Giving As Worship

Paul declared to the Corinthians that they were to give on Sunday as God prospered them, taking up a collection that they would use later to glorify God through the benevolent actions of the church (1 Cor. 16:1-2). In his second letter to them, he encouraged them to become cheerful givers (2 Cor. 9:7). As we approach the subject of giving, we want to look at its relationship to worship. By noting some lessons regarding worship, we conversely ought to see the nature of giving as worship to God.

Learning from Abel, worship involves sacrifice. During the Patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations, sacrifices predominately included their livestock of lambs, bulls, or goats. Other sacrifices outlined in the book of Leviticus included grain. All of these denoted that man was to give something valuable from himself to God as a means of approaching God in worship. Today, we do not give the same type of physical things (Heb. 10:4). Christ gave Himself as our perfect sacrifice (Heb. 9:24-28), but as we approach God in worship, we still must approach Him with this same attitude—we sacrifice ourselves (Rom. 10:1) as we sacrifice our money. Speaking of sacrificial givers, Paul used the churches of Macedonia as examples of those who “first gave their own selves to the Lord” (2 Cor. 8:5). In the context of their giving, he praised them because “their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (2 Cor. 8:2). Thus, God blesses the one who gives sacrificially, because the worshipper understands the need to worship God with sacrifice. Contrast this with the attitude David avoided in his desire to build an altar of worship and sacrifice (2 Sam. 24:21). When Araunah wanted to give it to him for free, David responded, “Nay, but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (2 Sam. 24:24). Therefore, proper worship to God involves a cost—it involves giving.

In fact, the Hebrew writer referred to the worshipful sacrifices of Abel as “gifts” (Heb. 11:4). We ought to look upon worship as our gift to God, and thus, our giving as worship. If a stingy person only gives a little to God, he likely will be tempted to think little of his worship. Rather than selfishly thinking of ourselves, we ought to be thinking, “What may I offer to God that will please him?” Consequently, a failure to have this attitude has tragically led some to express, “Well, I did not get anything out of worship.”

Paul stated that giving proves “the sincerity of your love” (2 Cor. 8:8). God does not need our money, but because He understands the severity of the sin of covetousness (Luke 12:15), it is a method of proving our love to God within our worship to Him. By such, I believe we can see a shadow of this principle when the Israelites freely gave towards the construction of the tabernacle (Ex. 35-36)—they gave until Moses had to restrain them (Ex. 36:6-7). In other words, the redeemed heart that truly appreciates redemption will have no problem giving as worship to God!

Our giving in worship reminds us of the giving that God has done on our behalf (2 Cor. 8:9). Jesus sacrificed the riches of glory for my redemption (Eph. 2:4-7). God did not give His Son to die out of pressure or duty (cf. John 3:16); neither did Jesus give Himself up out of pressure or duty (John 10:18; Eph. 5:25). Our giving is a reciprocation of such that praises the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for what they did to make redemption possible!

Therefore, our ultimate purpose in giving is to glorify God—this is what we do in worship. To illustrate, consider the scenario that we had lost everything. Brethren from all over would respond and help us in time of need. How would we respond to such an outpouring of Christian love? Would we not immediately praise God and thank Him for touching the lives of individuals through the gospel, changing selfish hearts into unselfish hearts (Acts 20:35) to sacrifice and help us in our time of need? In 2 Corinthians 8-9, Paul explains that this is exactly what happens whenever we give as a means of worship. The psalmist asked, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” (Psa. 116:12). As we worship God, we are truly able to say, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).

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What is the Truth About Stem Cell Research?

The numbness and shock refuse to disappear. It’s been over six weeks since the initial diagnosis was made, but life refuses to return to any sense of normalcy. The doctor shared with Tasha and her parents a great deal of information that fateful day, but the only word all three of them heard was “cancer.” As the doctor discussed options, both parents felt the walls closing in on them. The three of them left the medical center feeling as though they were in a fog. Everywhere they looked life continued to press forward, but for them, time stopped when the word cancer left the doctor’s mouth. Looking back, they can’t even remember how they got home that fateful day. It would be three days later before Tasha’s mom called the doctor’s office to ask again precisely what type of cancer was growing in her precious little girl. As the weeks wore on and treatment options diminished, the only glimmer of bright light Tasha’s parents held onto was a stem cell transplant. The doctor felt confident that in Tasha’s case it would be the magic bullet they were praying for. But stem cells? Tasha’s parents were both faithful Christians. Could they, in good conscience, allow their daughter to receive stem cells?

How many times have faithful Christians struggled with a similar scenario. They find themselves aching for a sick loved one, but wrestling with whether or not a Christian can support stem cell research. Likewise, how many times have Christians found themselves with coworkers around the “water cooler” discussing this topic, not really sure what to condone or condemn? By being properly informed we can know not only what the controversy is all about, but we can also determine which side of the debate is in accordance with God’s will.

The obvious place to begin is: “What are stem cells?” Stem cells are remarkable cells that have the potential to develop into many different types of cells. For instance, if someone was injured as the result of a car wreck, there are cells within the body that can be activated to repair organs that might have been injured in the accident. Amazingly, these cells have the ability to divide and be produced throughout the lifetime of an individual. Thus, humans have a built-in “repair system.” [This seems like strong evidence for an Intelligent Designer!] Discovering the ability of these amazing cells caused scientists to speculate on their ability to cure various diseases. Why use drugs to treat an ailment when you could potentially fix the problem with a natural “repair system?” And so, the race was on to see if these cells held all the promise scientists suspected.

While huge advances have been made, there are still some serious hurdles to overcome as scientists try to perfect this natural repair system. The very nature of these cells demands that scientists be able to control their development into specific types of cells. Imagine a Parkinson’s patient receiving stem cell therapy, only to learn that the stem cells developed into blood vessels or a different (and unneeded) type of brain cell.  Also, researchers must continually be aware of the possibility of tissue rejection in patients whose immune systems recognize the stem cell transplants as foreign. The biggest hurdle, however, has nothing to do with experimental procedure, but rather the stem cells themselves. While scientists may resolve the first two problems, they are still left with a major ethical controversy.

The controversy arises from where the stem cells are collected from. There are two classes of human stem cells: embryonic and adult. Where are these two classes collected from? [This is information all Christians should be familiar with.] Currently scientists use stem cells collected from four different sources:

  1. Adult Tissue (including baby teeth)
  2. Umbilical Cords
  3. Aborted Fetuses
  4. Leftover Embryos from In Vitro Fertilization

Adult stem cells are collected from adult tissue and umbilical cords of newborn infants. Embryonic stem cells are collected from aborted fetuses and leftover embryos from in vitro fertilization. The obvious question that most Christians care about is: Can a faithful Christian support stem cell research? Yes—as long as those stem cells come from one of the first two categories. Is there anything wrong with using stem cells that are collected from a consenting adult or from an umbilical cord? When we say “adult tissue” exactly what does that mean? Stem cells have been identified in almost every type of adult tissue, including fat. In fact, researchers in California used the by-products of liposuction (fat!) and were able to purify stem cells from it! (Think about how many individuals would gladly donate a few extra pounds to help with this stem cell research!) So when someone makes a dogmatic statement and insists that faithful Christians cannot support stem cell research, they have missed the point completely. The matter truly comes down to does the research involve the destruction of human life? In these two cases it does not. So can a faithful Christian support this type of research? Definitely!

But what about those cases in which scientists want to use embryonic stem cells?Faithful Christians have no business supporting embryonic stem cell research—even if Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s tears at the very roots of our own families. We must remind ourselves that humans were made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27) and thus, we must uphold the sanctity of life. [See pg. X on when God consider life to begin.]

The media has been extremely effective at conveying the message that researchers needed embryonic stem cells to be able to cure diseases. The common misconception was that we had to obtain the stem cells as quickly as we could—in the embryonic state, before they had differentiated. However, scientists have known since 2001 that embryonic stem cells were not necessary. Research has shown that adult stem cells are also “pluripotent,” meaning they have the ability to become almost any cell in the body. Thus, embryonic stem cells are not even needed!

One crucial point the media overlooks and leaves unreported is the fact that adult stem cells have shown far greater promise in various clinical studies! Yes, the media is quick to point out the “potential” benefit of embryonic research. But in actual research that has been conducted and reported in scientific journals, adult stem cells are more effective! For instance, if you visit the “frequently asked questions” on the National Institutes for Health’s stem cell website [URL: http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/faqs.asp], one question is: “Have human embryonic stem cells been used to successfully treat any human diseases yet?” After dancing around the question, and arguing that the field is relatively new, the author notes that while they are “thought to offer potential cures and therapies for many devastating diseases, research using them is still in the early stages.” In other words: No. Embryonic stem cells have not successfully treated any human disease. The site then goes on to mention thatadult stem cells have been used to treat human disease.

Fact is, adult stem cells have already been used in treating things such heart disease, leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease and Type I diabetes. Meanwhile, we continue to hear news reports about the “potential” benefit of embryonic stem cells. However, not everyone is buying into the “pro-choice” propaganda. For instance, Dr. David Prentice summed it up well in a speech he delivered recently at Rutgers University. He noted:

We keep hearing about the promise of embryonic stem cells, but the claims are simply unsubstantiated. At this point in time there is little evidence of the effectiveness of embryonic stem cells. Proponents have yet to take even one dish of embryonic stem cells and have these cells change into one specific cell, [like] a heart cell or brain cell. Based on experiments to date, it’s not safe to even try and apply them to patients. The bottom line is that our real promise lies not in the use of embryonic stem cells but with adult stem cells. Adult stem cells are today already at work in patients. I can document, through published scientific papers, with over 65 human diseases, where patients are better already, having been effectively treated through adult stem cells” (emp. added).

[Dr. David A. Prentice is Senior Fellow for Life Sciences at Family Research Council, formerly Professor of Life Sciences at Indiana State University, and Adjunct Professor of Medical and Molecular Genetics for Indiana University School of Medicine.]

The answer is simple—embryonic stem cells represent life. Can anyone argue that it is logical to destroy one life in hopes of curing another? Do we value a Parkinson’s patient more than an unborn child simply because we can run our fingers over the wrinkles that time has carved into his face? Additionally, we know that embryonic stem cells are unnecessary, and thus, there should be no controversy. Adult stem cells are already providing beneficial results. Tasha and her parents can rest assured that stem cell transplants using cells from a relative or donor do not violate any biblical principles and their decision to pursue that form of treatment upholds the sanctity of human life. With God’s Word as our absolute standard, the gray areas in many ethical situations become clearly black and white. May we all, with diligence and perseverance continue to seek His counsel.

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The Role of Helpers in Evangelism

In our efforts to lead people to Jesus Christ, whether it is family members, coworkers, friends or neighbors, we may feel as if we are all alone in our efforts. Such ought not to be the case! I would like for us to think about the role that others utilize in evangelism.

For example, consider the statement that Paul made: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Many times when we use this passage, we show the impact that God has in our evangelism (and rightly so). Yet, let us notice another powerful and necessary lesson—Paul recognized the impact of Apollos in the efforts to evangelize the Corinthians. He knew that he would not be able to do it alone. In fact, he was rarely alone—he was with Barnabas on his first missionary journey, and he selected Silas to accompany him on his second trip. He “recruited” such men as Luke, Timothy, Titus, Epaphroditus, Sopater of Berea, Aristarchus, Secundus, Gaius of Derbe, Tychicus, Trophimus, Aquila and Priscilla to help him. In his epistles, he would often list others as “fellow laborers,” “fellow servants” or “fellow workers.” Of all of the greatest evangelists in the known church, he would be the first to admit the role of others who assist in evangelistic efforts.

Consider another example, beginning in John 4. When Jesus traveled from Judea to Galilee, he needed to go through Samaria (rather than the usual path of circumventing the disliked Samaritans), and there he encountered a particular woman. Through his conversation with her and the recognition of the fact that the fields “are white already to harvest” (cf. John 4:35), “many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman…and many more believed because of his own word” (John 4:39-41). In all, he stayed there and had a tremendous influence on them for two days. Thus, it should be no wonder that months later, when a disciple of the church named Philip went to Samaria and “preached Christ unto them” (Acts 8:5), they responded with obedience by baptism (Acts 8:5-12). I am convinced that while Philip benefited from reaping the harvest of these Samaritan souls, Jesus had already planted the seed beforehand. Thus, we see the role that others play, even if time passes that might tempt us to believe that all hope is lost.

When Jesus sent the twelve apostles on the limited commission and when he later sent seventy disciples on their own limited commission, he sent them “two and two” (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1). In this way, they would not be alone. Even the zealous efforts of Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons utilize the wisdom of this principle.

What may we glean from this in a practical way? First, let us be sure that we communicate our efforts with others. Let other Christians know of whom we are teaching, so that they may pray for our efforts. If we are successful in inviting them to our worship assemblies, introduce them as honored guests to our brethren, and when our brethren introduce their non-Christian friends to us, welcome them warmly! Remembering their names, if we ever see them again, speak friendly to them. It may even the case that mutual efforts between brethren could lend one family to show hospitality in having the interested student and diligent teacher over for a meal. I would imagine that the more friendly Christians that a non-Christian meets, the better the chance of influencing him with a lifestyle of Christianity that he or she observes.

May all of us work diligently in leading people to Jesus, but may all of us also be keenly aware of opportunities wherewith we may help others lead people to Jesus!

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When is Alcohol a Reward?

I recently flew Southwest Airlines between Nashville and Austin, and as I was browsing through the magazine in the pocket in front of me, I noticed that on special occasions, they would give away a complimentary alcoholic beverage. I believe last Fourth of July, they “honored” all military that flew with a complimentary alcoholic beverage, and they often “reward” their frequent fliers with a coupon for a complimentary alcoholic beverage. This underscores a serious problem in our society—many people believe that drinking alcoholic is not only fun and exciting, but sadly, many depend upon the consumption of it to “have a good time.”

This certainly and especially underscores a great temptation to our young people. For example, it has not been too terribly long ago when the popular band Nickelback penned the words to their song:

Beer bottles laying on the kitchen floor

If we take them out back, we can buy some more…

Better hang on if you’re tagging along

‘Cause we’ll be doing this ‘til six in the morning

Nothing wrong with going all night long

Tough to put the brakes on, doesn’t matter when you gotta

Get up and go out, me and all my friends

Drink up, fall down, then we’ll do it all again

Just sitting around, hanging out this afternoon…

From the moment I wake up, I just love being with my friends

We barely get by, but have the best times and hope it never ends.

We drink all day until we fall down, so we can do it all again.

We already have far too many television commercials glamorizing the consumption of alcohol, but now, we have this musical portrait added to the long list of temptations to our youth—“There is nothing wrong with me (youth) and my friends sitting around on the weekend and drinking to the point of drunkenness. I really am not hurting anyone. In fact, it is fun! I cannot wait until the next time when we can do it all over again!” How sad that people waste away their lives with the beer bottle. We have enough problems, as it is, associated with a slothful society, and this only adds to its despair.

If one chooses to listen to true wisdom about the real meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness, then one ought to read the words from the Bible, which condemns such behavior. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1). “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine” (Proverbs 23:29-30). “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!” (Isaiah 5:11).

Parents, please talk about these things with your children! Warn them of the dangers of alcohol! Warn them of the dangers of music and friends that entice them with such! The negative influence of alcohol could cost their life, as well as their soul. In addition, if you want to honor the military, there are countless numbers of other ways to do so without resorting to buying them a drink. Our Lord in heaven above knows that this is the last thing we ought to be encouraging our military (and children) to do!

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Quit You Like Men

Among the final directions from Paul in his first epistle to the church in Corinth is this interesting expression in the KJV and ASV. It is grouped among other admonitions in First Corinthians 16:13: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” This expression comes from a single Greek word that is only found once right here in our passage.

It actually means the very opposite of that which it sounds—Paul is encouraging these brethren to discharge their duties in true manly fashion. In other words, they were not to be cowards. They were not to be timid in their pursuit of godly things. They were not to allow their enemies to alarm them and create fear to the point of discouraging them from doing that which they knew was right. They were to be brave. In modern times, we would express it, “Be a man!” This expression, along with the others within First Corinthians 16:13, is a verse for soldiers and warriors!

Whenever we have difficulty understanding a Biblical expression, it is often helpful to research other translations to gain a better understanding. Note the following:

  • “…act as men” (McCord).
  • “…act like men” (NASV).
  • “…have courage” (NCV).
  • “…be men of courage” (NIV).
  • “…be brave” (NKJV).
  • “…be courageous” (RSV).
  • “…acquit yourselves like men” (WNT).

It is interesting that while we do not find this word anywhere else in our Greek New Testaments, we do find this word in the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament) a number of different times. Most notably, we find this expression within the emphatic encouragement that God gave to Joshua as he took the reins of leadership following the death of his mentor, Moses: “Be strong and of a good courage” (Joshua 1:6-9), to which even several of the tribes of Israel responded assuredly in the same fashion (Joshua 1:18). David gave this same encouragement to his son, Solomon: “Be strong and of good courage” (1 Chronicles 28:20). Hezekiah encouraged his captains concerning the invasion of Sennacherib, king of Assyria, with these same words: “Be strong and courageous” (2 Chronicles 32:7). One may find this expression about nineteen other times in the Septuagint.

In addition, we can see the same expression translated in the same way in the Old Testament. For example, the Philistines rang their battle cry against the Israelites, “Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight” (1 Samuel 4:9). In similar fashion, Joab, captain of the Israelite army under King David, encouraged the troops when he said, “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good” (2 Samuel 10:12).

By gaining a better grasp of this expression, it reminds us of what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:14: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine….” I cannot help but attach this with what he had written previously—“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Thus, when Satan sends enemies to attack us and other saints within the church of our Lord, we do not flinch! We maintain our ground. We press forward and strike as good soldiers of the cross (cf. Ephesians 6:10-20). May we all resolve to become Christians who are brave in the face of moral danger!

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