Expectations of the Honored Seat

Expectations of the Honored Seat

In Luke 14:8-11, Jesus talks about the perils of sitting in the most honored seat. Doing so may result in being asked to move to a less honored seat and cause shame. Jesus then says, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 14:11). The Holy Spirit calls this a parable, and there is a spiritual application.

expectations self others

Do your expectations lead to trouble?

What is the mindset behind seeking the more honored seat? It is thinking too highly of ourselves as Paul warns us against in Romans 12:3. What does this look like in our daily lives? Sometimes thinking more highly of ourselves presents in what we expect of others. Do we expect others to treat us in a certain way? How do we expect them to treat us? Should we expect this of them? Are we wanting them to think of us more highly than we ought to think? Do we want to be respected? Do we want to be loved? Do we want to be admired? Do we want to be served? Do we want to be treated fairly? Do we want to be seen as something?

Have you noticed that all of these questions lead back to our own desires? What we desire of others reveals our expectations of them and our high opinion of ourselves. Perhaps instead of seeking the “honorable seat” in the minds of others we should seat ourselves in the lower place by lowering or even eliminating our expectations and focus on our own behavior. Doing so will actually enable us to do what God wants us to do: love our neighbor as ourselves.

Posted in Kevin Cauley | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Expectations of the Honored Seat

By the Numbers

By the Numbers

In Numbers 13, God told Moses to select one leader from each of the twelve tribes to send into Canaan. Their mission would be to spy out the land God had promised them and then report back to the people. Upon their return, ten out of the twelve of those ancient Israelite field “reporters” gave their audience a very slanted, subjective, and flat-out “bad report of the land which they had spied out” (vs. 32; see vss. 26-33). However, the other two “reporters,” Joshua and Caleb, sought to be the far more faithful, positive, objective and common-sense voice reason (vs. 30, 14:6-9). But because the people chose to only hone in on and heed the slant of the “bad news” reporters instead, they soon found themselves weeping, complaining, and consumed by fear and frustration (Numbers 14:1-4) – and that was just the beginning (vss. 11-45)! Because it is extremely obvious that such a constant and overwhelming diet of nothing but subjectively-slanted “bad news” reports can make people unnecessarily afraid and fearful, may I offer the following Joshua and Caleb style common-sense perspective?

numbers fear

Are the numbers scaring you?

Yes; the Coronavirus can be a very deadly and devastating disease in some cases. However, here are a few things to keep in mind as you watch the news and their constantly changing numbers on this thing.

#1.  As of April 1st, there were a reported 206,207 confirmed cases of the virus in the U.S., resulting in 4,512 deaths. While any, one, singular death is one far, far too many, do you know what those numbers actually indicate? They mean that nearly 98% of those who have been confirmed to have had it, have not died from it. 98%! Don’t you think that some of our health care professionals who deal with other life and death afflictions such as cancer for example, would just love to see a 98% survival rate in their field?

#2.  Just because we keep hearing that the number of confirmed cases is still expected to rise, that doesn’t necessarily mean that there are that many more new cases. Remember: Test kits are becoming far more plentiful. Test results are now being processed much more quickly. This means that far more people will now be able to be tested, and so of course the number of confirmed cases is going to go up. But that doesn’t mean that all of those are necessarily new cases, but just simply newly-confirmed cases. There’s a huge difference.

#3.  And finally, I have a question that I’m not completely clear on. When they report the total number of confirmed COVID19 cases on the bottom of your screen, doesn’t that number reflect the total amount of confirmed cases SINCE THIS THING FIRST BEGAN? If so, then that would mean it is by no means an accurate indicator of how many people currently have the virus. If the many thousands of people who have recovered from or have unfortunately perished from it have not been subtracted from those numbers, then those numbers need to be understood in that context. Put another way, our county had a confirmed number of three cases for quite a while. Then one day recently it went up to four, and it now sits at five. But that may not necessarily mean that the virus has or is spreading. There may currently be only a couple or so cases in the county, because some of those who were confirmed to have had it in the beginning no longer do. However, if those who no longer have it are still counted in the total amount of confirmed cases to date, then that number can be  as misleading as seeking to report to others the world’s total population simply by adding up the annual birth rate, while never subtracting the millions of people who comprise the annual death-rate.

The bottom line is simply this: Do not allow the reporting majority’s particular slant to mislead you into unnecessary fear, frustration, and anxiety, in the same way as it did to God’s people in Numbers 13-14. Instead, determine to take a more faithful and reasonable, objective and common-sense, Joshua and Caleb type approach to the problem. Yes, it is big – there’s no doubt about it. But it is not as big as some of the daily statistics that we are continually being bombarded with might seem to indicate – and it is certainly nowhere near as big as our God!

Therefore my beloved brethren: “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love. …The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen” (1 Cor 16:13-14, 23-24).

Posted in Doug Dingley | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on By the Numbers

¿PUEDO ADORAR EN CASA?

¿PUEDO ADORAR EN CASA, PARTICIPAR DE LA CENA Y LA OFRENDA Y CONTINUAR SIENDO AGRADABLE A DIOS?

Realmente la pregunta anterior es justa, adecuada por las circunstancias en las que nos encontramos, y merece una respuesta Biblica. La Biblia y solo ella contiene todas las respuestas a nuestras interrogantes. El hermano Glenn Colley en una conferencia en PTP (Por sus siglas en inglés) dijo que para cada idea distorsionada en la imaginación del hombre, Dios tiene una respuesta  en algún lugar en la escritura. Sin duda alguna ese es el caso pero tampoco podemos ignorar lo susceptible del tema a tratar.

la cena adorar

¿AGRADABLE A DIOS?

En primera instancia es importante notar que la adoración a Dios no está limitada a cuatro paredes, definitivamente el énfasis no está  en un lugar apartado o “consagrado” para eso. Hemos escuchado a algunos mencionar la frase “santuario” o el “templo” para referirse al lugar donde la Iglesia se reúne y uno se pregunta; ¿A qué se refiere tal  hermano(a)  con esa frase?. El santuario en el A.T tenía que ver con aquel lugar que Dios había ordenado para poder cumplir con todos los ritos. Dios deseaba que el pueblo entendiera con figuras físicas la santidad que se necesita para acercarse a  él y esa verdad sería aplicable cuando se estableciera el verdadero templo de Dios; la Iglesia gloriosa de su hijo.

Con respecto a la adoración el Señor fue enfático cuando dijo:Dios es Espíritu; y los que le adoran, en espíritu y en verdad es necesario que adoren.” (Jn.4:24 RV1960). La idea de que el templo de Jehová era todo lo que importaba sin duda alguna era alejada de la realidad. Nadie puede negar que fue algo bueno, establecido por Dios pero pronto los hombres tuvieron una idea distorsionada de algo que era bueno. Un ejemplo de ello puede ser tangible al echar un vistazo a los Judíos que vivían en tiempo de Jeremías y quienes no quisieron acatar la exhortación del profeta sino que clamaban “Templo de Jehová, Templo de Jehová, Templo de Jehová es este” (Jr.7:4), cuando Jehová ya se había ido de aquel templo debido a os pecados de los cuales no quisieron arrepentirse. No es que literalmente Jehová habitaba en el templo sino una representación de su presencia.  Una figura similar encontramos en Ezequiel 10, cuando la Gloria del Señor había abandonado el templo. Otra vez la idea principal es que Dios le estaba dando la espalda a ellos hasta que ellos se arrepintieran. Es el apóstol Pablo quien en su tremendo sermón en Atenas explica que Dios no habita en templos hechos por manos de hombres (Hc.17:24).  La idea del Maestro al mencionar la adoración en espíritu para su Iglesia es relevante a la pregunta y nuestro tema en cuestión.

Por la pandemia que atravesamos en este 2020 (COVID-19), las condiciones en las que nos encontramos  y  las circunstancias que nos rodean resulta casi imposible reunirse en un lugar físico como Iglesia para adorar. Con todo aún existen algunas opciones.  Hay que recordar lo que Hebreos 10:25 enseña respecto a no dejar de congregarnos. Es critico entender este artículo bajo el contexto de Covid-19 y no más bien algo que vaya a traspasar los limites de la emergencia que estamos viviendo en el mundo ahora mismo, para simplemente dejar de reunirse.El quedarse en la casa y participar de la cena del Señor no significa que no estemos adorando como iglesia y que Dios no acepte nuestra adoración en este día domingo. ¡Gracias sean dadas a Dios por la era tecnológica en la que vivimos!. Hay quienes enseñan, partiendo de algunos textos tales como: 1Cor. 14:23; 1Cor.11:20 entre otros , donde el apóstol da a entender que para participar de la cena la Iglesia se “juntaba” y que por tal motivo si la Iglesia no está junta, entonces no se puede participar de la cena o si se hace, la misma no tiene ninguna efectividades hecho de que toda la iglesia local no está reunida como tal y en consecuencia tal esfuerzo es nulo.

Ciertamente concordamos con la idea de tomar la cena en comunión con los hermanos(aunque no se debe dejar olvidados los otros actos de adoración). Pero el “como” lo vamos hacer, es donde radica la diferencia. Usted puede estar en una video-llamada  con los hermanos y entonces usted está participando de la cena y la ofrenda y los otros 3 actos de adoración desde su casa pero al mismo tiempo con la Iglesia sin violar ningún principio de la escritura. Otra cosa muy distinta es tener la capacidad de adorar con la Iglesia de cierta comunidad y no hacerlo de forma deliberada pensando que solo un canto y una oración son suficientes mientras usted sigue conduciendo aquel domingo por la mañana mientras se dirige a la playa con su familia.

Recuerdo, de una ocasión cuando un hermano publicó una foto con el grupo de Jóvenes de la iglesia donde el servia como ministro de Jóvenes, mientras disfrutaban de un paseo a las piscinas. Para llegar a esas piscinas ellos debían de atravesar el pueblito donde su servidor trabajaba como ministro local. Tomar la cena y volver a la piscina no es adoración, tener la oportunidad de adorar con una Iglesia local y no hacerlo por conveniencia no es adoración; tomar una video-llamada  o conectarse al mismo tiempo con otros cristianos en espíritu y en verdad y llevar a cabo los 5 actos de adoración en tiempos donde no es permitido salir y tampoco es conveniente por una pandemia mundial eso es una adoración distinta pero seguimos unidos con la hermandad con el propósito y la misma actitud.

Es fácil criticar pero es más dicil buscar soluciones. Hemos leído de hermanos que se están reuniendo en el parqueo del edificio de la Iglesia adorando desde sus automóviles, ¿Acaso no es bello ver la sabiduría de Dios en el diseño espiritual de su Iglesia y como esta adora en espíritu y en verdad, no cree usted que es precioso ver a la hermandad con el intenso deseo de reunirse?, yo creo que si y más allá de solamente criticar y echar por tierra los intentos de algunos, nosotros deberíamos de comprender con el corazón y la razón las palabras de Jesús en Juan 4:23 y pensar sino es ahora ¿entonces cuando?. “Mas la hora viene, y ahora es, cuando los verdaderos adoradores adorarán al Padre en espíritu y en verdad; porque también el Padre tales adoradores busca que le adoren”.         

 

Posted in Heiner Montealto | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ¿PUEDO ADORAR EN CASA?

Creatures of Habit

Creatures of Habit

On Wednesday nights after Bible classes, Judie and I often go to Sonic to get corn dogs as we drive home. Last Wednesday as I waited to order, the person did not say, “Welcome to Sonic. How can I help you?” Her first words to me were, “How many corn dogs do you want with your Diet Coke?” I was startled, so I ordered a large Diet Coke and two corn dogs. When I got to the window to pay, she said, “Don’t you want a Route 44 Diet Coke (it is larger than a large) like you usually get?” It is amazing we are creatures of habit. People see us, and we often are not aware of how much they observe.

habit corn dog

Are you a creature of habit? What are your spiritual habits?

Think about these Bible characters and their customary actions in their lives. Just remember that not all habits are bad. Some of them lead to great spiritual growth. How many of these actions are part of your life?

Hannah, the mother of Samuel, had a habit. She was childless and wanted so much to have a child. The Bible describes her custom. “So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord…” (1 Sam. 1:7). There were yearly feasts for the Jews, and her custom was to go every year. We have a weekly feast. What is your custom? Is it something that is part of your life every week?

Aged Daniel had been in captivity for seventy years when his enemies laid out a plan to destroy him by getting the king to forbid any prayers other than those to the king. “Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Dan. 6:10). Look closely at what is said, “As was his custom since early days.” What are your prayer habits?

Look at what Jesus customarily did. “So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as his custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day” (Luke 4:16). How much are you like the Lord?

Paul shows a great example in what he customarily did. “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures” (Acts 17:2). What is your custom about telling others about the Lord?

How did Judas know Jesus would be in Gethsemane? “Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him” (Luke 22:39). Do others know your spiritual customs?

Wise people should consider their spiritual customs! How wise are you?

Posted in Dan Jenkins | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Creatures of Habit

How is Your Spiritual Health?

How is Your Spiritual Health?

Over the past few weeks we have all had several very effective and efficient ways to stop the spread of something, emphasized to us again and again by those ‘in the know.’ Wear a mask, cover your mouth, go get tested if you have symptoms, avoid contact with those not in the same health condition as yourself, and self-quarantine to kill the transmission of the condition.

contagious

Are you contagious?

Sadly, these are some of the very same things that may have contributed to killing off the spread of Christianity over the years as well. Some may have failed to spread their Christianity because they constantly ‘wear a mask.’ That is to say, they pretend to be something other than what they are, depending on the crowd that they are in. The Bible term for that is hypocrisy (See Matt. 23). Others may have ‘covered their mouth’ instead of speaking up for Jesus at the slightest sign of resistance or differences (Matt. 10:27-33). Some others, while perhaps showing some positive signs or symptoms of Christianity, may have failed to constantly test themselves to see if their faith and example were truly as contagious as they ought to be (2 Cor. 2:9, 13:5; 1 Ptr. 1:3-9; Rev. 2:10). Still others may have made a practice of avoiding any significant social contact or interaction with those outside of Christ, hence being unable to spread the soul-saving gospel of Christ to them (Matt. 9:9-13; 1 Cor. 9:19-23). All of this, while last but not least, some Christians may have self-quarantined or left their Christian convictions and behavior behind whenever they went out, only letting them see the light of day on the occasional Sunday wherin they might have decided to attend worship (Cf. Matt. 23:14, 23, 25).

Let us all make sure going forward, that when it comes to spreading the life-giving, soul-saving, grace-laden gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that we make it a constant and concentrated practice to NEVER: ‘wear a mask,’ ‘cover our mouth,’ ‘fail to test,’ ‘avoid contact’ (practice ‘spiritual distancing’), or ‘quarantine’ (leave behind) our Christian convictions and behavior wherever we go. Jesus’ last words before leaving for heaven? (If I may paraphrase): ‘Christianity; go spread it to everyone’ – See Matt. 28:18-20!

Posted in Doug Dingley | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on How is Your Spiritual Health?