A Gospel Life in Hourglass Time

A Gospel Life in Hourglass Time

Making tents consumes time.  The apostle Paul, amidst the sharing of the most important message mankind has ever heard or ever will hear, made tents (Ac. 18:3).  As time has gone by, it appears to me the number of tent making preachers is increasing.  Of course, the reference here is to the practice of additional work and responsibility beyond that of sharing the gospel.  Most preachers want to fill their lives with nothing but the gospel; yet, a plethora of life’s obstacles often get in the way.

What a dream to hold on to each grain in the sands of time.

What a dream to hold on to each grain in the sands of time.

This desire is not exclusive to preachers.  Christians as a whole envision a life where they are one, large, harmonious, ever increasing family of believers who are bringing the lost to Christ in droves.  The reality is different. After an 8 to 13 hour day of work, running errands, hauling kids around, home repairs, grocery shopping, laundry, meal preparation, etc., the first thing on the mind is a moment of relaxation or hours of sleep.  It seems impossible to focus long enough to keep the family from struggling let alone find the time to fit in God, Christian brothers and sisters, and the rest of the world.  Who even has a moment read a brotherhood article?  Desperation, resignation, and guilt seem to be riding hand in hand as the days grow shorter.  You want change, but how?

Jesus once spoke to his disciples about the response of normal folks to the spreading of the Word of the Kingdom.  He compared it to an individual spreading seed.  The seed fell in many places and one of those places was among the thorns.  Here is what Jesus said in regard to that:  “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the Word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Mt. 13:22)  This is how many of us often feel.  We hear the Word, believe it, and want to act on it.  Yet, all the activities of the world seem to choke us out.  Perhaps as Felix we are always looking for that right opportunity or convenient time (Ac. 24:25), but it never seems to come.  It is as if we are the puppy that runs round and round and never catches his tail.

Knowing your unique situation is impossible for me.  My sympathies go out to you.  The words above describe my life in many ways.  Though I may not have the perfect solution to your life dilemmas, perhaps the suggestions I am about to share will enable you and ultimately those around you to draw closer to spiritual peace.  The dilemma really breaks itself down to two components:  when and how.

When?  Finding time is critical.  You could work faster to buy more time but as a practical matter that isn’t going to last. The truth is you will just spend the same amount of time working, only at an increased speed, and end up even more tired in the end.  The ultimate solution is prioritization, organization, and realization.

When a person looks at their day and sees they do not have time for everything, prioritization is a must.  Something has to go.  Most evenings last summer, I spent the day thinking that when my wife arrived home from work we would go kayaking.  We ended up going kayaking only two or three times.  Predominantly, we simply had to cut it out of the schedule.  It was not high on the priority list.

Here are some common things you might have on your list that could perhaps be cut out or shortened:  internet time (including smart phone, tablet, and texting), television time, and phone time.  What did we do before the days of electronics?  How did people function?  We carry our electronic devices everywhere we go.  Put them down and step away.  If you ever had time to research the biggest time wasters in the life of man, you would find much of it has to do with electronics.

Understand also that not everything is really that important.  Martha missed the important things while Mary did not (Lk. 10:38-42).  Can you find more time if you choose to put aside listening to talk radio, not read that secular magazine or book, dust or vacuum a little less often, or make a simple meal instead of “something special”?  Ask yourself:  Is spending time on this item really all that critical at the moment?

Concerning organization, remember that the more organized a person is, the more time they have.  Do you spend all day Saturday working on laundry?  Consider doing a load a day instead.  Are you running back and forth to town to run errands?  Plan out your day to where you can combine tasks and make one trip instead of three.  Are you checking Facebook all day long?  Cat videos, selfies, and one-line quotes may be funny, but they are time stealers.  Get organized!  Confine your Snapchat, Instagram, e-mail, and sports updates to once in the morning and once at night.

Do you spend a lot of time in the car each day?  Are you using this time for something other than daydreaming?  You can!  Organize this time to do something helpful or productive!  When you make meals, do you cook enough to cover future meals…or do you have to start from scratch every time?  Save time with organization!  Do your tasks require concentration?  One of the biggest mistakes I make is trying to study when everyone is running around the house.  Organize that schedule!  Choosing the right hours for the right tasks is critical.  Organizing your day will buy you time.

In the topic of finding time, what on earth is “realization”?  In this case, realization is short for realizing you cannot do everything by yourself.  Ask for help.  Solomon established that we do better with help (Ec. 4:9-12).  Family, friends, and even hired help can buy us a little more time each day.  I am naturally an introvert.  I like to do things by myself without others around.  However, this isn’t beneficial to my spirituality or my proper use of time.

Don’t let pride get in the way either.  It’s okay to admit we cannot do it all.  Again, ask for help!  You may just find that accomplishing a task side by side with someone will have the side effect of developing closeness too!  More on that in a moment.

Prioritization, organization, realization.  Simple solutions for finding time.  The more time you have at your disposal, the more you can focus on drawing close to God and others.  Now I want to provide some direction as to how we draw close to others with the time that we have.

How?  My father or mother once told me, “If you want to have a friend, you must be a friend.”  From this simple piece of advice, I suggest three points for drawing closer to others:  seek others out, communicate with them, and serve their needs.  These points apply not just to earthly relationships, but to spiritual ones also.

If your objective is to draw closer to others, whether they be brothers or sisters in Christ or those who do not yet know Christ, then you most often must take the time to seek them out first.  Jesus Himself came seeking (Lk. 19:10).  If there is anything I have learned in this world, it is that we all have issues.  Insecurities, selfishness, and feeling like we have no time are problems with which most people struggle.  Consequently, folks just don’t dive right into getting to know you.  Frequently, you have to take the first step, and then another, and then another toward reaching out to someone.  Relationships aren’t “I did this, now it’s your turn.”  If either you or your spouse didn’t make the first move, it is likely you wouldn’t be married.  A Christian gentleman once expressed to me that the building where we assembled to worship had a sign on it letting people know where we were, so it was up to them to show up.  Sadly, there are a lot of near-empty buildings where people aren’t seeking and are just waiting for someone to show up.  Get out there!  Go Ye!  If they are busy working, help them out!  Spending the time will create bonds whether in work, play, conversation, or study.

“Draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse YOUR hands, YE sinners; and purify YOUR hearts, YE double-minded” (Ja. 4:8).  Yes, the ball is in your court when wanting to get closer to God.  We cannot see God, but He has promised we will find Him if we seek Him (Mt. 7:7).  Man has what we need before us to get to know God (2 Ti. 2:15; 3:16-17; 2 Pe. 1:1-3).  It takes effort and even change on our part to truly draw close to Him.  Perhaps the time we save by prioritization, organization, and realization can be filled with coming to know Him.  Perhaps that commute can be spent listening to His Word.  Perhaps the little things can be put aside to sit at His feet.  He is not so far we cannot find if we seek (Ac. 17:26-28).

Communication is difficult.  My daughter is like me in a lot of ways.  She is introverted, which means she would rather you did the talking so she can listen. Over the years, I have learned how to start, maintain, and yes, at times dominate a conversation.  Yet, my daughter is at that point in her life when communication is very hard.  What do you say beyond “Hello”?  This will be expanded upon in a moment when discussing serving others, but for now consider what you have to communicate.

You have information that will change another person’s life eternally.  You have something important to say.  Second, you have family, you have been places, you have seen things, you have experiences, you have commonalities with others which you can share.  Once you let others know you are just a normal friendly person, you are likely to get communication in return.  It’s that conversation which enables a closer relationship.

Communication is also important if you want to draw closer to God.  Prayer is something we must not overlook in our life (1 Th. 5:17).  God wants to hear our cries for help, our concerns, and our thanksgiving.  Could that quiet time right in the morning when we get up, or perhaps before we go to bed, be shared with Him?  He has shared His mind in scripture.  He has expressed His love toward us.  Can we communicate that in return?

All good relationships require both sides be willing to serve the other.  It took my wife and me years to realize that happiness in marriage wasn’t about having our own needs met, but being able to meet the needs of our partner.  Jesus Himself provided the biggest example of love and closeness by sacrifice.  It is the Golden Rule!  Love others as thyself! (Mt. 22:39)  Service and kindness to others is what Jesus communicated to His disciples when He washed their feet (Jn. 13).

When we communicate with others, the conversation isn’t just about us.  The conversation involves us serving the needs of the other person by enabling them to share aspects of their lives.  It means us listening so we can hear about their hopes, concerns, and encouragements.  Quite frequently, there is nothing someone likes to do more than talk about themselves!  Yet, that too can be therapeutic.  Such interactions draw us closer.  The simplest of conversations can build into much deeper matters.

How do we show love for our Savior?  We serve!  We keep His commandments (Jn. 14:15).  His ways are higher and deeper than our ways, so we serve to draw closer so that we can be more like Him.  The more we know Him and act like Him, the stronger that bond becomes.  The apostle Paul described his own actions as a servant of others:  “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more” (1 Co. 9:19).  As mentioned previously, when we spend time with others we build bonds.  Everyone on earth needs help in some way.  Service can be provided to young or old, in big and little ways.  As you serve others, you will find opportunities to better serve God by glorifying Him through good works.

Our life and time are not our own.  They are gifts given by God.  We can show ourselves to be good stewards of what God has given us, or we can simply ignore what has been given (Mt. 25:14-30).  God desires we use our time wisely (Ep. 5:15-17).  This means we must prioritize, organize, and realize.  When we do this, we will find time to further devote to getting closer to God, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and those of this world.

Yes, this requires effort on our part.  We must seek the closeness of others.  We must communicate with others.  We must engage ourselves in the service of others.  These suggestions for redeeming the time and making the most of it are simply stated.  Putting them into action requires concentrated effort.  We don’t need to worry, for we can do this when our service is focused upon Christ (Ph. 4:13).  I pray we all may achieve the closeness we are seeking.

[I first published this article in the Carolina Messenger under the title “Growing Closer to God and Each Other”] – Travis

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Commandment Keeping

Commandment Keeping

There are those in the religious world today who ridicule the idea of keeping commandments. They claim that keeping God’s commandments have nothing to do with our salvation today. If someone objects and says that we must keep God’s commandments to be saved, the charge of legalism is leveled against him. Is it true that keeping God’s commandments has nothing to do with salvation? Are we legalists because we demand that those who follow Christ keep his commandments? Let’s examine these questions in light of the New Testament scriptures.

Love Him? Love His Word? Love His Commandments?  Show it.

Love Him? Love His Word? Love His Commandments? Show it.

Often, Jesus Himself is cited as one who criticized the Pharisees for being commandment keepers. However, such was not the case. We should note well that Jesus never condemned anyone for keeping God’s commandments. Jesus, however, did condemn the Pharisees for placing their own commandments above God’s! This is an entirely different situation. Matthew 15:1-9 is one such instance. Jesus confronted the Pharisees in regard to transgressing God’s command to keep their own tradition (15:3). He said that they had made God’s commandment of none effect by their tradition (15:6). Then He says that they in fact have taught for doctrine their own commandments, the commandments of men (15:9). Keeping such commandments should not be placed into the same category as keeping God’s commandments. To equate the desire to keep God’s commandments with the desire to keep man’s commandments in place of God’s commandments is to pervert the words of Jesus and entirely miss the point. Jesus expected others to keep God’s commandments. It is because these Pharisees had set aside God’s commandments, that Jesus’ anger was kindled against them.

In contrast to ridiculing commandment keeping, Jesus Himself preached it! In Matthew 19:17, Jesus told one asking about obtaining eternal life to keep God’s commandments if he would enter into life. The man asked what he lacked and Jesus added another commandment, namely, to go sell all that he had to the poor and follow Jesus (19:21). In John 14:15 Jesus said to the apostles, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Loving Jesus is dependent upon keeping His commandments. To say that we love Jesus, yet fail to keep his commandments is hypocrisy at best and outright lying at worst. Jesus reiterates in John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” Note two things about this scripture. First, Jesus equates keeping commandments with abiding in His love. When you note John 14:15 (that you can’t love without keeping the commandments) along with John 15:10 (that you can’t keep the commandments without abiding in love), one gains a very firm conclusion: we can love Jesus if and only if we keep his commandments. But second, what is even more remarkable about John 15:10 is that Jesus himself is a commandment keeper. He abides in the love of the Father through keeping the Father’s commandments. Here is a one-two knockout for those who claim that commandment keeping has nothing to do with salvation.

The apostle John explains further in his first epistle just exactly what the relationship between commandment keeping and salvation is. In 1 John 2:3, 4 we read, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” The simple conclusion is that one cannot come to know God without keeping the commandments. If you don’t know God, you can’t be saved (2 Thess.1:8). The apostle John comments further in 1 John 5:2, 3 “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” We cannot even love God without keeping God’s commandments. In fact, John defines love for God in exactly these terms. He says, “This is the love of God.” Let we forget, love for God is the first and greatest commandment. Loving our neighbor is like this commandment, but ultimately comes second (Matthew 22:37-39). My relationship with God always takes precedence over my relationship with other people. This means that I must be concerned about keeping God’s commandments.

The bottom line is ultimately this. Those who ridicule commandment keeping, ridicule Jesus himself, for He was a commandment keeper (John 15:10). Those who ridicule commandment keepers, ridicule the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit was only promised to those who kept Jesus commandments (John 14:15-17). And those who ridicule commandment keepers, ridicule God the Father because we can neither know Him or love Him without doing such (1 John 2:3; 5:2). Such has nothing to do with being a legalist; and has everything to do with our being saved. So let’s keep those commandments and show God that we truly do love Him!

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National Geographic Fantasies

National Geographic Fantasies

National Geographic. Just the mention of those two words together are synonymous with, representative of, and bring to mind, some of the most beautiful, colorful,  dazzling, high definition and mind-boggling photography of almighty God’s creation that His world has ever seen. Tragically, they often also bring to mind something far more sinister, serious, and insidious as well – at least for those who know even the least little bit about the bible – the abiding and eternal word of almighty God (Psalm 119:89).

The blasphemies of man are not limited to National Geographic.

The blasphemies of man are not limited to National Geographic.

For example, how many times have you been watching some beautifully panoramic and ingeniously photographed nature show – whether on their network or some other – and heard those inevitable and ever-present, biblically-blasphemous and God-denying, “billions,” “millions,” or even “tens of thousands of years ago” statements made and spoken of as if indeed fact? Statements which are based solely, on nothing more than man’s highly-treasured but desperately worthless and deluded human theories, instead of on the all-powerful and eternal word of our almighty God and Creator who was actually there in the beginning and personally engineered the entire creation they are so fond of photographing? A world which was created by Him – but only about 6,500 years ago according to His divinely-dictated, eternally-changeless, heaven-originated record?

And while all such madly misinformed, “millions of years ago” mindsets might continually deny the authoritative record of almighty God, almighty God certainly didn’t deny their existence. In fact, He foretold it: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man–and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen (Romans 1:18-25). God’s point herein is that anyone truly and objectively looking at the natural world all around them in all of its glory, majesty, and splendor, cannot honestly come to any other conclusion than that God exists and created it all just as He said.

The bible then continues: For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting… (Romans 1:26-28).

As that passage so clearly and unequivocally indicates, when anyone decides to willfully and continually deny almighty God, His eternal existence, and exactly what His inerrant and all-sufficient truth says about all things in the natural as well as in the spiritual world in favor of their own erroneously-contrived and arrived at conclusions, God sadly gives way; gives them what they want; and allows the deviant and immoral mindsets and lifestyles they apparently so prefer, to slowly poison, seductively pervert, and eventually overwhelm and destroy them (See also: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17).

It is by the very process described in Romans 1:18-32, that God’s eternal wisdom – and by extension, His very existence – is proven time and again. And this is especially telling and intriguing when those who deny His existence by their rebellion against His truth with their “millions of years ago” man-made theories, mythologies, and other philosophies (See: Colossians 2:4-14), do by nature, the very things He said those who would thus deny Him would then also do, nearly 1900 years before they were even born. Don’t think so? Think again! A recent “special issue” of the monthly National Geographic magazine entitled “Gender Revolution,” featured a nine year old transgendered boy on the cover, presumably promoting the sexual deviancy that the American Psychiatric Association defines as a mental health issue. Can’t Nat Geo’s writers read? How can they possibly miss, misunderstand, and/or misrepresent something as incredibly simple as Matthew 19:4: “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning made them male and female?” That’s about as simple as “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1), or, the many other statements found in scripture, absolutely proving the existence and providence of God, such as are found in places like Psalm 19, Isaiah 45, and throughout. The only way one can truly miss or misunderstand something as simple as that, is to make up one’s mind beforehand, for whatever personal reason, to want to do so.

And that brings us then to this… The most recent offering from an organization which apparently can’t come anywhere close to admitting the actual and accurate age of the earth according to the word of God, and that can’t figure out something as simple and basic as God having created humans as either only male or female according to His word, is now preparing to give us another installment of “The Story of God,” beginning Thursday evening, January 19th. From what I’ve seen in the ads and trailers for this little TV mini-series, Morgan Freeman apparently travels the world over in an attempt to answer such questions as, “Does God exist?” “Where did we come from?” “What happens when we die?” “Who are the chosen ones?” and several others of the same ilk.

But the sad irony of this series is that one doesn’t have to travel to far-off mountains and secluded civilizations to find the answers to such questions. In fact, those are exactly the wrong places to look because mere mortals don’t know the answers to those questions in and of of themselves – only God does! And He has lovingly and graciously placed them all right in front of us, in stark, easy to read, black and white simplicity in His all-encompassing and enlightening word, the bible – which is, by the way, THE Story of God (2 Timothy 3:14-4:4).

For example, the bible definitively answers the question, “Does God exist?” The answer is found on virtually every page of this one of a kind, divinely-inspired and dictated document; from Genesis 1:1, to Isaiah chapters 40-45 in particular, to the accounts of Jesus Christ the Son of the living God and all that He did as recorded in the four gospels, up through the book of Acts and on into Romans 1, and throughout the entire rest of the New Testament writings. Yes Morgan and mankind, God does exist.

As to the question “Where did we come from?” once again, God has already told us very clearly in Genesis 1 through 3; and then in His great love and patience has repeated the answer in multiple other places such as Genesis 5:1, Psalm 139:13-16, Isaiah 45:11-12, 1 Timothy 2:8-15 and others. As to the question, “What happens when we die?” God has already answered that as well, in places like Ecclesiastes 12:1-7, Luke 16:19-31, Romans 2:2-11, 1 Corinthians 15:1-58, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:10, and others also.

And even – and perhaps even especially – when it comes to exactly who the “chosen ones” really are, God has once, and once and for all (Jude 1:1-25), defined and determined, exactly who they are and shall be as well. As His hand-picked apostle John – who actually walked with Jesus – reported in Revelation 17:14, it is only and exclusively those who are with Jesus, the “Lord of lords and King of kings,” who comprise the “called, chosen, and faithful.”

As another one of the Son of God’s handpicked apostles, Peter – who also walked with Him – additionally reiterated in his first epistle, it is only those who repent and obey God’s black and white biblical truth, hence being redeemed by the precious blood of Christ and then following His eternal word of truth from that point forward (1 Peter 1:1-2:8), who constitute His “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people… who once were not a people, but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10). The “chosen ones” are therefore very easily and clearly defined – by God. They are those whom, as Peter first instructed on the Day of Pentecost and whom then responded in faithful obedience as reported in Acts 2: believed the gospel message of Christ enough to repent and be buried with Him in baptism specifically for the forgiveness of their sins; and who were then subsequently added, by God, to His Son’s ‘saved by grace through their faith’ group, or church; and whom then completely devoted themselves and their new lives to following the apostle’s doctrine, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Period. (See: Acts 2:22-47; Romans 6:1-23, 16:16-18; Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 1 and etc…).

Sadly however, I seriously doubt that those penitent, obedient, and blood-washed saints who comprise the Lord’s one, New Testament, pre-denominational church of Christ as seen in Scripture, are the ones who will ultimately be reported by Mr. Freeman to be the “chosen ones” despite what God in His word said. This, because he’s looking for answers in all the wrong places; this, because instead of accepting the eternally inerrant and divinely-inspired written record – and of these two apostles in particular who were actually eyewitnesses who walked with Jesus (1 John 1:1-4) – he will be consulting with mere men some two millennia removed from the time the Son of God walked the earth, was killed, buried, and raised again (or resurrected) on the third day thereafter, just as the scriptures said He would (Luke 24:44-49; 1 Corinthians 15:1-10).

And one has to wonder how many people might possibly be led astray by the potentially unbiblical, and at times perhaps even anti-biblical information intrinsic in such presentations (2 Peter 1:16-2:2). For example, in an interview found at http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2016/03/160329-morgan-freeman-interview-story-of-god, Mr. Freeman indicated his apparent belief in the God-defying and biblically denying doctrine of reincarnation, stating: “One really interesting thing I didn’t know was that reincarnation is binding. You’re bound to the Earth; you’re bound to a corporal existence. You have to keep coming back and coming back until you get it right. But once you get it right, that’s it, you’re done. But, we were in Varanasi in India, the holiest city on the Ganges, and we learned that you could get a shortcut. Just go to Varanasi and die, and be cremated at that river, and that’s it, you’re done, it’s over. You don’t have to come back anymore. So you know where I’m going!

In Hebrews 9:27-28 however, God forever and very simply settles the question of reincarnation once and for all wherein He says: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” And as Romans 3:4 goes on to reinforce when it comes to this text which refutes reincarnation – or any other vain and man-made doctrine for that matter (Mk. 7:1-13) – “Indeed, let God be true and every man a liar.

Mr. Freeman then goes on to further explain in the aforementioned interview, how He and the film crew were kicked out of the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, because, being in one of the tombs near where the crucifixion took place, he, quote, “used the term ‘myth,’ and we were asked to leave post-haste. Out.

So… we are supposed to somehow believe and accept, that we are getting a true, actual, and accurate picture and portrayal of the story of God, from a production in which the lead investigator apparently believes in biblically contradictory false doctrines, but at the same time, at a tomb in Jerusalem near where the crucifixion of the Christ occurred, he and his film crew were actually kicked out for referring to something said or done there, as ‘myth?’ Think I’ll pass.

Bottom Line? If you really want to know the true story of God, then don’t waste your time watching such misleading things (2 John 9-11; Ephesians 5:15-17; 2 Peter 3:14-18); spend your valuable God-given time instead, studying God’s divinely-dictated, eternally-accurate and eye witnessed word – which is the absolute truth (John 8:31-32, 17:17) and the one, God-given standard by which we shall all be judged on the last day, according to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (John 12:48-50)!

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EL VERDADERO TRABAJO DE LA IGLESIA ES PREDICAR EL EVANGELIO

EL VERDADERO TRABAJO DE LA IGLESIA ES PREDICAR EL EVANGELIO
Introducción 
El nombre de estas conferencias es: Estad Firmes. Estas dos palabras puede ser encontradas como tal únicamente 2 veces en el N.T( 1Cor. 16:13; 2Tes. 2:15), sin embargo la palabra firme hace su aparición unas 18 veces a lo largo de los 27 libros del N.T. La etimología de “Estad firmes” (stèkò) en griego, es un presente imperativo activo, es decir da la idea de: continúen ustedes estando firmes. No ha habido un momento desde el establecimiento de la Iglesia en el día de pentecostés en que la Iglesia de Cristo pueda sentarse de brazos cruzados. En ésta lección consideraremos cual es el verdadero trabajo de la Iglesia en el aspecto de predicar el evangelio y como mantenernos firmes (estacionados, plantados, arraigados y cimentados, como lo define Strong.). Existen cientos de pasajes donde Dios pone la responsabilidad  de la predicación del evangelio en la Iglesia. Sin embargo por efectos de tiempo en esta ocasión el pasaje de nuestro enfoque será la 2 Timoteo 4:1-8.

LA PREDICACION DEL EVANGELIO ES UN NEGOCIO SERIO

LA PREDICACION DEL EVANGELIO ES UN NEGOCIO SERIO

LA PREDICACION DEL EVANGELIO ES UN NEGOCIO SERIO
La Iglesia debe mantenerse ocupada trabajando en presentar este evangelio. El problema número uno de muchas congregaciones es “la vagancia”. Cuando como hermanos, nos enfocamos a hablar por debajo de la mesa o incluso a hacer tormentas en asuntos sin sentido es un síntoma que alguien está muy desocupado y que le sobra tiempo para hacer esto. Si pudiéramos enumerar cual es el mandamiento más olvidado en la Iglesia de Cristo, sin duda alguna el evangelismo personal estaría de primero. Y quizás las excusas vayan en varias direcciones tales como:
  • Me da miedo.
  • No puedo hacerlo.
  • Nadie me ha motivado. 
  • Nunca en realidad se ha enseñado como hacerlo.
Cualquiera que sea el caso, el punto es que hablamos de negocios muy serios. El pasaje de Ezequiel 3:18-19, la Biblia enseña con claridad que la responsabilidad recae en nosotros, no que la persona sea salva en sí misma sino el hecho de mostrarle el error de su camino y enseñarle el camino correcto. La cuestión en 2 Timoteo 4:1 de encarecer, del griego “diamarturomai” apareciendo unas 15 veces en el N.T siempre, expresa la idea de encargar, amonestar, requerir con diligencia, y con particularidad en este caso el encargo no era algo “ligth”. Pablo amonesta a Timoteo a predicar el evangelio. Como si el tono no  era suficiente el apóstol expresa que este encargo lo hacia delante del Señor Jesucristo como el juez con la capacidad de juzgar a vivos y muertos. Recuerdo en una ocasión donde tenía que hacer una presentación en el colegio acerca de un trabajo comunal y de las instalaciones del colegio, junto a dos compañeros más. Preparamos la presentación e incluimos aspectos positivos y negativos. Cuando estábamos al frente exponiendo el proyecto mis compañeros hablaron de la parte positiva a mi me tocó la parte negativa y cuando estaba comenzando a disertar, el director del colegio iba pasando por el pasillo junto a directora de circuito y al escuchar se detuvieron y entraron al salón para escuchar la exposición de la parte negativa de SU colegio. Si yo pudiera mostrarles una foto de mi expresión aquel momento lo haría, del silencio eterno que gobernó aquel salón y de un joven que estaba casi morado y en colapso al escuchar la frase de aquel director: “Vamos a ver que va a decir nuestro buen alumno”. Amigos hermanos, siempre estamos delante del Juez del universo, cada vez que hablamos y exponemos el evangelio es un negocio serio, no es “a como caiga” o “escuché que era así”. Si usted no sabe como hacerlo MEJOR NO LO HAGA, nadie puede hablar lo que no sabe, prepárese bien y luego enfrenta esa situación con valentía y seguridad. La Iglesia necesita entender que la predicación del evangelio es un negocio serio que requiere de preparación y de arte, porque las consecuencias son sencillamente graves y eternas.
LA PREDICACION DE LA PALABRA, SE LIMITA A ESO
En la segunda carta  a Timoteo, que es precisamente nuestra carta en consideración, en el 4:2 Pablo procede a encargarle rigurosamente que predicará la palabra  a tiempo y fuera de tiempo. Es decir; cuando fuera popular y bien recibida y cuando fuera más bien rechazada y criticada. Predicar la palabra se limita eso. Quien da ésta instrucción era un ejemplo vivo, él había predicado abiertamente y por las casas (Hechos 20:20) y también nunca había rehuido de anunciar todo el consejo de Dios (Hechos 20:27). Es decir había predicado de todo y en todo lugar  pero se había limitado a eso y solo eso. Realmente que el trabajo de la Iglesia es presentar todo el consejo de Dios, pero no existe autorización de parte de El para hacer otras cosas o hacerlo de otra manera. “El fin, no justifica los medios”, esta frase es de autor anónimo, sin embargo es una de las mejores que existe. Literalmente significa: Por obtener ciertos resultados esperados, no implica que  yo vaya a hacer lo que me dé la gana para lograrlo. Dios ha sido bastante claro y yo diría demasiado claro en como quiere que nosotros logremos la predicación. Pablo dijo en Romanos 1:16 que el evangelio era el poder de Dios para Salvación… parece ser que muchos ahora desconfían de Dios y no sienten que el evangelio siga teniendo ese poder que tuvo en el siglo primero y por eso hoy en el 2016 se necesitan otras cosas que puedan “atraer a la gente”. Así que se inventan todo tipo de cosas para atraer personas y luego(dicen ellos),se les predica el evangelio. Bien déjeme decirle que el evangelio NO necesita ayuda de nada para convertir el alma del hombre de regreso a su Dios. Más bien, si no hay conversiones es porque alguien no está leyendo y estudiando la Biblia lo suficiente y alguien no está predicando lo que debería para que hayan resultados. A continuación algunas de las cosas que se practican que NO glorifican a Dios, que no provienen de El sino más bien del hombre y para entretenimiento del mismo.
  1. Dramas : No estamos hablando de Clases para niños donde deberá de usarse material ilustrativo para una mejor comprensión a ellos. Más bien nos referimos a la intención de los adultos en cambiar el acto de la predicación pura, por payasos, disfraces y demás. El pasaje de 1Cor. 2:5, es clave en este asunto, porque Pablo estuvo centrado en la predicación pura del evangelio, teniendo a la mano muchas cosas culturales que bien pudo haber utilizado para evangelizarlos a ellos. El dice en el vs 5: “Para que vuestra fe no esté fundada en la sabiduría de los hombres, sino en el poder de Dios.” Amigos, Dios NUNCA escogió payasos para que su palabra fuera transmitida ni obras de teatro, sino predicadores, evangelistas, maestros (Efe. 4). El hermano John J. DeBerry Jr. en la conferencia de “Power Lectureship” en Mississippi de este año 2016 dijo: “El diablo pone comas donde Dios ha puesto un punto”. El hermano tiene toda la razón en su observación, ojalá  podamos respetar los puntos de Dios y aprendamos a interpretar su silencio también.
  2. Presentación de bebés: Otra práctica muy popular y no tan muy mal vista entre muchos. Consiste en tomar el niño al frente y presentarlo a la congregación haciendo también una oración por él. Alguien podría decir: ¿Y que hay de malo en ello?, Es simple, los sobrinos de Moisés utilizaron el mismo argumento en Levítico 10:1-2 y terminaron muertos. El no saber interpretar el silencio de Dios siempre también resultará en muerte para nosotros. Dios puso un punto déjelo así. Dios autorizó únicamente 5 actos de adoración en el N.T, entonces este sería acto numero 6 y la “ofrenda de niños” sería numero 7 etc… y la lista sigue ¿Donde?, por favor que alguien nos responda eso si con el versículo Bíblico, ¿donde leemos que la Iglesia del siglo primero hacia dramas, presentaba niños, tenían ofrenda para niños, ayunos congregaciones, lavado de pies? Quisiera con todo el deseo del mundo leer esos versículos, pero sí esos versículos no existen entonces es porque Dios no lo dijo.  Y si Dios no lo dijo significa que no está autorizado. Si no está autorizado, ya usted le añadió y sí le añadió…analice con cuidado Apocalipsis 22:18-19 y sea honesto con sigo mismo. Las buenas intenciones no justifican de que manera se vaya a llevar a cabo. Aquí las cosas se hacen así : Lo que Dios dijo que hagamos, por razones que El dio y de la manera que dijo había que hacerlas. No es a como yo pienso, o siento.
  3. Campaña médica de animales: Poniendo por aparte, quién lo haya hecho, como se financió si fue con fondos propios o con fondos de congregaciones que ayudaron o incluso quién estaba a cargo, aquí es irrelevante comparado con el argumento presentado no por uno, sino por muchos para justificar el asunto: “Es una manera de predicar el evangelio, el resultado de atender perros y gatos produjo estudios Bíblicos” o, otro como:“Dios ama a los animales también”. Es cierto que Dios ama a los animales y que nosotros deberíamos de hacerlo también, vamos a ser muy claros con lo siguiente: No existe ningún problema o pecado con cuidar de los animales o atenderlos, individualmente o un grupo de la iglesia, eso está bien el problema está en utilizar eso como una carnada para predicar. El texto más claro en esto es 1Cor 1:21 donde la Biblia enseña que Dios escogió la predicación para salvar al mundo, a El le plació. El no escogió ningún otro medio para hacerlo sino la predicación simple de la palabra tal como Pablo exhorta a Timoteo: “que prediques la palabra a tiempo y fuera de tiempo…” (2Tim 4:2) a Jonás Dios le dijo: “Levántate y ve a Nínive, aquella gran ciudad y proclama en ella el mensaje que yo te diré” (Jonás 3:2) otra vez a Timoteo: “Procura con diligencia presentarte a Dios como obrero que no tiene de que avergonzarse, que usa bien la palabra de verdad”.( 2Tim. 2:15).
Observe que en todos estos versículos y muchos más que existen, la manera de exposición está  limitada primero a la predicación y segundo al mensaje que viene de Dios(para nosotros hoy; la Biblia solamente). Sí a Dios le plació escoger la predicación para salvar al mundo, pregunta: ¿Quien soy yo o usted para suplantar eso por una campaña medica de animales, o por la regalía de medicinas, ropa, zapatos, dinero, juguetes etc..? ¿Quiere usted ganar almas? !Vaya, predique el evangelio! sin ninguna carnada que los atraiga, hábleles del pecado y de lo que éste hace en la vida del hombre,(Rom. 6:23), del plan redentor de nuestro Creador, (Hech.18:8)del que Dios había pensado de ante mano contemplando a su Iglesia (Ef. 1:3-4), persuádalos de que ése plan puede ser obedecido en el bautismo asemejando la muerte, sepultura y resurrección de Cristo (Ro. 6:1-6), para un día resucitar a vida incorruptible (1Cor 15:51-58). Eso es lo que se debe de hacer, porque es lo que Dios mandó.  El hermano Dr. Dave Miller en su libro Pilotiando en el estrecho dice: “Dramas (y todo lo relacionado a ello) no contribuyen a ningún elemento positivo para el efectos de comunicación, acepto a la dimensión de el mero entretenimiento humano”. Pablo termina el versículo con cinco palabras vitales 3 de ellas se relacionan con la audiencia y dos con el predicador, las tres primeras; redarguye, reprende, exhorta, y luego dice con toda paciencia y doctrina. Son 5 palabras que todos deberíamos de poner en nuestra mente y corazón siempre. 
LA PREDICACION DEL EVANGELIO NO ES ALGO POPULAR
Nunca lo ha sido y nunca lo será. Seguramente los expositores de esta conferencia son parte de esa lista. Tampoco es que buscamos ser odiados por el pueblo sino más bien de “predicar la verdad en amor”. Algunos que conocieron al hermano Maxie B. Boren recordarán su manera particular de ser. El hermano era una Biblia andante predicó por más de 65 años y sirvió fielmente como uno de los ancianos de Brown Trail Church of Christ hasta el término de su vida. Nunca vaciló en denunciar aquello que era incorrecto pero si usted se acercaba a él, siempre sonreía, lo miraba a los ojos y decía algo como: “Te amo mucho”. En mi caso el fue anciano en el tiempo que atendí a Brown Trail y el hermano decía: “Tito” (por querer decir, tico), tu sabes cuando te amo, sigue adelante mi hermanito y nunca olvides al predicar siempre hacerlo en amor, y antes de predicador somos siervos”. No era porque yo no lo hacia así pero era porque el hermano a todos nos decía lo mismo.
Vamos a ser odiados de una y otra manera cuando predicamos la verdad y eso está bien pero por favor asegurase que está predicando la verdad en amor ( Efe 4:15 KJV) . Que nunca las diferencias personales o los personalísimos se interpongan en la predicación ni mucho menos el juego de poderes o simplemente porque “fulano” me cae mal. Que siempre de nuestros púlpitos salgan “Así dice Dios” con la intención de salvar almas y de edificar a la iglesia.El hermano Hugo McCord escribió acertadamente lo siguiente:
Se dice que el instinto de conservación constituye la primera ley de la naturaleza. Cuando la octava bienaventuranza de Mateo 5 se apodera de un hombre, este hombre estará dispuesto a ir contra la naturaleza. El cristianismo es lo contrario al instinto de la conservación. Cuando la adherencia a Jesús está completamente desarrollada, el cristiano dice: «… ahora también será magnificado Cristo en mi cuerpo, o por vida o por muerte» (Fil 1.20). ¡No piensa en el látigo […] como un maltrato, sino, como un favor especial! Al cristiano le «… es concedido a causa de Cristo, no sólo que [crea] en él, sino también que [padezca] por él» (Fil 1.29).
Por otra parte permite “darle vuelta” a la moneda por un momento. Porque aún cuando predicamos la verdad en amor seremos odiados por algunos y ese es un problema aunque, no nuestro. El rey de Israel en una conversación con Josaf, se expresó de Micaías de la siguiente manera, el dijo: “Todavía queda un hombre por medio de quien podemos consultar al SEÑOR, pero lo aborrezco, porque no profetiza lo bueno en cuanto a mí, sino lo malo. Es Micaías, hijo de Imla. Pero Josafat dijo: No hable el rey así.” (1Reyes 22:8 LBLA). Aquellos que están en tinieblas siempre les estorbará el resplandor de la luz. ¿Ha notado usted algo curioso? hay ciertos hermanos que no tienen problemas con con los demás pero con cada hermano, reitero CADA hermano graduado de una escuela de predicación sería y sana en doctrina tiene encontronazos, ¿que coincidencia no cree?. Cuando nuestra predicación sea una predicación popular, cuando le demos a la iglesia y a la gente lo que ellos quieren escuchar incluso endulzándoles los oídos con palabras humanistas, suaves y delicadas, entonces seremos populares. Pablo explica con certeza en nuestro pasaje que iban a existir de ambos sectores; maestros conforme a sus propias concupiscencias y todos aquellos que se iban a apartar para escuchar las fábulas. Cuantos de nosotros, no nos hemos sentido como Jeremías, todos los profetas decían paz, paz y él era el único que decía no hay paz (Jer.6:14). ¿Cuantas veces Jeremías predicaba al pueblo el arrepentimiento y el regresar a las sendas antiguas? y el pueblo decía: No andaremos. Cuantas ocaciones parecemos a Jeremías, cuando los falsos profetas decían; “ Ya vamos a regresar a nuestra ciudad preparen maletas” (Heiner parafraseo) y él decía: Siembren viñas, planten casas porque no vamos a salir de aquí ahorita. 
Aunque ese sea nuestro caso, debemos de estar firmes como lo estuvo Jeremías, porque ese es nuestro verdadero trabajo. No es hacer tantas actividades de recreación para nuestros jóvenes por ahí al año mientras los números de jóvenes cristianos envueltos en fornicación, ateísmo, homosexualismo, drogas y ecumenismo aumentan. Nuestro verdadero trabajo tampoco es planear y planear actividades de damas y maestras ciento de veces al año, mientras nuestras jovencitas no saben como vestirse decentemente, no entienden lo que es tener responsabilidad para con sus maridos y sus hijos y conducirse en una vida de matrimonio, y continuamos viendo a las jóvenes de nuestras congregaciones casarse con incrédulos cada vez más terminando lejos de la Iglesia de Cristo sin fe, o con una fe equivocada. No se trata de que nuestras hermanas adultas no trabajen se trata de que nos enfoquemos en el verdadero trabajo que la Biblia nos encarga o ¿acaso no habla de esto la Biblia? >>> Lea Tito 2:1-5. Al final los que quedan como malos de la película son los que predican la palabra, pero no importa hay que seguir firmes, y si usted no ha comenzado ha predicar como Pedro lo hacía, al decirle a aquel grupo de Judíos que ellos habían matado al mesías ( Hechos 2:36;3:14-19) le animamos a que comience hoy mismo, porque el tiempo apremia. El verdadero trabajo de la Iglesia es predicar el evangelio aunque no sea popular, porque nunca lo ha sido, solamente considere esta lista y decida que es lo que quiere hacer. Los apóstoles del Señor no recibieron honor al morir, aunque no existe seguridad sobre la manera de muerte de cada uno de ellos Fox nos ayuda recopilando datos, observe:
• Pedro —fue crucificado bocabajo
• Andrés —fue martirizado en una cruz en
Edesa
• Felipe —fue azotado, encarcelado y luego
crucificado en Hierápolis
• Bartolomé —fue azotado y luego crucificado • Tomás —fue muerto con una lanza
• Mateo —fue asesinado con espada en Etiopía • Jacobo hijo de Alfeo —fue martirizado en Egipto.
• Tadeo —fue crucificado
• Simón el Zelote —fue crucificado
  • Matías —fue apedreado y luego decapitado • Pablo —fue decapitado en Roma
Necesitamos predicadores de este tipo y de igual forma cristianos, iglesias de Cristo que estén dispuestos a morir como lo hicieron los hermanos en el siglo primero, aunque eran espectáculos de los romanos, había una audiencia en el cielo que se gozaba de una manera distinta con la muerte de cada cristiano (Salmo 116:15). Creo que lo que trato de decir con todo este punto es pedirle a la Iglesia que deje de tener miedo a la verdad, aunque sea impopular; ya que es la única manera de libertar almas de la esclavitud del pecado (Juan 8:32).
GOL NUMERO UNO ES CUMPLIR NUESTRO MINISTERIO
Las dificultades siempre van a existir para una Iglesia del Señor que desee trabajar fielmente para el Señor y realmente desea predicar el evangelio puro. Las críticas de los que están afuera viendo el crecimiento de la congregación quizás porque muchos de ellos no pueden lograr los mismos resultados. También la presión llega cuando hermanos infiltrados, con ideas diferentes a las de crecer y predicar el evangelio están dentro de la congregación tratando de golpear en particular al predicador o a os hermanos que trabajan. Todas estas situaciones son muy tristes y críticas. Cuando Pablo escribe este versículo 5, está ubicado en el contexto de una lucha o batalla (v7) que se libra con falsos maestros y falsos hermanos (3,4). Al ser casi una de sus últimos escritos, comprende que pronto ya no iba a estar cerca de Timoteo su hijo amado en el Señor para animarlo(V6). Pronto Timoteo iba a perder a su mentor espiritual y aquellos enemigos de la verdad cobrarían mucho más fuerza, pero note que Pablo le da 4 recomendaciones a él para que continuara satisfactoriamente con su ministerio y por efectos de tiempo y espacio no podemos abarcar cada una en detalle. Sin embargo la última esta poderosamente ligada a nuestro tema, porque aunque éstas indicaciones de animo son dadas a un predicador joven ésta última aplica también directamente a la Iglesia. Parte del ministerio de Timoteo era equipar a la Iglesia con ancianos y demás aspectos que ya han sido abordados excelentemente por hermanos en esta conferencia, pero el cumplir el ministerio era un trabajo en conjunto de Timoteo como predicador y de la Iglesia, que ella  fuera abierta para trabajar con su predicador local. Observe con atención, cuando la iglesia local aprende a trabajar con su predicador y viceversa entonces la iglesia va a comenzar a trabajar bien. Hermanos predicadores, no se trata de pescar los mejores peces para los hermanos, o de alejar a los tiburones, ni siquiera se trata de darles las redes y caña que pesquen por sí mismos, sino más bien de enseñarles a tejer las redes para luego mostrarles cómo se pesca. En otras palabras equipar a los santos para la obra del ministerio (Efe 4:12) La predicación del Evangelio no es una obligación del predicador porque El es a quien le pagan para que lo haga, sino que es un ministerio de toda la Iglesia en general que hay que cumplir. Hermanos  cumplir el ministerio es algo que tiene que ver con cada uno de nosotros en lo particular e individual aunque no seamos predicadores. Cada cristiano en particular tiene el mandamiento de parte del Señor de evangelizar, de servir en un rol dentro de la congregación. La pregunta es¿ Que está haciendo usted por la Iglesia del Señor? sí usted no cumple su ministerio un día se presentará delante del gran juez y dará cuentas por eso al igual que yo. 
UNA PAGA INIMAGINABLE AGUARDA SI USTED DECIDE TRABAJAR PARA DIOS PREDICANDO EL EVANGELIO 

Al llegar al final de nuestra sección en este capitulo 4 también llegamos al final de nuestra conferencia. El uso de la lógica nos dicta que al realizar un trabajo, necesariamente recibimos una paga. Cuando la Iglesia realmente se enfoca en realizar su trabajo, Dios que es justo también ofrece una paga pero no en proporción a nuestra labor (Lucas 17:10). La verdad del asunto es que deberíamos trabajar para Dios no por la paga sino porque estamos en su ejercito, porque le amamos, porque le conocemos y su manera de ser nos impulsa a defender su causa aún cuando El no tenga necesidad de que nosotros lo hagamos. Pablo nuestro hermano amado había pasado de ser un perseguidor a un predicador, ahora estaba casi al término de su vida seguro de que había trabajado arduamente predicando el evangelio. Los números en su cuenta bancaria de los cielos eran muchos y eran evidentes, por esa razón podía morir tranquilo sabiendo que ese día en que los guardias romanos le sacarán afuera para decapitarle, el paraíso abriría sus puertas y acogería con honores a un hombre que no estimó su vida por la causa correcta. Permítame preguntarle por un momento: ¿Cuando va a morir usted?  yo sé que todos coincidimos en la respuesta obvia pero eche un vistazo a futuro por favor y dígale a su conciencia que sea honesta con usted. En el momento de su muerte, ¿usted o más bien su espíritu sería recogido por los ángeles para llevarle a descansar como lo enseña Lucas 16, o más bien despertará usted en tormentos eternos?. De acuerdo a las sagradas escrituras sí usted no obedeció el evangelio Bíblico no podrá entrar en la gloria eterna, permitamos ayudarle. Si realmente desea esa misma corona que Pablo iba a recibir usted tiene que hacer exactamente lo mismo que Pablo hizo… Obedecer el evangelio.

1. Oír. Romanos 10:17, La fe viene por el oír pero el oír de la palabra de Dios. Ese es el primer paso, Oír. 

2. Creer. Marcos 16:16, El que creyere y fuere bautizado será salvo. Creer en que Cristo es el hijo del Dios vivo y que solamente El puede salvarle (Hechos 4:12). 

3. Arrepentirse. Hechos 3:19, Arrepentíos y convertíos , para que vengan de la presencia del Señor tiempos, de refrigerio. Debe de efectuarse un cambio en la persona debe estar decidida a hacer un cambio rotundo en su vida, morir a sí mismo y comenzar a vivir para Dios, (Ga l2:20) 

4. Confesar. Romanos 10:9, Si confesares con tu boca que Jesús es el Señor, serás salvo. Esta confección NO es decirle los pecados a alguien más , sino más bien una confección o una declaración de valentía al decir como Pedro “Creo que tú eres el hijo del Dios vivo”(Mateo 16:16). 

5. Bautismo. 1 Pedro 3:18-21. El bautismo que corresponde a esto ahora NOS salva… Marcos 16:16 , el que creyere y fuere bautizado será salvo. Amigo la salvación es imposible si no hay bautismo de por medio. Extrañamente hay miles que pasan a ser hijos de Dios, con tan solo hacer una “Oración del pecador”, eso es una ficha barata. 

Oro a Dios para que usted mi amigo NO quede avergonzado frente a Cristo en aquel día. Le animo fervientemente a obtener su ficha al cielo hoy, de la manera que Cristo la especifico. 

“No todo el que me diga Señor, Señor entrará en reino de los cielos, sino el que hace la Voluntad de mi Padre que está en los cielos” Mateo 7:21 

CONCLUSION

El verdadero trabajo de la Iglesia es predicar la palabra y nada más que la Palabra.  Sueño en el día que la Iglesia de Cristo en Costa Rica puede organizarse entre todas las 68+ Congregaciones y decir vamos a pagar juntos un espacio de televisión unos 10 minutos, un programa de radio que vaya al FM. Sueño con que pueda haber una universidad “Cristiana” fundada por miembros de la Iglesia de Cristo. Sueño con el día en que este país sepa al menos que estamos acá que nos conozcan. Vivimos en un mundo que agoniza cada día (Ez. 37:1-5) el único bálsamo  es nuestra predicación. La palabra trae vida (Juan 5:28). No existe una gota de esperanza en ninguna denominación, nosotros la Iglesia de Cristo somos ese último estandarte de pie al final del camino, por tanto debemos mantenernos firmes en la predicación de esa única verdad que liberta (Juan 8:32) . El hermano Dave Miller cita lo siguiente en referencia a este tema, note:

Uno de los cambios que afectan a la iglesia actualmente es el dejar de predicar la Biblia desde nuestros púlpitos como se hacía antes. Solo le toma una generación de no hacerlo para cosechar el torbellino de ignorancia y la apostasía generalizada. Los predicadores que, en los últimos veinte o treinta años, son responsables de dejar la clara predicación bíblica serán responsables en la eternidad de pavimentar el camino para que los agentes del cambio actual y hagan su trabajo destructivo. Hermanos, nunca llegará el momento en que la circunstancia cultural o histórica justifique dejar la proclamación directa de citar la Palabra de Dios. No nos avergoncemos de la Biblia (Romanos 1:16). Presentémosla fielmente a la humanidad perdida y hagamos todo lo que podamos para animarlos a que noblemente la “escudriñen” (Hechos 17:11; I Tesalonicenses 5:21).

Dios bendiga a cada hermano y hermana que se esfuerzan por trabajar en e reino de una y de otra manera a ustedes les digo, adelante que la recompensa no se compara con nada. El verdadero trabajo de la Iglesia es “trabajar”.

REFERENCIAS

  1. Foxe, John, Fox’s Book of Martyrs (El libro de Fox de Mártires), ed. William Byron Forbush (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1926).
  2. James Strong, Nueva Concordancia Strong Exhaustiva (Nashville, TN: Editorial Caribe, Inc.). 
  3. McCord Hugo , Happiness Guaranteed (Una felicidad garantizada) (Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Dehoff Publications, 1956), 54.
  4. Dave, Piloteando en el Estrecho( Pulaski, TN: Sain Publications, 1996), Pg 243.
  5. Version, Biblia de las Américas, (Fundation Publicaciones 2003).
  6. Version de la Biblia en Inglés, Authorized King James Version ( Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers,1998).
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The Atheist and His Doom

The Malignancy of Atheism

According to the 2000 census there were 779 people living in Liberal, Missouri. While there are still street signs that remind visitors of the history of this small town, few other reminders remain. Founded in the 1800s by atheist George H. Walser, the town of Liberal was an “experiment in infidelity.” Walser’s premise was simple—he wanted to develop a town that excluded any form of religion. In fact, the town vigorously shunned religious people. Instead of church buildings, the community supported the construction of saloons and taverns. In this failed experiment, it soon became apparent what happens when religion is excluded. Crime and immorality became so rampant that eventually residents found themselves welcoming religious individuals. The citizens of Liberal recognized that without a basis for morality, anything goes. Today several denominations have established congregations in Liberal, and it is no longer known as a bastion for atheists. [More information on Liberal, Missouri can be found in three books: The Strange Town of Liberal Missouri; The Story of Liberal Missouri by O.E. Harmon; and George H. Walser and Liberal Missouri by Boyce Houton.]

Atheist dogma is much like socialism.  It ultimately is a failure.

Atheist dogma is much like socialism. It ultimately is a failure.

Unfortunately, the lesson learned from Liberal, Missouri was not passed on to future generations. Like a deadly malignant cancer, the desire to abandon godly principles has silently spread throughout this country, quietly choking off the spirit this country was founded on. Atheists have teamed up with the mainstream media in order to promote their godless agenda and create a new godless society. Textbooks have helped indoctrinate an entire generation of students into this mindset. And thus, the experiment into infidelity continues on even today.

With leaders such as Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens, the atheistic movement has waged war on Christianity. In his book God is Not Great, Christopher Hitchens declared: “Religion spoke its last intelligible or noble or inspiring words a long time ago,” and he concludes “religion poisons everything.” Likewise, Richard Dawkins, in his book The God Delusion, affirmed: “I am attacking God, all gods, anything and everything supernatural, wherever and whenever they have been or will be invented.” In his book Darwin’s Dangerous Idea, Daniel Dennett addressed parents who would teach their children something other than organic evolution: “Those of us who have freedom of speech will feel free to describe your teachings as the spreading of falsehoods, and will attempt to demonstrate this to your children at our earliest opportunity.” The pressure to abandon God has not slowed down—and if outward appearances are any indicator, things are likely to get worse before they get better.

The example of what occurred in Liberal, Missouri is far from the only example on record of what happens when nations abandon God and pursue their own pleasures. Consider the numerous biblical examples of the Israelites turning their back on God or worshipping idols. In Deuteronomy we read: “For they are a nation void of counsel, Nor is there any understanding in them” (32:28). These were individuals who were “blessed,” and yet they turned their back on their Creator. As such, God continued to lay forth His reasoning as to why Israel should not be spared:

For their vine is of the vine of Sodom and of the fields of Gomorrah. Their grapes are grapes of gall. Their clusters are bitter. Their wine is the poison of serpents, and the cruel venom of cobras. ‘Is this not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up among My treasures? Vengeance is Mine, and recompense. Their foot shall slip in due time, for the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them’ (Deuteronomy 32:32-35).

God had warned this special group of people in Deuteronomy 18 to avoid wicked customs. In Leviticus 18 we also find Jehovah warning the Israelites against strange customs. God concludes by saying, “Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominable customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them: I am the Lord your God’” (Leviticus 18:30). Yet, the Israelites continued to forge a pathway to destruction.

A review of God’s Word quickly reveals the specifics of these abominable customs. Listed among these “customs” were practices like idolatry, adultery, killing children, and sexual immorality. In addition, they were warned against using mediums and bad judges. When one turns the mirror of God’s Word back upon the U.S., it becomes obvious that many individuals are following a similar pattern and committing some of these same abominable customs.

When one inspects the fruits of atheism vs. the fruits of Christianity, it becomes crystal clear what our country must embrace. Crime rates soar when we turn our backs on the moral code provided by God. Sexually transmitted diseases reach epidemic proportions when we disregard His Word. The fruits of atheism are poisonous and deadly. Yet, consider how many universities, hospitals, and benevolent centers have been established by religious people. Clearly, the time has come for us to rid our country of the malignancy of atheism and return to a nation who is busy planting the seeds of Christianity.

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