Posted by David on August 24, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Matthew 7:21-23, Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
In every generation God’s people fall to this enormous temptation: substituting “being technically correct” for faith in God, His son [Jesus Christ], and His presence in our lives [the Holy Spirit]. Once we fall to that temptation, we quickly surrender to another: placing faith in our acts of “technical correctness” instead of placing faith in God.
In a lesson [Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5-7], Jesus contrasted the emphasis in his teachings with the emphasis in the Pharisees’ teachings. Before we “trash the Pharisees,” recognize the good things to say about them: their faith in God was enormous; they promoted spiritual cleanness and meticulous keeping of the Sabbath; they were experts in scripture [as Jesus acknowledged in Matthew 23:2,3]; to them scripture was a living expression of God’s self-revelation, God inspired; they thought scripture must regulate all of life; they thought scripture should be protected.
We agree with them in all those matters. Unfortunately, too many of us agree with them on another matter. They believed “technical correctness was the essential evidence proving people belonged to God.” Thus, a faith in God that changed life was insignificant if the person was not “technically correct.” Of course, they determined what was and was not “technically correct.”
Near the close of Matthew 5-7, Jesus included a judgment scene lesson. On that day some were excluded who were certain they should be included. “What an injustice! Do you know who we are? Do you know what we did? We prophesied in Your name! [Jesus prophesied.] We cast out demons in Your name! [Jesus cast demons out.] We performed numerous miracles in Your name! [Jesus performed numerous miracles.]”
In Jesus’ day, these great evidences proved God sent the person: being a prophet with power over demons who could perform many miracles. To do this in “Your name” irrefutably proved the person represented Jesus with “technical correctness.”
Jesus, the judge on that day, ordered these people to depart from him. Why? Carefully note the reason. They were ordered to depart from Jesus on that day because of the way they lived. “You mean a person can do what is ‘technically correct’ and still be rejected by Jesus on that day?” Jesus said it would happen.
Should we seek correctness before God? Yes! Is “correctness” a substitute for godly living? Never! We cannot earn salvation, but we can show by our lives how deeply we appreciate salvation. We will not regret godly lives on that day. Be as well as know!
Posted by David on August 17, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Too often I get that “overwhelmed” feeling. I am certain you do, too. I feel it. I see others as they feel it. I watch our society glorify the choices and the forms of indulgence that guarantee the disasters of crumbling lives and empty existences. I see our world shutter as the majority is forced to drink the bitterness of hate and greed. Whether seen in persons, families, society, or the world, the effect is the same: we helplessly reel under the onslaught of so many forms of evil. We are overwhelmed!
Evil thoughts, deeds, and values are not without consequence. Even when we repent, we cannot and do not escape the consequences of evil. Without fail, God forgives us if we repent. Yet, even with God’s forgiveness, the consequences of poor decisions, poorly used lives, or past ungodly character are not escaped.
Perhaps the tragedy created by evil results from plain, simple ignorance. How often we say or think, “I had no idea this would happen!” Or, “When I made that decision I was not bargaining for this!” Or, “I never thought that would lead me to this place (situation, condition, struggle, conflict).” Or, “I just wanted to have a good time.” Or, “I was looking for fun–not making a forever decision!”
Temptation lies to us. It depends on deceit to make its lies effective. The devil does not possess the enormous, overwhelming power that forces us humans to fall to the father of lies. Satan deceived Eve. Satan deceived those responsible for Jesus’ death. Satan deceives those who conclude “here and now” is all there is. Satan deceives us when he leads us to believe, if we can classify something as “desirable,” it has no consequences. We are so foolish that we fail to grasp a truth: temptation’s deception is effective because it gets us to work against ourselves! We are betrayed by our own desires!
Nothing has changed. People’s evil desires betray them in every age. It is not the “evil out there” that is our greatest threat. It is the evil inside us that is our greatest threat. Hundreds of years ago Isaiah tried to awaken the deceived with this truth in Isaiah 5:20,21: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight!”
The bottom line, “big cost item” in life has not changed in any generation. The question confronting each person always has been the same. All “glitter” and “advancements” aside, the fundamental question is (and always has been!) simply this: Who or what do we allow decide who we are? Or who do we allow to shape our values, determine our priorities, decide what is “good for us,” form our character, and guide our integrity? What forces in your life do you allow to make you you?
Ephesians 4:23,24 “… be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
Posted by David on August 10, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
How can August appropriately be described? Oh, yes, indeed! August needs describing! We might accurately describe it as HOT. Everything (including us!) wilts in the hot August heat. It is hard to water flowers enough to keep them from withering or turning brown. And my yard? Don’t ask my neighbors! As a good friend says, “Brown is a color, too!” People start looking forward to Fall’s cooler days. In August, not having the benefit of air conditioning is not an option!
We might accurately describe August as FRANTIC. School starts this month–a “marker” moment! July was VBS. June was mission trips. From mid-May to July 31 were countless efforts. Summer’s sports camps and special program activities are at an end (unless you are in a tournament). Football practice is in full swing. Days are obviously shorter as summer break nears its end. So, when August 1 arrives, those with children in school have only 18 days to make summer’s final trips. The rush is on! The “code word” every weekend is scatter, and do it quickly!
We might accurately describe August as EXPENSIVE. School clothes! School supplies! School fees! Tuition! By August 1, it seems a huge “wallet vacuum cleaner” turns on to hasten the too rapid outward cash flow.
For me, August is a difficult month. It is difficult to “begin” anything. It is difficult to maintain any sense of continuity. The “stress and strain” are obvious. “Where did the summer go?” “I cannot believe my child is (a) starting to school; (b) is in X grade; (c) is leaving home.” “I thought our problems and struggles would be better by the end of summer.” “Time passes too quickly!” In many ways, August is a “marker month.” It reminds us of realities we rather not consider.
Though many “August reminders of change” exist, some things are changeless. Among them are: (1) Our need to be children of the holy God; (2) Our need to make faith and faithfulness to our Lord and Savior a life priority; (3) Our need to fill our lives with God’s presence so we can be His light in a dark world; (4) Our need to continue our journey to eternity; (5) Our need to hunger and thirst for righteousness; (6) Our dependence on God’s mercy and forgiveness.
1 Peter 1:13-19 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
Posted by David on August 3, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
At times the world surrounds us with discouraging happenings. Death of a loved one, incurable disease, loss of job, bankruptcy, divorce, unfaithfulness, injustices, acts of war, acts of terrorism, international intrigue, inhumanity, and such like things scream at us daily. As alarm clocks ring, many “steel” themselves for the day with this thought: “If things can go wrong today, they will.” Unfortunately, we are conditioned to expect bad things. It is as though our world exists in the “desert of bad happenings.”
Suddenly, an oasis appears with its water of life bringing hope and relief. An incredible vacation Bible school is fashioned by the volunteer efforts of countless adults. Volunteers serve in an education program that constantly evaluates the spiritual needs of students. A growing Hispanic outreach celebrates its first year of existence with joy and interaction. An inner city outreach touches lives that a few years ago were regarded unreachable. A new opportunity to begin a campus ministry work arises with the potential of touching many lives. Ministries to evangelistic and medical needs are directed to several places in our world. The widows and elderly are served. Those in need are fed. Transportation to worship is provided. Quilts are made for gifts. Projectionists illustrate sermons. Tapes are reproduced and mailed. Short term mission trips occur. Congregational fellowships are monthly occasions. Small groups gather. Elders seek “feedback” from the congregation. Men and women in jail are taught. Individuals quietly respond to needs they see with a fervent desire to extend hope.
Why? Why does all this happen? Does someone force all these people to be involved? Is there some “bribe,” some “coercion,” some “guilting” that masterfully manipulates? No. Those so moved seek citizenship in a world where they belong–and this world is not that place. They see God’s goodness and the grace He lavishes upon us in Jesus Christ. This water of life is not produced through human accomplishments, but through the divine love that revealed God’s seriousness in Jesus’ redemptive, atoning blood. They serve Christ the Lord to the glory of God the Father. They are His children.
“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12)
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. … We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 14)
Posted by David on July 27, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Virtually all the Christians receiving Paul’s letters in our New Testament were first generation Christians. What does that mean? They did not grow up in Christian homes with Christian fathers and mothers. They were the first Christians in their families.
In Jewish families, Christian ethics and morality were quite familiar. [Ethics concern principles for determining right and wrong. Morality applies the principles to lifestyle behavior.] Old Testament Judaism and New Testament Christianity agreed God must be reverenced and people must be treated properly. For the devout Jewish adult, the big issue did not involve basic questions of Jewish/Christian ethics or morality. The big issue involved Jesus’ identity. Was Jesus God’s promised Messiah, the Christ?
For people who grew up in pagan families, it was quite a different matter. Often idolatrous ethics and morality seriously contrasted with Christian ethics and morality. Among pagan people there was a genuine clash with Christianity (a) about right and wrong and (b) about lifestyles [behavior]. For many idol worshippers, becoming a Christian involved major lifestyle changes [not minor lifestyle adjustments!].
Paul’s letters to congregations primarily were to pagan people. Since the resurrected Jesus gave Paul a ministry to non-Jews (Acts 9:15, 16; Galatians 2:8-10), that is understandable. Paul had the God-given mission of reconciling people to God who did not know God.
A common method Paul used to show pagan converts the distinction between the lifestyle of a person who does not know God and the lifestyle of a person who belongs to God can be called the “before and after” method. What is that? Paul often said, “This is who you were and how you lived before you were Christians. This is who you are and how you must live as Christians.”
Consider Ephesians 4:17-32. This is a statement of “you do not live as you used to live, but you now live as people who belong to God”–a clear “before and after” statement.
Some of the pagan “baggage” they injected into Christian lifestyle was lying, anger, stealing, anti-godly speech, bad attitudes, and hate (Ephesians 4:25-32). This lifestyle could not continue. These practices must be replaced with truth, concern for people, helping those in need, encouragement, kindness, and forgiveness. Their new role model for godly lifestyle and Christian behavior: God as reflected in Jesus.
What a change! What power this change involved! Where can this “power to change lifestyles” be found? In God! God always has been the power source for godly lifestyle changes–even for us! How well does your behavior model Paul’s “before and after”?
Posted by David on July 20, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Suppose an insightful, devout Old Testament Israelite was asked, “How can a person impress God?” He would not make these replies: “Give a million dollars to the tabernacle or temple”; “Offer a thousand sacrificial bulls”; “Observe every tabernacle or temple ritual precisely, correctly”; “Make every Jerusalem pilgrimage on holy days”; or “Attend synagogue services each week without fail.”
First in his reply: “Give God your broken heart.” In more familiar words: “in your brokenness, repent.” In practical terms, nothing is accomplished in the God-human relationship when a human gives God an enormous monetary gift if he does not first give God a broken heart. Giving a thousand sacrificial bulls or keeping all rituals correctly or making every Jerusalem pilgrimage or faithful synagogue attendance meant nothing individually or collectively if the Israelite did not first give God a broken, contrite heart.
Read Psalm 51. David, AFTER committing adultery with Bathsheba, AFTER plotting Uriah’s murder, was confronted by Nathan the prophet (read 2 Samuel 11, 12). God obviously knew everything. Yet, Nathan said, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.”
The Lord took away this adulterer and murderer’s sin? What happened to “an eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth”? Note David’s comment prior to Nathan’s declaration: “I have sinned against the Lord.” David was broken before God. Were there consequences? Certainly! Yet, when David realized what he had done, he bowed in penitent brokenness.
Do you realize the arrogance, disrespect, and presumptuousness if David said to God, “Lord, here’s a million dollars (or a thousand sacrifices or faithful rituals or leadership for holy day gatherings or a pledge for synagogue attendance).” All David had to give God was a broken heart that contritely bowed before the God he offended.
We urgently need to learn this lesson! Money, sacrifice, rituals, attendance are meaningful only if they come from broken, contrite hearts. The first offense of all evil deeds, words, and emotions are offenses against our loving, forgiving God. Unthinkable!
Paul in 2 Corinthians 7:9,10: “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
Posted by David on July 6, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Peter said Christians cannot “come up short!” We will not be like the family who went “to close” on a house they wished to buy, but were $10,000 short! We will not be like the person who wanted to purchase a new vehicle, but was $1,000 short! We will not be like the person who went grocery shopping, but was $10.00 short! We will not be like the person who went to the doctor, but could not afford the prescription! Peter said that could not happen to the person who comes to our glorious God through Jesus Christ.
Many conclude the letter we call 2 Peter was written by Peter late in his life. That suggests it was written prior to 70 A.D. Jesus’ was killed and resurrected about 30 years earlier. We humans are an impatient, restless group. We always have been and always will be. [Fortunately for us, God does not have our impatience problem.]
We impatient humans constantly conclude that something is inadequate, “not enough.” The probability: some suggested “since Jesus died and was raised so long ago,” he, by himself, was not enough to come to God. They were insistent that Jesus was “inadequate past history.” People needed Jesus plus something else to find and belong to God.
Peter said, “Not so!” The patient, glorious God, through His own power, “granted us everything pertaining to life and godliness…” (2 Peter 1:3). What God’s divine power achieved through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection was (is) fully adequate for every spiritual need humans have. God sent His son, God sustained His son, God offered His son, God resurrected His son, and God seated His son as the Christ by His side to be our mediator and intercessor-continually! There was no inadequacy in what God did for us!
We do not need “something plus Jesus” to be saved, forgiven, redeemed, spiritually clothed, live in divine mercy, or exist in divine grace. Jesus Christ is enough!
Enough for what? It is enough to partake of the divine nature and escape the physical forces and pleasures that seek to destroy us. It is enough to move us to a diligent pursuit of faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. It is enough to replace the uselessness of evil with fruitfulness in Jesus Christ. It is enough to replace spiritual blindness with the spiritual sight God’s power gives in Christ. It is enough to make us certain about God’s spiritual call. It is enough to allow us to stand in God’s presence. It is enough to let us enter the eternal kingdom.
Following Jesus as his disciple is enough to make us everything God wants us to be! The man or woman with the courage to live in Jesus has total spiritual adequacy! What wonderful news! Take the “guess work” out of belonging to God! Live for Jesus!
Posted by David on June 29, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
God is not human. We all agree. God is superior to humans in every way. We all agree. The most learned human is far beneath equality with God. We all agree. God’s priorities, standards, values, and purposes are not parallel with human thoughts or behavior. Most of us agree. God is sovereign and Christians choose to be His slaves. Many of us agree. Humans are never in a position to question or advise God. Some of us agree. The need to change is never a “God need” but is always a “human need.” Some of us agree. If I follow God, I always must be willing to change as I learn. All of us agree that others need to change, but we are very hesitant to change.
A Jewish man, born in Egypt, was a gifted speaker who was extremely knowledgeable in Old Testament scripture (Acts 18:24-28). He came to Ephesus fully convinced that the man Jesus, born in Palestine, was the Christ. He knew the Old Testament prophecies that supported his conviction. He was passionate about his understanding. What he said about Jesus was accurate. Yet, there were some things he did not know.
Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak with boldness about Jesus’ identity in a Jewish synagogue in Ephesus. They quietly took him aside and explained to him things he did not know. His teaching was not incorrect. His teaching was incomplete.
After this, Christian Jews were so impressed with his ability and understanding that they encouraged him. They even wrote him letters of recommendation when he left Ephesus encouraging other Jewish Christians to welcome him. The result: (a) He received great help from the Jewish Christian community. (b) He powerfully used scripture to establish as fact that Jesus was the Christ.
Apollos is a tremendous encouragement to us! What he knew was correct, but incomplete. He was willing to change to grow closer to God! Consider these insights:
- No matter how well you know the scriptures, you need to grow in your understanding of God’s purposes.
- The willingness to grow means the willingness to change.
- The result of growth and change produces increased usefulness to the Lord.
- Quietly teaching those who pursue God’s purposes permits change’s growth without public consequences.
- Our purpose as God’s servants: let God work through us to encourage others to maximize God’s use of their abilities.
Grow! Allow growth to produce change! Let change lead you closer and closer to God! Because we are correct about some things does not mean we are correct about all things. Godly growth and change are always difficult, but always possible. Let the difficult create the possible!
Posted by David on June 22, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
You know the feeling. Surely you do! It engulfs us when everything is so enormous it seems hopeless. We look “inside self” only to see the many things “wrong with me.” “All that is wrong with me” so overwhelms us that “fixing me” is not an option! In “my” overwhelmed feeling, the helplessness of “my” frustration kills “my” dreams!
We look outside ourselves at our families and community. We feel overwhelmed! Expectations are unreasonably high! Disillusionment is enormous! Anticipated improvements are ridiculous! One group’s hope is another group’s frustration!
We look at our world and feel overwhelmed. Human needs defy comprehension! There is so much hate, so much anger, so much despair, and so much pain! So many are victims of hopelessness! So many view change as a threat! And yet, change happens so fast nothing seems stable. Frustration labels any improvement as an enemy to be feared.
American Christians are victims of three deceits. The first: control is the key to avoiding the overwhelmed feeling. In the church, we have been and often are control freaks. Why? (a) When we focus on controlling, we do not have to look inside self. (b) We have reasons for condemning what we do not like in our families and community. (c) We can tell the world, “It is your fault–you have no one to blame but yourselves!”
The second: we often are preoccupied with a “God complex.” We like to “play God.” Often, we judge instead of help. Often, we oppose evil instead of giving hope in Jesus. Often, we instruct God instead of surrendering to His purposes. We look at our humility and wonder why others see our arrogance. God’s sovereignty makes us nervous.
The third: we tend to reduce spiritual considerations to a matter of logic. Our opposition to evil tends to be “long on human intellect” and “short on human emotion.” Often, we are dumbfounded when others are unimpressed with our logical deductions. We are slow to acknowledge that the war between evil and good exceeds the logic of the human intellect. We say, “Humans are not God, and God is not a human.” Yet, “I do not know,” is an unacceptable answer, not a truthful response acknowledging the mystery of God and His sphere.
Remember: Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Alone, we are overwhelmed. With God, we endure. Do not underestimate the war. In the battlefield of your life, know evil is your enemy AND trust your Lord and Savior.
Posted by David on June 15, 2003 under Bulletin Articles
Our highly independent nature makes it difficult to compile accurate statistics on congregations of the Church of Christ. Mac Lynn seriously attempts such compilations. I wish to use his most recent publication to illustrate a New Testament fact.
We have just over 13,000 congregations in the USA and its territories. Of those, about 3,275 do not consider themselves in fellowship with other congregations. The average size of a “mainstream” congregation is 112 members. Total membership in the 13,198 congregations is just over 1,276,500 people.
Do the math. In our USA membership of 1,276,500, between 20 and 25% of our members reject other baptized believers. Our USA population is approximately 291,191,592. Our world population is approximately 6,297,988,273. To regard ourselves as a major influence on religious thought may be more a matter of arrogance than reality.
Personally, I doubt that we understand the complexity of the early church. We have begun to realize that the mindset of Christian Jews in Palestine and Christian Jews in other regions differed significantly. We still need to realize the complex differences between (a) Jewish Christians who had God’s scriptures for generations and (b) Christians whose families worshipped idols for generations.
We do not deal well with the fact that most [if not all] Christians in the New Testament were first generation Christians. Their homes of origin were not Christian homes. Our na?ve concept: if we worshipped with Jewish Christians in Palestine, worshipped with Jewish Christians in Galatia, and worshipped with non-Jewish Christians in Corinth, each would do exactly the same things in exactly the same ways. We are slow to realize many epistles addressed those differences for the sake of encouraging acceptance, not for the sake of demanding conformity.
Paul did not commend the group in Corinth who sustained division and said, “I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:10-17). He did say this to the seriously divided Christians in Rome: “Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:4).
The master is Jesus. Jesus understands acts of faith coming from the heart. Even if one believer is a vegetarian for faith reasons while another believer for faith reasons eats food sacrificed to an idol; even if one believer keeps holy days to honor God while another believer rejects holy days to honor God, Jesus the master understood. He knew the “why” and caused each to stand.
Being different is okay. Being faithless is not okay. Trusting Jesus Christ is essential.
