The Turnip Congress

By Kevin Cauley

“On the twenty-fifth of July, Sow your turnips, wet or dry.”

There may be a few among us that remember President Harry Truman. I am currently reading a biography about his life. While President Truman brought a swift end to the war with Japan and deftly handled United States foreign policy, Mr. Truman did not start off as a popular president domestically. In fact, half way through his first term the nation elected a republican congress to express their disapproval with his efforts. Four months before the 1948 election his approval rating was down to 36 percent. The republican candidate, New York governor Thomas Dewey, was considered a shoe in. But Truman wasn’t beat yet. He called a special session of congress during his democratic nomination acceptance speech calling for the congress to pass bills on social security, health care, and civil rights. They were to convene on the twenty-fifth of July, Turnip Day in Missouri. Dubbed the Turnip Congress, they failed to get the bills passed. Truman’s campaign speeches became highly critical of the do-nothing republican congress, and Truman, against all odds, was re-elected president in the fall.

The turnip congress was a complaining congress. They griped and complained about how poorly Truman was doing his job, but they failed to do anything better. Perhaps we ought to consider if we are a turnip Christian. Are we so preoccupied with the poor way that others are doing their jobs in the church that we fail to see our own failures and inabilities? Philippians 2:14 says, “Do all things without murmurings and questionings” and James 5:9 states, “Murmur not, brethren, one against another, that ye be not judged: behold, the judge standeth before the doors.” Where is our focus? If all we can see are the other guy s failings, without considering our own and without offering an alternative plan for improvement, then we may be a turnip Christian.

The turnip congress was a do-nothing congress. Truman really gave them an opportunity to shine in that fifteen-day session beginning July 26th, of 1948. If they had passed some legislation and done something, Truman would have been finished. Instead, they did nothing. Are we do-nothing Christians? Jesus said, “Every one therefore that heareth these words of mine, and doeth them, shall be likened unto a wise man, who built his house upon the rock” ( Matthew 7:24). James wrote, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves” ( James 1:22). As Christians we are not to sit idly by and wait on someone else to do our job. We must be willing to do it ourselves. If we cannot get busy and do what we have been called to do, then we may be a turnip Christian.

The turnip congress was a defeated congress. Not only did Truman win the Presidency in the fall, but the republican congress was kicked out and a democratic congress took it’s place. Are we destined to be defeated Christians? There’s a serious question to ponder. It reminds me of what Jesus said about the one talent man who did nothing with what he had. “Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.” ( Matthew 25:28-30). If we cannot find a way to use our abilities to serve the Lord profitably, then we may be a turnip Christian.

God wants us to be successful in our Christian walk. However, we must have the right attitude and make a modicum of effort in that walk. We have all the tools we need to do the job before us; we’ve been called by God into special session; now what will we do with it? Will we simply be a turnip Christian or will we work to accomplish God’s goals on earth through faithful service? May we all seek to be more than a mere turnip.

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Labels

By Kevin Cauley

On the outside of an old fruit crate sitting in my office is a label: “Liberty Brand / Grown and Packed by Escondido Lemon Assn. / Escondido – Calif. / Sunkist.” I understand that these fruit crate labels today are collectors’ items, though this one has been damaged to the degree that it wouldn’t be all that valuable. Nevertheless that label had a purpose. It identified the original contents of that crate, the grower, packer, and the brand name of the distributor.

There are some people who do not like labels. Usually these are individuals who do not want to be characterized as subscribing to a particular point of view, though they do. I had a professor in college who refused to be identified by the label of his philosophy, though, that was his philosophy. A life certainly can’t be described in one word. However, I believe that he missed the point. A label isn’t supposed to tell you everything about a person’s life. It tells you what is responsible for that person’s beliefs. My lemon crate label tells me who is responsible for the product. So also, certain labels tell us what is responsible for the beliefs and decisions made in an individual’s life. Let’s consider for a moment our lives as crates. What we have in our crates are our beliefs and decisions. What label would we put on our crate?

Some would have to put the label “hypocrite” on their crate. The outside of their crate appearing pure, but the inside being full of wickedness. This is what Jesus labeled some of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:27: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.” Hypocrisy had become the characteristic that was most responsible for how these men lived their lives, and so they were labeled.

Some would have to put the label “lawless” on their crate. Seemingly there are more and more individuals in society today who behave as if there are no standards of decently and morality by which we must live. Jesus said about such individuals, “And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (lawlessness)” ( Matthew 7:23). For these individuals, lawlessness had become the responsible characteristic by which they lived their lives, and so they were labeled.

Some, however, could put the label “honest” on their crate. Some individuals in the world, when confronted with God’s truth, have the integrity to listen and respond appropriately to God’s word. Jesus said of such individuals, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” ( Luke 8:15). For these individuals, honesty became the responsible characteristic by which they lived their lives, and so they were labeled.

Some also could put the label “faithful” on their crate. These are individuals who believe the gospel and live by it, refusing to hide their talents, and by using their abilities bring increase to the Lord’s kingdom. Jesus said of such individuals, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord” ( Matthew 25:21). For these individuals, faithfulness became the responsible characteristic by which they lived their lives, and so they were labeled.

There is one label by which I wish to be recognized when my life is done: Christian. If it can be said of me that I magnified Christ, that I exemplified His words to those around me, that I honored and glorified Him in His church on a regular basis – if it can be carved upon my headstone, “He was a Christian” – then it will be enough. There are many today who take that name and denigrate it either through verbal castigation or through hypocritical living. May such never be said of us who desire that holy label.

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The Silence of the Scriptures

By Kevin Cauley

“I don’t understand the concept of the silence of the scriptures.” This is an increasingly voiced sentiment. However, we do understand the prohibitive nature of the silence of the scriptures to some degree. For example, take the Lord’s Supper. Jesus said, “This do in remembrance of me.” This is a positive command. Jesus didn’t have to explain who NOT to remember. Jesus didn’t say, “Don’t remember Abraham. Don’t remember Moses. Don’t remember Joshua. Don’t remember David. Don’t remember Hezekiah. Don’t remember John the baptizer.” I don’t know of any religious group observing the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of anyone but Jesus. Would it be sinful during the Lord’s Supper to remember someone other than Jesus? Yes. That shows a basic understanding of the silence of the scriptures.

It is not difficult to apply this same principle to other areas of worship. When it comes to singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, the New Testament doesn’t equivocate. The passages that speak of music in the church are limited. None mention instruments. All mention singing. Conclusion! The positive command regarding music in the church is: “Sing!” No one denies this. All agree that singing occurred. So why conclude that singing only is God’s desire? The scriptures are silent on the use of instruments.

Is that silence permissive? Is that silence prohibitive? Can the scriptures answer these questions? Yes. The examples of Nadab and Abihu teach that God’s silence is prohibitive ( Leviticus 10:1-2). God’s commands to Noah to build the ark teach that God’s silence is prohibitive ( Genesis 6:22). Silence prohibited the church at Corinth from calling themselves Paulites ( 1 Corinthians 1:13). Silence prohibited Jesus from being a priest under the law of Moses. ( Hebrews 7:14, says “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.”) Silence prohibited the exaltation of angels to positions of divine authority ( Hebrews 1:5, 13). In each of these examples God’s positive commands limit what may be done. “This do in remembrance of me.” No explicit prohibition is further necessary.

When we consider that man is not authorized to do anything he wants to do in worship ( John 4:24), that worship becomes meaningless when we elevate human tradition (i.e. the use of instruments) to doctrine in worship ( Matthew 15:9), that we cannot approach God in worship with a display of our own righteousness ( Romans 10:2-3), and the prohibitive nature of the silence of the scriptures, we conclude it is sinful to worship God with the instrument.

May we strive to make our worship pure, holy, and acceptable to God. May we prostrate ourselves before His majestic throne with glory, honor, and thanksgiving. May we have the utmost spirit of humility as we contemplate His sovereignty, magnificence, and beauty ( Revelation 4). May we realize that we are created for His pleasure and we do not live to serve self in offering worship ( Revelation 4:11).

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Setting Priorities as Adults

By Kevin Cauley

In the late 1970s and early 1980s the bus ministry was a really strong work among churches of Christ. On many of the buses would be a sign that said, “J.O.Y.” It didn’t take long to learn that J.O.Y. stood for Jesus-Others-You. “Jesus first, others second, yourself last” was the popular mantra. It was a good way to teach a basic set of priorities to the kids. This is still a great reminder for us today about where our priorities should be. But we’ve grown up now. As Paul said, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” As we’ve grown older and learned more about the complexities of the world, we’ve learned that there is a plethora of distractions that we face each day that, in essence, challenge that basic priority structure. The mound of items through which we sift only grows larger as we gain more responsibility in the world and increasingly distracts us from true priorities. In order to survive in such a din we must move beyond simply knowing the mantra to identifying our behaviors and appropriately prioritizing our time and tasks.

Several years ago I had the privilege of studying the Stephen Covey course “The Seven Habits of Highly Successful People” and also studying his course “First Things First.” There are three illustrations that I took away from those classes that really exemplify the need to set priorities in our life. 1) The clean and green story about how Mr. Covey sought to get his son to keep the yard in good shape. It taught that you’ve got to have clear goals and break bad personal habits to get things accomplished. 2) The rocks in the container story about how you put in big rocks in a container first so that you can fill what’s around them with the little rocks. The big rocks were the important things in life. The little rocks were simply little unimportant things that just took up time. The only way to get the big rocks in is to put them in first. 3) Answering the telephone in front of someone in your office when you don’t know who it is simply tells them that an unknown entity is more important than they are. The most important person is the one who you are with.

So, what do these things have to do with priorities? God must be our first and most important priority ( Matthew 6:33). God wants us to be “clean and green” and that means not sloughing off on the job that we have to do as Christians but having clear goals and objectives to work toward ( Romans 12:11). God wants us to set priorities in our life and then organize our time and our tasks so that they reflect those priorities and not allow the little details to overwhelm us ( Colossians 3:1-17). Those things can wait until some other time when a priority comes around. Finally, God wants us to understand that the most important person is the one that we are with, Him! He’s with us all the time ( Hebrews 13:5). Of course, when we are with other people we need to let them know how important they are to us as we seek to teach them the gospel as well ( Philippians 2:3). We can just as easily impress them with how unimportant we think they are by our bad behavior as we can by our good behavior.

Behavior is really the key here. We behave like we believe. If we put other things before God, then we betray what our true beliefs are. Our behavior has to change when it comes to setting and keeping priorities priorities in our lives.

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The Christian System and Government Healthcare

By Kevin Cauley

There are occasions when politicians appeal to Christianity as a reason for why they have voted for a particular bill. They might say that it is the “Christian” thing to do. I have a problem with politicians appealing to Christianity, whether Republican or Democrat, to justify some governmental action because they often fail to demonstrate how Christianity demands one sort of legislation or another. Most justifications used are taken out of context. That’s not to say that legislation can’t be either moral or immoral. However, I believe that many times when religion is called upon to support some particular piece of legislation its not the moral consequences of the legislation that are under consideration, but rather, votes for politicians.

The recent 60 billion dollar health care legislation that was passed and which President Bush vetoed is a good example of what I’m talking about. I suppose many would say that such legislation was “Christian” in that it helps poor working families. My family would be a beneficiary of that legislation were it to pass and so would several families with children in many churches. In fact, a family of four with a combined annual income of $80,000 a year could qualify for the benefits of this legislation under 2007 poverty guidelines and benefits for children would be extended to age 21. Is that a “Christian” thing?

There’s no doubt that the Bible talks about helping the poor. Paul said of the apostles in Galatians 2:10 “Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.” The apostle John in 1 John 3:17 states, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” We read of the generosity of the early church in Acts 2:45 who “sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” We are especially to be concerned about those on the fringe of society. James wrote, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” ( James 1:27).

On the other hand, Christian support of the poor and those in need doesn’t come without condition. Paul told members of the church at Thessalonica, “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” Paul’s instruction about the support of widows required family members to provide first: “But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to show piety at home, and to recompense their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God,” “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” and “If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed” ( 1 Timothy 5:4, 8, 16). The order of support is from family first and then from the church.

There aren’t any scriptures, however, where New Testament church leaders expected the government to relieve them. Such thinking is conspicuously absent from the New Testament. The role of government from a Christian perspective is simply to punish evildoers and praise those who do well ( 1 Peter 2:14). The vast majority of passages that mention the Christians’ interaction with the government speak of the Christian monetarily supporting the government, not vice versa. See Matthew 22:21, Mark 12:17, Luke 20:25, Romans 13:6-7, and 1 Peter 2:17. It is extraordinarily out of context to suggest that some government entitlement program is “Christian.”

Moreover, such government programs may be contrary to Christianity. Being a Christian is about bettering one’s self. Christians are individuals who have been converted from a life of sin and pledged to a life of righteousness ( Romans 6:12-18). Such requires personal sacrifices and efforts. Christianity is about living for Christ on a daily basis ( Galatians 2:20). For the government to step in and supply what the Christian is supposed to provide for himself undermines the genius of the call of the Christian religion for personal sacrifice ( Philippians 2:17, 4:18).

Such governmental programs also supplant the benevolent arm of the church in her mission to edify the saints and evangelize the lost. If the religion-neutral government takes upon itself the task of caring for the poor, who among the poor will turn to the church for aid? That was one of the great reasons why the church grew in the first century. The poor saw the church as a place where they could receive legitimate help. Such help could also be appropriately regulated by the church. The balance is evident when properly considered. The church isn’t merely a benevolent society because there are some conditions for aid. The poor aren’t simply receiving unconditional handouts because they are exhorted to change their lives for the better so that they too can help others ( Ephesians 4:28).

Such does not mean that the Christian may not accept any help whatsoever in times of difficulty or due to economic circumstances beyond his control. However, it isn’t a God-less uncaring bureaucracy that is providing the aid. It is a loving and caring family that has the best interests of the recipient at heart.

What is the answer? It is counter productive to morality for the government to become a charitable aid society. We’ve seen this to be true in the failed welfare system of the two previous decades. At the same time, it isn’t unreasonable for government to help families who are contributing to society when their families and the church don’t have the resources to help. In that regard, Christianity doesn’t favor broadly and indiscriminately placing well-paid working families on the roles of government health care. Such families can provide for their own needs ( 1 Timothy 5:8). Failure to do so would be an act of infidelity to Christ. Christianity, would not, however, reject conditional and limited governmental help to families who are in challenging economic circumstances. Such is still not ideal because such families receive no remedial education for what got them into such circumstances to begin with (i.e. crime, immorality, neglectfulness, laziness, etc.). Only the church can provide solutions in this area.

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