Dealing with the Past

Do you have something in your past that hinders you from doing the right thing in the present?

Have you ever, in the past, done something for which you are now ashamed? I have! I am also pretty sure that anyone who is reading this article has, in all probability, done things in their past that they now regret having done. It is human nature to look back upon the past. Some things we recall with fondness; other things with shame or embarrassment. The past often has a way of catching up with us. Our past sins, if unrepented of, must still one day be reckoned with – “be sure your sin will find you out…” (Deuteronomy 32:23). Nevertheless, even past sins for which we have been forgiven, have a way of haunting us in the present. Sometimes the consequences of our past sins are still felt many years after repentance and forgiveness. In my case, my conscience still bothers me about some of the things I have done in the past. Even though I realize that God has forgiven me of those things, I sometimes have a hard time forgiving myself.

The apostle Paul had things in his past that could have hindered him from doing the right thing. He had plenty of cause to be remorseful. He had persecuted the church in Jerusalem and other places, “…Beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it…” (Galatians 1:13); “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison…” (Acts 8:3); “And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.” (Acts 9:1-2). He was even an accessory to murder at one point in his life! Remember when Stephen was stoned to death by an angry mob, that it was a young man named Saul who held the cloaks of Stephen’s assailants. “And cast him [Stephen] out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul… And Saul was consenting unto his death…”(Acts 7:58; 8:1).

Even before Paul’s conversion, Ananias was apprehensive towards him when the Lord commanded him to go to Paul and teach him what he needed to do in order to be saved. He said, “I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name…” (Acts 9:13-14). After Paul’s conversion, the consequences of his past sins were still felt. Some years after his conversion, the Christians at Jerusalem were still wary and mistrustful of him, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” (Acts 9:26).

Paul had reason to regret his past. First, because of the way his conscience must have bothered him for the things he had done, and second, because of what some others thought about his sincerity. How did Paul deal with this adversity? How did he put his past behind him? Did he run away and hide? Did he forsake God? NO! In his own words, he said, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14). Paul’s answer to his regretted past was to forget it, to get over it and to reach for the things that were before him. He did not waste time on “what might have been,” but instead he strove for “what may be.” He pressed towards the mark!

Baseball coaches say that one of the most important attributes of a good pitcher is a short memory. If he throws out a pitch and it is knocked out of the ballpark, he must forget about it and move on. If he is still feeling timid after the last pitch was hit for a homerun, he has a problem. His next pitch is liable to leave the ballpark as well. The same goes with us in our religious life. If our past keeps haunting us, or if we let the feelings or attitudes that others have toward us affect our Christian walk, then we have a problem. We need to let go of the past and ignore what others may think of us, and press on in our Christian life. If we would continue to walk after the way of Christ, in the face of adversity, we will be richly blessed. It is said, “Time heals all wounds.” If we faithfully follow our Savior, in time, the guilt we feel or the negative feelings of others will fade. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). Strive towards the mark of salvation! Do not let your past, or other people’s attitudes towards it, hinder you from doing what is right! If you do these things, you shall never be ashamed and everything else will just fall into place.

 

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Disputable Matters

Image with me for a moment if you will, exactly what it would be like, trying to play professional sports in the wrong venue or arena. Let’s say for instance that two Major League Baseball teams were forced to try to compete against each other… on an Olympic Alpine Ski Mountain course. How would that work? There would be no foul lines, no bases, and parameters…

Or, what if two NFL teams were told they had to play on a baseball diamond… with no alterations? Let’s see, that would mean that one team’s end zone would be only as big as the width of home plate, while the other’s was from foul pole to foul pole (which end would you want?) and there would be no goal posts so no one could score a touchdown anyway. So, how would that work? Or what if the two NFL teams had to play in the ice hockey rink arena? That’d be a hoot wouldn’t it?

Or let’s see; what other absolute and complete absurdities in the form of sports analogies can we come up with? What if NASCAR was told they had to have their drivers compete, cars and all, in a college wrestling ring? Or what if Olympic divers were told that their diving competition at the next summer Olympic games were going to be held in the same arena and on the same court where the basketball games take place – a dive into a hardwood floor from the top of the rafters let’s say?

And now let’s add one final element to the above absurdities and insanities… the losers of any of these competitions will be put to death…

It is blatantly and painfully obvious to anyone whatsoever, that all of the above scenarios are completely impossible. The reason why is because the rules and boundaries which comprise and control the competitions in each of these cases simply cannot be applied when these competitions are taken to the wrong arena. Nothing but complete chaos would arise as a result. And yet… that is exactly the insanity that many Christians allow themselves to be forced into on a daily basis… and why nothing but complete confusion occurs as a result.

For example, I was recently reminded of this once again when I was asked to review a nine page excuse sheet, quoting the same, old, tired and worn out excuses that have been biblically refuted by the faithful of our brotherhood for the past thousand years or so, when it comes to the bane of unauthorized and biblically unacceptable instrumental music in our praise to God as N.T. Christians. Near the bottom of the first page it said something along the lines of (so similar to what I’ve seen and heard so many times before from those with absolutely no biblical case whatsoever for the implementation of their desired will-worship): “Please understand that we are not attacking you or your perspective because we know that you are sincere as well and we would not want you to violate your conscience. But this is certainly a disputable matter and…” (emphasis added – DED). STOP RIGHT THERE! Reading the rest of the paper just became an exercise in complete futility. Did you see what they just did? Did you notice what they just attempted? They just sought, in no uncertain terms, to drag this discussion into an absolutely inappropriate and absurd couple of other arenas, within which this discussion has no business whatsoever of occurring under any circumstances! A couple of arenas wherein the biblical rules of interpretation and application cannot be appropriately applied (anymore than the complete absence of foul lines on an Alpine Ski mountain would make MLB play there anything other than absolutely impossible), and where the outcome cannot therefore be anything other than politically-correct, everyone’s right, wrath of God demanding disobedience!

The two arenas they sought to take this discussion into? The two arenas of “your conscience,” and “disputable matters” (See Romans 14). And this is where many Christians fail – not because of their biblical understanding and reasoning in the end at all, but because they allow themselves to be manipulated into the wrong arena to begin with!

The kind of worship music God has demanded and requires of His N.T. children here on earth is not a disputable matter (or “matter of opinion”) whatsoever. Whether or not a Christian can play cards or board games, what time services will be scheduled to be held on Sunday by each congregation, what color the carpets or songbooks are going to be – these are the discussions to be held in the arenas and under the auspices of matters of conscience, opinion, or disputable matters. Why? Because God has not specifically addressed them one way or the other, but left them pretty much up to us. Anything that God has said absolutely nothing about, pro or con, for or against, positive or negative, or addressed in any way whatsoever within the pages of sacred Scripture, THESE we can discuss in THOSE two arenas.

However, anything that God has addressed one way or the other, either for or against, even if He only addressed it ONCE, is NOT a matter of opinion, but of Revelation – and the faithful child of God must never allow himself and His defense of the truth to be dragged into any other arena other than the “thus saith the Lord” one when it comes to any such thing. It is not a “matter of conscience” but of obedience or disobedience as soon as God says anything about it! And God clearly, concisely, and consistently showed His N.T. earthly children not once, not twice, not three, not four, not five, not six, not seven, but a grand total of eight times in the N.T, EXACTLY what kind of music He wanted, desired, and demanded of them to give to Him – EIGHT times total (Matt. 26:30; Acts 16:25; Romans 15:9; I Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:18-19; Col. 3:16; Hebs. 2:12; and Jms. 5:13).

This “appropriate arena response” reminds me of the denominational lady who recently said to me when she had exhausted every other reason in her unbiblical arsenal that she could unleash in defense of the indefensible and unauthorized addition of instrumental music into our singing praise to God, “Well, I just don’t think God would condemn people to hell for having a piano in the building.” Whoa! Wrong arena! To begin with, any sentence beginning with the words “I think,” I don’t think,” “I feel,” “I don’t feel,” “I believe,” or “I don’t believe” instead of a book, chapter, and verse, “thus saith the Lord” approach is hugely suspect from the start (Isaiah 55:8-9). And secondly, the correct arena for this discussion is not whether or not God would condemn anyone for having a piano in the building, but whether or not He would condemn anyone for substituting or supplementing their own desired elements, either for, or into, what He has clearly commanded and required. And anyone who knows anything about Scripture could only answer that He definitely would – and will (Matthew 7:21-27).

The lines of this arena, and in which this discussion must exclusively take place, are the “Book, chapter, and verse” truths of Scripture. Without them, in the areas and arenas of opinion, conscience and disputable matters, lies more chaos, confusion, and condemnation than the pain and suffering of trying to have an Olympic Diving Competition on a basketball court. And this is far more than just a mere matter of life and death; it is a matter of eternal life and death. Make sure yours is decided in the proper arena when it comes to the discussion and rules of engagement on instrumental music: The “book, chapter, and verse” arena of indisputable, biblical, “thus saith the Lord” truth.

And if you need additional help staying in that arena, please see: www.clevelandcoc.com/?page_id=161, or go to www.clevelandcoc.com, click on “Bible Studies,” and download a copy of: Instrumental Music in Christian Worship/Gatherings Is a Direct Violation of the Word and Will of God.

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Hardened Heart and Calloused Conscience

One of the greatest dangers of Christians today is the development of a hardened heart and a calloused conscience. Indeed, Paul warned us: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Tim. 4:1-2, emp. SW). When we think about the danger of developing a hardened heart, certainly Pharaoh, ruler of Egypt, comes to mind in Exodus 7-9 (as a matter of fact, we could look at many of the Egyptians themselves in the same situation—Ex. 14:17-18). Yet, when we see the context of such, and know that Pharaoh declined to know the God of Joseph (cf. Ex. 1:8), then we truly see that he and others who follow his example are without excuse (cf. Rom. 1:18-32). How serious of a problem do we really have? Am I simply being an alarmist? How may one be in danger of developing such?

One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he knows to do something, but resists in doing so. Every preacher struggles with the conclusion of every sermon, wherein he offers an invitation. Every preacher knows that there are often individuals in the assembly who need to respond to the divine invitation but resist doing what they know they ought to do. James said it succinctly, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). Every single time I resist doing what I know I ought to do, my heart becomes a bit more hardened, and my conscience becomes a bit more seared. Then, every successive time I resist doing what I know I ought to do, I feel a little less guilt. Such is the great temptation to every Christian! In speaking concerning the Jews, Paul exhorted,

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. [Rom. 2:4-5]

In other words, instead of repenting, which was the intended response of the goodness, forbearance and longsuffering of God (cf. 2 Pet. 3:9), they refused to do what they should and thus developed hardened hearts.

One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he knows not to do something, but persists in doing it. By its very nature, sin is addicting (cf. John 8:34), and oftentimes, Christians get caught up in sins that they know are wicked and unrighteous, but the light of the word does not shine through to motivate them to quit as it should (cf. Psa. 119:11). Thus, with each and every occasion, as long as the person fails to quit, the feelings of guilt will diminish with every occurrence, and the heart begins to harden and the conscience becomes more calloused. Thus, God wants soft and tender hearts and consciences that respond appropriately. This is the major difference between King Saul and David—Saul repetitively sinned through rebellion against God (his apologies never meant anything), but David sincerely stopped when presented with guilt (cf. 2 Sam. 11-12; Psa. 51). We all sin (1 John 1:7-9), but will we repent, confess and change our lives? If not, then our persistence to sin will be detrimental to our souls!

One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he lives hypocritically. One cannot read the accounts of the gospel of Jesus Christ without seeing the hardened hearts and calloused consciences of the Jewish leaders of His day. Yet, one of the primary reasons for such was their hypocrisy, which Jesus infamously took to task in Matthew 23. Anytime we become hypocritical—saying one thing but living differently—we only continue the process of hardening the heart and searing the conscience with callouses. Parents who think that they can rear their children with the attitude, “Do as I say, but not as I do,” will have a rude awakening should their children become adults. Hypocrisy quickly leads to hardened hearts and calloused consciences.
One may develop a hardened heart and a calloused conscience when he judges hypercritically. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 7:1-5:

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

Anytime one attempts to correct the faults of others through hypercriticism, extracting a speck with a beam of his own protruding forth, he is showing his own neglect for his own life, and his heart will harden and he will sear his own conscience. His attention is only on the faults of others and not himself. David is a great example of this in his condemnation of a fictitious rich man from Nathan’s story (2 Sam. 12), in that he failed to see the exact fault of which Nathan was addressing by God in his own life, but was quick to judge so in others!

Rather than developing hardened hearts and calloused consciences, may we all seek to mold tender hearts and consciences (cf. 2 Kings 22:19; 2 Chron. 34:27) by allowing the word of God to become active in our lives—we will do what God says and we will refuse to do what God says not to do; we will not live hypocritically, neither will we judge hypercritically. In this way, we will all draw closer to God!

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Pray for Me

Brethren, Pray For Me

Paul was a man who fully understood the importance of prayer in the life of a Christian. He began so many of his epistles with an affirmation that he was praying for those addressed. He believed in the importance of prayer. He told this to the Romans, the Corinthians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, the Thessalonians and Timothy. Paul really believed in prayer.

There is a remarkable request he made to the church in Thessalonica. After urging them to pray without ceasing, he then said, “Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thess. 5:17, 25). He believed that the prayers of brethren on his behalf would make a difference in what happened in his life. Because of this, I ask of you, “Brethren, pray for me.”

I believe with all my heart that God has blessed me because of those who have told me over all of these years that they are praying for me. I am thankful that many, especially widows in the church, have prayed for me, and their prayers have changed the events in my life. Some are now deceased, like Evelyn and Ludell, but they prayed for me until the end of their lives. I think of Willette, who, at age 99, still prays for me every day as she has for the past forty years. There are others who pray for me, and I owe each of them a debt. “Brethren, pray for me.”

In Colossians chapter four, Paul urged those brothers to continue in prayer and then mentions some specific things which he wanted them to include in that prayer. “I ask you, my brethren, to include these in your prayers for me.” He specifically asked them to petition God, “That God would open unto us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” Think of it! Paul believed that if the church in Colosse would pray that there would be opportunities for him to teach others, it would happen. “Brethren, pray for me.”

He added to this another request. “That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak” (Col. 4:4). Truth is absolute and eternal. Yet, for it to change the lives of those who hear preaching, it must be manifested to them. It must be presented in such a way that it can be understood. Without this, preaching ceases to be preaching. “Brethren, pray for me.”

I want each of you to know that in private prayers I am praying for you. Some are mentioned specifically by name, for I know of special needs you have. I so often pray that God bless the brotherhood and that He would work in the lives of my brethren around the world.

Now if Paul, the great apostle, believed so firmly that the prayers of brethren helped (see 2 Cor. 1:11) and asked others to pray for him, then, from the depths of my heart I ask, “Brethren, pray for me.”

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Smoking

Smoking as well as many other things are habit forming, yet does the Bible say anything directly about smoking? Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

Now the question is: “Is smoking a good work which glorifies God?” Our lives are to be of service to God. Paul said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Rom. 12:1, 2)

Therefore, since one is to glorify God and we are to present ourselves holy and acceptable to God, what verse does a smoker use to justify his use of tobacco? Perhaps he uses the verse, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Col. 3:17) Perhaps he tells others of the scriptures that say, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31)

Did Jesus smoke? Does smoking spread the kingdom of God further? Now, some may say that ‘those who are obese and eat too much is just as much of a sin as smoking, right?’ Well, the answer to this is No. Severe gluttony can damage the body, but smoking does so much more damage. First of all we must consider what is obese. For, in the world today obesity is measured by athletes and the perfect body of lean muscles and little to no fat. However, these standards are ever changing for only 100 years ago one who was considered average then, would today be classified as clinically obese.  Secondly, smoking unlike eating causes harm to other people.  Tobacco itself has been labeled a drug and those standing around you or riding in the car with one that smokes has no greater health than one who wraps his lips around a car’s exhaust pipe.  Tobacco is a deadly drug that harms, destroys, and denigrate himself not to mention the influence that one displays to others.

Tobacco has power over the user. The apostle Paul mentioned that he would not be brought under the power of anything, except the power of God. (1 Cor. 6:12) Paul knew that when something has power over us that controls us meaning that we cannot do without it, it has too much power. Therefore, we need to “Exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Heb 3:13) And there are 3 facts of sin. The power of it which allures and fascinates. (Rom 7:21) It decieves sowing pleasure, but conceals the pain and shame. (1 Tim 2:14) It enslaves and leads men into captivity by paralyzing their will and blinds the intellect. (Gal. 4:3)  The stain of it which is not seen on our reputation, but on the body because disease leaves its fingerprints on the soul and stains the conscious. (1 Tim 4:2) The guilt of it not only from a man’s own conscious, but from the Heavenly testimony and what the Lord will hold against us as we stand guilty of the sin that was done. (Rom. 3:23)

But, what about those who smoke for recreational purpose or once in a while and do not smoke several packs a day . . . that should be O.K., wouldn’t it? Tell me, why would anyone ingest a product containing poison like cyanide, arsenic, insecticides, disinfectants, and fertilizers? There is nothing attractive about a human chimney, puffing noxious fumes and poisoning the public. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1) “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Cor. 6:20)

If smoking has power over us that we cannot quit and if it does not glorify God, then it is sin for all things should be done to the glory of God. We are to let our Christians lights shine before all men, not a lighted cigarette before all men.

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