Whose Accomplishments?

The Lord has Done Great Things

It never ceases to amaze me how some Christians view their accomplishments. Lip service is often given when glorifying the Lord but arrogance and self-righteousness abound. The lips of so many are dripping with hypocrisy, they say one thing but do something else.

I, I, I, Me, Me, Me, I, I, I, Me, Me, Me.

I, I, I, Me, Me, Me, I, I, I, Me, Me, Me.

The psalmist reminds us that it is the Lord who accomplishes great things through His humble servants (Psalm 126–130). And though we diligently watch and labor, if not for the Lord, our labor and watching is in vain. We may build great houses but only those built by the Lord will remain.

We need to remember two things when it comes to our human and spiritual accomplishments:
Just because something “good” happens from a humanistic standpoint doesn’t mean God has blessed that effort or that it was God’s plan. The Bible is replete of stories of successful human endeavors of which God was not pleased. I have seen men appointed to the eldership who were not qualified and folks praised the move as providential. Congregations of the Lord’s church have left the “old paths” in an effort to be more contemporary and inclusive to the chagrin of God. We need to be careful not to determine something as God’s will if it runs contrary to God’s will.

When truly good, God blessed events are accomplished, make sure we give the praise and glory to God. Let us remove from our language the self praise of “I did,” or “we did” and acknowledge what God has done through his humble servants.

Let us give credit and glory where it is due, unto the Lord. For He has done great things! The faithful and obedient child of God will be blessed beyond measure. Be faithful!

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Living Together Outside of Marriage

Living Together While Not Married

Most of the unbelieving world does not have a problem with couples living together outside of marriage.  To them, it’s not sin.  It’s normal.  But, living together without marriage does not mean Christians need to partake in such liberal lifestyles.  Christians represent Christ and they are also entrusted with the Gospel (1 Thess. 2:4).  So, as a Christian goes through this world, they represent the kingdom of the Lord (Jn. 18:36) and it is a Christian’s responsibility to reflect their King, that kingdom and what it stands for.  Thus, a Christian’s influence is very important.

Shacking up is not marriage. It is not acceptable to God. It is sin.

Shacking up is not marriage. It is not acceptable to God. It is sin.

In the Bible, Christians are called to be holy as God is holy (1 Pet. 1:16) and so they should never do anything to bring shame (reproach) upon the Church.  Christians are also called the salt of the earth because the world is morally corrupt and it needs Christians to be a light to the world of darkness and to show them who Christians are so that the world will glorify God (Matt. 5:13-16).  This is why Paul wrote, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31).  And, this is also why Christians are told by Peter to keep their conduct honorable before all so that when evildoers speak against them, they may see your good deeds and glorify God (1 Pet. 2:12).

Now, many who are not Christians know that adult males and females should not live together unless they are related or married.  Even when we look at parents, they don’t want their children to live together with others of the opposite sex.  So, why are there Christians, of the opposite sex, who think they can live together and not bring the Church under the community’s reproach where its future effectiveness is put in doubt?  Also, most neighbors assume that since two people of the opposite sex are living together, then they are having sex with each other.  And, what’s worse here is that the neighbors know that they are Christians.  So, how are they influencing others for good?  Furthermore, by living together as man and woman, it allows everyone the right to live together as man and woman, for whatever reason.  But, is this living Godly (1 Pet. 1:7)?

Consider that “the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him . . . Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:18, 24).  God’s first institution was marriage, not cohabitation.  Thus, God has only one plan for a man and woman living together and that is marriage.  God gives no indications that a man and woman, who are not related, to live together under any circumstances.  In the Bible, the Jews throughout history understood this as well as Jesus and his apostles.  And so, “Does the Bible say it is wrong for unmarried, unrelated men and women to live together?”  Well, this is not the right question. The right question to ask is “What is God’s will concerning a male and female living together?”  It is between husbands and wives (Gen. 2:24).  Now, why does God say this?  The answer is because living together is an intimate, bonding experience.  Living together in the same home where men and women share the same kitchen, bathroom, etc., where they see each other early in the morning and late at night intimacy and bonding naturally develops.  So, we learn from these verses that living together as a man and woman does not reflect the commitment that God instituted and ordained via marriage.  It is something else.

Now, Christians are commanded to abstain from every appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).  So, how can a man and woman live together and not have people thinking that nothing is happening?  They can’t.  So, the result is that these individuals bring shame on the Church and on Christ.  Christians need to remember that they are to live holy lives and this includes being above reproach.  And, just because some do not see living together as a problem, Christians should know better than to promote anything that would appear evil or sinful.  And, as Paul warned Christians, they should not give Satan (adversary) any occasion to slander the name of Christ (1 Tim. 5:14).

You know, as we consider appearances, Christians know that God designed us to desire companionship.  And, living together puts natural temptations in front of us.  But still, men and women may attempt to rationalize or justify living together.  They think that God would not care and that He would understand.  And surely, some may cohabitate unmarried because of financial challenges.  But, where some attempt to excuse themselves from making a public and legal commitment to one another for budgetary reasons, others will excuse themselves for other reasons.  And so, Christians become a stumbling block to others, which is sin (Rom. 14:13; Matt. 16:23; 1 Cor. 8:9).  And, it is also worrisome that Christians living together like this say they believe in God.  The same God who created the universe and everything in it from nothing and who raised Christ from the dead yet, they don’t trust Him enough to take care of their financial needs if they got married on a fixed income.  So, does this display their seeking first their own agenda or seeking first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33)?  I mean, why are Christians more worried about making it financially than in obeying God and trusting in Him to provide?  God promised to meet our needs and even Paul penned, “my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).  Trusting the Lord and following His will is what we are all about as Christians.  Christians should never allow financial problems to determine their morality.

All in all, God is angered when we attempt to justify our sins by rationalizing them.  And, Christians must remember that circumstance never ever determines what is right and what is wrong.  God does.  And so as Christians, we should follow whatever glorifies God.  Thus, The Bible seems to be clear that for a man and woman to live together outside the bounds of marriage is sin…even if there is no sex.  And, a Christian should know better.  Living together outside of marriage causes all sorts of problems and it is against God’s pattern for living together, it gives off the appearance of evil, which is sin, it causes others to stumble, which is also sin and will cause some people to lose their souls because they think that it is okay for Christians to live together without a marriage covenant.  As a Christian, be careful of your influence because we are not to live like the world (Rom. 12:2).

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Is God’s Will for Me Revealed?

How Can I Know His Will For Me?

There is no speech or language spoken anywhere on this earth where the heavens and earth do not declare there is a God (Psa. 19:1). By simply looking around, every man can know that God exists. However, though nature reveals His existence, it does not reveal His will for me. Yet, for me to serve God, I must know His will and what He wants me to do. Look at the following truths about knowing His will.

Has God's will for me been revealed?

Has God’s will for me been revealed?

For me to know His will He must reveal it to me. Without a revelation from Him, I cannot even be sure of His nature. Do I judge Him by the ravaging storms with their attendant thunder, lightning and destruction or by the beauty of the sun rising or setting? Do I judge Him by the blessings of children or by the untimely death of a child? There must be more than nature. I can know God exists, but until He shows His will, there is nothing I can do to know how to serve Him.

God must reveal Himself to me in a way I can know His revelation is really from Him. It stands to reason that part of His revelation demands that I can know that the Creator truly has spoken to me. Common sense shows that this revelation cannot be surrounded by subjective ideas which come into my head. If He fails to show His will in a way that I can know the message is from Him, then it must be given to me in uncertainty with “holy hunches” being His method. How could I ever be sure it is from Him and not from evil, anti-God forces in this world? There must be accompanying evidences of His power when He reveals Himself.

God must reveal His will to me in a way I can understand it. If God’s revelation is only to a few chosen ones, then there is no way for me to find it if I am not one of those few. If He reveals Himself only to those highly educated or those having great riches, then most of mankind will be left out. There are millions with greater education and greater wealth than me. For the common man to know His will, it must be understandable for him.

What if He has not revealed Himself? If God has not revealed His will in a way I can know it is from Him and can understand it, then I stand helpless before Him. I have no roadmap or compass for my life, and there is no need for me to seek to find one. He might exist, but I have no choice except to ignore Him.

What if He has revealed Himself? On the other hand, if God has revealed His will to me in a way I can know it is from Him and can understand it, then I must seek to please Him. Will you take time to think about the fact that a man named Jesus lived on this earth and claimed He was God’s avenue of revelation of Himself? Sober-minded men must examine the evidence. Are you sober-minded? Are you ignoring Him?

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Pavlova Preaching?

Pavlova Preaching?

…I had the privilege and honor to teach and preach at the Sandy Bay church of Christ. This special group of Christians praised God with their beautiful singing, worshipped together, and fellowshipped after services, just like I have witnessed in hundreds of other church families. It was a beautiful sight.

Mmmm Pavlova...

Mmmm Pavlova…

Like many buildings in Jamaica, the church building is an open-air building. There is no glass in their windows, and the doorways stand open. Most Americans would look at the building and assume it was still under construction—which it is, but it is still very functional for this group of Christians. It was only this past July that the congregation was finally able to afford to put bars on the windows and in the doorways. This new security allows them to finally be able to leave material things we take for granted out in the open. Fred’s wife, Dorothy, mentioned that in previous years it would take 45 minutes just to remove the boards from the windows, set out all the chairs, set up the sound equipment, and carry in the song books. This had to be done at literally every service. With this new “security” they are able to leave their newly constructed pews in place, along with songbooks and their meager sound system.

One of the special things that one discovers when traveling throughout the world is that the prescription which God gave mankind to follow for the New Testament church is not conditional to “programs,” a type of building, or a specific culture. His “recipe” for New Testament Christianity works in every culture, for every group of people. It has been working for 2,000 years, and will continue to work (Lord willing), long after we are all gone. The people in Jamaica had gathered this morning to hear the Gospel preached in a pure and simple form. They were not concerned with programs, and they didn’t want someone sugar-coating the message. (In fact, I think the expectation was for the preacher to preach at least 45-60 minutes…, which I had no trouble complying with.)

In New Zealand, they serve a delicious dessert called pavlova. It is basically a sweet merengue and is commonly served with fresh fruit. The consistency is very light and fluffy, and it almost melts in your mouth. Having a sometimes-insatiable sweet tooth, I fell in love with it instantly. In fact, I occasionally have cravings for it when I’m back home in Franklin—a town in which you can’t get good (if any!) pavlova. But I am smart enough to know that too much of this delicious dessert will make me sick. And I also am keenly aware that my body would not survive on pavlova alone. It needs true nourishment.

I’m concerned that “programs” and pavlova is what we are serving in many of our congregations today. Take a moment to look over your bulletin at all of the activities that are offered. We have “programmed” ourselves so much, that oftentimes we forget Who we are there to serve. (In fact, I’m afraid the concept of servanthood is foreign in many congregations). Sadly, this has caused many congregations to become very inwardly focused—rather than on the community around them. This inward focus can be seen when someone visits a congregations and approaches it asking: “What does this congregation offer for me and my family?” Many of these programs are eating up lots of church dollars, as we gather weekly to sit around and discuss non-spiritual matters. Add to this that many pulpits are preaching a steady diet of Pavlova. Oh, it sounds good to the ears, and it makes us feel good when we leave the building. The stories are funny and the delivery is well-rehearsed. But where is the meat? Where are the Scriptures? Christians cannot grow on a steady diet of Pavlova. We need to be challenged. We need to have our toes stepped on—causing us to reflect and make changes in our lives.

For those who are reading this who might be concerned that some might leave if you end the “fun programs” and stop the Pavlova preaching, I would ask: “Aren’t they already gone?” If they do not love God enough to keep His commandments—but instead seek entertainment and pleasure—couldn’t we make the case that these individuals have lost their first love? Isn’t God’s plan that has been in place the last 2000 years still affective today? I think it is sad that many American children can’t sit through an hour long worship service because they have been so conditioned to be entertained.

Some might read this and say: “But what about the children.” Again, my question would be: “What about the children?” Do we want to raise warriors for Christ? Or do we want to babysit young people in modern youth rooms to ease our conscience? Friends, the time has come for us to be honest with ourselves. We are spending more money than ever, hiring all kinds of church staff—and yet our kids are leaving the church in bigger numbers than ever. What we are doing with all of the programs is not working.

I believe that what the church needs is not more programs and Pavlova. We need what the people of Jamaica need. And what the people of Ireland need. And what the people of New Zealand need. And what the people of Russia need. And what the people of Nicaragua need. And what the people of the Ukraine need. We need a love for Jesus Christ. We need the Gospel preached. And we need to reach out to the lost.

Bible verse to consider: “preach the word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine” 2 Timothy 2:4.

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Are We Deceiving Ourselves?

Are We Deceiving Ourselves?

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. – James 1:22

One of Jesus’ most famous parables was told to illustrate this very point.  After promising that on the day of judgment some who had called him Lord in their lives and had even been involved in many good works would be condemned because they had not actually obeyed him (Matt. 7:21-23), Jesus went on to say that “everyone then who HEARS these words of mine and DOES them” will be like a wise man who built his house on a rock and thus was able to withstand the storm (Matt. 7:24-25).  On the other hand, “everyone who HEARS these words of mine and DOES NOT DO them” will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand and as a result had it fall when the storm came (Matt. 7:26-27).

Are we deceiving ourselves, by failing to engage in the works which we have been created to do?

Are we deceiving ourselves, by failing to engage in the works which we have been created to do?

We all have heard of the proverbial unhealthy person who is told over and over again that he needs to lose weight/exercise more/stop smoking/eat right, and who completely agrees…and yet never does anything that he needs to do in spite of having repeatedly heard the truth.  Are we like him, spiritually?  Do we love to go to church and hear a good sermon…but fail to apply the scriptural message of that sermon to our lives?  Are we like the people God told Ezekiel about in Ezekiel 33:30-32?

“As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, ‘Come, and HEAR what the word is that comes from the Lord.’  And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they HEAR what you say but they WILL NOT DO IT; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.  And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they HEAR what you say, but they WILL NOT DO IT.”

Something to think about…

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