Category: Reflections Articles
Articles printed in the weekly bulletin of the West Side church of Christ
Why Do Some Christians Not Grow?
The need for growing spiritually is well established in the New Testament. Those who remain babes in Christ remain as vulnerable to spiritual dangers as their physical counterparts are to the temporal dangers of life. They are weak, and undiscerning, which make them easy fodder for the devil and his minions.
“For he who lacks these things [attributes of the spiritually mature] is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9).
Knowing the importance of spiritual development and growth, it is disheartening when we witness a Christian who is stagnant spiritually. It happens far too often.
“You will know them by their fruits”
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:15-16).
Jesus affirmed a truth regarding false prophets (and false teachers) that many Christians have forgotten. It is not all about their motivation or heart, it is about their fruits! When people say, “He is a good man” despite the fact that he preaches a distorted gospel, the correct response is “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (18).
The Mob Mentality
We live in harrowing times. The present pandemic is becoming more and more intrusive in the world. Not only have many died from the COVID-19 virus, but there is a growing panic in America and throughout the world.
It is hard to know whether things are as bad as they seem to be. The virus is actually fairly mild compared to others, but it is new, and seems to be easily spread. Regardless, it is being covered by the media 24/7, and is resulting in major lifestyle changes in America.
The Problem with Dancing
For the entire time I have been preaching the gospel of our Lord, I have been asked this question, “What is wrong with dancing?” The answer to that question is not difficult, but it is a question that takes a few paragraphs to explain. So please bear with me as I describe the problem.
First, understand that there is nothing inherently wrong with movement accompanied by music. If that were so we would all have to be absolutely motionless when any music is heard. That is absurd. There is no prohibition in scripture regarding movement accompanied by music, either instrumental or vocal.
The Keys to a Successful Life
Take the time to do a book search at the Amazon site. Type in “successful living”, and look at the myriad titles that come up. Some of them have reference to financial success, some simply happiness, some claim a Biblical basis for their ideas.
How is success defined? The writer of Ecclesiastes sought to answer that very question. Things such as wisdom, pleasure, money, work ethic, perspective, friendship, popularity, honor, laughter and youthfulness were considered and rejected. He came to the realization that life lived without God in the picture is vain. Without God, there can be no success.
Just and Fair
“Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven” (Colossians 4:1).
Justness and fairness, expected of a Christian who has servants. In fact, expected of each of us in the relationships we sustain with others. They are important in our interactions as equals, but especially important when we are in a position of authority, as that authority can be easily abused.
Ruminations on Citizenship
As I am writing this article, the President has been impeached, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is about to swear in the United States Senators as jurors in the impeachment trial. Impeachment is a political process, as designed by framers of our constitution. In this case, it is also a partisan process, as Democrat and Republican representatives and senators are dividing (or are projected to divide) almost exclusively along party lines in their votes on the matter.
This is a sad time for Americans. The partisanship and rancor that is present in our nation is disheartening. It has been this way before, many times. In fact, politically our republic is messy, and unrest may be considered a fact of life. In some ways it is as it should be in any democratic process. The conflict consists of words, and protests seldom lead to actual violence. For this we are thankful.
The New Testament Texual Witnesses
The New Testament that we have in our possession today is the product of a multitude of manuscripts. The word manuscript in general has reference to any handwritten document. However, when referring to the Bible, it references handwritten copies that are in the original Koine Greek language.
The fact that we no longer have the original manuscripts penned by the New Testament writers would seem to be a concern. However, the multitude of copies that we have in our possession serve to assuage any concerns about whether we have the actual words of Paul, Peter, John and the others who wrote by inspiration of God.
Is It Lawful?
In Mark 10, the Pharisees came to Jesus for the purpose of testing Him. Their motivations were impure, but they asked a question of him that is especially important to us today. “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” (10:2). Matthew records the question in this way, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” (19:3).
The Practices of the Wicked
In Deuteronomy 18, Moses warned the children of Israel about taking up the practices of the pagan nations they would displace as they entered the land of promise.
“When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you” (Deuteronomy 18:9-14).
The practices enumerated by Moses were characteristic of the pagan societies of the day. There was much superstition and cruelty at that time, and these nations had displeased God.
God’s Imperative
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Paul speaks of many wonderful and important things in the first three verses of this wonderful chapter. He refers to the important sign of tongue speaking. He writes of inspired prophecy. He mentions faith and generous acts of benevolence. He refers even to martyrdom, the supreme sacrifice of life for God. Then he says that without love, none of these things have value.
Compliments from Christ
My son Jeremiah preached a lesson with this title a few weeks ago. This article basically takes his outline, and puts a portion of it in article form. The points made are worthy of consideration.
Everyone enjoys being complimented, but the value of a compliment is very much dependent upon the person who is giving it. A compliment from a wicked man would mean little, as would one that comes from insincere flattery. However, if a compliment were to come from the Lord Himself, that would truly be a great honor. So, consider the following individuals, and the compliments they received from the Lord. If the Lord complimented them, we know that if we do or are the same, we will please Him as well!
The Genuineness of Nathanael
“Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’” (John 1:47). Consider Jesus’ description of the man, “an Israelite indeed…” This distinguishes between a merely physical lineage (born a Jew), and one who is truly faithful to the law of Moses, seeking to serve God. “For they are not all Israel who are of Israel” (Romans 9:6).
Consider Your Ways
“In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying, ‘Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: “This people says, ‘The time has not come, the time that the Lord’s house should be built’”’” (Haggai 1:1-2).
Consider this people who determined to place their own concerns above the desires of God. We look askance at their unwillingness to orient their priorities appropriately. But, are we guilty of the same? God wants us to do His work today, just as he wanted Judah to be about His business during the days of the prophet Haggai. And, so many of us can be guilty of the same attitude expressed in our text. “The time has not come…”
The Origin and Composition of the Bible
The Bible, from the Greek biblia (the books), is a library of 66 volumes of various lengths. The 39 Old Testament volumes were written over a period spanning 900-1,000 years, from about 1400 B.C. to 500 B.C. The New Testament consists of books and letters written in a 50 year period, from about 50 A.D. to 100 A.D.
Since these books were written by numerous authors over many centuries, they were not immediately gathered into the single volume we enjoy today. The compiling of the Bible took time. To understand how it came about, we need to discuss an important innovation of the first century called the codex. (Actually, we don’t know exactly when the codex came into use, though many scholars believe that it was around 90 A.D.).
Treating Symptoms
The latest mass shooting hit me a bit close to home. I was born in Lubbock, but was raised in Odessa, TX. I am a graduate of Odessa High School, where I met my wife. Our wedding was held at the West 22nd Street church building, just down the street from the elementary school I attended as a child.
We have a big problem in our nation. Gun violence is disturbingly common. It is, however, one of the most visible symptoms of a much deeper societal problem. Politicians are seeking solutions, but don’t seem to have a willingness to acknowledge the underlying disease that has afflicted our people. Perhaps it is time to turn to scripture for a true cure, rather than seeking merely to treat the symptoms of our broken nation.
