Category: From the Preacher’s Pen

I subscribe to the “Daily Writing Tips” email distribution list. On Tuesday the message dealt with the use of the word “disrespect” as a verb. As in, “You disrespect me.” I must admit that I cringe everytime the term is used in that way, as in the past it was commonly expressed, “You show me disrespect.” (As it turns out, though it sounds objectionable, the usage is not incorrect). Following is a short poem describing the feelings I and others have about such usage:

I do not like thee, Disrespect,
Perhaps it is your sound effect,
That causes me to so object
And makes you sound so incorrect.
But this I more than just suspect:
I do not like thee, Disrespect.

Of course, much more objectionable is the act of showing disrespect toward others. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:17, “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” The word “honor” here means to revere or respect. While it is not always possible to respect the demeanor and actions of men, it is important to always approach them with honor and respect. In this, the Christian will show himself to be commendable and righteous before men.

Turns out, there is good reason to object to the action, if not the usage of the term. “I do not like thee, Disrespect!”

Satan is described in scripture as a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8); the “wicked one” (Matthew 13:19); “a liar and the father of it” (John 8:44); the “god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4); the “adversary” (1 Peter 5:8); and the “ruler of this world” (John 14:30).

All of these designations indicate a being that is evil, and intent on our destruction. While the world laughs at the concept of evil personified, we know that he is a malevolent individual who desires to see the destruction of Christians. As such, we are warned to be one guard.

One of the scariest descriptions of Satan is given by the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:14, as he describes the danger that false teachers bring to God’s people. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.” When we think of the devil, perhaps our minds imagine someone ugly, mean, obviously evil. Often, however, Satan appears to the undiscerning as righteous and good. Paul’s point here is to be aware that a false teacher may not appear to be false. In verse 15, Paul writes, “Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

Be careful! Discernment is needed. The devil is devious and disguises himself and his servants effectively. Don’t be fooled!

The world has a skewed view of the Almighty God of heaven. Some consider Him to be a hateful, vengeful God. When they consider God’s treatment of the pagans in Canaan, of Sodom and Gomorrah, and other examples of God’s judgment, they see only His reaction, not the just causes that precipitated that judgment.

Others go to the other end of the spectrum. They see the love of God expressed in Jesus’ life and death and consider Him to be a benevolent God that will overlook sin, and allow all men a heavenly home.

Both images are partly accurate, but entirely wrong because they are incomplete. They emphasize one aspect of God, while rejecting another! God is both just and merciful. Any accurate view of the Almighty must balance these two attributes. The Psalmist, in Psalm 85, expresses that balance well.

“Mercy and truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, And righteousness shall look down from heaven” (10-11).

The Psalmist understood the fierceness of God’s anger. Israel was guilty of sin, and so God showed them His wrath. However, upon their repentance, the Psalmist confidently called upon God to “Show us Your mercy, Lord,
And grant us Your salvation” (7). Eternal salvation is available to all who fear Him, showing God’s justice, and His mercy!

“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave — just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28).

We have been studying the subject of humility quite a bit in our Wednesday evening class. You might remember the point I made about pride being a characteristic of the world. Jesus establishes that truth in the text above. “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them.” Not much has changed in the intervening centuries.

Our Lord’s attitude toward pride and oppression has not changed either. 2,000 years ago Jesus said, “Yet is shall not be so among you…” 2,000 years later He expects the same thing of His people. His example as our Savior, coming to earth in the service of man, is a compelling one.

Do you want to please God? Do you want to be exalted in the final day? Then live a humble and consecrated life of service to others! “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:5).

In 2 Corinthians 5, the apostle Paul wrote of the hope of heaven, contrasting it with our life here on earth. He said, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.”

It is an interesting picture, putting off this tent (our frail and mortal body), and replacing it with an eternal one. Paul was confident that he would obtain that promised life, and so stated in verse 8, “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

People today speak of their confidence, placing all of it in “the finished work of Jesus Christ.” They state they are confident, not because of what they have done, but what Jesus has already done for them, assuring them the hope of heaven. They view any suggestion of responsibility on the part of man to be a form of legalism, and a trust in works of merit.

Paul looked at it differently. He recognized what God had done for him, and his confidence was in God (see verses 5-7). However, he still understood the necessity of obedience, writing, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (9-10). As we recognize what God did for us in sending His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, let us acknowledge that our final standing will, in part, depend upon what we have done while living our lives on earth.

Among the seven things the Lord hates, as recorded in Proverbs 6:16-19, is “…one who sows discord among brethren.” The word hate is a strong one, a word that many do not want to attribute to God. But, it is accurate. It is defined as we use the term today, and is also translated in the American Standard Version using the term “detest.”

It is important to consider what our text reveals — that God is extremely unhappy with anyone who sows discord. While God counsels patience with many who are guilty of sin, there is little forbearance shown for this class of sinner. The apostle Paul exhorted Titus, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned” (Titus 3:9-11).

Strife is antithetical to Christian unity. It has no place among those who profess to follow the “Prince of Peace” (cf. Isaiah 9:6). Instead, may we emulate the example of Abraham. Because of his and his nephew Lot’s possessions, the land was not sufficient to support them both. As a result, there “was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock” (Genesis 13:7). This was untenable to Abraham. His plea to his nephew is touching, and a worthy example to us: “Please let there be no strife between you and me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren” (8). Abraham’s willingness to accommodate and sacrifice is an attitude worthy of imitation, and will help secure for us God’s love and acceptance.

Late December is a time where we commonly consider possible resolutions for the new year. I am a fan of resolutions. One of mine is to lose the rest of my excess weight, and keep it off by exercise and proper diet.

Of course there are spiritual resolutions to set, that if kept diligently, will be even more beneficial to each of us. “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:8).

There is a step to be taken prior to the setting of resolutions. That step is assessment. It takes discernment and introspection. Whether you desire to time any resolutions with the beginning of the new year or not, such assessment is needful, and should be constant. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

Perhaps there is some deficiency that devotional acts of prayer, study and meditation might fill. Maybe there is a bad habit or trait that can be altered through diligent effort. It is possible that a careless neglect can be made into a point of focus in the months ahead. Surely there is something done, or left undone that can be addressed after an honest assessment of our life and faith is made.
Might I suggest that each of us set aside time this next week, amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, to “examine” ourselves, and then upon that assessment resolve to improve in any appropriate facet of our life and faith? This would certainly please our heavenly Father, as we improve the expression of our devotion to Him.

Job’s friend Elihu, in describing the majesty of Almighty God, said among other things:

“From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north. By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen” (Job 37:9-10).

With the weather of the last couple of days, we are reminded of the power of our God. It is one of a myriad of ways that nature proclaims His glory. “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20).

The same God that made the universe has revealed His will to man. Consider His words recorded by the prophet, “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

The Almighty God who created the universe has promised us that His word will be accomplished on the earth. The only way this can be a pleasant truth is if one is in accord with that will. To oppose it is foolish. Those who do so are destined for ruin. There is, however, victory in Jesus!

I remember when playing sports in high school, one of the coaches referred to the fatigue after a workout as being a “good tired.” There was a feeling of accomplishment, and the realization that while the muscles were fatigued, progress had been made.

I must confess after the last month to feeling a “good tired” spiritually. Having preached several gospel meetings, listened to a week of preaching at the feet of brother Jerry Fite, and then attending meetings in Stonewall, LA, and at Woodmont, we then had our quarterly singing last night. So, I am ready to take a breath, and rest for a little while. But, it is a good tired. We have had many opportunities the past several weeks to exercise our spiritual muscles, and I hope that you too have taken advantage!

The apostle Paul once wrote, “But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance” (1 Timothy 4:7-9).

How do you exercise yourself toward godliness? Meetings, Bible study, singing and prayer are all important. However, in the context, the contrast is between godliness and the profane. It is in the application of God’s standard of righteousness that spiritual muscles are strengthened. Think of how silly it would be for someone to read about exercise, and think the reading to be sufficient to build physical muscles. You have to apply the principles by actually doing the work! The same is true with applying the principles from God’s word (cf. James 1:25). Try it, it’s a “good tired!”.

I recently came across the following quote from C.S. Lewis:

Jesus Christ did not say, “Go into all the world and tell the world that it is quite right.”

“God In The Dock” (1970)

It seems that in every generation the desire is present to compromise the message of the gospel. It is certainly so in our day. Paul noted, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

Today, the biggest churches are those who tell the worldly that they are “quite right.” People flock to whoever will tell them that God accepts them as they are, without the need for change, without the need for zeal, without the need for obedience, for fidelity.

This treachery does not change the truth. “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned’” (Mark 16:15-16). The world is in need of salvation. Our message must be a call to faith, repentance and baptism. The gospel tells men that they are not “quite right.” But, with God’s help, they can be.

I mentioned last Wednesday night a phrase coined by C.S. Lewis, as he considered his prejudice against the Christian faith early in his life. He called it his “chronological snobbery.” He defined the concept as, “the uncritical acceptance of the intellectual climate of our own age, and the assumption that whatever has gone out of date is on that count discredited.”

Such chronological snobbery is certainly characteristic of American culture today. The acceptance of homosexuality, and the willingness to redefine marriage; the toleration of all types of sexual promiscuity; the characterization of abortion as a moral and ethical practice, and the villainizing of those who oppose it; the promotion of the “big bang” theory as an explanation of origins of the universe. All of these, and a multitude of others are promoted as the enlightened product of our age, with proponents looking down their noses at the “superstitions” and “outmoded thinking” of the past.

Of course, every generation perceives itself as enlightened and superior. And, every generation has its own illusions and wrong thinking. In contrast to this, we have God’s will, revealed and accessible through the Holy Scriptures. It stands in stark contrast to the failed philosophies and ideas of men. It is as relevant today as when it was first written. As the Psalmist wrote, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89). Paul wrote, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25).

C.S. Lewis put it this way, “Whatever is not eternal, is eternally out of date.” To that we say, AMEN.

As you know I spent the last week preaching a gospel meeting in Lubbock at the Indiana Avenue church of Christ. The brethren there have long stood for truth, and were very accepting of the lessons I preached while there.

In addition to their kind reception of the preaching, they were hospitable to Debbie and I. This is the same group that adopted Josh when he was going to school at Texas Tech, and who are opening their arms and hearts to Kahley Paulsel as she begins her time there. I have a great fondness for all of them.

It is a wonderful thing to have such a kinship and affection with the faithful, wherever you go. All of us have received warm welcomes when traveling, even when meeting other Christians for the first time. In 3 John, the apostle commended Gaius for his hospitality, “Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church” (3 John 5-6a). We are so grateful that there are many of Gaius’ ilk among the people of God in our generation.

I also appreciate the brethren here at West Side, as many of you exhibit the same willingness to be hospitable. It is important for each of us to examine our hearts, and our practice to ensure that we are pleasing God. “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:8-10).

In my reading this week, I came across the account of James’ martyrdom at the hands of King Herod (cf. Acts 12:1-2). I was struck with the concise, matter-of-fact description of that tragedy, recorded by the Holy Spirit through Luke’s pen. “Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword.”

As an apostle, James was one of the most important men of the first century. And yet, little is known of his life, character, and even his death. In our day, such an influential man would be profiled, biographied, eulogized and even idolized. His death would be portrayed as a tragedy of immense proportions. There is a lesson here for us. While men are focused on this life, the Holy Spirit is concerned with the life to come.

In His ministry, Jesus promised his disciples, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39). While time may have obscured the influence and accomplishments of James while he lived on this earth, his faithfulness to His Lord secured for him a far greater and more lasting heritage. Because of his faith, he secured a mansion, (cf. John 14:1-3).

We too should live our lives for the eternal goal of a home with God in heaven. Living in such a way may not secure for us any lasting notoriety, but that is no great loss. What it will do is attract the attention of our Lord. May He say to us all, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:23).

In the last issue of The Christian Chronicle, which claims to be an “International newspaper for Churches of Christ” I found information about the following:

The social gospel is alive and well. The churches that began back in the 1950’s and 1960’s, to embrace the idea that the church’s purpose and work includes secular entertainment and social engineering have continued to conceive and implement ever more outlandish and silly ideas. It has reached the point where they never even ask the question “is it authorized?” They no longer consider the admonition of the apostle Paul, given in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to god the Father through Him.” We must be ever vigilant in our efforts to submit to God’s will.

I have a mild case of arthritis. It is, I suppose another indication of my descent into middle age and beyond. My mind persists in the self-image of a young man, but my body knows that to be an delusion. My arthritis affects mainly my hands. A couple of weeks ago I suffered a mild jamb of the index finger on my left hand. The finger is still giving me fits. The other joints are less painful, but are continuously stiff and sore.

Pain is irritating. We have all types of medication, mild and strong, designed to lessen or alleviate it. But, all know that pain serves and important purpose. I recently read an article about a little girl (12 years old) who suffered from CIPA, a congenital condition that affects the way signals travel from her central nervous system. Because of her condition, she can not feel any pain. On the surface, that might be considered a blessing, but it is very dangerous. She would not have pain symptoms should her appendix inflame or rupture, would not notice a cut or break, and would never know about a raging infection or other painful condition.

God created our bodies. They are amazing machines. They even have the ability to diagnose and combat the problems they encounter, often without any conscious thought on our part. My arthritis pain irritates me. But, the alternative is rather scary to consider! As the Psalmist wrote, “I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14).