Not a Time for Timidity

The crowd would have been larger last Saturday when 20,000 people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D. C. in support of atheism had it not rained. Some of the speakers were absent but still sent videos to support the effort to mock Christianity. Speakers included Bill Maher, Adam Savage (co-host of Mythbusters) and David Silverman (president of American Atheists). Silverman praised those associated with him who storm faith barricades and bring “unpopular but necessary” lawsuits. He called for “zero tolerance” for anyone who disagrees with or insults atheism.

The featured speaker was Richard Dawkins, the renowned physicist and advocate of atheism.  He called upon all those assembled not only to challenge religious people but to “ridicule and show contempt” for their religious doctrines and sacraments. His words were obviously received with great enthusiasm by those assembled to hear him.

The fact that all this could happen shows how openly our faith is being attacked. Those of us who have a respect for God as a creator and as the absolute standard for morality have become open targets for comedians and for many in the news media. We are truly faced with great challenges.

It is amazing how moral issues have become the focus of political conflict. Every Christian is confronted with decisions about those who support gay marriages, the rights of parents to teach morality to their children, abortion and the right to openly practice our faith. Years ago the issues had to do with international relations, freedom in distant lands and democracy, but such issues are no longer in the forefront. For Christians, the central issue is morality! It is greater than the display of the Bible and prayer in schools. It is an attack against the fundamental values of righteousness.

These problems are not just related to Washington, but they are found all around us. Yet far too many Christians are hesitant to speak in the marketplace, during coffee breaks at work, at the gym, and among their friends when words which cause great joy in hell are being spoken by others. Remember that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). In the absence we create from our timidity, the shouts from hell will be the only thing heard!

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord . . . take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand” (2 Tim. 1:8; Eph. 6:13).

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What do You Know about Aaron?

When we consider the man Aaron, how much do we really know of him? Perhaps we know him as the brother of Moses. Others may know that he had some sons and that two died before the Lord. Perhaps, you know him from his rod in the Ark of the Covenant. But, what many people remember him for and for what he is commonly known for throughout the religious world is a man who built a golden calf. But, consider if you will, the life of Aaron.

Aaron’s genealogy and his family are mentioned in Ex. 6:20, 23. Aaron was three years older than Moses (Exo. 7:7). But, Aaron was not just a brother to Moses. They were partners in work of the Lord. In the Pentateuch he is called the Levite of priest and he is Uirst mentioned when Yahweh appoints him as the spokesman for Moses in the mission to Pharaoh. In Exo. 4:10–‐17, after Moses complains that he doesn’t know how to talk to people, Aaron was chosen by God to be the prophet of Moses. Thus, Moses was to be to Aaron as God and Aaron was to speak the words that Moses spoke to him (vs. 16). And so, Aaron in vs. 27–‐31, spoke to the people as Moses had instructed.

Aaron was Moses’ right hand man who appeared together before the Egyptian king. The relationship between them furthered when Aaron along with Hur supported Moses during the battle with the Amalekites (Exo. 17:8–‐13). It was Aaron who held up one of the hands of Moses so that the will of God could be accomplished. Furthermore, when the covenant was made at Sinai, Aaron and his sons Nadab and Abihu, accompanied Moses to the base of the mountain in which Moses went up to gather the words of God.

Now, we know that as Moses was one the mountain, that Aaron made a golden calf, which also excused him self saying that the people made him do it (Exo. 32). Again, in Numb. 12, Aaron appears in an unfavorable light as he criticizes Moses and his wife. You see, Aaron had for a brief moment, forgotten his place thinking that just because God had also spoken to Aaron directly (Lev. 13:1; 14:33; 15:1; 19:1), that he felt the law could come through someone else besides Moses (Numb. 12:2). Of course, Aaron was mistaken. Now, there were still some great things that Aaron was a part of. The priesthood was instituted at Sinai and solemnly bestowed upon Aaron, his four sons and their descendants (Exo. 28). Aaron was to be given holy garments that were for glory as well as beauty (Exo. 28:2) and he was a type of high priest, by which, the priest descended down through his family with Nadab, Abihu, Ithamar and Eleazer (Lev. 10:1–‐7). And, he continued to stand for God and with his brother Moses even when hungry people murmured against them both (Exo. 16). It was he who spoke to the people about their murmuring.

Aaron and Moses, close brother to the very end. In Num. 20 we read of the people having no water in which they go against Moses and Aaron again. Aaron and Moses were told to take the rod (vs. 8) and speak to the rock before the congregation. Moses struck the rock and Aaron spoke words that were in rebellion to the Lord’s words (Num. 20:12, 24). As a result, both of them were forbidden to lead the children of Israel to the promise land and both died.

With Moses dying soon, Aaron died at Mosera (Deut. 10:6) on the mount of Hor (Numb. 20:22–‐29) at the age of 123 (Num. 20:29). This was during the 40th year of the wilderness wanderings (Num. 33:38–‐39). And, while Eleazar, his son took his place as priest (Deut. 10:6), all of Israel mourned Aaron for 30 days (Num. 20:29).

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The Price of Children

Not to long ago, there was a calculation on the cost of raising a child from birth to 18. It was suggested that the expense was about $160,100 for a middle–‐income family. And, while that is a lot of money, those estimations grow even higher considering college tuition and the ever rising cost of living. Now, to get a better understanding of this amount, some people took this $160,100 and broke it down to: $8,896.66 a year, $741.38 a month, or $171.08 a week. That’s a mere $24.24 a day! Just over a dollar an hour.

Because of these kinds of numbers, some have suggested that if you want to be rich, don’t have children. However, I would state that if one wants to be rich, they ought to have children, especially when they consider what they are getting for that $160,100. Naming rights. First, middle, and last! Glimpses of God every day. Giggles under the covers every night. More love than your heart can hold. Butterfly kisses and bear hugs. Endless wonders over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies. A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate. A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites. Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to: finger–‐ paint, carve pumpkins, play hide–‐and–‐seek and catch lightning bugs. You have an excuse to: keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh, watching Saturday morning cartoons, go to Disney movies, and wish on stars. You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay on Mother’ Day, and cards with backward letters for Father’s Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for: retrieving a Nerf ball out of the tree or Frisbee off the garage roof, taking the training wheels off a bike, removing a splinter, filling a wading pool and coaxing a wad of gum out of hair. You get a front row seat to history to witness the: first step, first word, first date, first time behind the wheel and to seed the seed of God’s Word began to grow in your child. You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you’re lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology , nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. And in the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo–‐boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits. So, one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. I would say that all this is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

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The Beautiful Church of Christ

In studying and referring to Ephesians 5:22-33, I have more often than not used this text for the purpose of teaching about marriage and the proper relationships within the home. Nevertheless, Paul makes it quite clear: “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church” (Eph. 5:32). The roles that husbands and wives play only serve to illustrate the true lessons therein, but I have emphasized many times the illustration above the real lessons, even if they are practical and scriptural. Thus, I want to address the principle lesson that Paul addresses—the beautiful church of Christ.

In the first place, the church of Christ is to submit to Jesus as our head. After admonishing the brethren in Ephesus to submit “one to another in the fear of God” (5:21), he then emphasizes that the church of Christ is to submit to Jesus as our head, just as wives are to submit to their husbands and recognize them as heads of the household. He had earlier pointed out to the Christians in Ephesus the relationship that Christ has with His church (1:22-23), and he once again points out in this epistle that unravels the mystery of the gospel concerning the church (cf. 3:1-12) what Christ desires from His bride, the church—submission. Thus, Christians ought always to view the will of God with a heart that is ready to obey (cf. Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:8-9). We ought to be as submissive as Isaiah was before the throne of God: “Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:8). The head of the church has not given us the liberty to pick and choose which commands we may obey and which commands we may neglect—we are to be submissive!

Why are we to be submissive? Paul offers no less than two reasons—because Jesus is our Savior (5:23) and because He sanctified us (5:26-27). Everyone in their right minds would have no problem giving themselves over through submission when they realize what Jesus has done for them. Paul states a very important fact—Jesus is the Savior of the body, which we know already is the church (1:22-23). Thus, in his revelation of this mystery, Paul informs all readers of how important it is to be in the beautiful church of Christ—it is the only place wherein one may obtain salvation. Then, he goes on to describe this wonderful blessing—he “loved the church, and gave himself for it that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word” (5:25-26). He did this so “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” (5:27). Therefore, through the process of salvation and sanctification, Jesus has washed our sins through His blood (cf. 1:7), which takes place during the act of baptism in water (Acts 22:16). Coming up from the watery grave, we, as members of this “glorious church,” are now in a position where we are “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (cf. Rev. 21:2), in that Paul reveals us has “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that [we] should be holy and without blemish” (5:27).

As we further contemplate what it means to be a part of this beautiful church that Christ came to establish for both Jews and Gentiles (cf. 2:11-22), we see the sustenance that Jesus offers to the church—“For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church” (5:29), then reminding that we are a part of His body (5:30). We cannot underscore enough the blessings associated with being a part of the beautiful church of Christ! As the apostle Paul begins this epistle, it is a privilege beyond that we deserve to have access to “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (1:3), and a part of these blessings includes the fact that our Lord and Savior not only saves us, but He continues to sustain us with His great love. What a joy and blessing it is to be a part of the beautiful and glorious church of Christ!

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Step Into the Water

After hearing Jesus preached by Philip, the Ethiopian desired to be baptized. The biblical account of his conversation is as follows: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:35-39).

As one reads the inspired accounts of the conversions set forth in the book of Acts, he should compare them carefully with what is practiced today. Note the following observations from the record of the Ethiopian’s conversion:

1.  Preaching proceeded the Ethiopian’s conversion and was an essential part of it. This harmonizes with what Jesus said in the Great Commission. “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:15-16).

2. Preaching Jesus caused the Ethiopian to see the need to be baptized. He said to Philip, “See here is water, what doth hinder me to be baptized?”

3. Inasmuch as only believers are to be baptized, Philip said, “If you believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.”

4. The one who was to be baptized made the following confession: “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

5. The action in his baptism was clearly immersion. “They went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.”

6. The Ethiopian went on his way rejoicing after he was baptized. So we can conclude that baptism in water, as set forth in the Gospel, is the dividing line between the church and the world, the saved and the lost. If you have not been baptized according to the Gospel, we urge you to do so today.

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