Worship or Play Church?

Worship or Play Church?

I will never forget that cottonwood tree just outside the back door of the house I lived in for my entire childhood. It was where we built our treehouse and where the ropes for young “Tarzans” and swings for young children were anchored. But, the best memory I have of that tree was that several times every week we “played church” in its shade.

Are you just playing Church?

Are you just playing Church?

We were serious about “ playing church ”— I preached hundreds of sermons and lead hundreds of songs under its huge branches. However, just to be entirely truthful, if my mother offered us treats or suggested we go get a special toy at the “five and dime” store—talk about inflation, they are now called the dollar store—church ended!

Sometimes as I worship, I wonder if even now I fully comprehend the seriousness of worship. How far have I come from those days when I “played church”? The words God gave to two of His messengers come to my soul and create a longing for Him to help me to do more than “play church”—they help me to worship. “The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth keep silence before Him…Guard your steps as you go into the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools…for God is in heaven and you are on the earth” (Hab. 2:20; Ecc. 5:1-2).

It sometimes is far easier to “play church” and to just sing rather than to worship and praise Him. I know the words and melody of many songs but at those times when I sing, they come from my body and not my soul. Do you ever do this?

As I listen to godly men proclaim His message, I sometimes lose the attitude expressed by Cornelius, “We are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God” (Acts 10:33). God, at these times, help me. Mold me and make me…thou are the potter I am the clay. Do you ever do this?

We prayed under that cottonwood tree, but sometimes we missed the seriousness of prayer. Paul was in prayer, and when in prison, he asked others to pray for him because he truly believed he would be released from prison because of these very prayers (Phil. 1:19). Do you ever do this?

We used to pretend to give as we “played church.” Sometimes, I lose sight of how my giving is designed to help minister to the needy, to proclaim the gospel to the lost, to enable the church to be edified especially in our building and to “help” God accomplish His work. Do you ever do this?

The same is true of the Lord’s Supper. When I forget the cross, I close the door to spiritual maturity (2 Pet. 1:8-9). Do you ever do this? God help me to be changed by worshiping you. Forgive me when I just “play church.”

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The Powerful Instruction of God

The Powerful Instruction of God

Mankind is lost in sin.  A truth we must not forget (Rom. 3:23).  The history of man reveals a history of sin.  Even those who have given their life to Christ are guilty of sin.  For John said, “If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 Jn. 1:10).  Therefore, men need a savior and we need an instruction manual which is why Paul penned, “for the grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us” (Tit. 2:11-12).

The Bible! An instruction manual like no other!

The Bible! An instruction manual like no other!

The law of the Lord is perfect and converts the soul (Psa. 19:7).  It is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16).  It is sharper than swords and divides the soul and spirit of a man (Heb. 4:12).  And so, since His word lives and abides forever (1 Pet. 1:23), there is no area of man’s activities that God’s word does not direct.

The Word of God does so much for us.  We should be as the psalmist who loves God’s law and meditates on it (Psa. 119:97-104).  But, when was the last time you meditated on God’s Word?  Or, have you ever?  You must know that only the pure word of God is powerful enough for man and God’s use.  And, it cannot be changed (2 Jn. 9).  One who does not live up to this word cannot expect to be pleasing to God.  But, perhaps you do not know what the word of God does for us?

Consider the following: (1) It gives life (Jn. 6:63).  (2) It converts the soul (Acts 11:13-14).  (3) It saves.  James tells us that the engrafted word is able to save the soul (Jam. 1:21).  How is that?  Because faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom. 10:17).  (4) It procreates the new life in Christ (Jam. 1:18).  Paul gives further information on this by saying that we are born through the gospel (1 Cor. 4:15).  (5) The word cleanses us (Jn. 15:3).  (6) We are sanctified through the word (Jn. 17:17).  (7) The word of God enables the Christian to make spiritual growth (1 Pet. 2:2).

Each of us is responsible for how we hear for we are to be doers of the word (Jam. 1:22) and not dull of hearing (Heb. 5:11).  Therefore, we must grow from babes to eating strong meat (Heb. 5:12).  We are expected to grow spiritually strong (1 Pet. 3:18) and not be like those in Heb. 5:12 who were rebuked because of their lack of growth.  May we put the truth in our hearts.  May we live by and teach it without adding or subtracting from it (Rev. 22:18-19) and may we declare the whole council of God (Acts 20:27).

We must give heed to the power of God’s Word.  We must have receptive ears and hearts because we are hearing as we look at the horizon of eternity.  May we ever teach the powerful, everlasting word of God and may we ever hold on to it.

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Dumb Idols & Foolish Men

Dumb Idols & Foolish Men

In Psalm 115 the psalmist is rightly critical of those who put their trust in man made idols. He says that men have created, by the works of their own hands, gods of silver and gold. They have mouths, but they do not speak. They have eyes, but they do not see. They have ears, but they do not hear. They have noses, but they do not smell. They have hands, but they can not handle anything with them. They have feet, but they do not walk. He goes on to say that those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them. In other words, the idols are dumb gods and those who trust in them are foolish men.

Most people may not have a dumb Brady Idol, but they do put other idols first in their life.

Most people may not have a dumb Brady Idol, but they do put other idols first in their life.

Many people do the same thing today with modern idolatry, be it television, sports, hobbies, work, or wealth. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with these things but when we put them above the one true and living God we create an idol. When we do so we are as “dumb” as the idols we worship. Don’t think it is true? What do you put first in your life? Where are your priorities? When the church meets to study, worship, fellowship, and serve where is your mouth, your eyes, your ears, your hands, and your feet? Be honest!

The one true and living God is a true shield in whom we can place all our trust. He speaks, sees, hears, smells, handles, and walks. And we can too when we bless Him, glorify Him, serve Him, worship Him, and put Him first in our lives. He then blesses us…nothing else can! Be faithful!

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Moonquakes

Moonquakes

Between the years of 1969 to 1972 NASA sent Seismometers with the Apollo astronauts to be placed on the moon. They continued to send back data to earth until 1979 when they were turned off. They found that the moon shakes due to various different disturbances moonquakes. The seismometers recorded the impact of asteroids, the collapse of crater edges, tremors caused by earth’s tides, and even quakes caused by the transition from day to night, which, on the moon, is quite a swing. The most interesting feature of these moonquakes, however, was their longevity. Because the moon is a relatively solid chunk of material (unlike the earth which has a crumbly/brittle surface) the vibrations from its quakes resonated longer, like a bell as opposed to say, like the skin on a drum.

While an earthquake might last up to two minutes, a moonquake might last up to ten.

While an earthquake might last up to two minutes, a moonquake might last up to ten.

It’s not that the character of the vibration is any different, but rather, because the quality of the material is different. /1

This brings to mind one particular parable that Jesus told, the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-8). In this parable, the sower scatters his seed upon different types of soil: trampled, rocky, thorny, and good. Each soil represents a different quality of heart. Some reject God’s word instantly; that’s the trampled packed ground into which the seed can’t penetrate. Some accept God’s word but because of persecutions ultimately grow weary, the stony soil. Some accept God’s word but then due to temptations of the world turn back, the thorny soil. The good soil, however, accepts God’s word and brings forth fruit “with patience” (Luke 8:15). The same seed was scattered; the only thing that was different was the quality of the soil. One persisted; two died off; one didn’t even get started.

The Bible has several things to say about persistence. Jesus said in Luke 9:62 “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” The apostle Paul exhorted, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” The apostle Peter warned, “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.”

We live in a country in which the sound of God’s word may be heard frequently as it resonates from faithful preachers and teachers today. But whether vibration from God’s word resonates within our life or not depends upon the quality of our character. If our character is hollow, insipid, crumbly, and weak, then God’s word isn’t going to resonate very long. However, if our character is solid, clear, stout, and strong, God’s word will resonate on and on and our life will quake with His truth. Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

1. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/15mar_moonquakes.htm?list209831

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Christians are Different

Purchased People Are Peculiar—Are You?

I remember when I was a child hearing Christians misuse the King James rendering of Peter’s words in 1 Peter 2:9. “You are a peculiar people.” Whenever there was a social misfit or a person “whose eyeballs don’t line up with the holes in his head,” someone would say, “Well the Bible says we are to be peculiar, and he is the “peculiarest” person I have ever known. They failed to understand that in 1611, when the translation was made, the word “peculiar” was used to describe those who have been purchased. However, Christians actually are different.

Coins do not purchase Christians, the blood of Christ does.

Coins do not purchase Christians, the blood of Christ does.

Christians are different in how they treat other Christians. Early in the second century, a Roman official described Christians and ended his description by saying, “But oh how they love each other.” We do. Each week when services end, I marvel at just how many stand for such a long time to visit with their brethren. The building is filled with love. So many times this has been expressed to me about the love you have for fellow Christians.

Christians are different in how they care for each other. We send cards to each other. We pray for each other, and this is seen so often in posts on Facebook when so many say to a hurting Christian, “I am praying for you.” We encourage each other. We exhort each other. We lift up when there is adversity in our lives. We care for others because He cares.

Christians are different in the moral values which rule our lives. I recall a Christian whose boss told him to lie as to whether he was in the office. The Christian refused and said, “I will not tell a lie. You need to know that if I will lie for you, I will lie to you.” Our world is filled with liars, but Christians are different. We cannot seem to forget those closing words of Revelation 21:8. Our values are so different!

Christians are different in our views about marriage. We enter marriage with a view of the lifetime commitment to our mates. Even in the struggles which come in marriage, we rarely even think about the “D word”—it is not in our vocabulary. We have not bought into the world’s view of same-sex “marriage” because He who created marriage retains the right to define it!

Christians are different in how we are entertained. We do not spend time like others who “rejoice in iniquity” (1 Cor. 13:6) nor do we find pleasure in seeing the world’s ungodliness (Rom. 1:32). The choices we make about recreation are not the same choices our friends make.

Let’s face it—Christians are different. Because of this it might pay you to see if your salt and light are salt without savor or lights hidden from the world. If your friends do not see you as “peculiar,” you might should make some changes.

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