Showing Our Christianity                                                    August 13, 2023

“You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.  And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” (II Corinthians 3:2-3)

A fundamental idea of Christianity: It must be shown.

Christianity is not merely some facts to believe (though there are some facts that absolutely must be believed – ex. the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus).

Christianity is not merely some  ideas to understand (though there are some ideas that must be understood – ex. all have sinned and stand in need of a Savior).

Christianity is a lifestyle – it is a life – that must be clearly demonstrated.  The facts that are believed and the ideas that are understood must lead to transformation.  Our lives must be lived in such a way that we make it clear that we know Jesus.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished.  And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” (Acts 4:13)

“For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.” (Hebrews 11:14)

Christianity must be shown.  Let us live then in such a way that we make it clear to whom we belong!

In Luke 4 there is a major focus on who Jesus is and the way people respond to Him.  Obviously, there are both appropriate as well as inappropriate ways to respond to His presence and call. 

It is not only that we must show others we belong to the Lord.  It is also the case that we must show the Lord Himself that we love Him and long to be identified with Him!

Therefore, when we come to know the risen Lord, some appropriate responses to Jesus would be:

1) Praise Him for His powerful message (Luke 4:15).

Jesus reveals insight into ancient prophecies, the keys to heaven and salvation, how to live well, how to properly view life, how to deal with pain, suffering  and anxiety, etc.  This is a message worthy of praise!

2) Become a servant with a grateful heart (Luke 4:39).

The proper response to being healed is gratitude and action.  To fail or refuse to praise God and give thanks for our blessings is unacceptable  (cf. Luke 17:17).

3) Take as many others to Him as possible (Luke 4:40).

When there is a problem (your own or that of others), go to Jesus!

4) Beg Him to stay (Luke 4:42).

Once you have the One with the words of eternal life, don’t let Him go!  Show Him that you know He is the One! (cf. John 6:68).

By Bart Warren

Consider One Another                                       August 4, 2023

At home, we recently took on the task of cleaning out our attic!  Yes, I can hear you groaning as you think about how much fun we had.  Well, it wasn’t all bad.  In fact, when we take time to de-clutter any segment of our lives, we actually feel somewhat liberated because we have created more space and discarded things that haven’t been needed for a long time.  As my wise wife reminds me from time to time when embarking on a challenging project, “The dread is worse than the do!”  She is correct once again!  On this side of it, I’m thankful we did some work in the attic.

In doing so, I reconnected with some old pictures and reopened some chapters in my life.  I now have a “new collection of old pictures” I had forgotten about.  I am reminded of my youthful grandparents, my healthy and loving father who’s strength and smile were visible as he hugged me tight, what it was like to have little kids in the house and I revisited the harshness of life by looking into the eyes of those who would later face grief, loss, and tragedy in their life.  I am a little more older and more mature compared to the last time I looked at those pictures.  It is not news to you, but life is short, challenging, and can be flat out difficult.

We need Christ in our life and we need each other!  When I walk through memory lane, relationships are highlighted, and I see how much we need our friends, family and neighbors.  Now that I’m older, I realize that our names on letter heads, buildings, the desire to amass great wealth, and time spent stockpiling “stuff” is simply vain.  Time spent on the relationships we have and how we treat, talk, and interact with each other should be paramount.

In his commentary on “Considering One Another,” Aubrey Johnson directs us to these verses:

• “…with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love (Ephesians 4:2).”
• “bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive (Colossians 3:13).”
• “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing (I Thessalonians 5:11).”

God has much to say about our relationship with His Son and those we come in contact with.  Looking through old pictures directed me to be more considerate of everyone I meet.  May we act now to strengthen relationships, fix our faults, and seek contentment in Christ as we consider one another.        By Allen Jones

Church Hurt                                                                  July 30, 2023

Nearly twenty years ago, I was on the phone with someone in the congregation where we were attending at the time.  I made the phone call while on break at my workplace.  Unbeknownst to me, one of my co-workers was listening to the conversation.  Well, he could only hear me talking with the person I was on the phone with, but could not hear them.  The conversation was one that should have taken place in person or without anyone present who had no context or information about the topic being discussed.  Hence, my co-worker had no idea what the other person was saying.  The conversation was about some strife and conflict that our little congregation was dealing with.  As soon as I hung the phone up, my co-worker, looking across the room at me said this, “Hey Al, right there, right there is why I don’t want anything to do with church.”  At that moment in time, I realized my words had the power to influence for the good or influence for the bad.  Was I being rude in the conversation?  Could my tone have been better?  Did I say way more than I should?  All of these questions and more are still on my mind, well, nearly twenty years later!

Since that time, I have seen, over and over, brethren have conflict with one another, struggle to maintain relationships within congregations, and are just simply challenged when finding the best way to respond to someone over the simplest of things.  We all know we don’t always handle everything correctly all the time.  I know I wish life had a rewind button to repair some of my responses to others.  When conflict arises, we should seek reconciliation.  Also, we know that conflict changes relationships and a negative pattern of conflict with others changes relationships.  What’s the answer to prevent these situations from arising?

We need to realize “words matter.”  James 1:19-20 is clear when it comes to how we need to respond to anyone in any given situation.  “So then beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”  Communication had to be difficult at times.  Our transmissions during discussions can be uplifting or undermining.

Brothers and sisters, if you are reading this article, you have an interest in maintaining a right relationship with God or you are seeking to know more about the saving message of Scripture.  Either way, we all would agree, our goal is to live in Heaven, together!  May we seek to find ways to live together on Earth, first!

“Angry words, oh, let them never from the tongue unbridled slip; may the heart’s best impulse ever check them ere they soil the lip.”              By Allen Jones

Experiencing Loneliness As the Lord’s Church                    July 23, 2023

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:1-6)

Why did the apostle Paul write these words to the church at Ephesus?  What was he concerned about?  They had a great eldership that loved him, prayed with him and wept out loud, embracing him and repeatedly kissed him when they heard they would see him no more (Acts 20:36-38).  So what’s the trouble?

In  Acts 20:28-32 Paul reveals his concern for the elders and the church in Ephesus.  Once he had departed from them savage wolves (false teachers) would come in among them (become a member of the church in sheep’s clothing) and would not spare the flock and even from among the eldership men would arise and speak perverse things in order to draw away members and get them to follow their new teachings.

How is this a problem?  Well, in the text quoted above, Paul would say that the unity of the Spirit would not be preserved (protected, kept) as God intended it to be if one taught something in addition to it or in fact contrary to it.  In Christendom today, how many teachings are there being taught that state that that they are of the Spirit?  Paul makes it quite clear that there is one God (no debate about that), one Christ (no argument over that), one Spirit (no problem there) and there is one body (big issue here).

The question that many in the church have asked over the years is, “Are there Christians existing today that are not members of the church of Christ?”  What likely initiated this question is that they know of some very good-living, moral people of faith and conviction that, in some ways, are more spiritual minded than they are and thus they have trouble believing that such folk will not be in heaven.  Thus they conclude that they must be a part of the church.

Do good people go to heaven because of their goodness?  If they do then Jesus died for nothing.  People go to heaven because God is good and merciful and calls them, through His gospel (II Thessalonians 2:14), to obey it (II Thessalonians 1:8) in order to have the hope of heaven. 

Honestly, it doesn’t matter who we think is a member of the church because it’s not our church to decide but Christ’s.  He decides and His words reveal who is and who isn’t a member of it, right?  He died to establish His church.  Since He is the head of the church what gives any of us the right to say who is a member of it unless it is with His consent (word)? 

Church identity.  At times it can be lonely being the Lord’s church amidst many who claim to be so but aren’t scripturally.  But we need to remember that there is only one body, the Lord’s church.  Are you a part of it?  If so, can you support your claim to be so with His authority?

Brian Thompson

Six Attitudes For Our Week                                         July 16, 2023

What kind of attitude do you put on towards others each day?  There are several that could be easy to put on, such as angry outbursts in traffic when on the way to work or an impatient attitude in the grocery store.  There are so many ways we can feel within our hearts, and even outwardly treat others, if we are not careful.  What attitude does the Bible say we need to create within ourselves and show towards others?

A Spirit of Humility

We must remain humble (Colossians 3:12) and esteem others higher than ourselves (Philippians 2:3).  We must remember that we are not better or more important than others.  As God has asked us, may we treat others with humility even when it is not easy!

A Spirit of Kindness

The Bible calls us to treat others with kindness (Ephesians 4:32).  This can be especially difficult when others have no desire to do the same.  However, we must still take this instruction seriously and be kind, even if we feel someone does not deserve it.

A Spirit of Trustworthiness

Colossians 3:9 implores us to always tell the truth and to be someone that others can trust.  May we always be someone that others know does not spread lies and can be confided in or handed a task without hesitation.

A Spirit of Obedience

Jesus tells us that we truly love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  To obtain the promises He has given, we must listen to what He asks us to do and not what we desire for ourselves.  Others will see this, and it can certainly influence them in various ways.  It may inspire them to do the same, or maybe build up the trust others have in you as they see your obedience.

A Spirit of Commitment

Even when times get tough, may we always press on and do the work that Christ asks of us.  Paul shows us how to put on this attitude several times and shows us why (II Timothy 1:12).  He has confidence in Christ and his labor is not in vain.  We can have that same confidence!  May we stay committed to Christ and to the work in His church!

A Spirit of Focus

We must keep the focus on Christ (Hebrews 12:1-2), pressing on towards the goal of heaven and not losing sight of it.  There are many distractions in life that will try to turn us away, but may we never forget what lies ahead in eternity!

By Simon Tyson

A Faith Greater Than the Faith of Martyrs?                                  July 9, 2023

The writer of Hebrews could so easily see the dangers faced by those Jewish Christians.  The nation that killed God’s Son turned its wrath on the church almost from the day it began.  Jesus had warned them about the trials that were coming.  Obviously, they persecuted those Gentiles who had become followers of Jesus, but their persecution was even more fierce on the Christians addressed in this epistle.

They had begun their walk with Jesus and faced many trials which came their way.  Hebrews chapter ten describes this: “After you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings…you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations.”  The author then adds, “You became a companion of those who were so treated” (Hebrews 10:32-33).

How did they emotionally respond to all of this?  “You joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods” (Hebrews 10:34).  Earthly possessions are meaningless when viewed from the eternal truth about our existence.  They could so easily give up that which was temporal.  “Knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.”

Living faithfully on this earth for many years is so difficult.  We understand the faith of those who are martyrs for the cause of Christ.  At that last moment they reached deep within their souls and their faith sustained.  What we may have done is overlooked by the depth of the faith of those who face not a momentary trial, but serve Him for years and years.  We rightly honor the faith of martyrs, but perhaps  it takes a deeper faith to serve Him for years and years. 

When this letter was written their devotion was weakening.  Look again at this chapter and the admonition given to them.  “Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise…if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:35-38).

Now make the application in your life.  How long have you been a Christian?  Where is your faith in Him compared to what it once was?  Remember how joyfully you served Him at first?  Remember your routine of daily Bible study and prayer?  Remember the joy of partaking of the Lord’s Supper and being part of worship, praising His name?  Is it possible that we have become “tired” because the journey seems so long?  It is not that we have walked away from Him, but have we lifted our anchor and are we slowly drifting away (Hebrews 2:1)?  God help us to remember to view our life on this earth as being only a moment compared to eternity!

By Dan Jenkins

Get the Mirror…Ouch!

July 2, 2023

  If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would

   probably go something like this:

      Blessed are those Christians who are TOO TIRED,

       TOO BUSY, TOO DISTRACTED  to spend time with their

             fellow Christians in worship; for they are my candidates to backslide.

            Blessed are those Christians who WAIT TO BE ASKED

            and EXPECT TO BE THANKED, for I can use them to slow

            things down.

           Blessed are those Christians who are TOUCHY.  With

              a bit of luck they may STOP GOING TO WORSHIP  and get

            others to quit; for they are my missionaries.

              Blessed are those Christians who are VERY RELIGIOUS

               but GET ON EVERYONE’S NERVES; they are the most

                    effective stumbling blocks.

              Blessed are those Christians who are TROUBLE-MAKERS;

                  they are my best wrecking crew.

             Blessed are those Christians who have NO TIME TO PRAY;

                      they are easy prey for me.

                         Blessed are those who are COMPLAINERS; they are my

                            best discouragers.

                         Blessed are you when you read this and THINK ABOUT

                               OTHER PEOPLE, and not about yourself. 

Because I’ve got you!

-Selected-

June 25, 2023

Sardis: Your Works Are Not Perfect                                                                                                               

by Jeff Asher

Sardis was one of the oldest and most important cities of Asia Minor. The city was founded in the third century B.C. The Lydian kings revered the Greek gods, were benefactors of Hellenic sanctuaries and consulted the oracle at Delphi. In Roman times Sardis was the center of the imperial cult in the region. Current excavations have brought much to light, including a superb late synagogue. For centuries Sardis had been a principal center of the Jewish Diaspora, and was probably the “Sepharad” of Obadiah 20. Sardis was situated on the east bank of the Pactolus River about 50 miles east of Smyrna. The city stood on the northern slope of Mount Tmolus. Its acropolis occupied one of the spurs of the mountain measuring a height of 950 feet. At the base was a river that served as a moat.

The original city was an almost impregnable fortress, towering above the broad valley of the Hermus, and nearly surrounded by precipitous cliffs of treacherously loose rock. The ruins of the walls are still visible.

The most impressive building of ancient Sardis must have been its magnificent Temple of Artemis, built in the fourth century B.C. The temple was 327 feet long and 163 feet wide and had 78 Ionic columns, each 58 feet high. This massive temple still bears witness in its fragmentary remains to the wealth and architectural skill of the people that raised it.

The ancient city was the residence of the kings of Lydia, among them Croesus, proverbial for his immense wealth. Cyrus is said to have taken $600,000,000 worth of treasure from the city when he captured it in 548 B.C. Sardis was in very early times, both from the extremely fertile character of the neighboring region and from its convenient position, a commercial mart of importance.

Through the failure to watch, the acropolis had been successfully scaled in 549 B.C. by a Median soldier, and in 218 by a Cretan. The Ionians burned the city in 501 B.C., but it was quickly rebuilt and regained its importance. In 334 B.C. it surrendered to Alexander the Great who gave it a brief measure of independence, for 12 years later in 322 B.C. it was taken by Antigonus. In 301 B.C. it fell into the possession of the Seleucidan kings who made it the residence of their governor. It was freed again in 190 B.C. when it formed a part of the empire of Pergamos, and later of the Roman province of Asia. In 17 a.d., when it was destroyed by an earthquake, the Roman emperor Tiberius remitted the taxes of the people and rebuilt the city, and in his honor the citizens of that and of neighboring towns erected a large monument, but Sardis never recovered its former status.

The church of our Lord in Sardis was much like the city itself—they had a reputation but they were in serious decline (Rev. 3:1-6).

Jesus said, “I know thy works… I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Rev. 3:1-2). There was activity in the church, but the activity was not coming to perfection. They were not getting the job done. Nothing they had done from their beginning had succeeded in establishing and grounding them in the faith.

There are churches like this today. Their greatest moment was the fleeting blaze of their momentous beginning. Since then they have not amounted to much. There were several converted at first, they readily put up a meetinghouse and called a preacher. However, soon after that things began to dwindle.

Some were like the stony ground and having no root returned to the world quickly (Matt. 13:20-21; Luke 8:13). Trial and temptation will discourage the weak hearted. They are unwilling to struggle against sin. To change the prior habits of life requires discipline and prayer. The ridicule of former friends is hard to withstand (1 Pet. 4:3-4).

Others are like the thorny ground (Matt. 13:22; Luke 8:14). There are other things that compete for our time and energy. While these things are not wrong in themselves, they must assume a priority lower than the ends and interests of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 6:33). In a life “filled with thorns” there is never time for Bible study, prayer, evangelism or assembling with the saints. Yes, Sardis had a name, a reputation, but it was a thin veneer that hid the immaturity and stagnant condition of this church (cf. Heb. 5:12-14).

The remedy for the problems in this church was the few righteous and spiritual among them (Rev. 3:4). Notice that the Lord does not say give up on the rest, quit, go somewhere else and start another church. Neither does He conclude that the challenge before them is insurmountable and seeing that they “can’t beat ’em,” they had better “join ’em.”

No, Jesus says, “hold fast and repent” (Rev. 3:3). Those that are righteous must do the holding while urging the worldly and apathetic to repent. It is always the faithful few who have the greater burdens to bear. Yet, they are able (1 Cor. 10:13). Now, which are you?

June 18, 2023

Fervent In Spirit

by Gene Taylor

As Christians we have work to do. We were created in Christ for good works (Eph. 2:10) and to be zealous for them (Titus 2:14). Albert Barnes said, “An idle man and a Christian are names which do not harmonize.”

The above text points out two basic attitudes the Christian can have in relation to the work of the Lord. One can be either “lagging in diligence” or “fervent in spirit.” Of course, if one is going to please the Lord the latter is preferred.

“Lagging in Diligence”

The King James Version translates this phrase as “slothful in business.” To be slothful is to be lazy or indolent. William Barclay stated, “There is a certain intensity in the Christian life. There is no room for lethargy in it.” (The Daily Study Bible Series, Romans, p. 178).

God’s people in the Old Testament were warned against having such an attitude. Amos 6:1 pronounced woe upon those who were “at ease in Zion.” Jeremiah 48:10 says, “A curse on him who is lax in doing the Lord’s work!” (NIV).

Diligence is required of Christians, God’s people today. They are to give diligence to grow in Christ (2 Pet. 1:5); abound in diligence (2 Cor. 8:7); and be diligent and not become sluggish (Heb. 6:9-12).

Diligence is a product of commitment. The Corinthians’ commitment to the Lord was demonstrated by doing what needed to be done in reference to the sinner they had in their midst (1 Cor. 5:9-13). 2 Corinthians 7:11 says, “For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

“Fervent in Spirit”

The word translated “fervent in spirit” means to boil with heat, be hot. It is used of boiling anger, love, and zeal for what is good or bad. As used in our text, it means to have a burning zeal to do the will of God.

An example of this attitude is Jesus Christ. John 2:17, in speaking of Him, says, “Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.'” Apollos is also an example of zeal. Acts 18:24-25 states, “Now a certain Jew named Apollos … came to Ephesus … and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord … ” Both Jesus and Apollos were successful in accomplishing their God-given tasks.

Fervor and enthusiasm are the keys to success in the Lord’s work. The church at Laodicea was chastised because of their lukewarmness (Rev. 3:14-16). Barclay says, “The one man whom the Risen Christ could not stand was the man who was neither hot nor cold” (Ibid.). He added, “The Christian may burn out, but he cannot rust out.”

Sadly, though, this spirit is lacking in some who claim to be God’s people. These are those who put off, sidestep, maneuver out of, or procrastinate with respect to that which needs to be done in the kingdom of the Lord. It seems impossible to move some “Christians” into action. The fire and enthusiasm of the first century church is missing among them. They have restored the truth but seem to have forgotten the spirit.

Conclusion

Ephesians 6:6 counsels us to be “doing the will of God from the heart.” May none of us drag our feet but instead give ourselves enthusiastically to doing the work of the Lord. Such a life of service will grant us the best life here and in the hereafter.

June 11, 2023

Don’t Confuse Me With The Facts

Teaching the Gospel is not always easy. Probably the most difficult problem the Christian faces in trying to teach the Gospel is teaching a person who has a closed mind.

How often do we meet a person with an attitude that shouts “Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up!” In other words, “It does not matter whether or not what you say is true, I am going to believe and do what I want.” You could point to many Scriptures; you could provide examples from the New Testament; you could quote the very words of Jesus, yet such a person will remain unmoved. Such an attitude would be almost humorous if it were not so sad. We need to understand the world has always had such people in it and learn not to be discouraged.

For 120 years Noah preached repentance to a wicked world and warned of the impending Flood. For 120 years people slapped their hands over their ears whenever they saw Noah coming down the road. But then came the day when God shut the door of the ark and the rain drops began to fall. The only ones who were saved were those who had spent 120 years with a hammer and saw in their hands, instead of their hands over their ears.

Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” to us today and for good reason. His mission was very similar to Noah’s and his audience was just as stubborn. For about 40 years, Jeremiah preached to the rebellious people of God to repent or face the wrath of God. Jeremiah had good reason to cry because his audience not only refused to listen to him but also, instead of putting their hands over their ears, they made fists and put them in Jeremiah’s face.

Jeremiah was declared a dangerous fanatic; beaten and put in stocks; his writings were burned by a king; he was called a traitor, beaten again and thrown in a dungeon; he was thrown into a cistern where he sank up to his armpits in mud; and finally he was carried off to Egypt. It is amazing what great lengths people went to not hear Jeremiah.

Somehow, there are those who believe Jesus was exempt from prejudiced audiences. Even the Son of God who spoke with all the power and truth of Deity faced people whose attitude expressed, “Don’t confuse me with the facts” There were those who refused to listen to Christ; others mocked Him; one occasion a mob tried to throw Him over a cliff and another time some tried to stone Him. The prejudiced against Christ and His message grew to the point that to silence Him, His critics crucified Him.

After all the “plugged” ears Christians run into, (See, Acts 28:25-27), not only should Christians learn not to become discouraged, but also learn an important lesson on dull ears and closed eyes. Christians should beware of plugging their own ears, shutting their eyes and closing their minds to God’s Truth—the Bible.

Christians can “turn away their ears from the truth” (2 Tim. 4:4) and become just as stubborn and prejudiced and even more so than those in the world (See, 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:1-4; Titus 1:13-16). If there is anything worse than a person of the world with their fingers in their ears, its a professed Christian with their fingers in their ears.

The proper attitude for the Christian is to “Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good,” (1 Thes. 5:21), studying to show thyself approved, (2 Tim. 2:15), and “examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things (are) so” (Acts 17:11). It is an attitude that “thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; bears all things believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:5-7). The Christian with the proper attitude towards other and the truth has his fingers turning the pages of his Bible instead of stuck in his ears!

by Wayne Greeson