Give Me Peace!

Give Me Peace

Everyone wants peace!

Everyone wants peace!

Peace. Who wouldn’t want more of it amongst the membership of the congregation in which they work and worship? Certainly our Lord and Savior, the “Prince of Peace” does. And as that great ‘opinions’ chapter, Romans 14, so thoroughly exhorts as it explores the prideful personal opinions, perspectives, pettiness and preferences which we so often give such a high and prized priority – even to the point of destroying one another for whom Christ died as well as the rest of the work of God in any given congregation – the Lord’s kingdom/church isn’t supposed to be about those things at all, but instead, about “righteousness, PEACE, and joy in the Holy Spirit” (See Romans 14; emphasis added on vs. 17 here – DED).

The Lord’s faithful congregations both should, and must, be a place of ultimate and unending peace within and amongst their ranks as they work and worship together to His glory. So why on earth are they so often not? While the reasons are surely many and varied, certainly the Apostle Paul’s divinely-inspired admonitions to the Thessalonians provide us with some priceless insight into one of the most common problems which continually prevents congregational peace, as well as providentially providing us with the perfect prescription for promoting, providing, and producing a more complete peace amongst us, wherever and whenever that particular problem exists.

As to the problem itself; the apostle Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12, “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.” The Greek word translated “busybodies” in verse 11 is “periergazomai,” and means, “to busy one’s self about trifling, needless, useless matters; used apparently of a person officiously inquisitive about other’s affairs.”

But this problem was far from being either new, exclusive, or limited only to these first century children of God. Solomon in all of his shining wisdom many centuries earlier had sternly warned in Proverbs 26:17 and 21: “One who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own, is like one who takes a dog by the ears… As charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindle strife.” And as the Apostle Peter also warned in his first, first-century epistle, this practice of presumptuously inserting one’s self into, and/or continually seeking to control someone else’s business when one has no real right or legitimate responsibility to do so, has absolutely no place in and amongst the saints of God, actually being akin to committing murder, being a thief, or being an evildoer according to almighty God! Really. “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters” (1 Peter 4:15). I would additionally herein remind us of Miriam, the elder sister of both Aaron and Moses, who, over an approximately 90+ year span, served so well and saw so many miracles performed by her brother Moses whom God had chosen, but who, in the end, even after all that: presumptuously meddled in the affairs of God’s chosen leader; potentially disturbed and disrupted the peace of God’s congregation in so doing; and summarily suffered the God-caused consequences for her prideful and presumptuous sin, shortly before succumbing to her own death (Numbers 12:1-16; 20:1).

And so we see that this problem was far from new to these first-century Thessalonian saints. And in fact, Paul had actually also addressed it in his earlier epistle to them as well. But yet this pride-driven, peace-shattering problem still persisted! This, despite the extremely simple, scriptural, and straightforward solution which he had, by divine inspiration, previously provided and prescribed to them. Although they already loved one another deeply and it was obvious (1 Thess. 4:9), the fact was that they still needed to increase and mature even more in their love for both their brethren (vs. 10) as well as outsiders (vss. 11-12). And as an integral and essential part of that maturation and peace-providing process, Paul’s prescription, which was both priceless as well as timeless for all such saints in the Lord’s church, was simply and powerfully stated – yea commanded – in 1st Thessalonians, chapter 4, vs. 11:

“…That you also aspire (“make it your ambition, or goal”) to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.”

How much more peaceful, joyful, and profitable, every saint obeying this command of the Lord would not only make life in our congregations overall, but also, how much more peaceful, joyful, and profitable, every saint obeying this command of the Lord would additionally make it on any and all of the loving, hard-working, soul-shepherding, and God-honoring leaders of our congregations as well – as well it should be (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; Hebrews 13:17)!

Now of course this doesn’t mean that we stop serving the Lord or being involved with loving, serving, and even correcting – when necessary – one another (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22). God forbid! (Truth be told, once one stops wasting their time and energy getting involved with what they ought and need not to anyway, it might even give them more time and opportunity to take up the righteous, more appropriate, and personal God-given responsibilities they should be more involved in to boot.) But what it does mean, is that we need to obey this commandment of the Lord not to be a “busybody,” “meddler,” or “one who needlessly and presumptuously seeks to insert themselves into some other saint’s business where they don’t belong or need to be in the first place,” just like any other. And when we do, the God of peace will be with us (1 Thessalonians 5:23), and the peace of God will preserve us (2 Thessalonians 3:16)!

And, after all… Who wouldn’t want more peace amongst the membership of the congregation in which they work and worship anyway? “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which we may edify one another” (Romans 14:17-19).

 

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Sin of Lust

Heart of the Matter: Lust

In a hyper-sexualized nation we have almost become desensitized to it: lust. Scantily clad billboards are the norm. Restaurants featuring immodestly dressed women are not just doing well—they are thriving and new chains, also featuring immodest waitresses, are sprouting up in cities all across the nation. Television has become a parade of indecently dressed actors and actresses. Even many commercials use sex to sell products and feature immodest actresses.

lust simplifies man down to an object

Lust simplifies man down to an object.

Many people are dressing not just to just attract attention, but to also accentuate their bodies. Our society feels very comfortable wearing very little or very tight clothes. A Christian would be hard pressed to go to a local mall and not feel visually assaulted. Add to this the epidemic of Internet pornography and you can easily see the recipe for disaster. Infidelity has become the norm in television sitcoms, and marriages are falling apart all across the nation. And if we are honest with ourselves, lust does not stop at the doorway of a church building.

Here’s what I intend to teach my children regarding lust.

God created our bodies—and He created them “good.” The human body is an amazing thing. Unfortunately, many people have taken the human body and turned it into an ungodly object. A simple definition of lust is longing for someone to whom you are not married. Lust is not something that Christians should be doing. Jesus said, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28).

I believe part of the reason Christ said this was because the act of lusting removes the “human” element that was created in the image and likeness of God, and reduces that person down to an object. It also causes your mind to turn away from good things and to focus on fleshly things. In that moment you are walking away from a holy God.

Your mom and I have tried hard to shelter you from much of this filth during your short lifetimes—and we encourage you to do the same in your homes. We know you are exposed to many sexual images when we go out in public, but we do everything we can to limit that exposure and to protect your hearts and minds. Many people would argue that children should not be sheltered because they claim that protective “bubble” is not what the real world is like. However, God does not (and does not need to) immerse His children in vile and graphic details so that you can “learn” and recognize sin. You do not need to experience sin to know what it is (e.g., Jesus did not need to experience sin to know what was sinful). We have reared you in such a way that hopefully you will not even open your minds to the sin of lust.

Many people lust because they view it to be a “secret sin” that no one else is aware of. However, God is aware of everything—and please remember that what you are doing is bringing your mind into darkness instead of the light. The writer of Proverbs instructed his son to keep his father’s command, “To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a seductress. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart” (Proverbs 6:24-25). Later in that same book we read, “The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the unfaithful will be caught by their lust” (Proverbs 11:6).

Lust is a battle of the mind. What you must do is constantly discipline your mind against going there. Paul in writing to the church at Galatia admonished, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish” (Galatians 5:16-17). Every time you find yourself in that battle, consider that it was our wretched sin that put Jesus Christ on the cross. Force yourself to consider the real cost of making someone into an object for your pleasure. The cost of sin is death—it’s not worth a few minutes of mental pleasure.

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The Way of Jeroboam

Cheap Religion

many religious people follow the way of jeroboam

Many religious people follow the way of Jeroboam.

In the Old Testament, we read of Jeroboam.  This king had a very different religion than that of David’s (1 Ki. 12:25-33; 2 Sam. 24:22-24).  His religion was also very different from the apostle Paul’s, who counted all things loss for the cause of Christ (Phil. 3:7-8).  Jereboam’’s religion was different in that he wanted to change the Lord’s way.  Jeremiah recorded, “. . . what a horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jer. 5:30-31).  However, God’s ways cannot be changed (Rev. 22:18-19).  Alas, as in the day of old, so it is with the new, where it does not matter to some who desire to change the Lord’s ways.

Take for instance, salvation.  We know, according to the Bible, that we must wait on the Lord and that we cannot do anything alone.  We can only be saved by the Lord’s way.  Jesus said, “. . . But whom say ye that I am?  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God . . . Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:15-16, 24).  This excludes and prevents our way from being considered or accepted.  Immersion is another problem that people have.  Is immersion really that hard to follow?  You would think this is the case since many are prone to sprinkling or pouring water, calling it baptism.  Did you know that five times it is mentioned, both Philip and the Eunuch are in water (Acts 8:26-39)?  Paul said that immersion is related to being buried with Christ (Rom. 6:3-4).  If people want to sprinkle or even turn the garden hose on someone and call that immersion, do people not know that this is not the one baptism that is authorized by the Lord (Eph. 4:5)?

These sort of problems are made public because people do not want to see the standard of authority.  They say all things are acceptable including, but not limited to, joining the church of your choice.  They have no religious conviction nor do they have a “thus saith the Lord” for what they do.  Despite the fact that the Bible says there is one body which is the church (1 Cor. 12:20).  People seem to believe what they want to believe and do things in the way they want to do them, like Jeroboam.  Thus, compromises in truth are clearly evident making the Lord’s ways seem cheap and easy.  No conviction.  Cannot say anything against someone.  They just want the smooth road and believe that you will go to heaven since there has been a blanket of grace put across mankind and that nothing we do really matters.  This could be called Jeroboamism.

The way of Jeroboam really was accepted with people in that he gave them convenience and compromises.  Today, it is no different as the people are given the opportunities to partake of the Lord’s Supper any day they want, who no longer have Biblical preaching, but entertain themselves to the point that they are lying on the floor with marshmallows of joyous entertainment attached to their faces.  But you know, the Lord is not amused.  How can we ignore Scripture as Jeroboam did?  God is not pleased with selfish pursuits and we should not be like those who poorly attempt to make going to heaven, cheap or easy.  Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt. 16:24).  Let us be faithful and be able to say, as Paul said, “. . . I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day . . .” (2 Tim. 4:6-8).  Let us not make Christianity cheap like the world does.  Let us do things the Lord’s way.

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Spending This Day

What Are You Doing with Today?

how are you using this day

How are you using this day?

I remember having a conversation that took place years ago with a brother about education. I was considering returning to school to finish my college degree. I remember making the excuse of being almost fifty years old when I would finish. This kind brother responded that, unless I was to die before then or Jesus was to return, “You are going to be fifty anyway. You can be fifty with a degree or you can be fifty without a degree.” Well, this past week I finished that degree, and I owe so much to my wife and children, as well as my Point Pleasant family, for all the love, support, and encouragement I have been so blessed with. Without you I could not have done it!

Spiritually speaking everyone dies! That, in and of itself, is a sad statement. Out of context and viewed through the prism of human wisdom the thought of death is distressing. And so mankind asks, “What is the meaning of life.” The psalmist, in Psalm 86 – 90, is right when he says that his life draws to the grave and he is but another man who will die and be buried (88:3 – 4). He says that our lives are like a story that is told and then it is over: and if we live to be 80 years old we soon die and leave this life (90:9 – 10). Over this we have no control. And when this life is over we will stand before God and give an answer and we need to know that in His dwelling place is justice and judgment.

So many make excuses for not obeying the Christian life. “I’m too old.” “I don’t know enough.” “I’m not good enough.” “What if…?” Look, the fact is that we are all going to die and there is nothing we can do about it (Ecclesiastes 8:8). And after death each one of us will stand before a righteous Judge and give an account for our lives (Hebrews 9:27; 2 Corinthians 5:10). So you are going to stand before God one way or another. Why would you not prepare yourself for that inevitable day?

We are often asked, “How are you spending your days?” The more immediate and important question is “How are you spending your day?” Today! “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 4:7). “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Make your life worth while: love, serve, obey, and be faithful! Don’t delay…why not now?

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The Sin of Gambling

Gambling

is gambling a harmless form of recreation

Is gambling a harmless form of recreation?

In the 1980s there was a series of movies called “Back to the Future” starring Michael J. Fox. In these movies, the main character, Marty McFly, had a special car that could travel into the past and future. In the second movie on a trip to the future, Marty allowed his nemesis, Biff Tannen (played by Thomas F. Wilson), to get possession of a sports book that recorded final scores to every major sporting event through the year 2000 (which was still 15 years away in 1985). He took this book back to himself in the year 1955 which enabled him to obtain a fortune gambling on sports. He then used this fortune to turn their clean cut home town into a Las Vegas style gambling Mecca complete with strip clubs, prostitution, and large casinos. In the movie, the place was an obvious cesspool of decadence, corruption, avarice, and immorality. That was the 1980’s perception of what gambling would do to one’s life and town.

Times have changed and those involved in the business of gambling have retooled their product, at least, to the public eye. Las Vegas has spent billions of dollars trying to change the public’s perception. They have built theme-park hotels with “family friendly” attractions. They offer free meals and cheap accommodations. They falsely “promise” that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. And by and large the public has swallowed the lie hook, line, and sinker. The fact of the matter is that all of these peripheral attractions are driven by one necessary ingredient�gambling. Without the gambling, there would be no theme-park hotels, shows, free meals, cheap accommodations, and false promises of keeping secret “indiscretions.” The gambling drives it all; that is where the money is made. They know that if people will come for these other reasons, then they will gamble.

Gambling itself has also been retooled in the eyes of the public. It was once associated with mob violence, prostitution, and corruption. Today it has been recast in the minds of many to simply be another form of recreation on which to spend one’s “disposable” income. Many states have, in fact, legalized gambling in the form of lotteries, para-mutual gambling laws, or floating casinos all based upon the promise of an improved economy and better school systems. The word gambling is avoided in the industry, in favor of the term gaming as “gambling” still has such a negative connotation in the minds of many. But is gambling simply another form of recreation? Does its being legal make it right? What, in fact, is gambling?

At its most fundamental level, gambling is really nothing more than what the Bible calls covetousness. What is most commonly understood as “gambling” in our culture is to risk one’s own money to gain someone else’s money based upon some kind of chance. The American Heritage dictionary defines gambling in the following way: “To take a risk in the hope of gaining an advantage or a benefit.” The same dictionary defines covetousness as follows: “Excessively and culpably desirous of the possessions of another.” It is not hard to see that gambling is really an act of covetousness inasmuch as it is a desire to possess money that belongs to someone else through minimal investment of our own. This was exactly the attitude that Jesus rebuked in Luke 12:15 when he said to a man disputing his inheritance, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Covetousness is repeatedly condemned in the New Testament as a sinful attitude which the Christian ought not to possess. It is listed as a sin in Romans 1:29 alongside of murder and fornication. It is listed as a sin in 1 Corinthians 5:10,11 and 6:10 among theft, idolatry and drunkenness. It is listed as a sin in 2 Timothy 3:2 among pride, blasphemy and unholiness. And Ephesians 5:5 says that those who practice it will not have any inheritance in the kingdom of God (Ephesians 5:5). In this regard, even if one wins at gambling, he has still sinned because he has taken something from another based upon an inordinate desire.

Gambling is also sinful because it is irresponsible. God has blessed us with earthly necessities based upon His expectation that we work for those necessities (Acts 20:34, Ephesians 4:28). God always retains ownership of these possessions (Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:26). This means that we are mere stewards of these possessions and not true owners. It is our task, as stewards, to be faithful with those things and not use them irresponsibly (1 Corinthians 4:2). Can one be faithful with such things by gambling them? Can one be faithful to one’s wife by gambling her to other men? Can one be faithful with one’s life by gambling it with a game of Russian Roulette? Can one be faithful to one’s children by putting them up as a stake in a game of chance? We readily acknowledge that one simply would not be faithful by so acting. Why then, ought we to think that God sees us as faithful when we so act with His possessions?

Many say that gambling is just something they do for fun and is no different than playing a game. If such is truly the case, then why not simply pay to play the game without expecting something in return? Why doesn’t Las Vegas simply give the money back to those who lost when they walk out the door? The fact of the matter is that gambling is only “fun” when you win someone else’s money and that is the essence of covetousness. This sin is no different from any other in that regard. Sin has always been considered “fun” by those who practice it in the world. Moses refused to engage in such “fun” so that he could be with God’s people (Hebrews 11:25). Something is only “fun” if, in fact, it isn’t sinful to begin with. We may rationalize gambling as “having fun” but then so also may someone rationalize fornication, adultery, or even murder. Saying that something is “fun” doesn’t mean that it isn’t sinful.

Gambling is a great evil upon our society. It robs the poor of their hard earned money while lining the pockets of the rich. It teaches men to covet his neighbors’ possessions and wealth. It deceives with promises that usually are never fulfilled. It robs society of income that could be used for more noble projects than floating casinos and theme-park hotels. Yet each year millions throng these places of ill-repute to cast away their hard earned money. The con artist deceives himself by saying, “I don’t take money away from other people; they give it to me,” yet we recognize him as nothing more than a witty thief. Why ought we not to see the gambling industry in the same light? As Christians, let us have nothing to do with such profligate wickedness.

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