Who Told You That

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Thanks, dell kimberly

     When I speak of change I am referring to a change of atmosphere and direction.  There is much in our fellowship we cannot and do not wish to change. Atmosphere and direction must be changed.  In order to change the culture of the brotherhood we must do so one Christian, one congregation at a time.  We didn’t develop the present atmosphere and attitudes overnight.  Neither will changing the direction and emphasis of the brotherhood be done overnight.

     In order to change our direction and goals as a church we must intentionally give thought to what is important.  As autonomous churches we will always have different areas of emphasis in different congregations. This is totally Biblical.  Looking at first century churches we find the one thing they had in common was their individuality. 

     Churches that follow the direction of Jesus will have their differences, but will also share some common traits.  In order to follow Jesus we must share at least these two common directives.  We must be united in direction and have a burning desire to preach Jesus. Many years ago I sat in a class taught by Charles Coil.  Brother Coil made a statement I did not fully understand at the time.  He said, “Gentlemen if you can do anything besides preach you need to do it.”  It took me many years to understand that he was telling us that if we didn’t have a passion for preaching that made it impossible to do anything else we were not fit for the job.  Churches must have this same passion to preach Jesus Christ in their communities.

     There will be different interest and desires in different churches.  However, in every church there must be a passion to preach Christ.  This passion must be the overwhelming trait that permeates all congregations in the brotherhood.  Preaching Christ has to control every decision that is made.  It must control us as Christians and it must control us as a brotherhood.  Everything else must be secondary to the desire to see the good news of Jesus proclaimed to mankind.

     I know of very few churches that would not agree that preaching Jesus is the mission of every Christian and every congregation.  I also know of very few congregations who make the preaching of Jesus the overwhelming influence in their direction, atmosphere, and culture.  We allow past attitudes and thoughts to get in the way.  After all aren’t we commanded to restore New Testament Christianity? Aren’t we commanded to police one another?  Doesn’t Scripture teach somewhere that we must condemn change and change agents?  The answer to all these questions is a resounding NO!  We have accepted these ideas from an atmosphere and attitude that was developed among us long ago.

     Brethren I want to state as vehemently as I possibly can, “Bible things need to be done in Bible ways.”  I do not want to change one Biblical command or directive. My goal is to build churches and to help fellow Christians to develop a burning desire to preach Jesus first and foremost. This has not been the driving force in our fellowship for many years.  My hope and intent is to do all I can to establish an atmosphere and culture in the brotherhood that ignites a burning desire in our hearts to preach Jesus.  As a brotherhood we have to move from this being the exception to the rule to this being the rule.  As we continue our journey on this topic we will do some soul searching concerning how we will accomplish this.  Unless we are able to make this the distinctive feature in our fellowship we will become irrelevant to those who need the message of Jesus. Never before has there been a greater need to be on the same page than now.

     It has been said that if we set no goals we will reach our aim with amazing accuracy.  Should congregations set goals and direction?  If we do set goals and direction how do we choose our direction?  Is this important for the cause of Christ?  Truthfully we set direction without realizing what we have done.

     As Jesus stood in the garden of Gethsemane he prayed that we speak the same thing.  In many instances we have determined that Jesus meant we must say the same things in the exact way.  It has been a foundational doctrine among us that we must interpret Scripture exactly the same in every instance. In essence we have taught we must be clones of one another in our beliefs and views of Scripture.  I do not believe this was what Jesus was teaching or intended.  Even the first century church had difficulty seeing everything in the same light. Why do we believe we can do better?  As Jesus stood in the garden He was praying that we maintain the same direction.  Jesus intent was that our direction be one of unity and evangelism. To fulfill the prayer of Jesus we must maintain His direction.

     In 1889 Daniel Sommers presented a speech at Sand Creek in Shelby County Illinois.  In this discourse Daniel Sommers established a culture in the Churches of Christ that remains to some degree even through this present day.  From 1889 we have nurtured a culture that is divisive, judgmental and separatist. It is wrapped up in the “sameness” doctrine. This culture cannot and will not effectively preach Christ. We have produced direction and goals that are unique to our fellowship.   Unfortunately those goals do not mirror the direction of Jesus. I fear that often our direction does not present an answer to Jesus prayer at Gethsemane.  Many congregations adopt these views because this is all that is known. We have been exposed to this mindset only and as a result this is all we know.  This has become who we are.

     The questions are simple.  The answers are difficult.  How do we create a culture of unity and evangelism in our brotherhood? Is it possible for us to change direction after these many years?  Are there enough who are willing to pay the price to create the proper culture among us?  Perhaps we should be asking, “Do we really have a choice?”  If we have created a direction and culture that does not produce proper results, can we afford to continue without changing that culture?

    This past year has been a time for reflection.  As I look back there were things that bring both joy and sadness to my heart.  I am grateful for the souls brought to Jesus.  We continue to baptize souls into Christ.  Last year we lost a few members to other churches as well as some back into the world.  2008 was a year of mixed results.

      Payson is a unique congregation.  I have never worked with a church that treats us as well as the church in Payson.  This is a congregation that shows a tremendous amount of love and appreciation to both Robbi and me.  We have enjoyed our time with this group as much as anywhere we have worshipped and worked.

    The city of Payson is a retirement community.  This attitude and culture permeates all aspects of life.  This has taken some adjustment.  My goal as a preacher has always been to build churches and help individuals with their spiritual lives.  The culture in Payson doesn’t allow these goals to be met easily.  It has taken me some time and thought to determine why these goals have been difficult to reach in Payson.

     In the next few days and weeks I am going to discuss some things I believe necessary to build churches and help individual Christians learn to walk in the will of God.  I invite you to walk with me through this journey. 

     Initially, we need to understand we produce the things most important to us.  Some churches pride themselves in pure doctrine.  Other congregations may place emphasis on a strong youth program or dynamic worship.  A third group may understand restoration as the most important aspect of their work.  Honestly, we are often a combination of things we hold as important.  It is seldom we take time to determine our direction. Often we do what we do because we have been told this is the way it ought to be done.  This becomes our religious culture.  As we discuss these concepts in the near future we will attempt to determine two things.  First, what should be the culture in a local church? Second, how do we build the proper culture in our congregations?

     We have come to the close of 2008 and 2009 lies before us.  What changes will be made?  What does the year 2009 hold for us as individuals and what does 2009 hold for us as a brotherhood? Only God knows for sure. 
     2008 has been spent.  Are you happy with the results?  Certainly for all of us there are things we would have changed.  If we could have a mulligan there are certainly decisions that would be different.  Unfortunately 2008 is in the books and cannot be changed.  I want to ask three questions concerning 2008.
     First, what did you learn from the events of the past year?  One of our most valuable tools is the ability we have to learn from the activities that surround our lives. In order for us to mature as Christians we must be able to continue to learn all of our lives
      Second, did you make an attempt to mesh your life with God’s will this past year?  In our culture personal happiness is the most important thing.  Unfortunately our personal happiness doesn’t always parallel with God’s will.  Walking in the will of God is the most important thing we can do with our lives.
     Third, did you make a positive difference in your local congregation with your life?  All Christians have roles and responsibilities God has preordained we should fill.  Did you fill your role as a child of God this past year?  Were you a positive or negative influence in your local church?
     We can’t change the things that took place in 2008.  Fortunately for those of us blessed with another year of life we have an opportunity to create a positive culture for the cause of the Lord.  Next year is like putty in our hands.  What will we do with this coming year?  We have next year in our hands what will we do?

   
  Robbi and I will be leaving Monday morning to spend the holidays with our family.  We enjoy being in Arizona but miss our families.  This is the first time in several years that we will have been with family on Christmas.  Kevin and Julie, our son and daughter-in-law are in their new house.  Karla is married.  This will be her first Christmas with her husband Jim.  Robbi’s mom’s health is not as good as we would like. She is eighty-one years old.  It doesn’t seem right.  It seems like just yesterday Robbi and I married.  Her mom was younger than I am now.  We are having a family gathering with Robbi’s mom and the family on Christmas day.  It has been four years since Robbi’s dad passed away.  Every Christmas her family would gather at Drennans, all the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  It was a great tradition. Even as an in-law I miss those days.
    This is the first time we will have a Christmas gathering at my moms in several years.  I haven’t seen my sister and her family in three years.  I am excited.  Dad has been dead for twelve years.  It is hard to keep the traditions together when one of the parents passes on.  
    I long for the time when we will be able to gather on the other side, a time when death will no longer separate families and friends.  I regret not living close enough to our families that we could build those precious Christmas traditions in our home.
    Our drive home is twenty-three hours.  I hope that all of you will remember us in your prayers.  Friends and family used to ask me why we always drive when we could fly.  I have always given a number of different reasons.  I am going to share the real answer with you.  The Lord said in His great commission, “and lo I am with you always.”  God never said anything about being with us anytime but “lo”. Therefore, I drive.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

                                                                                dell kimberly

I ran across this story in one of our local newspapers.  The material is not mine.  I do not wish to push any particular political agenda.  I simply enjoyed the humor and hope you do as well.  Merry Christmas,    dell kimberly

OLD VERSION

   The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for winter.  The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.           
   Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.  The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY:  Be responsible for your well being.

MODERN VERSION

   The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter.  The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.
   Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.  CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.  America is stunned by the sharp contrast.
   How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?  Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing, “It’s Not Easy Being Green.”
   Nancy Pelosi and Obama exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.
   Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer.  Having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, the ant’s home is confiscated by the government.
   The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant’s food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant’s old house, crumbles around him because he doesn’t maintain it since he didn’t work for it.

SCRIPTURE SAYS, “If he doesn’t work, neither shall he eat.

     We are entering a most awkward time for those who are members of the fellowship the world knows as the Churches of Christ.  As a fellowship we accept both the commercial and national implications of the day the world calls “Christmas”.  Yet in most congregations we go to great lengths to make sure that we do not recognize this day  from a religous standpoint.  As a matter of fact we have made it a point of doctrine to let the world know we refuse to participate in celebration of this event.  Is this a wise decision?  More important do we have Biblical precident or right to bind this view as doctrine?  Let us consider some basic Biblical truths. 
     First, the birth of Jesus happened.  As we read the accounts of Jesus birth in the Gospels it becomes very apparent that Jesus birth was a special event.  Scripture gives attention to the details of that birth.  The birth of the Messiah was and is a Biblical event.  The description of that birth is explained to us through the inspiration of  none other than the Holy Spirit Himself.
     Second, as the Holy Spirit describes Jesus birth, we see the recognition of the birth of the Son of God.  In Matthew we find the account of the wise men. They sought Jesus that they might worship Him.  As a result of their actions we find Biblical precident for celebrating the birth of the Christ child.
     Third, even more important we read that God prepared a star to recognize the birth of His Son.  In Luke 2:13 the Bible tells us that a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, paising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rest.”  This shows us that even God the Father recognized and celebrated the birth of His Son.
      For us to make laws forbidding the recognition of the birth of the Messiah is to make laws against the very intent of God Himself.  Not only do we look foolish to the very ones we seek to reach with the Gospel.  We stand in opposition to the reaction of the Father.  God prepared angels to worship the Christ child at His birth.  What God prepared the angels to do at His birth we forbid today.  How foolish we must seem to the Father as we forbid the recognition of the very event God Himself celebrated.

                                                                       dell kimberly

 
     I was in Bible class a few days ago at the Majestic Rim.  This is a retirement home.  I enjoy this class as much as any I have ever taught.  The Bible knowledge of my students is tremendous.  The class usually consists of 10 to 12 individuals whose age ranges from 80 to 98 years old.  One of the ladies who don’t attend often was scheduled to have surgery.  I was trying to determine which lady they were talking about.  I ask what I thought was an appropriate question.  I asked, “Is she an elderly woman?”  Immediately they told me in no uncertain terms, “No she is only in her early 90’s.  Perception and reality are hard to determine if our circle of fellowship is isolated by preset standards.
     Sometimes we think we are right because we limit our access to the facts we need to make good decisions.  Paul found himself in this situation.  As Saul stood at the stoning of Stephen he believed he was exactly where he should have been.  Saul did not have all the facts.  Saul had limited his thinking to his circle of fellowship.  He was raised to follow Moses law.  This was all he knew.  Stephen stood against his perception of Moses law.  As a result of Paul not having access to Christ covenant he made a poor determination of doctrine.  Overseeing the stoning of Stephen passed several important tests in Saul’s mind.  
     Saul’s action passed the test of conscience.  It certainly did not offend the conscience of Saul.  Saul’s action passed the test of context since the context of Saul’s knowledge was built around the teaching of the day in Moses law.  Saul had considered no context outside his fellowship bubble.  Saul’s action passed the test of peer approval.  Since Saul was limiting his fellowship to other Jews who saw religion exactly like Saul saw religion his peers approved his action.  His circle of fellowship accepted Saul’s action since they met these predetermined rules; therefore these rules became the standard.
       If we limit our influence to the preset standards of our circle of fellowship we run the risk that our perception of reality could be skewed.  We have determined in our circle of fellowship that the only hermeneutics that are acceptable to God are command, example, and necessary inference.  Is this a way to interpret Scripture? It certainly is.  Is this the hermeneutical process inspired by God?  I think we know that it is not.  We have accepted this process because it has historical precedent and it helps us prove our predetermined doctrine.
      The danger we find ourselves in is simple.  When we limit our influence and study to only those who are in our fellowship bubble we run the risk of finding ourselves in the same position the ladies in my class found themselves.  Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:12, “When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”
       We find many in the Churches of Christ with a dangerous perception.  We often have the perception, “We have arrived, and we have the truth.  If you don’t see everything as I see it you are wrong.”  We only fellowship those who have arrived at the conclusions and hold the same doctrines we hold.”  Not only is this self-righteous and arrogant.  It is dangerous and as Paul stated, “Unwise.”  May we ever hunger and thirst after righteousness.  Let us continue to strive to be correct in all that we do.  May God guide and give us strength in all we do.

                                                                                                               -dell kimberly-

     Tonight I had the pleasure of sharing the message of Jesus with Randy Everett, Lori Long and her two grown daughters.  The church in Payson first made contact with Randy and Lori when Lori’s youngest daughter was fighting cancer.  Lori needed someone to reach out to her.    Those were difficult and dark days in her life. These days provided an opportunity for the church to make a difference in her life.   This was almost two years ago.  Today the daughter is cancer free.          
     I never cease to be amazed when I see the power contained in the Gospel.  Tonight Lori and Randy were baptized into Christ.  They were truly born again. As they were leaving they thanked me for teaching them about Jesus.  Both told me at different times they felt like new people now that their sins had been lifted from them.  Tonight they will spend their final night in separate places as Lori Long and Randy Everett.  Tomorrow they will be united in marriage.
     The greatest blessing in the world is the blessing we get when we share the Gospel with others.  There is no joy greater than knowing that we have a hand in sharing Jesus with those who are searching.  What we fail to realize is that there are many in the world who are searching for the truth of Jesus.  We don’t see them because we look in the wrong places. 
     It is easy to teach those who come to our buildings.  We are comfortable reaching out to those who have their lives together.  We enjoy sharing Jesus with those we consider our equals.  The hard thing is to look for those who aren’t like us, those who have allowed the world to control their direction.  Most of the time those who need Christ the most are those whose lives are the biggest mess.  
     Christianity is more than Sunday morning religion.  Christianity is making a difference in the lives of those who need direction.  There are multitudes searching for reconciliation.  It is up to us to find them.  If we are willing to get out of the pew and into the highways and byways we will find those who desparately need what we have to give.  Thank God for those like Randy and Lori.  Thank God for those who are searching for the Gospel.

                                                                           -dell kimberly-