Faith is not a Feeling

The story is told of a boy flying a kite who was so successful that the kite went out of sight.  There the boy stood with a cord in his hand that bent upwards into the sky. Someone asked him how he knew the kite was there.  Without saying a word, the boy put the string into the hands of the bystander who immediately could feel the pull of the unseen kite on the string.  You see, the boy didn’t just have a gut feeling that the kite was there; he could prove it was there.

Likewise, faith is not a feeling; it’s a fact.  Hebrews 11:1 defines it this way: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The word “substance” means, “that which has actual existence; foundation.”  The word “evidence” means, “that by which a thing is proved.” Thus, biblical faith is not a feeling, but rather the proof of the existence of the unseen things of God. For example, a man may never see his paperboy, but he knows he exists – not because of a feeling, but because of that newspaper he finds on his doorstep every day.  How do we know that God exists?  Not because of a gut feeling, but because of the evidence around us (Rom. 1:19-20; cf. Acts 14:17).

Friends, is your faith based on feelings or facts?

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The Sandwich Principles of Spirituality

Nearly everyone loves sandwiches! There are so many delicious combinations that can be invented. Need a quick snack? Try a sandwich! Need to feed a lot of people inexpensively? Sandwiches are the answer. Have picky eaters? Sandwiches without crust are a favorite. They can be eaten cold, hot, whole, halves, or quarters. Sandwiches can be dipped in soup, covered with melted cheese, or fried in egg. Rye bread, sourdough, white, wheat, onion, rolls, subs, French, bagel, so many types of bread are great for sandwiches. They can be eaten inside, outside, formal, informal, in the car, on a boat (even eat them with a goat!). Who when hearing the many verses of the Bible stating “sand which is by the sea”, cannot help but think of sandwiches! Thus, “The Sandwich Principles of spirituality” must be presented. The goal being a light hearted approach in giving a person just another reminder about the Bible from everyday things, however, there are certain aspects presented here which will likely give some people indigestion (Acts 7:57).

The Swiss Cheese Sandwich Principle – Pursue Holiness
Yes, a principle named after the central part of the Swiss Cheese Sandwich, Swiss cheese, which is holey. When you think Swiss cheese, from now on think holy. Man’s ultimate goal in Christianity is to be like Christ who is holy (Mark 1:24). The apostle Paul encourages Christians to be holy proving the will of God (Romans 12:1-2). As ordained by God, man “should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3-4). The definition of Holy is pure or morally blameless. Man pursues holiness because he loves God and wants to please him. There are so many avenues in life that have been turned to crooked streets. Television, which has so many helpful aspects, has been corrupted to such a degree it is debatable whether or not it should even be turned on. Radio is the same. Billboards, checkstands, newspapers, and magazines nearly all spout filth. Fortunately, there are alternatives in this information age, but the traps still exist. Clothing certainly is an issue of purity and morality and it has been since the first man and woman. Issues such as not enough clothing, the tightness, or the images shared on the clothing have caused both men and women to sin. Social influences operating since the earliest of times invite man to accept lewdness and sexuality at nearly every corner they turn. Social pitfalls such as dancing, drinking, drugging, fornication, adultery, and petting claim innocence each day, yet, man ignores the damage he sees. God did not intend for man to defile himself this way. Pursue Holiness.

Mark 7:20-22 – And he said, That which proceedeth out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, evil thoughts proceed, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, covetings, wickednesses, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, railing, pride, foolishness: all these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man.

2 Corinthians 6:17 – Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

The Dagwood Sandwich Principle – Pursue Growth
Dagwood Bumstead is a comic strip character from the comic “Blondie”. The Dagwood sandwich is named after him. His approach was pursuing growth. The more you add on the sandwich the better it is. Meats, cheeses, vegetables, piled high as you can go – mmmmm! God put man on the earth and did not just leave him to do nothing. He gave man work to do (Genesis 1:28, 2:15). Man, of course, decided to do what he wanted to do which just resulted in sin. God allowing man to see what horror results, started man off again. This time He chose a specific people (Israel) to show the blessings and curses which result from following God. It was this people from which he would bring his son and engage the next part of his plan for man. To Israel it was said:

Deuteronomy 5:33 – Ye shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.

As God knew beforehand, this people would not obey. However, they did carry the lineage from which God’s Son Jesus was born and in his life he provided the perfect example for mankind. Having this example, man knew precisely what they were to grow into. Later the apostles Paul and Peter would say:

Ephesians 4:14 …be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.

1 Peter 2:1-2 – Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

The idea behind growth is to become like Christ. Man is to put away all of the things that are not pure in his life. However, a person does not grow without having the proper input. An individual cannot just keep away the impure, they must consume the pure. Bring on the Dagwood sandwich of spirituality, which is the Bible. That is the pure spiritual milk Peter speaks off. It is the daily and lifelong study, pursuit, and application of the Will of God. No person is too young or old to have God’s truths fill their life. King David, the second king of Israel, once stated: “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Psalms 119:97). Following God’s law is not something that is to be a burden, but something which becomes part of man and he longs to do. Growing in the instruction of God matures and prepares man for his salvation and at no point is man to stop such growth.

2 Peter 3:17-18 – Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.

BLT Sandwich Principle – Pursue Perfection
Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato with a thin spread of mayonnaise, is a BLT. It is not Bacon, Cabbage, tomato, or Ham, Lettuce, Tomato, or even Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and pickle. A BLT is what it says. It does not need any other vegetables or meats. It is perfect just the way it is. The word of God is just the same.

Psalms 19:7 – The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

Yet, folks want to change perfection. God establishes assembling on the first day of the week and partaking of communion to remember His son (Acts 20:7), man changes it to assemble on Saturdays or partake of the communion monthly, quarterly, or annually. God says be immersed in water for salvation (I Peter 3:21), man changes to sprinkling or just believing . God says lead with men who meet proper qualifications (I Timothy 3:1-7), man leads with unqualified men and women. Each person sees his way as a better way. They see their change as an improvement. Yet, just as with the BLT, it is not just changes which spoil the sandwich, additions do the same. God says sing (Colossians 3:16), man adds instruments. God says follow His Word (John 14:6), man adds the Koran, book of Mormon, Catechism, watch tower publications, or various additional ordinances assuming the authority of God. God says preach the word to draw souls (I Corinthians 1:21), man adds gyms, coffee shops, plays, puppet shows, bands, and discount food delivery programs to draw people. You cannot change perfection and have it still be perfection. You cannot add to perfection and have it be perfection.

Galatians 1:6-8 – I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

P & J – Pursue Simplicity
Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches are comfort food to a great many people. They are simple to make, yet they are also flexible with ingredients. Peanut butter is specific. Jelly, is flexible. Do you want grape, strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, or a host of other jellies? No problem, enjoy! Do you want something other than peanut butter? Sorry… it is no longer a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. God’s word is much like a P&J sandwich. It has some things which are very specific. God makes clear what he wants. However, there are some things with which God is flexible. His general authority is there, but he allows man a choice. For instance, God tells man to assemble and encourage one another (Hebrews 10:24-25). This is a general command which allows man to assemble where he desires. That place may be a home, a park, a grange hall, or a Church building. God did not make his Word so complex man could not understand it. He made it simple to follow and easy to engage, if man would not be distracted by his own desires.

Proverbs 14:6 – A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Romans 16:19 – For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

James 3:17 – But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Matthew 11:30 – For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

How much frustration occurs in everyday life? God made things real simple. Be pure and holy (Philippians 4:8), avoid the appearance of evil (I Thessalonians 5:22), and love him by keepings His commandments (John 14:15). It is only when man brings his own desires and “what if’s” to the table, desiring to walk some sort of imaginary line where he can get away with the “most”, he makes life far more complicated than it needs to be.

The Sandwich Principles of spirituality are principles evident in scripture. They can be garnered from simple blessings of our everyday diet – Swiss cheese, Dagwood, BLT, and P & J sandwiches. Pursue holiness, growth, perfection, and simplicity in all that you do (Hebrews 12:12-15).

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Faithfulness and Apostasy

The road between faithfulness and apostasy is rarely direct. It’s not as though we walk in the light of God’s Word (1 John 1) for years and suddenly make a wrong turn and find ourselves lost in sin. Rather, in almost every case it’s the slight deviations from God’s prescribed path that end up putting us back on the broad road that leads to destruction. Consider Joshua 24. In this familiar chapter we see Joshua challenging the families to make a choice for themselves as to whom they would serve, whether the God who had delivered them countless times or the gods of the Egyptians or Canaanites. Joshua boldly proclaimed that he and his house would serve the Lord, and the people of Israel responded by saying that they would be right there with him, grounding their families in the law they had been given. So, everything was happily ever after and the people followed God for many years to come, right?

Although Joshua’s narrative ends there, Israel’s story is picked up in the same place at the beginning of Judges. Judges 2:7-10 tells us that Israel was faithful while Joshua was alive, but once that generation died out the next generation came along with no regard for God. The text immediately shows that they began worshiping the idols that their parents and Joshua had vowed to never serve. Those who had committed to training their families to serve the Lord had lost everything within one generation. But, as always, it didn’t just happen in the course of one day. Faithfulness doesn’t turn into apostasy on accident.

Backing up a few verses, we can start reading in Judges 1:27 about how the Israelites had gone into the land, conquered many cities, and then got comfortable. Instead of obeying God’s command to drive out all of the people in the land along with their idols, the Israelites allowed them to stay. One step is all it takes to find yourself on the road to apostasy. The idolaters lived, they kept practicing their idolatry, and they influenced the children of Israel to turn from God once their parents died. Those families could stand and claim their allegiance to God and their intentions to serve Him within their households, but God prescribed a course of discipleship (Deuteronomy 6) and if they didn’t follow it every day, their words would prove hollow and useless. Think of the messages they sent their children when they said they would follow God but ignored His command to remove all of the people from Canaan. They showed that God’s commands weren’t all that important. They showed that comfort was more important than obedience. They showed that they could pick and choose what they would follow. The messages were loud and clear, and their children followed suit.

That road between faithfulness and apostasy isn’t direct, but it is well mapped out for us. Looking at examples such as the Israelites, we can see the messages that our “little” compromises send. So, we have to ask ourselves, “What messages am I sending?” when we let our children choose sports or school over worship, class or personal Bible study time, or when we teach what the Bible says about loving people but constantly gossip, rip them, and ignore the parts about doing for others, or when we attend church on Sunday and sit through something like the Grammys, filled with immodesty and homosexuality… and the list goes on. It all starts with compromise. You’re either moving towards faithfulness or away from it. You’re either leading your family to strive to walk in the Light, or you’re showing them that it’s ok to make some compromises sometimes. Which road will you choose?

 

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What is this Body?

We have all heard the old saying, “You are what you eat.” To a certain degree this is true – if you eat food that is high in fat, unless you exercise, you will become overweight – you will become fat. Dieticians have known this fact for many years. Physically, you are what you eat. However, the Bible teaches that the physical body is not who we truly are. Peter makes this  crystal clear in 2 Peter 1:13-14 “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.” Peter understood that the earthly “tabernacle” – his body – was but a temporary shelter for his eternal spirit.

We are essentially spiritual beings, created in the image of God – in His likeness. (Genesis 1:26-27). Since God is a spirit (John 4:24), and Spirit has no physical appearance, then how are we created in His likeness? We are in His likeness because we have a spirit created within us (Genesis 2:7), a spirit that will exist into eternity with God or separated from God. (Matthew 25:46). Since our spirit is eternal in its endurance and God is the Eternal Spirit that created us, we are like Him in that regard.

Therefore, spiritually speaking, what we eat or how we eat it has little to do with who we truly are. Jesus affirms this in Mark 7:15, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.”

So then, if our physical body and the things we put in it do not define who we truly are, then what does? The wise king Solomon said, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” (Proverbs 23:7) Solomon says it is our thoughts that define who we truly are. The thoughts and intents of the heart, the things we think about when we are alone with our thoughts are more indicative of who we truly are than is the things that we do and say publicly. If we think about nothing but what food we eat – then we truly are what we eat. If our thoughts are constantly upon worldly matters then we are worldly. If our thoughts are constantly upon spiritual matters then we are spiritual. Romans 8:5 make this obvious, “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” In the next verse, Paul tells us the result of being carnally minded, “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6).

The Bible commands us to be spiritually minded. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2). It should be our desire to become spiritually minded – but how do we go about it? By warring a spiritual warfare, using our spiritual weapon – the Spirit’s sword (Ephesians 6:17), “…to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 10:3-5) Do you want to be spiritually minded? Do you want life and peace? “Seek the things that are above” by seeking “first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) How do we bring “into captivity every thought to the captivity of Christ”? Put “self” to death – “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset” you. (Hebrews 12:1). Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) Become so involved in the Lord’s work that it absorbs you to the point that it dominates your being and requires all your heart and mind to focus on it.

When in everything we do, we seek to please God, it will require us to think about and study about what pleases Him. It will cause us to focus our minds upon the spiritual and waste less time with thoughts about worldly matters and other things that distract us spiritually.

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Attitude about Fellowship

Having the Right Attitude Regarding Fellowship

There are two extremes being played out in the brotherhood today.  On the one hand, you have individuals who have almost completely abandoned any meaningful concept of doctrine.   These accept any and every doctrine that men may teach including: the use of instruments in worship, divorce and remarriage for any cause, salvation based upon faith or grace only, compromises in church organization, acceptance of Mosaic law as binding on Gentiles, compromises respecting moral issues, etc.  The extreme of allowing any and every doctrine and practice to enter the church and be accepted as legitimate, Jesus calls “lawlessness” (Matthew 7:21-23).  The apostle John sets forth this thought as the defining characteristic of sin (1 John 3:4) taught and practiced by early libertine Gnostics.  This attitude is wrong and sinful and we ought to oppose it with every fiber of our being.

On the other hand, you have individuals who have almost completely abandoned any meaningful concept of love.  These seek to purge the church of all elements which display weakness, ignorance, frailties, and foolishness/stupidity.  These have forgotten that Christ died for an imperfect people whom he desperately loves and for whom he was willing to sacrifice all that they might be saved (Ephesians 5:25).[1] Yes, it was and is His desire to perfect the church.  However, that perfecting process involves patience, longsuffering, forbearance, and love.  That process recognizes that individuals and churches need to grow and mature in Christ (2 Peter 3:18) and that no one person, other than the Lord, has so lived as to claim perfect maturity.

In that regard, we ought to realize the beautiful reality that is the church as the bride of Christ.  Let us consider our own marriages.  Do we constantly berate and criticize our spouses when they make mistakes or commit errors?  I hope that is not our common practice; that would make for a miserable marriage indeed.  Moreover, when our spouses make such mistakes, do we immediately threaten with the dissolution of the marriage?  Of course not, we give time and opportunity for them to consider the situation and make correction or perhaps, consider ourselves whether our expectations are unfair or our criticisms too harsh.  And when we do consider dissolution of marriage it is only for the gravest of offenses and those conducted by an impenitent heart (Matthew 5:32, 19:9).

If we consider that there is any meaning to the relationship set forth by Paul in Ephesians 5:32, that the relationship between Christ and the church is like the marriage relationship, then we ought to consider that it isn’t for just any old reason that Christ would cut off a member of his body, that he would divorce himself from his spouse, the church and her members.  That is not to say that there is no reason to ever do such, but rather, that such an action is so drastic that it is reserved for only those offenses so rank and grave and which are intentionally and knowingly committed.  What compels us not to cut off otherwise?  Is it not the principle of love for our brethren?  Is it not the hope that a soul may so grow and learn so as to adjust behavior and one day be saved?

Having this attitude and knowing the process of Christian growth, we recognize that there are those who are trying to live the Christian life and who fail to do so perfectly (1 John 1:7), but that nevertheless, such individuals ought not to be carelessly subjected to the last and final form of church discipline, namely, the withdrawal of fellowship.  One who is seeking to live faithful and obey the Lord ought to be encouraged to grow and mature instead of being censured for his weaknesses, ignorance, frailties, and sometimes stupidity/foolishness.  Yes, he has a responsibility to learn and repent, but he needs to be allowed to personally work out his own salvation (Philippians 2:12), not as a result of collective pressure placed upon him by external forces; otherwise, there is no growth.  We should note that we are not discussing matters that would compromise the Lord’s worship, organization of the church, or the Lord’s plan of salvation.  Neither are we considering sins done intentionally and knowingly by individuals seeking to undermine the doctrine of Christ (Hebrews 10:26).

In this regard, please consider the wise words of brother Guy N. Woods, who in a sermon titled, “The Security of the Believer” said the following:

. . . we read in first John two and one: “My little children, these things write I unto you that you sin not.”  Observe that this is an admonition against sin – instruction to us to avoid it to the extent of our ability.  But the verse continues, “If any man sin, he has an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”  There our Lord is said to be our advocate and an advocate is a pleader, signifying about the same as our English words lawyer or attorney, the function of which is to plead one’s case.  This represents our Lord as our heavenly lawyer, there arguing our case not, of course, upon our merit, but upon his.  And further, had John here intended to look at the matter as an overall act and as sin continuously, then the verb of the passage would not have been in the aorist tense, but it is in the first John two passage.  And what it says in effect is this.  “I write to admonish you against a life of sin, but in the event (and I would insert parenthetically that this is not to be intent[ional] or by premeditation, but growing out of ignorance or weakness or stupidity) if one sins he has an advocate.”  And “sins” there suggest a single act.  And so what is said here is, that in the event of such for the faithful Christian, then there is the advocate provided.[2]

Take a look with me please at what I regard as the single most wonderful thing for the Christian taught in the Bible.  In first John chapter one verse seven, “If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.” . . .  Walking in the Bible is a very common figure for Christianity and a very fitting one because walking suggests an unwearied approach to a goal.  And that is exactly what Christianity is; it is a walk from earth to heaven and the goal is eternal life, but that walk is circumscribed, it’s not anywhere, everywhere; it is in the light.  Light is a synonym for truth as its opposite darkness symbolizes error.  Hence to walk in the light is to live by the truth, of course, the truth of God’s word.  For those who so do, the blood cleanses.[3]

Number one, that teaches us that the faithful child of God is not condemned.  Did you observe that I said, “Faithful child of God?”  You are not to understand these remarks to apply to apostates.  You are not to understand me to be talking about one who deliberately pursues a course of sin.  I am not.  I am talking about people just like us who want to go to heaven, who are trying to go to heaven, but who because of our weaknesses and frailties, imperfections, our ignorance and often times our stupidity, we make mistakes.  What is our first proposition?  The faithful child of God is not condemned.[4]

So what John says here is that those who walk not after the flesh, which means a carnal fleshly ungodly existence, but who [are] guided and directed with the Spirit, these are those who have the assurance of the passage.  What’s the similarity between Paul’s condition and John’s?  What was Paul’s condition?  “Who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  What was John’s condition?  “Who walk in the light as Christ is in the light.”  What do those statements mean? Exactly the same.  One is a commentary on the other.  And both of them mean to live as best you can by his word.  What results for those who thus do?  The blood cleanses.  If we walk in the light the blood cleanses.  If we keep on walking in the light, the blood keeps on cleansing.[5]

If the Lord can be patient, forbear, and have love for us enough so that even when we sin, albeit through weakness, frailty, ignorance, foolishness/stupidity, his blood continues to cleanse us of our sins and he continues to be our advocate before the presence of the Father, then may we not maintain such an attitude toward our brethren and maintain fellowship with them?

We must not compromise doctrine.  However, at the same time, we must be patient, loving, kind, considerate, forbearing, merciful, and tender when it comes to the practice of that doctrine.  In so doing, we may extend fellowship to those who have committed sin unintentionally, through ignorance, as a result of weakness, due to frailties, or even on account of foolishness or stupidity with the knowledge that our Lord covers such sins through His blood (1 John 1:7), provided that that individual is not seeking to abandon the truth and walk in rank darkness.  May God help us to exercise compassionate judgment when dealing with our brethren for with such standard we judge, we shall be judged (Matthew 7:2).

[1] Warren, Thomas B., Marriage is for Those Who Love God – And One Another (Warren Publications: Fort Worth, 1962) p.73.

[2] Woods, Guy N. “The Security of the Believer.”  Available online at: http://www.wsoj.net/librarymGNWa.htm.  Note, due to considerations of space, the entire sermon cannot be reproduced here.  We encourage the reader to listen to the entire lesson as presented by brother Woods.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

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