The Enemy Within

The Deadliest Enemy – Destruction From Within

If history is any indicator – and it surely is, for as someone once said, “If we do not learn from history we are bound to repeat it”- then the most deadly and destructive forces and threats to any established institution, no matter how powerful or dominant they may have been at some previous point in time – often come from within the group itself and not from outside forces!

Is your heart your friend or enemy?

Is your heart your friend or enemy?

For example, throughout the ages several well-organized world superpowers (similar perhaps to the iron-fisted Roman Empire of the first few centuries) were incrementally eaten away at from inner decay, corruption, in-fighting and divisive power struggles. These inner contentions, which at the very most weakened, divided, and did to them what no other, outer force could ever hope to accomplish, and/or at the very least, softened them up, caused the cracks, and laid the destructive groundwork for the fissures which then allowed for said less-powerful outer forces to infiltrate, overcome, and annihilate them.

Many of those today who are predicting and seeking to prepare for the demise and fall of the American Empire as the current world superpower readily acknowledge and insist upon the fact, that due to her far superior military firepower over all the nations around her, her fall will not be the result of outside nations defeating her, but will instead result from her increasingly ungodly nature and the subsequent corruption, division, and ruin from within.

This truth is evident in epic biblical proportions as well. Go back and re-read through Deuteronomy and several of the O.T. history books chronicling the rise and fall of the Israelites as the people of God. It wasn’t all the nations around them that God drove out before them that got them; it was their own decided rebellion and disobedience to God’s commandments that got them. In other words, their demise and downfall wasn’t due to simply being overpowered and overcome by the onslaught of superior outside forces – even though God finally used outside forces to physically discipline, dominate, enslave and destroy them as His people. But that would have never been allowed by God if they had but simply repented and obeyed Him instead of foolishly and fatally following the prideful dictates of their own selfish and stubborn hearts, minds, and wills!

The Apostle Paul made it abundantly clear to the elders of the first-century congregation of the church of Christ in Ephesus (Acts 20:17-32; See Ro. 16:16) that one of the greatest dangers they would face – in their case, from the outside at first, but then, once again – would arise from within (vss. 30-31).

Fast forward even so far as to the N.T. church of our Lord and Savior today. Let’s face it – news flash folks: In today’s America the greatest enemy of the Lord’s church is neither the government nor all the denominations around us despite what some might like to think. Let’s be honest; as much as some of us might like to point the finger of blame towards them, neither one of those anti-biblical groups or entities is going to waltz in here this coming Lord’s Day and either divide or destroy the Lord’s church. They don’t have to. Our clearest and most present danger is not from without, but from within; as each and every day, each and every member of the Lord’s church has at their constant and continual disposal, beck, and call, the ultimate weapon of mass destruction and division, which is able to divide, destroy, and annihilate entire congregations, reputations, and the relationships that have taken many decades to build and develop… and to destroy them in but one, single, satanic, seconds-long swipe. This is why James says: “See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell… [The tongue] is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (James 3:5b-10).

Jesus made it very clear that what comes out of a person’s mouth is nothing more than the overflow from what is found in their heart (Matt. 15:18-19). James went on to say the same thing in James 3:13-18, when he indicated that those who constantly criticize, cut down, cause confusion and seek to divide, conquer, and/or condemn their brethren out of either envy, jealousy, or prideful self-promotion, are actually acting in a very worldly and/or other-worldly way. Let none of us as God’s dear children ever be found guilty of such ungodly evil.

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Death by Tomorrow?

Death by Tomorrow?

On Monday, December 26th, 2016, pop singer Britney Spears was reported dead. But, in unmistakable Mark Twain verbiage, may we respectfully say that reports of her death had been ‘greatly exaggerated,’ as Sony soon reported that their Twitter account on which the tweet was first posted had been compromised.

Death may come tomorrow. Are you ready to see the Lord?

Death may come tomorrow. Are you ready to see the Lord?

However, for many others, certain, sudden, and very real death came to claim their earthly lives in 2016. From singer-songwriters such as Glenn Frey of the Eagles, Oklahoma’s own Merle Haggard, as well as Prince and George Michael; to such sports celebrities and superstars as Arnold Palmer, Muhammad Ali, Jose Fernandez, Craig Sager, and Joe Garagiola; to Hollywood T.V. and movie stars including Alan Thicke, Florence Henderson, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Kenny Baker, and Carrie Fisher; plus political personalities and people such as our former first lady Nancy Reagan, Supreme Court Judge Antonin Scalia, and former astronaut, fighter pilot, and U.S. Senator John Glenn, none escaped or outran death’s inevitable grasp.

And neither did some of those in, related to, or known by, those in the Lord’s church. From Warren and Marie Hazelton – two of the most faithful, knowledgeable, compassionate and sacrificially selfless saints I have ever had the privilege of knowing and loving in Christ; to our young 18 yr old Arkansas brother Caleb Bonde who died in a car crash on Christmas eve; to surely many other beloved brethren as well as many other friends and family members who could be mentioned from probably almost every congregation of the Lord’s church world-wide, many fell to the inevitable, insatiable, and inescapable grip of death’s icy hand and departed this earthly life in 2016. From the rich and the famous, to the poor and the afflicted; from the poorest of paupers, to the most popular of personalities; whether the young or the old; from the Master’s elect to the masses’ elected; from entertainer to entrepreneur; and from the least to the greatest; physical bodily death is the great and inevitable, all-consuming equalizer.

Why bring all this up now as we enter a new year? The answer should be painfully and blatantly obvious. As we officially end 2016 to enter and embark out into the new year, every single one of us should enter into every single day we are given by God, with the mindset that it might very well be our absolute last day on this earth in which to lovingly and faithfully serve, submit, and sacrifice ourselves to and for, both Him, His Son, and Their kingdom – because it just might be! Listen: God’s mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:22-23)! But do you really know and truly understand exactly what that means? It means that every new day we are given by the grace of God, is another chance to either get right with Him, stay right with Him, and/or, to serve even better, and to get ever closer to and with, Almighty God Himself through our Lord Jesus Christ (Lk. 6:46)!

Someone has rightly observed, “Yesterday is gone; tomorrow may never be; today is a gift – that’s why we call it “the present.’” And the Bible concurs! “For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psm 90:9-12).” As James says, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (Jms. 4:14).” And in addition, the apostle Paul further instructs the Lord’s church to: See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:15-17).

You see, there are numerous “dead men walking” that many of us come in contact with on a regular basis whom the Lord wants us to seize the day to go seek, speak to, and seek to save with the grace-laden gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Lk. 9:57-62, 19:10; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2;1-4, 5:6; 2 Ptr. 3:9). Even worse, there are still yet numerous other “dead men walking” even in the Lord’s church at times (Rev. 3:1-6)! And they too, must be turned back to life before it’s too late!Because the bottom line is this… There are no guarantees to any of us – not a one of us; no matter our age, gender, general health, worldly wealth, spiritual standing or social status – that we will make it through 2017 on this planet any more than there were any guarantees to any of those previously mentioned that they would make it through 2016 – there just isn’t. Never was; never will be. But one thing is guaranteed: Eventually all will pass away from this planet and answer directly to God. And when that time comes for you, will you be ready? What if it’s tomorrow? What if it’s today? Will you have made the absolute best use of your time in His service from this point forward that you possibly could with each new day in 2017 He gives you to be faithful, obedient, compassionate, and evangelistic – if He in His goodness even chooses to thus bless you with more days to devote to His service? Will He be truly happy with your daily efforts on His behalf, or wrathfully and regrettably heart-broken at your destructive excuses and flimsy attempts at self-justification?

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matt 7:21-27).

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Peace and Holiness

Peace and Holiness

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

Hebrews 12:14

Jesus said that the peacemakers will be blessed (Matt. 5:9).

Jesus said that the peacemakers will be blessed (Matt. 5:9).

Jesus said that the peacemakers will be blessed (Matt. 5:9).  The Holy Spirit commanded us to be at peace with all if possible, so far as it depends on us (Rom. 12:18).  Jesus implied that being peaceable was an indicator that you are the salt of the earth (Mark 9:50).  The kingdom of God consists of peace along with righteousness and joy (Rom. 14:17).  Christians are commanded to live in peace by aiming for restoration, comforting one another, and agreeing with one another (2 Cor. 13:11).  Division and contentiousness are condemned (1 Cor. 1:10ff; Tit. 3:9-11).

In like manner, holiness (being different, set apart from the world) is essential for salvation.  That sanctification comes only from the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17), which is holy itself and which will be rejected by those who are not peaceful (Matt. 7:6).  Dedicating our entire lives to God is what makes us holy and acceptable to him (Rom. 12:1).  He chose the church before the events of Genesis for one purpose: to be holy (Eph. 1:4), and that was also why he died on the cross (Col. 1:22).

To be at peace.  To be holy, different from the world.  That’s a big part of what true Christianity is all about.

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Spiritual Nutrition

Spiritual Nutrition

If you’ve watched the news any time lately, you’ve probably been aware of the new “epidemic” in our country. This epidemic isn’t caused by a virus; it isn’t caused by a bacteria; it isn’t caused by any “disease” at all. The new epidemic in our country, say the experts, is obesity. We are being told that we have a fat problem and that our society needs to do something about it! Much of our problem, say the experts, stems from poor nutrition: an imbalance in our diet, too much sugar and fat and not enough fiber and healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Another problem, they say, is that we eat too much and as a result of overeating we multiply pound upon pound.

What is your source of nutrition? Are you healthy?

What is your source of nutrition? Are you healthy?

In contrast to our burgeoning physical waistlines, we are spiritually wasting away. Spiritually, we need to have a balanced diet as well; we need less spiritual sugar and fat; we need more spiritually healthy choices. It isn’t easy to give up a diet of sugar and fat, after all, they taste so good! Similarly, it isn’t easy to divorce ourselves from spiritual sugar and fat (i.e. the “feel good” approach to spirituality). So, how can we improve our spiritual diet?

First, we need a daily serving of prayer. We begin to grow weak spiritually when we think that we are self-sufficient and have no need to depend upon God. A daily serving of prayer is packed with the daily essential vitamins of humility, selflessness, and thankfulness. We need these to fight off the potential bulge of pride, selfishness, and arrogance. Paul wrote, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Second, we need a heaping portion of God’s word. Every day we make decisions in our relationships that affect our family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances. We need nourishment of God’s word to guide us in such decisions. We also face temptation of one sort or another and we need the fortification of God’s word to help us to overcome. Jesus quoted scripture to Satan when he was tempted and we know that God’s word will help us overcome temptation (Psalm 119:11).

Third, we need a regular dose of service to others. There are many around us who need help. It’s not enough for us to sit back and relax and wait for them to come to us. We need to be active in going out and seeing how we can help others. Galatians 5:13 says, “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Exercising service in our life will keep us spiritually fit.

Finally, we need to pour ourselves several cups of a good attitude. Attitude makes all the difference in our daily walk with God. Regardless what we may believe, we have complete control over our attitude regardless how things are going in life and we must conform our attitude toward God’s will. What must we do? Show love toward our fellow man, exercise patience, practice longsuffering and generously give forgiveness to those around us. Jesus said, “In your patience possess ye your souls” (Luke 21:19). We need constantly drink from the water of life to help our attitudes!

So many in today’s spiritual world want to satiate themselves with spiritual soda pop and candy. And while there certainly isn’t anything wrong wtih having soda pop or candy on certain occasions, a regular diet of it will cause sickness and mal-health. Such is also true spiritually; spiritual fast food may taste good at first, but cannot ultimately satisfy. Exercising spiritually healthy choices, however, will maintain a healthy spiritual life and fortify us with the basic essential spiritual nutrients. This will go a long way toward our spiritual health and well being.

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SOLUCIONANDO PROBLEMAS ENTRE HERMANOS DE LA IGLESIA

SOLUCIONANDO PROBLEMAS ENTRE HERMANOS DE LA IGLESIA
Problemas siempre van a existir, y seguramente seguirán existiendo mientras la Iglesia de Cristo esté compuesta de seres humanos. Aunque hay que analizar bien el contexto comprendiendo incluso que no existía la iglesia, Génesis 4,  la historia de Caín y Abel sigue siendo el primer problema registrado en la Biblia que terminó en tragedia. La Biblia establece que los miembros de la Iglesia somos sin duda alguna la familia de Dios (Efe 2:19). Pero ¿Hay algún estándar para poder solucionar conflictos? ¿ Existe instrucción de parte de Dios del paso a paso? ¿ De verdad todos los problemas que tenemos en la Iglesia pueden solucionados o existen algunos que no?. Las preguntas pueden continuar y son sin duda alguna muy buenas preguntas. Acompáñenos mientras buscamos el consejo de Dios sobre como solucionar problemas entre hermanos.
  1. Permita que primero sea privado. Sabe, suele suceder y mucho. En ocaciones las congregaciones están compuestas de familias numerosas, y por la confianza que existente se pierde la noción de lo que dijo Jesús en Mateo 18:15 tú y él solos. En ocaciones se comete el error de manejar situaciones espirituales como asuntos familiares y ¡oh cuan tremendo y difícil es esto!. Aun dentro de esta misma confianza que existe en la familia se suele destapar el problema de un miembro en una atmósfera familiar y no es así o más bien no debería ser así. Si el miembro es cristiano el paso de la privacidad que establece Jesús, no debe ser irrespetado. Pero también a manera general para solucionar conflictos que no sean doctrinales con los hermanos primero se debe de trabajar a solas. Y quien debe de ir a buscar un acercamiento de acuerdo a la fraseología de Cristo es la parte ofendida y el ofensor debe de tener suficiente capacidad de recepción al dialogo. Hablar con alguien más, fuera de su esposa sobre el asunto cae en el pecado de la murmuración.
  2. No permita que lo humillen. Esta parte es muy importante, cualquier diálogo puede ser atendido, pero bajo los parámetros del respeto. Si una de las dos parte rompe esa linea, entonces la conversación deberá ser pospuesta para otro día. Sabe algunos miembros por alguna extraña razón han pensado que el predicador por ejemplo tiene que aguantarse todo lo que le digan los hermanos, que tiene que permanecer callado mientras cualquiera lo humilla aun en público.  Pablo en 1Corintios 12:24-25 estableció que el honor de un miembro es el honor de todos. El respeto y la comprensión para el miembro regular deber ser exactamente igual para el predicador de la congregación. Si alguien ha pecado quien quiera que sea debe ser conversado en la atmósfera de “ a solas” pero no para humillar sino que por las palabras de amor y de preocupación espiritual por su alma la persona que haya pecado se sienta ella misma humillada por su pecado (Como el caso de David con Natán) pero no humillada por alguien más.  Ningún cristiano, es más ningún ser humano que se aprecia y que sabe que su alma es valiosa para Cristo debería permitir que alguien lo humille. Cada miembro del cuerpo de Cristo necesita sin duda respetar cada alma infundada por el Padre de los espíritus (Heb. 12:9). Recuerdo en una ocasión una hermana me dijo frente a todo un público de hermanos, mirándome firmemente a los ojos y con una vos firme: “Hermano Heiner venga acá, usted tiene un problema serio que resolver con migo”. Mi padre fue un hombre “enchapado a la antigua” le agradesco por todos sus correcciones severas porque me ayudaron de gran manera. Nunca jamás en todos mis años de infancia y de pavor a la voz de corrección de mi padre me había sentido tan amenazado, intimidado y a la vez avergonzado en público como ese día. Con todo algunos insisten a que no hay un movimiento feminista al rededor, pero eso es material para otro tema, sin embargo ese día le respondí atemorizado a esta hermana pero con firme voz: “ Hermana aquí no es ni el lugar ni el momento” y salí de esa asamblea de hermanos, mientras esta hermana ya famosa por este tipo de acciones corrió a su esposo a llorar y mencionar lo abusada que se sentía. Mientras no haya respeto de ambas partes, un dialogo definitivamente no puede ser sostenido. Recuerdo otra ocasión donde este hermano que es predicador estaba defendiendo a su hijo, por algunas fotos indecentes y de mal gusto que estaban expuestas en Facebook, pero el comenzó a defender( a travez de un dialogo privado) esto, alegando que es parte de la juventud y usando palabras muy fuertes y casi tirando a humillantes. Por alguna razón algunos predicadores han pensado que son infalibles juntamente con su familia y que por ser predicador tienen el chance de humillar a un jovencito medio “negrito”, de padres no cristianos y que vive en la selva por poner un ejemplo nada más. Casi con lagrimas escribo estas lineas, Dios nos ayude siempre a todos a respetar a los niños, jóvenes, adultos, ancianos no por su posición o “status cuo“, sino más bien por el alma que poseen. Considere que quien escribe también es un predicador del evangelio, Dios no nos ha dado y no poseemos autoridad en lo absoluto para avergonzar a nadie, ni humillar a nadie. La y toda autoridad recae en la palabra de Dios, la Biblia. 
  3. Permita que sea la Biblia la que intervenga.  Al ser la Biblia esa autoridad absoluta, entonces tiene el derecho de intervenir por ponerlo de alguna manera y mucho más que cualquier persona por más influyente que sea en la Iglesia. El Salmista expresó en Salmos 119:105 lámpara es a mis pies tu palabra y lumbrera a mi camino. Que en el camino de resolución de conflictos la Biblia sea esa luz que va al frente mostrándonos donde pisar. Cuando sucede esto tenga por seguro cualquier problema se solucionará. Y cuando hablamos de Biblia no estamos hablando de una manera genérica, no. Nos referimos a literalmente mostrarle al hermano o  hermana el versículo Bíblico que deje en evidencia su pecado. Sabe estimado lector demasiados problemas han sucedido, acusaciones basadas en NADA, que si pudiéramos preguntar: ¿ En base a que versículo usted me está exhortando? ¿ Cual pasaje he ofendido?, Le garantizo que la persona seguramente se va a enojar con usted y va a criticar a  usted  y va a decir …esto y lo otro pero sin ningún pasaje. Si realmente vamos a exhortar a alguien asegure que sea la Biblia la que intervenga ya que las escrituras y están para eso ( 2Tim 3:16-17, 2Tim 4:2). Ojalá más miembros pudiéramos usar la Biblia como base para exhortar y no nuestros propios juicios y estándares personales que salen sobrando y que al final termina siendo eso, más pecaminoso que cualquier otra cosa, poner estándares donde Dios no los ha puesto, hacer mandamientos donde Dios no ha dado orden. 
  4. Permita ser honesto con sigo mismo. La honestidad, es un claro sinónimo de la integridad y amor al Señor. Aunque la acusación que venga sea falsa, permita examinarse usted mismo y responder en base a su conocimiento Bíblico y su moral; ¿Realmente estoy haciendo bien, realmente estoy equivocado?. Hay personas y hermanos que están causando problemas profundos en la Iglesia por su falta de honestidad. Ellos ya tienen una mente establecida sobre alguna cuestión de opinión y ni siquiera escuchan cual es el otro lado de la moneda. Estamos en acuerdo que los oídos deben ser cerrados cuando alguien quiere atacar la doctrina del Señor, es más hay que huir de todo eso (1Tim 6:20, 1 Tim 4:7 etc). Pero siempre hay que ser honestos para poder crecer. El error más grande es pensar que alguien más tiene que intervenir, uno mismo debería ser su propio maestro, uno mismo debería ser su propio doctor al lado del manual perfecto, pedir perdón si hay que hacerlo, regenerar daño causado si es necesario. Cuando uno es honesto con sigo mismo también es honesto con el Señor y los problemas pueden sin duda alguna resolverse más fácilmente .
También existen aquellos problemas que no pueden ser resueltos. Para estos mejor dejarlos así porque cada vez que usted intenta resolverlos crea más problemas y más grandes. Hay otros que ni siquiera son problema a tratar, es como cuando usted tira el baso de vidrio para probar si es de plástico y se despedaza. Ojalá ustedes y yo no seamos culpables de despedazar vasos de vidrio. Algunos ven el carácter como problema y hasta como pecado. Lo interesante del asunto es que algunos no saben ni de lo que están hablando. Carácter es una palabra general hay diferentes tipos de caracteres; suaves, fuertes, amorosos, compasivos, intolerantes, tolerantes, demasiado tolerantes etc… Dios nos hizo a todos de una manera única y especial, tratar de cambiar el carácter de alguien es un error porque usted está yendo en contra de la obra de Dios. Le sorprenderá si le digo que en sí todos los caracteres están mal… amoroso por ejemplo usted no puede ser amoroso solamente, o tolerante solamente ni tampoco intolerante todo el tiempo y de carácter fuerte todo el tiempo. Creo que más bien lo que debemos de hacer es a controlar el carácter que ya Dios nos ha dado, moldearlo y pulirlo cada día a medida que profundizamos en la palabra de Dios, creo que esta era la idea de Pablo al escribir 2 Corintios 4:16, y no me refiero a los domingos nada más y ayudar a otros a hacer lo mismo y no decirle: “ Necesitas cambiar tu carácter”. Créame, escribe alguien que vivía preocupado por lo que oros hacían, he aprendido muy bien esta lección y desde entonces he encontrado la paz, me incluyo Cuando aprendamos a hacer eso con nosotros mismos y dejemos de intentar cambiar a la gente y los caracteres de ellos, los problemas realmente serán pocos entre la Iglesia del Señor.
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