As we traveled to spend Christmas with my in-laws, Crystal's brother's wife was in labor. We were blessed with a new niece at about 11 p.m. Christmas Eve. They named her Jana Grace. What a wonderful Christmas gift.
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When I heard this new baby's middle name, my mind went to the birth of a couple of other babies. Of course, on Christmas day, we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ- the baby who came into this word to demonstrate the grace of God to mankind. Shortly before Jesus was born the scripture records the birth of another famous baby, John the Baptist. His parents did not name him "John the Baptist," but simply named him, "John." The title Baptist would come later.
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The selection of the name "John" was quite significant. That name had not been used by that family and many even questioned the choice, but John's parents were insistent. (see Luke 1:59-63) There was a reason why they wanted that name for their son. In Luke 1:13, we are told that an angel had told told John's father to use this name.
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We must not build our theology on the the names of all Biblical characters, but this particular name was chosen by God, and thus I believe we should take notice. The name John means, "God is gracious." Just as our niece who was born at Christmas time is able to remind us of God's grace, John was able to remind the people of God's grace as well.
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John had a very specific purpose in life. He was the forerunner to announce the coming of the King of the kingdom as he prepared the way for the Lord Jesus Christ. As he prepared the way for the King, he spoke of the kingdom, but he also told people that they needed to repent. Matthew 3:1-2 says, "Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (NASB)
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To repent is to think differently. It is actually more than just a change of mind though. It is a change of direction. John was preaching that men were sinners and needed to change their direction to follow God. He is known today for baptizing as well as for preaching, thus he is known as John the Baptist. His baptism was not able to cleanse his followers of their sins. It did however remind them of their sins, and they were being baptized for/because of their sins.
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John's ministry told his followers that the King was coming and that they needed to repent because they were sinners. Let us not forget that the man bringing that message had a name that meant, "God is gracious." The man whose name reminds us of God's grace, brings us the message that we are sinners who need to change our direction. The baptism of John was a public admission of sin.
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The King who John prepared the way for is Jesus Christ. He was born into this world so that He could grow up to die on the cross in order to pour out His grace for our sins. That is why the gospel is called good news. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
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As we share this good news, we like John, must remind people that they are sinners who need to repent. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) At the same time we must share the good news of God's grace. There is eternal life for sinners who repent and change their direction to believe in Jesus Christ. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23).
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Yes, we are sinners who need to repent. Yes, God is gracious and if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9) Please visit www.southtownchurch.com
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Saturday, December 12, 2015
Christians & Christmas Giving
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about our wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Recently we sat down to another meal, but at the end of it, or boys said that they were still hungry. Crystal told them that they could have more chicken, but they wanted more potatoes. The potatoes were gone but they did not want more chicken. The truth was that they were not THAT hungry.
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We had a similar issue happen when I was a pastor in small town Iowa. We got a phone call asking for food. The person said that their food stamp payment would be late and that they needed food. We were being very careful with our budget and ate a lot of rice. We could get a 25 lb bag for less than $9. We offered to share our rice and a few other basics, but the response I got was similar to when my wife offered more chicken to our boys.
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I then looked up the Iowa food stamp payment. It was about double what our food budget was at that time. I did not think it was right that we were expected to give up our hamburger for someone who could afford to buy steak if they ate more rice like we did.
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The scripture is clear that we are to help others. Jesus said in Luke 3:11, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” The Apostle Paul says in Acts 20:35, “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Consider as well 1John 3:17, “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (NKJV)
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The scripture teaches us that we are to help others. That does not mean that we are always expected to help everyone who has less than we have.
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During the time of the Apostle Paul, the widows were among the most needy people in society. In First Timothy 5:3-10, he gives a list of requirements that widows must meet before the church would take care of all their needs. First, if she has children or grandchildren, they are to take care of her. Further, she is to be faithful in prayer and not just living her life for pleasure. She is to be blameless (not sinless, but not scandalous either). She is to be at least 60 years old and is to have a good reputation which includes having helped others.
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These standards do not mean that we should not help others if they do not meet all these requirements. These are simply standards for whether or not to help these widows for the rest of their lives. There are some individuals in our society that expect to be helped for the rest of their lives regardless of whether they meet any standard. The Christians is not obligated to help all these people.
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At the same time there are many people who find themselves in temporary circumstances of need. Things come up that there was no way to plan for. As Christians we must be willing to help those with needs without allowing them to have an expectation that they will no longer have a responsibility to work themselves. “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” (II Thessalonians 3”11-12 NKJV)
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We can and should have compassion for those in need. That compassion should translate into action (James 2:16). Christmas time is a wonderful time to give to those who could really use a gift. At the same time, Christians are not required to become slaves to those who would take advantage of them.
-
We had a similar issue happen when I was a pastor in small town Iowa. We got a phone call asking for food. The person said that their food stamp payment would be late and that they needed food. We were being very careful with our budget and ate a lot of rice. We could get a 25 lb bag for less than $9. We offered to share our rice and a few other basics, but the response I got was similar to when my wife offered more chicken to our boys.
-
I then looked up the Iowa food stamp payment. It was about double what our food budget was at that time. I did not think it was right that we were expected to give up our hamburger for someone who could afford to buy steak if they ate more rice like we did.
-
The scripture is clear that we are to help others. Jesus said in Luke 3:11, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” The Apostle Paul says in Acts 20:35, “I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Consider as well 1John 3:17, “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (NKJV)
-
The scripture teaches us that we are to help others. That does not mean that we are always expected to help everyone who has less than we have.
-
During the time of the Apostle Paul, the widows were among the most needy people in society. In First Timothy 5:3-10, he gives a list of requirements that widows must meet before the church would take care of all their needs. First, if she has children or grandchildren, they are to take care of her. Further, she is to be faithful in prayer and not just living her life for pleasure. She is to be blameless (not sinless, but not scandalous either). She is to be at least 60 years old and is to have a good reputation which includes having helped others.
-
These standards do not mean that we should not help others if they do not meet all these requirements. These are simply standards for whether or not to help these widows for the rest of their lives. There are some individuals in our society that expect to be helped for the rest of their lives regardless of whether they meet any standard. The Christians is not obligated to help all these people.
-
At the same time there are many people who find themselves in temporary circumstances of need. Things come up that there was no way to plan for. As Christians we must be willing to help those with needs without allowing them to have an expectation that they will no longer have a responsibility to work themselves. “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” (II Thessalonians 3”11-12 NKJV)
-
We can and should have compassion for those in need. That compassion should translate into action (James 2:16). Christmas time is a wonderful time to give to those who could really use a gift. At the same time, Christians are not required to become slaves to those who would take advantage of them.
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