Category: Reflections Articles

Recently a Christian who had been disfellowshipped took issue with the discipline, wanting some type of social interaction, saying, “It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.” Unfortunately many hold this view almost exclusively regarding religious matters.

Socrates, the well known Greek philosopher, is quoted as saying, “Moderation in all things.” In fact, the Bible teaches moderation as well, just not in all things. The concept of temperance contains moderation. Things like gluttony and covetousness and drunkenness occur because people take things too far! Continue reading “All or Nothing?” →

Paul wrote to Titus, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us…” (Titus 3:11-12a). It is a simple principle. God has granted His great mercy to us, and we are so blessed by this extended grace. We learn from this largesse that He loves us, He is good, He is omnipotent, He is eternal.  Knowing Him by His grace, we are aware of our own obligations to be who He desires for us to be. Consider the following: Continue reading “Grace Teaches Us” →

There are numerous examples in scripture of men asking God why He does what He does. They know His proclamation of righteousness. They know His power and professions of love and protection. But events happen in their lives they just don’t understand.

A couple of biblical examples will suffice to illustrate. Job was a just man who despite his righteous life lost his family, his riches and his health. After exhibiting patience and faithfulness for a long while, he eventually asked God why these things were happening to him. Continue reading “God, Why Me?” →

The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). So, according to John it is important to vet every spirit to see whether they are of God.  How is this to be done?

The answer is simple and follows of necessity. The only way to test the spirits is through an examination of their teaching, comparing it to God’s revelation! Any other method is by its nature limited and subject to error or deceit. As Paul wrote concerning the devil and those who do his bidding,  “…Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Continue reading “False Prophets” →

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7).

You have heard of the silly stories about men who asked to be buried with their cash so that they “could take it with them.” Or the practice of kings and nobles, being buried with riches, treasure and servants to serve in the afterlife. It is absurd to think any of this has any validity with what we know of death and eternity.

However, this does not change the fact that people make it their life’s purpose to gain material riches. This often leads to strife, sorrow and foolishness. Consider what Jesus said about the rich man who trusted in his possessions, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:20-21). Continue reading “Greed and Contentment” →

The prayer is rather famous. It has taken various similar forms from the 1930’s, and was apparently adopted by Alcoholics Anonymous in the 1940’s. It is called the serenity prayer.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

It seems that the prayer has three very important and true sentiments. Let’s consider them in turn.

First, we need serenity – the state of being calm, peaceful and untroubled. Our serenity is tied to the loving provision of our Master. Paul wrote, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). We do not need to be concerned about things beyond our control, because God is in control of all! Even against the most powerful of forces, “The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand…’” (Isaiah 14:24).

Second, we need courage – strength in the face of pain, grief or hardship. There is much we can actually do with God’s help, especially spiritually. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Sometimes hard decisions have to be made –  sacrifices, changes, repentance. Many are unwilling to make those decisions. An example were the rulers of the Jews who believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees were unwilling to confess him, “lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” (John 12:42-43). It is always important to do what is right in the sight of the Lord God, no matter the consequence.

Finally, we need wisdom – the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment. In the Bible, this wisdom comes from a knowledge of God’s word, experience, and prayer. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Here our wisdom allows us to know when to act, and when to leave our troubles with God. As Jesus said, don’t worry, “for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:32). We understand that since God knows and cares, He will act to protect us and provide what we need.

It may be that the Serenity Prayer is misused or misunderstood by some.  But it contains truths to embrace!

In Acts 14 we read of Paul’s healing of a crippled man. Paul was preaching, but his message was not yet well known to many. So, when the man was healed the superstitious Lycaonians assumed Paul and Barnabas were gods. They thought Barnabas was Zeus, and Paul was Hermes since he was the chief speaker.

This indicates clearly the purpose of miracles. They do not identify truth, but do identify that those who perform those miracles are legitimate. Now, since the inhabitants of Lystra had no true knowledge of God or His Son, they did not know what these powers represented. Their ignorance led to supposition. This is always the case. And, since men do not know the things of God without his revelation, their suppositions were without merit. As Paul said about his own people in Romans 10, “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3 ). Continue reading “Misconceptions in Lystra” →

There are a number of occasions where the apostle Paul used the metaphor of a door to refer to an opportunity. For example, when Paul and Barnabas gave a report to the church in Antioch, Luke records, “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles” (Acts 14:27). Paul himself wrote to the Corinthian church, saying in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” He wrote again in  2 Corinthians 2:12, “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed to Macedonia.” Continue reading “An Open Door” →

Christians, unlike other groups, have only a secondary allegiance to our country.  Also unlike other groups that does not mean that we are in any way unpatriotic, or lacking gratitude for the nation in which we live.  It also does not mean that we condone disobedience to the laws of the land, either civilly or criminally. Continue reading “Our Civil Responsibilities” →

I just finished reading an article on my phone from USA TODAY titled, “Americans are become less religious. None more than this group.” The emphasis of the article was the departure of many from Christianity (especially younger people), and the fact that for the first time in American history, more women are leaving their faith than men.

Two statistics from the survey: Those who nominally identify as Christians in America  are 63%, down from 90% in the early 1990’s.  Second, “Among generation Z, however, the pattern has flipped (regarding men and women leaving their childhood faith): 54% of those who’d left the church are female. Meanwhile, nearly four in 10 Gen Z women identify as religious unaffiliated, compared to a third of Gen Z males. Continue reading “Women Leaving the Church” →

Marriages can look very different. This is because each union is between unique personalities. You have heard that opposites attract. That is true for some. Others are comforted by common proclivities or interests. Some are loud, some are quiet. Some are voluble, some are taciturn. Some may exhibit great passion, where the emotions of others resemble a placid body of water.

These differences have little to do with the success or failure of any marriage. Likewise, it does not determine the effectiveness of parenting.  None of this is “one size fits all,” and those who so claim need to be carefully examined before any advice is accepted and implemented. Continue reading “A Good Marriage” →

In 2 Corinthians 3, the apostle Paul discussed his reputation toward the Corinthians.  They knew him well, having received letters and strong teaching from him in the past. So, he did not need to introduce himself to them in an attempt by reputation to make his letters more influential to their faith. First, he stated in verse one to have no need to “commend” himself to them. They knew his authority and the truthfulness of his words to them. Continue reading “An Epistle of Christ” →

Paul wrote a test in 1 Timothy 2 that is no doubt familiar to many:

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:1-4 ).

The passage establishes several truths.  First, we are to pray for others.  These prayers are divided up into supplications (asking God to fill a need), intercessions (petitions made on behalf of), and giving of thanks (thanking God for the express blessings that come from any particular individual). Continue reading “God’s Pleasure in Our Prayers” →

No one likes to be lied to, or to be cheated out of what they deserve. If this is so regarding worldly matters, how much more so spiritual concerns.

This concerned Paul, and he warned about those who would come in and do this to his brethren. He wrote in Colossians 2, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power” (8-10). Continue reading “Being Deceived and Cheated” →

In 1 Corinthians 4:13, the apostle Paul referred to the constant criticism of the apostles, and their response.  “Being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.”

The Greek word translated entreat in the passage is parakaleo?.  It is define as a strong invitation or invocation, and is also translated beseech in various places in scripture.  Literally, “to call near”. It is a word of passion, that can rightly bring the image of begging.  Notice the use of the term in Romans 12:1-2:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Continue reading “The Passion of Gospel Preaching” →