be a wake up call that we live in a society that has rejected God. As I said, the consequences of sin are a punishment themselves, but we know as well that the wages of sin is death, and this first chapter in Romans ends by telling us that both those who do those things and those who take pleasure in them are worthy of death. By trusting in Christ’s gift of eternal life, you can escape eternal death, and by following His standards of right and wrong, you can escape the consequences of sin in this life. If you have no desire to follow His standards though, it is obvious that you have rejected Him and thus He will reject you.
-
Folks the sins listed in the Romans 1 passage are disgusting, but let us not forget that they are actually only a symptom of an even bigger problem. A rejection of God, because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God. Let me be clear here, a rejection of God’s standard of right and wrong is a rejection of Him. It is time for us to repent and turn to the true God.
-
Evil has become acceptable in our society. For example, sex outside of marriage is considered the norm by the world, even though it is clearly a sin. Wickedness is all around us. Even though we are blessed with so much, people are envious of what others have and want it for themselves. Some even kill to get it. People fight and lie. They have a hatred for God and His standards. Their bad character is displayed with pride as they brag about their sin. The children disobey their parents, the grown ups don’t keep their word, godly love is a foreign concept, and so many care about no one but themselves. (see Romans 29-31)
-
No doubt, we have always lived in a sin cursed world, but it seems to be getting much worse. So, I must ask, “how did we get here?”
-
The answer is clear. We are here because man has rejected God and His standards. Instead of worshipping God, the people of this nation have put their desires on other things. It sounds a lot like what we can read of in Romans 1:21, “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” You see, when man rejects God so blatantly, He punishes them by giving them over to their sin. The natural consequences of sin are severe punishment all by themselves. “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 1:24-25)
-
Not only did God give them up to uncleanness of the heart, but he gave them over to vile affections and reprobate minds. Romans 1:26-31 says, “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”
-
The characteristics of our society that were listed in the second paragraph of this column came from these verses. They should be a wake up call that we live in a society that has rejected God. As I said, the consequences of sin are a punishment themselves, but we know as well that the wages of sin is death, and this first chapter in Romans ends by telling us that both those who do those things and those who take pleasure in them are worthy of death. By trusting in Christ’s gift of eternal life, you can escape eternal death, and by following His standards of right and wrong, you can escape the consequences of sin in this life. If you have no desire to follow His standards though, it is obvious that you have rejected Him and thus He will reject you.
-
Folks the sins listed in the Romans 1 passage are disgusting, but let us not forget that they are actually only a symptom of an even bigger problem. A rejection of God, because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God. Let me be clear here, a rejection of God’s standard of right and wrong is a rejection of Him. It is time for us to repent and turn to the true God.
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Amish and Early Christians
When I was a kid, I thought it would be neat to live like the Amish. Part of that desire stemmed from my love for horses. I see no sin in all modern conveniences, but I can see a huge advantage to not having a TV. There is so much filth on the screen that we did not even get a converter box and we do not have cable TV.
-
I recently discovered that some of the Amish actually use tractors and have indoor plumbing. Most people know little about their religious beliefs beyond the issue of technology. Some of the groups really do put their confidence in Christ, while unfortunately others are simply trusting in their lifestyle. The diversity of their belief is as diverse as their positions on tractors.
-
I have no intention of becoming Amish, but I do admire their simple lifestyle and how they pitch in to meet the needs in their communities. By working together they are able to share one another’s burdens. That is similar to what was happening in the early church in Acts chapter 4, where the early believers had all things common in order to benefit the group as a whole so that God might be glorified.
-
Now before some of you accuse me of endorsing communism let me explain that there are some clear differences. The early church, like the Amish today, shared resources with those who shared their values. They did not divide it among society as a whole. Acts 4:37 tells us that they laid the money at the apostles’ feet, not at Caesar’s. Further, the next chapter makes it clear that it was voluntary, not compulsory. “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” (Acts 5:4)
-
By working within a framework of common belief, they also had the ability to exclude those who did not share the same values. This is shown in I Corinthians 5:11-13, “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
-
Further, the early church had the ability to oversee one another and to make sure that everyone was contributing. “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (II Thessalonians 3:10)
-
The widows are amongst those who have the greatest need for assistance within the church and many had all their needs met by the church. There were guidelines for helping them as well. I Tim 5 lays out the standard. First, her immediate family was expected to help her first, so she would not be dependant on the church. If she did not have children or nephews to help, then she had to show that she trusted in God through her prayers. She couldn’t just be living for pleasure, but for God. Further she had to be at least 60 years old before all her needs would be met. Finally she had to have a good reputation and no other means of support.
-
The widow passage also challenges the readers to take care of widows themselves so that the church not be charged. Again, we see the scriptures teaching charity. This should be the case whether we are living in a communal setting or not. Among Christians there should be an attitude that all that we have belongs to God, therefore, we should use it to help fellow believers, thus having all our possessions in common.
-
We do not need to form a commune to do that, but many groups have found economic advantage to doing so. Under times of severe persecution it may be a wise step for all Christians to take. At the same time, it is quite a different approach than letting the state function in the place of the church as the distributor of the resources of a society. It would even be a mistake to give that job to a single religious group, rather than letting each individual congregation take care of its own like minded believers and other believers in similar congregations who they may choose to help. Further, this is not a suggestion that charity should not extend to unbelievers as well. May we not just learn from the Amish, but from Scripture itself.
-
I recently discovered that some of the Amish actually use tractors and have indoor plumbing. Most people know little about their religious beliefs beyond the issue of technology. Some of the groups really do put their confidence in Christ, while unfortunately others are simply trusting in their lifestyle. The diversity of their belief is as diverse as their positions on tractors.
-
I have no intention of becoming Amish, but I do admire their simple lifestyle and how they pitch in to meet the needs in their communities. By working together they are able to share one another’s burdens. That is similar to what was happening in the early church in Acts chapter 4, where the early believers had all things common in order to benefit the group as a whole so that God might be glorified.
-
Now before some of you accuse me of endorsing communism let me explain that there are some clear differences. The early church, like the Amish today, shared resources with those who shared their values. They did not divide it among society as a whole. Acts 4:37 tells us that they laid the money at the apostles’ feet, not at Caesar’s. Further, the next chapter makes it clear that it was voluntary, not compulsory. “Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.” (Acts 5:4)
-
By working within a framework of common belief, they also had the ability to exclude those who did not share the same values. This is shown in I Corinthians 5:11-13, “But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.”
-
Further, the early church had the ability to oversee one another and to make sure that everyone was contributing. “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (II Thessalonians 3:10)
-
The widows are amongst those who have the greatest need for assistance within the church and many had all their needs met by the church. There were guidelines for helping them as well. I Tim 5 lays out the standard. First, her immediate family was expected to help her first, so she would not be dependant on the church. If she did not have children or nephews to help, then she had to show that she trusted in God through her prayers. She couldn’t just be living for pleasure, but for God. Further she had to be at least 60 years old before all her needs would be met. Finally she had to have a good reputation and no other means of support.
-
The widow passage also challenges the readers to take care of widows themselves so that the church not be charged. Again, we see the scriptures teaching charity. This should be the case whether we are living in a communal setting or not. Among Christians there should be an attitude that all that we have belongs to God, therefore, we should use it to help fellow believers, thus having all our possessions in common.
-
We do not need to form a commune to do that, but many groups have found economic advantage to doing so. Under times of severe persecution it may be a wise step for all Christians to take. At the same time, it is quite a different approach than letting the state function in the place of the church as the distributor of the resources of a society. It would even be a mistake to give that job to a single religious group, rather than letting each individual congregation take care of its own like minded believers and other believers in similar congregations who they may choose to help. Further, this is not a suggestion that charity should not extend to unbelievers as well. May we not just learn from the Amish, but from Scripture itself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
