Early this spring, my oldest son helped us plant the garden. As he saw us hoeing the ground, he wanted to do the same, but we warned him not to hoe the ground we had already planted. Once the plants started to grow, we had a whole new problem- weeds. As I started to pull weeds, my young helper saw what I was doing and like so many little boys, he copied his father. Unfortunately, instead of pulling a weed, he pulled a newly sprouted zucchini.
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Sometimes we as Christians are like little boys in the garden. We end up digging up seeds before they have started to grow, or we stop growth before the plant even gets solid roots. In other words, our actions may end up discouraging unbelievers from wanting to learn more about Christ or they may hinder new believers from growing more faithful to Him.
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Paul dealt with the issue of immature believers in Romans 14. There were some who thought that they couldn’t eat certain meats, but mature believers understood the truth of I Timothy 4:4, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving”. Even though there was nothing wrong with eating meat, Paul showed that it was good to avoid it so that the immature brother would not stumble (Romans 14:21).
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Imagine if all the men in your church decided to grow beards for a centennial celebration and at that same time an Amish man trusted Christ and started to attend. Since married Amish men are expected to have beards, the men of the church might decide to apply the principles of Romans 14 and keep their beards as not to offend their new brothers weak conscience.
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Suddenly the church has a new challenge. Should wearing beards become a new requirement for the assembly? If that is made a requirement, what will be the next issue that comes up? Soon there will be a whole list of things that have to be done so that someone’s weak conscience is not offended. Soon the things on the list will contradict each other and even scripture.
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A closer reading of Romans 14 solves the problem. First of all, verse 3 shows that with the original issue of eating meat, the person that was offended by eating meat should not despise the one who ate it, nor was the one who ate it to despise the one who didn’t. In other words, don’t nit pick each others behavior in things which the scripture does not require or forbid.
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Then we find a very important follow up in Romans 16 where Paul clearly states, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them” (Romans 16:17). In other words, if someone becomes divisive over an issue that is not commanded or forbidden by scripture, we are to mark them and avoid them.
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Romans 14 was addressed to those who were dealing with someone who was weak in the faith- an immature believer. They were to be given time to get their roots and grow in maturity, but during that time they were to be taught proper doctrine. If the new believer thought eating meat was wrong, and they saw other Christians doing that, it would’ve stunted their early spiritual growth. Because they were still immature in the faith, they were not ready to take that all in, but as they grew they needed to learn what was and what was not expected of them. They needed to learn Bible doctrine so they could teach others rather than dividing the body. Have you been studying the Word, so you can understand what God really does expect?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
An Object Lesson to Remember
When we lived in Albert Lea, my friend Steve would open the Sunday School with intriguing object lessons. He might brings some kitchen utensils or other items to drive home important Biblical truth. I do not have Steve’s talent for such things. I once did an object lesson with a flashlight for a group, but more often my object lessons are impromptu. For example, my boys might come up to me with their toys and I will use the toys to teach them some lesson, or I might be on a job site and use what we are working with as a conversation starter. As we consider the Last Supper, we should understand that Christ used a very important object lesson that we still repeat today.
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As Christ and His disciples gathered in the upper room they observed a very significant meal. Understand that this was the evening right before Jesus would be crucified the next afternoon. Further this was the time of the Passover celebration when the Hebrews would commemorate their deliverance from Egypt and the protection of their firstborn by God. During that time no leaven was allowed and a special lamb would be killed.
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The Passover time actually lasted over a week, with the main meal observed after the lamb was killed, but all leaven disposed of the day before. The Lord’s Supper seems to have occurred on the first meal after all that leaven was gone. It is in such a setting that He brings forth a powerful object lesson, using items that He has right there before Him.
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“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:19-20)
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Christ had been teaching that He would die, but I don’t believe His disciples had really come to grips with that truth- that He would die as the ultimate Passover lamb- so He brings forth this very vivid object lesson. He tells them at the beginning that He will not be eating the Passover with them again until He suffers. Then He shows that His body and blood will be given for us.
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Notice that He also gives a clear command. That command is to repeat this object lesson and to remember Christ. When He died that next day and rose again three days later, He provided forgiveness. When He gave that object lesson, He was looking ahead to the cross, as we repeat it, we look back to what He has already done.
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What He did on the cross was completed, it does not have to be redone each time we observe Communion. We are simply repeating an object lesson to remind us of what He already did. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once.” (Hebrews 10:10) Therefore, the Lord’s Supper does not forgive our sins, it is an illustration that helps us to remember that He forgave our sins.
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In Luke 22:19, we are told that Christ gave thanks. That Greek word for “thanks” is “eucharisteo.” I fear many observe Eucharist without even knowing what the word means. May the meaning of the word remind us that we have much to be thankful for as we remember that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins as He willingly went to the cross. If you have not trusted Him as your Savior, do so today, and understand why this repeated object lesson is so precious to His followers.
-
As Christ and His disciples gathered in the upper room they observed a very significant meal. Understand that this was the evening right before Jesus would be crucified the next afternoon. Further this was the time of the Passover celebration when the Hebrews would commemorate their deliverance from Egypt and the protection of their firstborn by God. During that time no leaven was allowed and a special lamb would be killed.
-
The Passover time actually lasted over a week, with the main meal observed after the lamb was killed, but all leaven disposed of the day before. The Lord’s Supper seems to have occurred on the first meal after all that leaven was gone. It is in such a setting that He brings forth a powerful object lesson, using items that He has right there before Him.
-
“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.” (Luke 22:19-20)
-
Christ had been teaching that He would die, but I don’t believe His disciples had really come to grips with that truth- that He would die as the ultimate Passover lamb- so He brings forth this very vivid object lesson. He tells them at the beginning that He will not be eating the Passover with them again until He suffers. Then He shows that His body and blood will be given for us.
-
Notice that He also gives a clear command. That command is to repeat this object lesson and to remember Christ. When He died that next day and rose again three days later, He provided forgiveness. When He gave that object lesson, He was looking ahead to the cross, as we repeat it, we look back to what He has already done.
-
What He did on the cross was completed, it does not have to be redone each time we observe Communion. We are simply repeating an object lesson to remind us of what He already did. “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once.” (Hebrews 10:10) Therefore, the Lord’s Supper does not forgive our sins, it is an illustration that helps us to remember that He forgave our sins.
-
In Luke 22:19, we are told that Christ gave thanks. That Greek word for “thanks” is “eucharisteo.” I fear many observe Eucharist without even knowing what the word means. May the meaning of the word remind us that we have much to be thankful for as we remember that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins as He willingly went to the cross. If you have not trusted Him as your Savior, do so today, and understand why this repeated object lesson is so precious to His followers.
Friday, June 3, 2011
A True Love Relationship
Through the years, I have watched other couples. It seemed like so many relationships were forced. It was like the two people didn’t even like each other, but they stayed together because they figured the other person could advance their popularity. Then I saw other couples where it was as if God had placed them together (I believe He did) and no one could pull them apart. That is what I found when I met my wife.
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As I reflect on relationships, it seems that so many of them are based on personal advancement. Gals strive to look just right so that they can get the most popular guy, and guys strive to be popular so they can get the best looking girl and then become even more popular. It is as if relationships become nothing more than stepping stones in a cosmic popularity contest.
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When I met Crystal, it wasn’t about how popular she could make me. It was about two people who fell in love and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together no matter what anyone else thought.
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What about your relationship with God? Which kind of relationship is that? Do you simply call yourself a Christian because it is popular, or do you really want to live your life in a close relationship to Him? Would you be a Christian, no matter what anyone around you thought?
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Relationships that are based on popularity so often become performance driven. In other words, they are based on what the other person in the relationship can do for you. Once the other person does not measure up to your expectations, or you to theirs, the relationship starts to fall apart.
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True love is much different. There is a lifelong commitment regardless of performance. We had lunch with such a couple recently. She suffered from a stoke and was not the woman she used to be, but her faithful husband was right there with her day by day, showing his true love.
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I fear too many Christians approach their relationship with God on a performance basis. If they pray and God does not give them what they want, they draw away from Him. Further many think that if they do not do everything perfectly, that God will abandon them. They have missed the truth of Romans 5:20, Romans 5:20b, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” We should never use that as an excuse to sin, but rather to remind us of 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
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Once we trust Christ, we have a loving dedicated relationship with God that will last forever. We do not have to worry about Him divorcing us simply because of our sin. At the same time, once we see that love, we should return it. “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.” (Matthew 22:37) “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)
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There will be performance of loving deeds and obedience in a true love relationship, but what a contrast they are to a performance driven relationship that simply does things for ones own benefit. No wonder those who have a true love relationship with God are more interested in His glory than their own.
-
As I reflect on relationships, it seems that so many of them are based on personal advancement. Gals strive to look just right so that they can get the most popular guy, and guys strive to be popular so they can get the best looking girl and then become even more popular. It is as if relationships become nothing more than stepping stones in a cosmic popularity contest.
-
When I met Crystal, it wasn’t about how popular she could make me. It was about two people who fell in love and wanted to spend the rest of their lives together no matter what anyone else thought.
-
What about your relationship with God? Which kind of relationship is that? Do you simply call yourself a Christian because it is popular, or do you really want to live your life in a close relationship to Him? Would you be a Christian, no matter what anyone around you thought?
-
Relationships that are based on popularity so often become performance driven. In other words, they are based on what the other person in the relationship can do for you. Once the other person does not measure up to your expectations, or you to theirs, the relationship starts to fall apart.
-
True love is much different. There is a lifelong commitment regardless of performance. We had lunch with such a couple recently. She suffered from a stoke and was not the woman she used to be, but her faithful husband was right there with her day by day, showing his true love.
-
I fear too many Christians approach their relationship with God on a performance basis. If they pray and God does not give them what they want, they draw away from Him. Further many think that if they do not do everything perfectly, that God will abandon them. They have missed the truth of Romans 5:20, Romans 5:20b, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” We should never use that as an excuse to sin, but rather to remind us of 1 John 2:1, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
-
Once we trust Christ, we have a loving dedicated relationship with God that will last forever. We do not have to worry about Him divorcing us simply because of our sin. At the same time, once we see that love, we should return it. “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.” (Matthew 22:37) “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Romans 6:1-2)
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There will be performance of loving deeds and obedience in a true love relationship, but what a contrast they are to a performance driven relationship that simply does things for ones own benefit. No wonder those who have a true love relationship with God are more interested in His glory than their own.
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