There is a Time to Speak…

There is a Time to Speak

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “…a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; …”

Over the last couple of years, I heard it asserted that if a Christian brother or sister refuses to have a biblical discussion with another Christian who desires to speak with them, they are in sin.   This is a foolish blanket assertion that no mature Christian should be trying to establish.  Unfortunately, brothers and sisters have been disfellowshipped by this belief.  Christians have been shamed, harassed, and broken down into sleepless nights, stress, and tears by it.  Division has occurred over it. speak

Let us understand that communication is very important to develop strong, healthy relationships. Consider the following article I wrote previously regarding 10 Tips to Improve Communication.   How would we be able to develop a relationship with God if we could not hear of Him (I Corinthians 1:18-21, Romans 10:17)? Without communication our encouragement to others would be extinguished (I Thessalonians 5:11).  Communication engages the proclamation of the Word, reproving, rebuking, and exhorting.  Communication can encompass accusation, concern, love, discussion, revelation, reconciliation, and abandonment (Matthew 18:15-20).  Communication should not be minimized as not important.

Communication needs to also be guided BY ALL PARTIES with self-control and characterized by the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22).  The first characteristic listed, “love”, has in itself a very important trait.  “Love does not seek its own / Does not insist on its own way” (I Corinthians 13:5).  Should anyone be exposed to someone endlessly until they are forced to state they agree or were wrong?  Unity is important, but it is unlikely to come with the lack of kindness in a “communicate now, according to my rules, over anything we disagree about” type attitude.  Any communicator, preacher, elder, that thinks everyone is going to or has to agree with them all the time about everything in regard to the Bible is mistaken.  Hebrews 12:14 – “Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”  Sometimes, communication expresses itself best, by being silent.  It is in silence where peace can be found.  Proverbs 17:27-28 – “Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.”

The last verse mentioned brings us directly to the assertion that: if a Christian brother or sister refuses to have a biblical discussion with another who desires to have the discussion, they are in sin.  The Bible acknowledges that there are times it is good to close your mouth.  That is part of wisdom.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, identifies there is a time for everything under the sun. A time to be quiet and a time to speak.  The apostles shared the gospel to Jew and gentile. Sometimes, those people were done hearing what was being said.  Did the apostles keep on beating a dead horse?  No.  Matthew 10:14, “And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.” Of course, this can be done from the side of the listener as well.  I know a preacher who called another demanding to address a spiritual issue with him.  He would not reason with or listen to the preacher he called.  Ultimately, the preacher who had received the call had to hang up.  Christians do not have to be held hostage to someone who is unreasonable and continually harassing them, demanding they communicate, and showing a lack of courtesy.  Sometimes, the listener just gives up, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matthew 7:6).  The Bible is very clear that sometimes silence is acceptable.  It is not sin. Proverbs 10:19  “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.”  Proverbs 26:4 “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.” Proverbs 21:9 “It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.”  Proverbs 17:14 “The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.”

Finally, it is important to address this issue with some common sense as Jesus provides an example of in Matthew 22:23-33.  It is common sense to understand that sometimes someone does not want to speak to you face to face.  Perhaps you have a temper.  Perhaps that person is a female and they have had an abusive husband or family member and they do not want to speak to you face to face.  Perhaps the person would prefer documentation, time to think about what was said before they respond, time to research what was said to see if it was true (Acts 17:11)?  Have you ever had children?  A typical day for a parent of a small child sounds like “why, why, why, why”.  Eventually, the parent sends the child outside or off to play in a room for a little while. Why?  Because they have other more important things to do.  Many people have busy lives and if they know that a conversation is going to be extensive, ongoing or even unreasonable, they are not going to continue to carve large amounts of time out of their life for it – especially if they have heard the other side detail their thoughts already.  Common sense dictates that some information is none of someone’s business.  I know a family who was publicly ostracized by a former eldership, because the family did not want to discuss with them the beliefs of their new congregation.  Books could be written about why someone does not have to sit down and have a conversation with someone else every time they desire to do so.  Not having a conversation every time someone wants to do so is not a sin.

Are there passages in scripture that encourage communication? Yes.  There are also passages which provide a clear message that talking is not always encouraged or necessary.  Wisdom understands that time in the hearts of God’s faithful brings many answers, changes of heart, and peace.  Wisdom understands that pressuring or forcing yourself upon others will more than not bring about the opposite reaction that you are trying to achieve.  Someone isn’t necessarily in sin if they refuse to talk to you.  Certainly, they are not in sin if the issue is that you want to force the mode of communication upon them.  However, your behavior may very well be the reason they do not want to communicate with you and you may find yourself in sin or creating division if you continue pushing yourself upon them.

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Was Jesus Arrogant?

Was Jesus Arrogant?

Was Jesus arrogant? Absolutely not. Consider: God’s wisdom personified states in Proverbs 8:13 that, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” God’s unchanging word (Psalm 119:89) also states in Isaiah 13:11, “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Therefore, when the unchanging God’s (Malachi 3:6) Word personified came in the flesh (John 1:14), He was the exact opposite, and complete antithesis, of the evil arrogance which God so vehemently hates and rejects; being instead, the perfect example of Godly meekness and humility, just as prophesied (Isaiah 42:1-3; Matthew 12:15-21). The Apostle Paul tells us just how incredibly far Christ’s humility actually went, writing in Philippians 2:8-9: “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…” Arrogance

Jesus – God in the flesh – arrogant? Absolutely not! And yet, there would be many who would most certainly be wont to falsely and maliciously accuse Him of such. For example, how do you think the scribes and the Pharisees – the top of the religious food chain of the spiritual leadership of Jesus’ day – must’ve felt when Jesus told the assembled crowds on the mountain that day, that “unless [their] righteousness [exceeded] the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, [they would] by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20)? If someone said that about you as a deeply religious person, how would you feel? Wouldn’t you wonder who He thought He was to dare say such things about your long-held faith?

Many more of these obvious “How dare He,” “He’s so arrogant,” “Who does He think He is” type sentiments in the eyes of some, can be seen, cited, and sifted, from throughout the gospel accounts (See for instance, Matthew 21:15-16, 26:62-66, 27:41-43; Lk. 4:23-29, 5:21, 7:49, 11:37-54; John 5:16-18, 6:41-42, 8:53, 10:22-33, 19:7 and others.)
But still, Jesus arrogant? Absolutely not! Yet even as He made such honest and straightforwardly truthful statements as: “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29); “You are therefore greatly mistaken” (Mark 12:27); and many of the other strong statements of condemnation He made to the religious elite in Matthew 23:1-39, surely many of the more prideful, spiritually blind, and Biblically immature who heard Him had to have believed – and perhaps even violently, vehemently, and aggressively voiced to others, just how “arrogant” they thought He truly was. But He certainly wasn’t; at least not in God’s eyes, which is the only thing that ever has mattered, ever does matter, or ever will matter.

Jesus arrogant? Absolutely not. But this is the accusation that is often leveled (albeit at times in different terms) at many who: have a good knowledge of God’s word; are completely confident in God’s word; and who faithfully and obediently seek to live, preach, teach, and practice God’s word no matter what, by those who simply either don’t, or won’t, do the same (just as we see repeatedly happened to Jesus throughout the gospel accounts).

However, the most tragic irony in all of these scenarios, is that it is precisely those who so strongly and wrongly condemn the more Biblically knowledgeable, confident, and faithful among us as “arrogant,” who prove themselves to be the most arrogant of all! Just as they did with Jesus! A sin for which they who do such, will therefore be judged by the Lord upon His return, unless they repent (Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:36-38; John 7:24; Romans 2:17-24).

Therefore my beloved brethren, let us all determine to never become so arrogant and self-righteous ourselves, as to judge, accuse, and condemn another as arrogant, just simply because they either: better know, more faithfully follow, and/or far more strongly and confidently preach and proclaim the challenging truths of God’s word than we do. Let us all take to heart the words of 1 Samuel 2:3: “Talk no more so very proudly; Let no arrogance come from your mouth, for the Lord is the God of knowledge; and by Him actions are weighed.”

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Stay at Home Moms

Stay at Home Moms

A letter to my wife and all those women who made the decision to stay home and raise their children:

Society looks down on you for your chosen occupation. They would say that what you do is not “producing” for our community, and that it is not intellectually stimulating. They look down on you and utter the word “housewife” in a derogatory fashion. I see the way your eyes go down when you are in a group and other women are declaring their latest conquest at the office. Some have deemed you as old fashioned or lazy. But I know the truth.

I know that your job never ends. I know the reality show on “America’s Toughest Jobs” has overlooked your occupation. There is not a time-clock that allows you to punch out and go home. (I know the dirty little secret that some ladies chose to work outside the home because deep down they know homemaking is harder.) I know that you don’t just wear a single hat, but rather you are a cook, nurse, educator, cleaner, encourager, referee, chauffeur, etc.

Furthermore, I know that because your career does not “pay” out in money, you may not be wearing the latest fashions. In fact, you may be wearing a dress that is 5 years old and has a few small tears in it. Your children may not be dressed in name brand clothes or have the latest toys. Your car may be a little older, and your house may not be a “Martha Stewart” showcase. I know there may be months when there are more bills than there is money.

But deep down you know that’s okay. Because what you are producing will pay off big in eternity.

I also know the “product” you are producing is invaluable to our community. I see it every weekend as I travel. I see children who were raised in a godly home with love, discipline, respect, and nurturing. And then I see those who were not.

I see children who are advanced in learning and able to look adults in the eye when they speak–children who recognize this world is not all about them. And I see children who were dropped off at a day-care center and tended to by someone worried more about a paycheck than the child’s soul. I recognize that it is politically incorrect to point out this difference, but I still see it, and appreciate you for it.

I know from all of my studies, research, and observation that you are the biggest hope we have to fix the problems in the church. Oh we look to dynamic preachers and elders and deacons to build programs and stop the mass exodus of young people–but the reality is that you hold the key. While we don’t like to preach this from the pulpit (as we may offend some) God’s way is still the best. For you have chosen a Biblical career path that will fortify future generations. Again, in an effort to be politically correct we don’t like to point out what the Bible says about homemaking (Titus 2) or teaching our children diligently (Deu. 6). But it is still in there.

So I say thank you today.

Thank you for all the little things you do that I never see. Thank you for all of the small moments with your children that cannot be purchased. Thank you for sacrificing and thank you for seeing His big picture. The product you are producing in raising godly children is truly priceless!

“Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:28)

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The Grace Recognized by the Giver

The Grace of God Recognized by the Giver

There is an amazing truth found in Paul’s second letter to Corinth. The church there was collecting funds for the needy saints in Judea, and Paul writes to them encouraging them to be liberal. We often hear some of his words in our assemblies before the collection is taken. “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7) What we may have overlooked is what is said in the next verse. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound for every good work.” Look at the words carefully—all grace, always, all sufficiency, all things, every good work. The proper motivation is not to give in order to get, but Paul affirms that God is able to bless those who do give so that they might have more to give.generosity of God

Think of Judas and his attitude toward the money entrusted to him by Jesus. He verbalized a concern for the poor when the woman spent so much for the ointment that she used to anoint Jesus. He was a thief and none of the apostles knew it! Now contrast this with the attitude of the woman giving her two mites at the temple. What a contrast between two drastically different hearts.

The reality is that God owns the world, and He does not have to rely on us to support His work. He lets us give so that we can be reminded of the blessings He gives. Now think about it. If the Lord “needed” funds, to whom does He give it so that it might be given back to Him? There is no assurance that He would give it to someone with a covetous heart like Judas. Consider this. If He “needed” funds, He could rest assured that it would be given back to Him if he gave it to person whose heart was like the heart of that widow.

The reality is that He is able to always give with all grace to ensure that there is all sufficiency for every good work. Do not lose sight of this truth. God will always help us do His work.

Does He not faithfully supply us with food and clothing? He does for the birds and the lily of the valley. We are worth so much more that the birds and live so much longer than flowers. Now add to this Jesus’ affirmation about what God will always supply for His children. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:33).

Love the Lord. Love the kingdom. Love righteousness. That’s our part. Then, as we give back to God that which He first gave to us, think of Paul’s words to the Corinthians—all grace, always, all sufficiency and every good work. He will bless us to do His work!

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The Electricity Is Out

The Electricity Is Out

We had a nice snow front move in last night.  Overall, it left about seven inches of snow on the ground.  It was the type of snow that makes perfect snowmen, not too wet, not too powdery.  I had to run out early in the morning and help my son get his car out of a ditch, like a lot of other people, the slippery roads got the best of him.  While I was out, my wife texted me and told me our power had gone out.  We are pretty well poor weather prepared.  We heat with wood, have cell phones to call out, cook with propane, and have a pantry prepared enough so finding food is not an urgent matter.  Water?  We have a generator to pump a well (and run appliances) if necessary.  However, when the electricity goes out, it still makes you realize how reliant we are on power today.  For a few moments, let’s consider power introduced in generations past.

For some people, when they think of power, their mind turns to electricity.  An image of Ben Franklin, a kite, and lightning may pop into their thoughts.  However, it is believed that electrical experiments and even batteries were created thousands of years before Ben Franklin came upon the scene.  Other people, when they contemplate power, may envision mighty leaders of men and nations.  Perhaps Pharoah, Solomon, Nebuchadnezzar, Xerxes, Alexander the Great, or Pompey are remembered with their ability to influence, conquer, or rule?  All of these men are but creations of the one and true God of all.  His power created the heavens and earth.  Pharoah was dominated by the power of God.  Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by it.  It is God who breathed into the lifeless form of man and brought him into being from the dust.  No power compares to that of God.  No ruler reigns except by the authority of God.

Man, living in a world powered by God, disrespected God through disobedience in the garden.  God’s power was not diminished by this action, but rather it gave opportunity for the righteousness and mercy of God to be displayed (Romans 3:21-26).  This was done through the offering of Jesus upon the cross for the sins of the created.  This same Jesus came sharing the gospel to Israel.  His apostles also shared that gospel. Last of all, the apostle Paul came sharing the mystery of that great gospel, the power to save all mankind, the Jew and the Gentile.  Man did not have the power to save themselves.  Only God could offer it.

Was this good news of Jesus and the apostles truly powerful enough to extend through eternity?  Was it truly of God?  There were some who doubted it. Yet, to confirm the Word, the Holy Spirit provided confirmation through the power of miracles, signs, and wonders (Acts 2:22, Hebrews 2:4).  The sick were healed, the lame walked, the blind received their sight, rains were stopped, skies opened up, God Himself spoke from heaven, Jesus calmed the seas and walked upon the water, and Jesus became the firstfruit of the grave having spent three days and nights in the tomb.  All of this is/was only possible by the mighty hand of God.  Without His power, all would be dark, there would be no light, there would be no salvation.

There are certainly many images of power that man can envision, electricity, physical prowess, or influence among many possibilities.  However, nothing in heaven or earth can act save by the will of God.  It is God’s will which gave us the mighty Christ.  It is through the man wherein deity fully dwelt that the gift of eternal salvation was/is offered.  It is by the Spirit of God that the magnificent Word of salvation has been confirmed.  No power, no storm, no creation above or below, no entity past, present, or future can change, delay, or divert that which God has set in motion.  The light which burns bright and forever has promised and His Word is truth.

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