Defend Your Faith

Defend Your Faith, You Cannot Defend What You Do Not Know

“…knowing that I am set for the defense of the Gospel.” Phil. 1:17

Do You Walk the Walk? Can You Defend the Faith?

Do You Walk the Walk? Can You Defend the Faith?

Walking through the Atlanta airport I had the opportunity to walk along-side three individuals dressed in military fatigues. As I often try to do, I smiled at them, and said: “I appreciate what you guys are doing.” They smiled, thanked me, and went on their way. Deep down I recognize that without them doing their job, it would make it much harder for me to do mine. We live in a free country—a country in which the majority of Americans are proud of those who are willing to defend our freedoms. These special men and women hold a place of honor in our hearts, and we even take time out to recognize special holidays for their willingness to defend (and sacrifice for) our freedom.

Sadly, this proud and honorable service of “defense” does not translate over to Christian life. Oftentimes, we simply give lip service to the notion of defending the Bible, the existence of God, or the deity of Christ. In 1 Peter 3:15—a passage that most have read (and heard from the pulpit) countless times, we read: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a reason for the hope to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” As you read these words, ask yourself honestly: Are you ready to defend your beliefs? Consider how many people you personally know who can (and do) stand up and defend God’s Word. Far too often Christians relegate “those duties” to elders, preachers, deacons, or Bible class teachers. Consider the excuse given by an adult who has been a Christian for five-ten years who responds “Well, I’m just a new Christian,”—as though that exempts them from any responsibilities. Or what about the son or daughter of a preacher or elder who relies on his or her parents to provide all of the answers. The excuses are countless—the resulting truth is tragic. For many people, the idea of defending their beliefs is uncomfortable, and something to be avoided. And yet, as Christian soldiers, each and every one of us should be ready and willing to actively defend.

Let me encourage you to change your entire mindset of Christian life. Get out of the Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday night mentality and determine to live fulltime on the front line for Christ. Stop viewing church as a social club, but instead consider it to be a body of believers who want nothing more than to honor and praise God in the fashion that He prescribes—and are willing to stand up for those practices. Be a defender of His Kingdom.

It would be great if I could simply list five things that would help each of us to become better defenders of God’s Word. But the truth of the matter is that it takes time in the Book—something that my generation has tried to get around. There are no short cuts to learning the Truths found within the pages of God’s Word. You’ve just got to make time for it, and then do it. We have no problem setting aside an hour for our favorite television show or ballgame, so why not set aside time for God?

Does this mean every person has to memorize entire chapters of the Bible? While that would be great, I’m simply encouraging each of us to “up the ante.” If you don’t read your Bible daily, make a commitment to start. If you already do then spend a few extra minutes each day digging deeper into God’s Word. How different would this world be if Christians knew their Bibles as well as they know many television shows?

Another good practice is to surround yourself with people who are strong Christians. Learn from them. Analyze their priorities in relation to your own. Talk about spiritual things with them. One of my greatest pleasures is to “spar” with my close friends regarding biblical questions. By having to defend your position, it forces you to dig deeply into the Book. For those who are older and well-studied in God’s Word allow me to encourage you to become mentors. Consider what Paul did for Timothy, and how he earnestly wanted to see him grow stronger in the faith. You can help young fighters be better prepared for combat.

Let me strongly encourage you to become an active Christian. Cast off any feelings of lethargy and apathy, and get on the front line. You’ll be amazed at how much fruit you can produce for Him.

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The Almighty

The One Who Stands Between Us and the Almighty

His friends were no help. True enough, they had heard of his plight and had come to him, but they only looked at him as he suffered and said nothing. How heartless this seemed but little could this man understand how it was destined to get worse. They just looked at him for seven days, and when they finally talked to him, it was a heartless harangue of accusations. They told him that the adversity he was experiencing was because of the vile, sinful life he was living. Their words and his response to them occupy nearly 40 chapters in the Bible.  This man was Job.

What gets between us and the Almighty?

What gets between us and the Almighty?

In the ninth chapter of Job, this man of patience proclaimed the majesty of God. God’s wisdom was such that the wisdom of any man was not worthy to be compared to His. His power seen throughout His creation caused those who really observed it to cower in fear at its magnitude. God is so great, and the wisest and strongest of mankind could never stand in any arena before Him. Job could not understand the nature of His suffering, but he did understand the magnitude of God.

In the midst of his suffering, Job described his own inability to comprehend how God could ever know what human suffering was like. He said, “For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him, and that we should go to court together. Nor is there any mediator between us who may lay his hand on both of us” (Job 9:32-33). A mediator is that individual who stands between two individuals and, because of his ability to understand both parties in a conflict, brings peace. Job could not figure out how the Almighty could ever feel what Job was feeling. Job was covered from head to toe with painful boils, yet God had never felt this kind of pain.

We may sometimes find ourselves in a similar situation when we ask, “Why am I suffering so much? What is the reason all this is happening to me?” Such questions acknowledge that He exists and that He is sovereign, but we are hurting so much we find ourselves longing to know what God knows about our suffering. This is where Job found himself.

The reality is that the Almighty is almighty in wisdom. He does understand us, but what is the assurance to us that He does understand? Job said, “O that there were a mediator,” and we can say, “O how blessed we are because we have a Mediator.” One of the results of the Word becoming flesh is the absolute assurance we have of one who can truly go between us and the Omniscient One.

Meditate on these words, “He had to be made like His brothers in every respect…for because He Himself has suffered when tempted, He is able…” (Heb. 2:17-18).  (More about this next week.)

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Philosophy of Truth?

Do Consequences Determine Truth?

God warned Christians, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ” (Col. 2:8).  There’s a reason we have this warning.  One of the most effective devices Satan has ever used to deceive mankind are false doctrines and philosophies (Matt. 7:15-20), particularly the false concept floating around these days that truth is determined by its results.

What philosophy do you follow to find truth?

What philosophy do you follow to find truth?

Many believe that truth is defined by whatever works, whatever is good or expedient.  They say a statement is true or false depending on its results.  This has led to the popularity of “political correctness,” a philosophy which seems to promote “tolerance” for everything except Christian commandments and principles.  Therefore, “tolerance” demands that we support abortion and same-sex marriage, and that we must not disagree with any religious faiths (even the ones which go against biblical teaching).  This is different from the notion of earlier generations that tolerance permits each of us the right to believe or disbelieve according to our own conscience.  No, modern “tolerance” demands acceptance of all truths, beliefs, and values…no matter how spiritually or morally bankrupt they are…as being equally valid.

What it all boils down to is this:  What works for you?  That is the key.  If you “need” to have your unborn child burned alive by a saline solution while still in your womb, if euthanasia would make your life easier, or if homosexuality works for you…then those are the right things to do.  “What works” is the governing principle.

Believe it or not, this philosophy has existed from the beginning of time.  Cain and Abel both brought an offering to God (Gen. 4:3-5), but Abel’s sacrifice was offered “by faith” (Heb. 11:4).  Since faith comes from God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), God must have had specifically told them what kind of sacrifice he wanted.  Abel honored what God had said, while Cain didn’t.  The “if it works for me” mindset would have demanded acceptance for Cain’s sacrifice, because what worked for Cain would be all that matters…but God didn’t see it that way.

Nadab and Abihu made a similar error (Lev. 10:1-3).  These two priests decided to off “strange” or “unauthorized”fire in their sacrifices, fire which God had not commanded.  God burned them alive as a result…but they were only doing what worked for them, right?  Apparently that wasn’t enough for God.

Here’s the thing.  “What works” does not determine doctrinal or moral truth.  What determines truth in these areas is and always has been God’s Word!  Read Psalm 19:7-11.  What is the law of the Lord?  Perfect.  What are the judgments of the Lord?  True and right.  What happens when we keep them?  Great reward.  What “is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”?  God’s Word (Ps. 119:105), not the philosophy of “the ends justifying the means.”

The time has come to embrace the philosophy of “Thus says the Lord!”  The time has come to get back to the mindset of not going beyond what is written in the Scriptures (1 Cor. 4:6)!

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Glorious

Glorious

The word “glorious” is used in the King James Version of the Bible thirteen times.  It can mean “dignity, honorable, to render esteem, magnify, splendid or gorgeous.”  Of course, the context of a passage will determine its meaning.  Let’s examine some things in the word of God that are described as being “glorious.”

What is Glorious?

What is Glorious?

The Gospel is Called Glorious
Paul stated, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2 Cor. 4:4)  The Gospel is considered glorious by Paul because it is the means by which those who are blinded by sin and wickedness of the world are able to see and find their way out from blindness.  Thus, the glorious gospel of Christ shines to lead sinners from their sins.

Now, since the gospel is glorious, it should be the message presented or preached to mankind.  Unfortunately in many religious circles, including within some churches of Christ, the gospel is not preached.  Therefore, when the gospel is not preached, sinners are unable to find their way out of the grips of sin.  It is each Christians responsibility to ensure that at our place of worship, that the glorious gospel is being preached because” it is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16).

The Church Is Called Glorious
Paul, writing to the Ephesians concerning the church penned, “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27)  The church is described as being splendid, full of glory, noble, and honorable.  Since this is the case, how do we treat Christ’s glorious church?  Now, the Lord’s church is not the building, yet the members of the body make up this glorious church.

Therefore, do we treat this glorious institution with the honor and respect she deserves?  Do we love the church and if the answer to this is yes, can it be proven by our actions only?  Likewise, do we call Christ’s church boring because we may have heard some of the same messages from as a child?  Do we say that the church is dead and uninteresting and this is the reason why we do not attend every service and every opportunity that the church presents to us?  Notice that Paul called the church, glorious! Don’t you think that it is about time we begin acting and living like we are a part of that glorious body?!

The Appearing of Jesus is Called Glorious
Again, Paul stated, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Tit. 2:13).  For many, the coming of the Lord will be a day of disaster.  And for those who are not prepared to meet the Lord will not look upon his coming as being glorious.  However, those who are living the Christian life on a daily basis and remaining faithful can look forward to the coming of Jesus.  Imagine what a glorious time it will be!

Many times we do not think of the gospel, the church, and the appearing of Jesus as being glorious.  Let us begin to hold these two entities and this single event in high regard.  The way we live our lives will show others and determine if we believe the gospel, the church and that the appearing of Jesus are glorious.  If our beloved brother Paul described this trio as being glorious, we should also do our best as members of the church to treat them with the respect, honor and reverence they deserve.  If not, then how would you treat something that is so glorious?

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To The House of Israel

A Word To The House of Israel

Israel was rebellious and would not hear.

Israel was rebellious and would not hear.

And God said unto Ezekiel “Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:4,5). And God said unto Jeremiah “Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:7). And God said moreover to Jeremiah “Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD…” (Jeremiah 2:2). And God said through Isaiah, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me” (Isaiah 1:2). And God said through Jeremiah “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD” (Jeremiah 22:29). And God said to Ezekiel “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD” (Ezekiel 13:2).

And God said concerning his word to the Israelites through Isaiah “This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:12). So, God said through Jeremiah that he would send destruction upon the Israelites “Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the LORD, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:19). And God, through Ezekiel, tells us why he would do such a thing. “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house” (Ezekiel 12:2).

And God explains more about this rebellious people, “That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD” (Isaiah 30:9). God said, “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts” (Isaiah 65:2). God further says, “But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone” (Jeremiah 5:23). And God says to Ezekiel “Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, even unto this very day” (Ezekiel 2:3).

Brethren, we are spiritual Israel (Romans 9:6-13; Galatians 6:16). Is it a wonder that the Holy Spirit through Paul would charge Timothy and all other gospel preachers until the end to “Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Brethren, that time has come. “Preach the word.”

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