A Hardened Heart?

A Hardened Heart?

Do you have a hardened heart?  You might say, “No! I help people and do good things all the time.”  However, this is really not where I am going with the question.  There are good people everywhere.  They help their family, friends, and strangers.  However, I might ask them, how do you feel about liver?  “Eww yuck!”  There heart is hardened against it.  How about politics? “I don’t want to hear it!” Religion? “Go away!”  Herein is the focus of my questioning.  A great number of religious and non-religious people have a hardened heart when it comes to reasoning together regarding the scriptures.

Hardened Mind Heart

Are you open to true discussion of the scriptures?

For the non-religious, perhaps better phrased “non-church goer”, the issue may be based upon disbelief.  Faced with the scriptures in the past, they found the Bible’s history to be unbelievable.  Perhaps this is based upon only minimal exposure to the Bible, the information presented was false teaching, or they had in their hands one of the many corrupt translations that abound in the market place today.  Perhaps a poor interaction with, or observation of, hypocritical religious individuals turned the non-church goer away.  It is even possible that the individual hardened their heart in regard to the scriptures because when faced with the truth of their shortcomings in the eyes of God, they rejected Him and His desires for their life.  Whatever the reason, their heart will either no longer permit the Word of God in or it is going to take a certain circumstance for them to once again open their heart.

For the religious and the Christian, there are also a number of situations which cause a hard heart.  These groups are not immune to having a hard heart toward spiritual things.  I cannot count the number of times I have heard religious people boasting about rejecting those who wanted to share the scriptures with them.  Online discussions frequently demonstrate the hard heartedness of those who do not want to investigate the scriptures, but simply want to blindly push an agenda or opinion.  Their hearts are truly hardened to hearing anything contrary to what they hold as truth.  Admittedly, it is easy to become skeptical of those who seek out religious discussion.  The attitudes and approach make others wary of sharing their valuable time.  Reputations (deserved or undeserved) often cause good Christian brothers to avoid one another because battle lines are already drawn from occurrences which happened decades before.  Ever sadder yet, is when doctrinal positions are assumed to be held, but not verified or discussed by brothers.  They avoid one another because they are hard hearted toward “Liberals, Anti’s Legalists, Conservatives”.  Hard hearts do not glorify the cause of Christ.

What does the Bible say about examining the scriptures? Acts 17:11 – “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” This group of people had their hearts open to learning the truth.  Yes, they studied to see if these things were true (2 Timothy 2:15), but they did not close their ears.  One might say, “Yes, but Paul was teaching the truth!” Indeed, he was.  However, Apollos was not.  Acts 18:26 – “And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Aquila and Priscilla could have walked away from teaching that was not correct.  They could have had hardened hearts. Apollos could also have hardened his heart in regard to their correction.  He did not.  Souls aren’t saved, brothers aren’t strengthened, God is not honored, by hardened hearts.

2 Timothy 2:24-26  “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.”

 

 

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Oh for a Copy of the Bible

Oh for a Copy of the Bible

To imagine what it would have been like for those who, in the first century, received the books of the New Testament which had just been written and sent to them is beyond comprehension. Before the books were written, there were apostles and prophets who could tell them about Jesus, about His life and the new way of living He revealed. However, they were not always present. Then, for the first time, the churches had a handwritten copy of the Bible, and they could assemble and study together.

copy bible

Do the people still long for His Word?

Not every person was able to read, so there were those who read these words given by God while others listened, trying to remember every word God had given to them. The Bible describes this. “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy…” (Rev. 1:3). Now, for the first time they held in their own hands the message from heaven. That verse adds one other vital truth about the one who is blessed because he has a Bible. It adds, “and keep those things which are written in it.” The real blessing is not found in just reading or hearing God’s words. That blessing comes when the words are taken and written in our hearts and manifested in our lives.

What a contrast between the church as it began and that which is part of our world! We no longer have heaven’s message in heavy scrolls but in beautiful, leather-bound books. The widespread use of cell phones allows many of us to carry the entire Bible in a compact device we keep in our pockets and purses. How blessed we are!

Yet what has happened? Across our lands believers assemble, yet Bibles are often not present. We have decided that study in Bible classes is more focused on what some modern man has written about the will of God instead of going to the original truths. Sometimes those studies become a discussion about what each person thinks about a matter instead of searching the words of the Bible to see what God has said about these same issues.

Pulpits are filled with gifted speakers, or those who have read their messages, and for the moment we are fascinated by their ideas, but it is far removed from what happened in the early church. They read the very words given by God, they heard the words given by God and they left worship determined to remember these words to change their lives.

Think about this contrast and then when you open your Bible realize you have the message from heaven. Read the Bible with the joy of those early Christians. Their lives were changed because they realized the treasures which were theirs because finally they held the words from heaven. Have that same joy because you have your own copy of these words!

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Coronavirus: A Bad Situation to God’s glory

Coronavirus: A Bad situation to God’s glory

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) is poised to do some things to Christians that years of articles, sermons, blogs, and podcasts have failed to do. As a result of the virus, and resulting quarantine, we may find ourselves forced to:

Coronavirus

What can you do?

1. Spend more time together as families at home and stop running the rat race.

2. Focus on our older generation and making sure they are well cared for during this time.

3. It may very well cause us to close our buildings on Sunday mornings forcing us to learn how to worship at home. (And may help us reevaluate pouring all of our resources into buildings and grounds rather than evangelism and missions.)

4. Pray more fervently.

5. We may find ourselves craving Christian fellowship and not taking it for granted.

6. Focus our minds on what is truly important in this life.

7. With more time on their hands and less “events” to go to, people may open their Bibles or religious books–relying less on the 30 minute sermon to be their only spiritual nourishment.

8. We might find ourselves calling and checking on members more often–treating each other like a true Christian family.

9. Not let things like March Madness become a form of idolatry in our lives.

10. Actually keep our children home from prom and help them remain pure a little longer!

11. Christians might discover ways to truly be a light in their community as people start needing things and needing care.

12. We might be more willing to talk about Jesus and eternity.

I’m sure there are more…in fact you can share some below. Yes, there are negative things about a Pandemic. But for the Christian, things like this just remind us that this world is not our home! Maybe…just maybe, this whole thing will draw more people closer to God. #Godisgood

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State of the Union

State of the Union

Not too long ago, the President delivered the State of the Union Address. This yearly speech highlights the successes and reiterates the direction he wishes to take the country. At the beginning of the speech, presidents typically say, “The state of the Union is strong.” Whoever the president is, this speech touts great platitudes about the condition of the United States of America.

Union State

What is the state of the Church today?

I wonder what would happen if Jesus gave a “State of the Church” speech to us today? We really do not have to wonder. He gave such a speech in Revelation 2-3 when he evaluated the seven churches of Asia. Some churches were doing good but had some problems. Ephesus had stood against false doctrine but left their first love. Smyrna was spiritually strong but about to be tested. Pergamum did not deny the name of Jesus under persecution but allowed the false doctrine of Balaam to enter. Thyatira’s latter works exceeded their first, but they permitted Jezebel to commit immorality among them. Sardis had a living reputation but was actually dead; there were a few who had not spoiled their garments. Philadelphia had an open door, was faithful, and would be spared from the hour of trial. Finally, Laodicea was lukewarm, thought they were rich, but were actually poor, blind, miserable, and naked. My guess is that even our congregation would fit in among these descriptions somewhere. What would Jesus say about the state of our congregation? Do we have immorality among us? Do we tolerate false teachers? Are we lukewarm? Do we have a good reputation, but are actually dead? My guess is that Jesus would find something of which we need to repent, and that’s good because he said, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

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Russian Roulette

Russian Roulette

There is no responsible way to play Russian Roulette.

This is a thesis which one hopes is both non-controversial and almost universally agreed upon.

For those not familiar with the concept, Russian Roulette is a gambling activity in which a single bullet is put into the cylinder of a revolver and then spun. Thereafter the cylinder is snapped shut, the gun is pointed at one’s own head, and the trigger is pulled. If you don’t die, you win money. If you do die, the game is over for you. It is an activity traditionally participated in by individuals who are suicidal, drunk, stupid, or some combination of the three.

Russian Roulette

Are you playing a deadly game with your life?

There is no responsible way for a group of friends to gather and play a quick game of Russian Roulette. Even if no one gets hurt the first time, it is only a matter of time until someone does. The very act of engaging in the game is a text-book example of being irresponsible.

Likewise, there is no loving way to play this game with other people. Love hopes for the best for everyone. It does not put others at risk for the thrill of seeing whether or not they are stupid enough to kill themselves.

Finally, there is no smart way to play Russian Roulette. If you have a group of friends dumb enough to suggest such a thing, you really need to find a better quality of friend with which to spend time.

Now, if we are all on the same page with those points, let’s make some pertinent applications. It is not likely that most people reading this are going to be dumb enough to participate in something so obviously stupid as Russian Roulette, but sometimes we are willing to do things equally as dangerous.

Consider drinking and alcohol abuse. About one in ten people who drink alcohol are going to become full-fledged alcoholics. The number of drug-addicts to drug users is, one would expect, much higher. The use of these substances is going to result in some number of deaths. In 2015, nearly a third of all traffic-fatalities were the result of drunk driving. The use of such substances is likewise going to result in a number of other undesirable circumstances including rape, broken homes, child-abuse, ruined friendships and bodily injury. Broken lives, caused drug-use, plague our communities. The problem is recognized as being an epidemic. The solution, some suggest, is to engage in these behaviors more responsibly.

But if you know that when ten people all decide to go drinking for the first time, statistically, one of them will become an alcoholic and alcohol is going to wreck his life, wouldn’t the responsible thing to do be not to do it? Well say the nine, it didn’t affect us. That’s a bit like the survivor of a game of Russian Roulette bragging that the other fellow just didn’t know how to handle his revolver. Where is the love? Where is the responsibility to help one’s brother?

Consider likewise, extra-marital sex. About one third of the population, says the CDC, has a sexually transmitted disease. That’s pretty poor odds. At some point during their life, it is estimated that about half the population will contract such a disease. Nearly 20 percent of homosexual men in the United States, in 2010 were said by the CDC to have HIV. Add to this very clear problem, the problems of pregnancies out of wedlock, fatherless children, destroyed marriages, broken hearts, jealousies, and guilt,… and you have an activity that, while enjoyable in the moment, has a good chance of getting someone hurt.

Sin is like that. Even before we talk about the spiritual problems sin creates in ourselves, we must face the fact that sin always carries a high risk of causing direct harm to those engaged in it.

There is no responsible way to sin. The very act of engaging in sinful behaviors is gambling with your life, your health, your relationships and ultimately your soul.

There is no loving way to sin. When you sin, you are taking a chance on hurting others. The thrill you get from the behavior is at the risk of those you claim to care about. You are not only putting your soul in danger, but theirs as well.

There is no smart way to sin. The smart thing to do is to take the Bible’s advice: “As for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.” (1 Timothy 6:11; ESV) And if you have friends that are suggesting and urging you to participate, you really need to find a better quality of friend with which to spend time. (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:33)

 

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