Competition in the Church

Church, We Have to Stop Competing

Selecting a sound gospel preacher doesn't have to be a popularity competition.

Selecting a sound gospel preacher doesn’t have to be a popularity competition.

My generation never received participation trophies. If you wanted a trophy to put on your dresser then the team had to perform well. And yes, we kept score at our minor league games! There were winners and losers—and each week young people would strive to be in the winner category. I grew up being taught that competition was a good thing. And I stand by that—as it causes individuals to strive to do better.

But there is an area that has grown competitive and I believe it is doing great harm. I don’t believe God ever intended preachers or the church to be competitive. We’ve become obsessed with how many “followers” a preacher has on social media, or how many hits they get on their blog page. Many congregations are building new and fancier auditoriums, adding new-fangled programs, and making worship more entertaining simply to increase numbers and be the “bigger” congregation in town. But friend, this isn’t how it should be! Paul wrote, “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?” (1 Corinthians 3:3-4)

Some of this competition has originated from things like lectureships, where preachers vie for keynote speaking slots. What used to be a practice of finding a man who was well qualified to speak in a particular area has grown into a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” practice of preachers selecting their buddies, who in turn put them on their lectureship.

The competition was bred in things like commentary books, articles in brotherhood journals, and website articles. It became almost a “sport” for many get their name in various brotherhood publications. This increased visibility conveyed the notion that these individuals were experts or highly knowledgeable—and thus these men were sought out by others to write or speak for them. The competitive nature began feeding on itself.

Additionally, a great deal of the competition has developed from social media and having an major online prescience. How many Facebook friends does this speaker have? How many likes can we get with this article? How many Twitter followers do they have?

All of this competition has taken the focus away from God and focused it firmly on men. In writing to the church at Corinth, Paul said, “Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” All of this competition has caused division and strife within the body of Christ. Ask yourself a question: how many today would spend hours writing something if their name was not attached to it?

Friends, it’s time we take the focus off fallible men and focus on the only One that has contributed to our salvation—Jesus Christ.

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Romans, Jews, & Salvation

Romans 11:14-32 – Romans, Jews, & Salvation

This is a fairly long passage of scripture to discuss. Let’s look at it and see if we can understand what is being taught in this part of the Bible.

Does Romans 11 Teach a Different Salvation for the Jews?

Does Romans 11 Teach a Different Salvation for the Jews?

This passage comes right in the middle of a discussion regarding the question of the salvation of the Jews. Paul asks the question in 11:1 “Did God cast off his people?” This question is referring to the Jewish nation. The answer is “No, he has not cast them off, but they, in their rejection of God’s Son Jesus, have rejected Him.” In fact, not all Jewish people who rejected Christ were lost at the time that Paul wrote this epistle. From Acts 2 to Acts 10 the only people who were being saved were Jews! However, there were some Jews who still rejected Jesus as the Messiah. These are the ones who crucified Jesus and by so doing, salvation was able to come to the Gentiles (verse 11).

However, there were some Gentiles who thought that since the Jews had rejected Jesus as the Messiah, that they could no longer be saved. So Paul turns his attention to these Gentiles in verse 13. Then we start our text. We do not have time to give the entire text a complete discussion. Suffice it to say that the following things are being taught here. 1) Both Jews and Gentiles could be saved through the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16,17). 2) While it was through the Jews that the Messiah came, the offer of salvation was given to both Jew and Gentile (verses 14,15). 3) God’s goodness will be shown toward those who continue in His goodness; God’s severity will be shown toward those who fall (verses 16-24). 4) There is only one covenant under which man can be saved today; this is the covenant that offers forgiveness of sins (verses 25-29). 5) It is due to unbelief and disobedience that men have fallen from God’s grace; this necessitates that to both Jews and Gentiles that God’s mercy would be bestowed (30-32).

Some try to come to this passage and say that there is another way of salvation for the Jews who disbelieve. However, this is a complete mishandling of the scriptures. Remember our very important principle of interpretation. Scriptures that are difficult in understanding should be interpreted in light of scriptures that are easy to understand. Romans 1:16, 17 makes it clear that the gospel is the only way for both Jews and Gentiles to be saved. Therefore, this passage cannot be teaching that there is some other way for Jews to be saved than other through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rather, what we have with some is an effort to go to the most difficult passages in the Bible such as the book of Daniel, Revelation, Matthew 24, Romans 11, and some other passages and build a doctrine based upon symbolic language in scripture which is simply not found in the plain teaching of scripture. This is largely done by those who advocate the doctrine of premillenialism. Basically this doctrine states that mankind will be given a second chance at salvation. You can read about this doctrine in popular books such as the left behind series by Jenkins and Lahue. You can also see it in movies such as “The Omega Code.” Part of the teaching of this doctrine is that the Jewish nation is going to have a second opportunity to accept Jesus as the Messiah and it is to THIS passage in Romans 11 that many go as their proof text to establish this. But this CANNOT be established from this context. Premillenialism is a dangerous doctrine because it can cause some to reject the teaching of Jesus Christ now in the hope that they can accept Him after all of these “signs” happen.

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Understand the Bible?

Can We Understand the Bible Alike?

We can understand the Bible alike.

We can understand the Bible alike.

The title is an understandable question, especially in light of the religious division and confusion that exists in Christendom today.  Of the counted minimum of two thousand different sects and faiths which proclaim to be Christian, all have great regard for the Bible and claim to follow it.  However, common sense suggests that such is not the case when all proclaim to follow the Bible and yet believe and practice different ideas and doctrines.

Jesus knew that we could understand his Word in the same way and follow it with complete unity (John 17:20-23).  So did Paul (Phil. 2:2).  After Christianity started on the day of Pentecost after Christ’s death, the first converts “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching” (Acts 2:42) and “the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and soul” (Acts 4:32).  Quite a contrast from today!  The saints in Rome were instructed to be on the lookout for those who caused “divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine” they had learned, and avoid them (Rom. 16:17)  How could they have obeyed that command without being taught to agree upon the doctrine that they had been taught?  When a congregation was divided, Paul by divine inspiration wrote them that there should be no divisions among them and commanded them to speak the same thing (1 Cor. 1:10).  How could this divine order be carried out if people are unable to understand the Word of God alike?

The reasons there are divisions about what the Bible says are many.  First, all of us and our judgments are not perfect.  Either by failing to study diligently or by failing to practice proper, consistent interpretive principles, we misunderstand biblical teaching and divide over it.  Secondly, some believe that the Holy Spirit directs us in our study of Scripture and leads us to the truth, but such an idea is proven incorrect time and time again when two men both claim that the Spirit guided them to different conclusions about the same biblical passage.  Thirdly, efforts to accurately interpret the Bible are often hindered by an absence of complete, 100% open-minded objectivity.  Some subconsciously try to avoid dealing with the guilt of their sin and so twist the Scriptures to suit their ungodly lifestyles, while others are too loyal to family, peers, or their own religion and habits and thus approach the Bible with a closed mind.

When someone says that we can’t understand God’s will alike, that person has either never really engaged in a diligent, systematic study of the Bible or he is somehow seeking to justify a religious view or practice that is not according to the Bible.  Therefore he attacks the Bible as being a book that no one can understand rather than admitting that he believes something that God does not teach.  However, we all can understand Scripture alike.

We just choose not to.

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Alive for Christ

Alive for Christ

While Paul is in prison he writes an impassioned plea to his beloved brothers and sisters in Philippi. He says that while dying would be most beneficial for him it was more needful for them that he remains alive: and that remaining alive, for him, is Christ (1:21–24). He desires that they also live their lives together as “worthy of the gospel of Christ” and that they “stand fast in one spirit” and strive together with “one mind” for “the faith of the gospel” (1:27). What does a life like that look like?

Great is the day when we are alive for Christ.

Great is the day when we are alive for Christ.

It suggests humbling ourselves and having the mind of Christ (2:2–8). I believe that one of the greatest downfalls of our society as well as the church is an abundance of arrogance and pride. People do not respond to the gospel message, repent and confess sins, or ask for prayers of strength and encouragement because they are simply too proud to do so. James and Peter both state that “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). But “humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

It indicates being obedient and working out our own salvation (2:12). I have heard it said that grace didn’t save Noah, obedience did. Well, that is not entirely true. He was saved by both grace and obedience. Hebrews 11:7 says, “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” God didn’t have to tell Noah what He was planning, and had he not Noah and his family would have died like everyone else. But He did tell Him, that’s grace! And if Noah had not believed and obeyed he would have died. But he did, and live. The same thing is true for us today (1 Peter 3:18–22).

It points to doing all things without griping or complaining (2:14). Few things are uglier than an 8-year-old throwing a temper tantrum: except for a 48-year-old Christian! Obedience and submission are glowing characteristics of faithful Christians. Do not “complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer” (1 Corinthians 10:10).

It implies rejoicing (3:1; 4:4). There is no more joyful life than that of the faithful, hopeful, and peaceful child of God. We can rejoice “in hope” (Romans 12:12); “in truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6); “in the Lord; “in suffering” (Colossians 1:24). Not other life than the obedient and faithful Christian life gives you as much reason to rejoice.

It signifies never giving up (3:13–14; 4:1). The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint! It takes patience, longsuffering, and tenacity. It means pressing ahead one step at a time on those uphill, wind in your face, last mile of the way, climbs. It also means a steady, careful, and vigilant pace on those easy downhill reprieves. Be faithful (Revelation 2:10) in order to hear the words “well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21, 23).

It means being thankful and thinking on the things that come from above (4:6–8).

What does continuing to live here on earth mean to you? Would you consider death to be gain? These two questions are inseparable.

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Mountaintop Experiences

Mountaintop Experiences

Life is not always going to be a mountaintop experience.

Life is not always going to be a mountaintop experience.

Spiritual lives are not always characterized by “ mountaintop experiences. ” It was wonderful for Moses to be in the presence of God on Mount Sinai, but eventually he had to leave the mountain and return to the reality of dealing with the Jewish rebellion in worshiping the golden calf.

In the same way, Peter, James and John were at the Mount of Transfiguration and saw Moses, Elijah and the transformation of Jesus, but they eventually had to leave that mountain and confront their failure to cast out the demon in the child.

Elijah experienced this same problem in the contest he had with 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. The fire from heaven totally consumed the prophet’s sacrifice and shortly afterwards there was the slaughter of all the false prophets. Yet, when Elijah descended from that mount, he was so overwhelmed with the sinfulness of Israel, he asked God to take him, for he thought he was the only person in Israel who faithfully served Jehovah.

“Mountaintop experiences” are so wonderful. There are those times when we see great spiritual victories and figuratively are on top of the world. You may remember in great detail that day when you obeyed the Gospel and how exhilarated you were. It may have been that day when some loved one of yours became a Christian. It may have been one of the unexpected times when you were worshiping, and you were so enthralled that you forgot about all those distractions from daily life. Thank God for “mountaintop experiences.”

However, the reality is that life always has deep “valleys” when we must leave the mountaintop. Life probably has more valleys than it has mountaintops. Situations develop and doubts and fears seem to threaten our faith. Do not despair. Look at those heroes who were in that same situation. Abraham (Gen. 15:1; 20:10-11), Isaac (Gen. 26:24), Moses (Num. 21:34), Joshua (Josh. 1:9; 8:1), David (1 Sam. 23:17), Elijah (2 Kgs. 1:15), Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:15) and Daniel (Dan. 10:12) are just a few of those individuals who were fearful when in the valleys of life.

There is a great principle of life to be learned when we look deeply into the lives of our Biblical heroes. Godly people have always had clouds of adversity around them. Their response was often like ours, but this does not mean they were not approved by God. All mankind has valleys, but Christians have something others do not have. When we are walking in valley of death may our hearts proclaim, “I will fear not evil for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Thank God for those “mountaintop experiences,” but let us thank God for the blessings of His help in the valleys!

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