Let’s Go Running

Let’s Go Running

The Bible often mentions athletics. That first-century world had its “Olympics”—not with the ancient duplications of the marathon from Greek culture, but the Romans regularly had sporting events where athletes competed with one another. Paul speaks of one fighting (boxing) not as one just throwing punches into the air, but one who faced the opposition head on (1 Cor. 9:26). The writer of Hebrews described runners who removed the weights from their body which they had used in training but then removed for the actual competition (Heb. 12:1). Let’s look at four times running is found in the Bible.

Where are you running?

Where are you running?

They Ran To Jesus

We know the story of the rich, young ruler who came to Jesus and was told to sell all he had.  He wanted Jesus’ answer so much that he came running to Jesus (Mark 10:17). On another occasion, just before Jesus fed the 5,000, He departed with his disciples in a boat. The people from all the cities actually anticipated where He was going and ran to be there when He arrived (Mark 6:33). Oh, that our world would see Him this way and run toward Him. Oh, that all my brethren would run to Him!

They Ran Away From Jesus

Think about the events on Passover night and all that happened in Gethsemane. The mob approached sleeping disciples and praying Jesus, and Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. Though Peter temporarily defended Him, the situation got so bad that “then all the disciples forsook Him and fled” (Matt. 26:56). How tragic! When He could have called thousands and thousands of angels, He had to face death by Himself. God, help us to never run away from Him!

Jesus Runs To Us

To see Jesus is to see the Father and to see the Father is to see Jesus. They are the same in nature. Jesus beautifully describes the love of fathers (and by application describes the love of the Father) in the story of the prodigal son. Put yourself in the place of that wayward son as he approached his father, and imagine what he felt when he saw the father running toward Him. Now imagine yourself coming to the Savior and the joy to see Him running to us!

We Run With Jesus

They were told, “I will be with you until the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). When they carried the gospel to the lost, they were never without Him—not even once. He promises us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. His presence assures us that heaven will do all it can in helping us in His work. Do not cower in fear. Boldly stand with Him. Let’s run to Him as He runs toward us and with us. Victory is assured!

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Questions About Your Congregation

Questions About Your Congregation

Paul commanded that we “Examine ourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). In Haggai 1:5 and 1:7 it says consider your ways. So let’s have an honest examination today of your home congregation in just 10 areas. In the past 2-3 years:

What condition is your congregation in?

What condition is your congregation in?

1. Have marriages in your congregation gotten stronger?
2. Have children shown more honor and respect to their parents?
3. Have more young people remained faithful and grown a stronger relationship with Jesus?
4. Have members developed a healthy fear of the Lord that is revealed through their actions?
5. Are more members glorifying God by wearing modest clothing?
6. Are families spending more time in His Word?
7. Are your deacons actively serving with joy and seeking more ways to further His kingdom?
8. Are your elders moving away from the “business” of church operations and giving more time toward His word and toward shepherding souls?
9. Are you evangelizing more in your communities?
10. Are you preaching Jesus Christ and His Gospel over and over from your pulpits?

Examine yourself. Consider your ways. What does the fruit of your congregation show?

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Halloween Hollerin’ and the Christian Backbone

Halloween Hollerin’ and the Christian Backbone

First things first. Since becoming a blood-bought child of the holy and living God, I cannot help but hate Halloween. This, because Scripture says “The fear of God is to hate evil” (Prov. 8:13). New Testament Christians are commanded to “not love the world or the things in the world” (1 Jn. 2:15); to “not imitate what is evil, but what is good” (3 Jn. 11); and to avoid even the “appearance of evil” (1 Thess. 5:22 KJV). How is it even remotely possible – and especially to a people who are typically so cognitive of the distinctive origins of those things which they do and do not practice – to participate in any and all such Halloween celebrations and festivities which are so deeply steeped in the dark and satanic, without breaking every one of those God-given commandments?!? (1)

Do You Have a Backbone?

Do You Have a Backbone?

However, having said that, although it is neither specifically indicative of, nor exclusively devoted to the celebration of Halloween, there is a T-shirt often seen out there this time of year that always seems to give me a chuckle whenever I see it. That particular shirt’s message actually serves as the centerpiece illustration for this article. It is the shirt with the two skeletons, one of which is holding the spine of the other in his hand, and with a caption which reads something along the lines of, “I got your back, bro.”

But let’s face it folks, there is absolutely nothing funny about – and in fact it is nothing short of a terrible tragedy – having a body without a backbone. Such a body can never be fully and truly healthy, and in reality, in most cases it cannot even actually long survive. And sadly, the same is just as true in the spiritual world, as it is in the physical one.

In Scripture, the church is often referred to and illustrated by utilizing the analogy of a “body” (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; and etc), with Christ as its head (Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18, 24; and etc.), and with each and every member – just like the joints and ligaments in a human body – doing their best to help the body grow as strong and healthy as is absolutely possible (Ephesians 4:11-16).

In order to best accomplish that level of true biblical and spiritual growth, the local body, church, or congregation of God’s people must have at its core, the type of strong leadership – the evangelists, pastors (or elders), and teachers (vs. 11) – that will serve as it’s straight and narrow, unyielding and unbreakable, spiritual backbone. These must be the mature, learned, devoted, committed kind of Christian men and servants of the living God who will not for even a moment, treasonously or treacherously compromise or seek to pervert the powerful truth of God’s eternal word for any reason, person, price, or problem (Galatians 1:6-3:1, 5:1-12). These are the type of “backbone” leaders who would never sell out the truth for the sake of attendance, nor insist on shelving or silencing the sharing of certain texts for the sake of the church checking or savings account.

And brethren; above all, if the body of Christ where you work and worship is blessed enough to enjoy the life-giving and body-building benefits of such a vital “backbone” of spiritual leadership, then love, serve, guard, respect, obey, and pray for them constantly. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was pleading for His brethren in the Thessalonian congregation to recognize and respond with when He wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13:  “And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.” As Hebrews 13:17 would similarly instruct: “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account.  Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”

Always remember, they have your back… let’s make sure that we have theirs!

Footnote (1): See: http://churchofchristarticles.com/blog/administrator/halloween-festivities

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I Have Never Felt the Holy Spirit

I Have Never Felt the Holy Spirit

I have spent more than 25 years in ministry. During that time, I have been privileged to preach and teach lessons numbering more than I can count.  I have conducted multitudes of Bible studies and been fortunate to be involved in the conversion of many precious souls. Yet, my experience in ministry is completely lacking in one area that I am told is essential to the Christian faith.  I have never felt any experience of any kind with the Holy Spirit.

Ever feel the holy Spirit? If not, you are not alone.

Ever feel the holy Spirit? If not, you are not alone.

From the sermons I have heard preached in recent years that should not be possible. The indwelling of the Spirit is, I am told, universal and unconditional.  Every saint of God receives the Spirit at baptism. Neither that saint’s personality, level of spirituality, nor any other potential variable trait has any bearing on that reception.

Further, that indwelling is so pervasive that it serves as the seal of my faith and the evidence that the Spirit has guaranteed my salvation. Yet, in all my life, I cannot point to a single second of experience in which I could identify the Spirit’s presence.  I have never received the “ready recollection” on any verse I had not studied to deliver during a sermon. I can point to no moment in time when some influence other than the preparations of my journey with the scriptures has produced. If put on the witness stand, I could not identify a single word of testimony to the work of the Holy Spirit ever directly influencing me.

What is wrong with me?

The answer is nothing.  For me, and a countless multitude like me, our experience simply contradicts the necessary elements of most doctrines relating to the Holy Spirit currently being taught. Neither my faith, nor my person is flawed to the point that I should be incapable of discerning the most Important gift God has provided me. If the doctrine I have been taught is true, I should know it to be true.

Therein is the most basic reason that I know people are mistaken about the Spirit. If what they teach is true, then I should be able to know it. If the power of the Spirit is coursing through my veins, I should feel it.  But I don’t.  They tell me I should, but I don’t.  They tell me every Christian has this presence, but I don’t. And I am certain that I am not the problem.

Their doctrine is flawed – not me.  Their teaching demands an experience beyond the word.  They may say the experience is indescribable, but they cannot claim that it is the “seal” of my inheritance while holding that it is also indistinguishable. Before I begin to make a single textual argument, I know the position I am opposing is wrong. It demands an experience beyond the text. It demands that experience comes to every single Christian. And somehow it skipped over me.

Until I feel what they say I must feel; until I experience what they hold my faith must experience and until I am moved the way they argue that all Christians must be moved, their arguments will not convince me.  I simply know that they are wrong.

If you have lacked the same experience that I have lacked, I encourage you not to doubt yourself.  Doubt those who have told you otherwise.  It is their burden to prove the universal, “sealing” experience they preach – not yours to disprove it. Until that experience moves upon our hearts, you and I stand as living evidence that their doctrine is demonstrably false.

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Will You Receive or Reject?

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

John 1:11

In the immediate context, John is referring to the fact that Jesus was born a Jew, and his fellow Jews rejected him.  However, the case could also be made that John is referring to the world in general (John 1:9-10), considering that Jesus created the world (John 1:3).  Even closer to home, the New Testament teaches that Christians are spiritual Jews, God’s chosen people of today (Rom. 2:28-29; Gal. 6:16).  Do we as Christians not receive Jesus?

Will you receive or reject Him?

Will you receive or reject Him?

Consider this.  The world rejected Jesus because they did not know him (John 1:10).  Even his own family of Jews did not believe in him at first (John 7:5), most likely due to the familial familiarity which proverbially breeds contempt (cf. John 4:44).  Some who claimed to follow him in truth rejected him because they desired more the praise of men (John 7:13; 9:22; 12:42-43).  Others rejected him because they were more in love with their man-made traditions (John 9:13-16).  Some rejected him because they were misinformed (John 7:40-43).  When all was said and done, they rejected him because they loved the darkness more than light (John 3:19-20; 5:42-43).

What about us?  Do we truly know Jesus?  Can’t say that we do if we hardly open our Bibles throughout the week.  If we’ve been Christians for a while, does that familiarity with Jesus breed contempt so that we stop trying to know him like we should?  Are we more concerned about what others think of us?  Do we give more credence to creeds and the decisions of man-made councils than we do to the actual Word of God?  Do we take as gospel the error of man-made doctrines instead of obeying the biblical gospel of Christ, and thus live our lives misinformed about his will and our salvation?

Do we love the darkness more than the light?

Does Jesus come to us, his children…and is he turned away?

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