Monday, March 24, 2008

Do You Know Who Holds The Water Back?

God had led His children out of Egypt. They were standing before the Red Sea with mountains on either side. Behind them was the entire Egyptian army. There was no visible way of escape. According to Exodus 14 Moses stretched forth his hand and the waters were parted.
Two groups walked the same path. The children of Israel walked across the path between the walls of the sea to safety. The Egyptian army walked between the walls of the sea to certain death. Both walked the same path. One walk led to deliverance and the other to death, why the difference? The answer is really quite simple. The Israelites understood and respected the power holding the water back. They were walking by faith in the power of God. The Egyptians were going through the same motions. Yet, they were concerned with pursuing their desires. They had no concern for the power behind the water.
Today many are religous. They walk the same path as those who are truly committed to Christ. The lives of both groups may look the same. The direction is the same. We may dress the same. We may even sound the same. The truth of the matter is both groups are not the same. It isn’t enough to go through all the right motions. We can get all the works right but God requires more. God wants us to understand the power behind the committment we make. The power of Salvation isn’t held in the hands of man. The power of Salvation is in Christ.
Sometimes we believe if we do enough, if we give enough, if we pray enough, if maybe we understand perfect doctrine we will be good enough for heaven. We miss the point. If we are depending on our morality and doctrine to bring us to God, we become like the Egyptians. We may chase the righteous but we will never catch up to righteousness. Salvation is not in our hands. If we are going to be declared righteous we must understand who holds the water back.
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Friday, March 21, 2008

Because You Say So I Will

   Peter and his co-workers had been fishing all night.  They were now cleaning their nets.  By this time they are certainly tired.  Jesus had asked for the use of one of the boats that he might speak to the crowd that was gathered.  He put the boat into the water and spoke to the crowd from the boat.  After he finished speaking he told Peter, “Put out into the deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
   Peter and his friends were  tired.  They had fished all night and had caught nothing.  These men were professional fishermen.  Now the carpenter was telling them how to do their jobs! 
   The time of day was wrong, the place was wrong, none of the usual necessities were in place to catch fish.  How easy it would have been for Peter to have said, “How about another time?”  He didn’t.  What he did say was, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.  But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
   If you are familiar with the text you know the rest of the story.  Peter and his friends caught such a large number of fish that the nets began to break.  They filled the boats so full with fish the boats began to sink.  Peter realized his lack of faith and asked the Lord’s forgiveness.  Jesus said to Peter, “Don’t be afraid;  from now on you will catch men.”  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.
   How many of us could leave our profession when we were at the top and follow Christ?  So often we see little need for God when things are going well.  We only feel the need when things are out of our control.  Peter was at the top of his profession, yet, he walked away in order to follow Jesus. We need an attitude that says to the Lord, “Because you say so I will.”  It doesn’t matter if we know the reason. Regardless of  cost or direction we must be willing to follow the Lord. 
   We are part of a fellowship that wants everything in a neat logical pile.  We even invent rules to produce those neat logical piles.  God doesn’t necessarily fit our logic.  We can’t always make sense of what God requires.  The sooner we learn that God’s ways are superior to our ways and His thinking to our thinking the better.  Sometimes instead of trying to make God fit our rules we just need to say, “because you say so I will.” 
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Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Truth above question

  

   Over the past week presidential candidate Barack Obama has faced tough questions concerning statements made by his preacher.  Without question for  most of America these statements would make us very uncomfortable.  If Mr. Wright, Barack Obama’s preacher, were running for office he certainly would have committed political suicide.  The real question is not on the worthiness of Mr. Wright to be president.  The real questions center around the candidate Barack Obama. 
   Does one have a responsibility to react to doctrines taught in their fellowship? Particularly by those in roles of leadership?  In religion today not enough study is done by all concerned.   What is said in many pulpits goes unchallenged.  We accept what is said without question.  If it isn’t new, if it isn’t said in a different way we accept it as “truth above question.”
   It is easy and perhaps acceptable for us to sit back and condemn Barack Obama.  Most of America would have left Barack’s church had we heard what Senator Obama heard.  At the very least we would have taken the preacher aside and explained why he was wrong.  The majority of the 8500 who attend this church didn’t leave.  They didn’t complain, as a matter of fact many gave the preacher a pat him on the back, encouraging more of the same.  A major question is why?
   The reason those attending the church didn’t leave or correct his error is based on the fact that this was something they had heard many times.  This wasn’t said once or twice.  Instead these people, including Barack Obama, heard a steady diet of a damaging doctrine called  ”Black liberation theology.”  This became the norm and accepted doctrine with those who heard this doctrine.  If you are told the same thing long enough it becomes “truth above question.”
   Does this matter for us?  Absolutely!  It is important on two counts.  Obviously, if Barack Obama becomes the candidate of the Democrat party, we must decide if his values are the values we want for our country.  Much more important is the principle being laid bare in the firestorm surrounding Barack Obama.  This principle is simple:  if we are told the same things long enough, what we have been told becomes “truth above question.” 
   Is this a problem for the Lord’s church?  I hope that I am wrong, but I fear I am not.  We have heard the same arguments and same doctrines presented in the same way so often that we have accepted them as “truth above question.”    If we stop seeking truth, regardless of how noble our intent, we fall into the same category as Barack Obama and those who belong to Jeremiah Wright’s former church.  We become those who accept what is being said as “truth above question.”  Let us develop the attitude of the Berean’s.  Let’s search the Scriptures daily to see if the things being taught are true.  Our only alternative to the attitude of the Berean’s is to allow those things being taught to be “truth above question.”  Making correct choices does matter.
  

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Friday, March 14, 2008

The Real Danger of the Pharisees

  

   In John 9:34 the Jewish leaders could not get the man Jesus had healed to condemn Jesus as a sinner.  In fact he had chided them as they had tried to condemn the Lord.  As a result of their inability to get this man to respond as they wanted they said, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!”  This was a similar attitude to what had been expressed by the Pharisee who had thanked God he wasn’t like the sinner.  
   I fear we miss the real dangers posed by the Pharisees.  A major problem with the Pharisees was the fact that they had stopped seeking the truth of God.  The Pharisees believed that they were the only ones who understood Truth.  Instead of continuing to seek God, they had started to defend their developed doctrine. 
   A case in point develops around God’s law concerning the Sabbath.  The Pharisees had taken God’s law concerning the Sabbath and had developed their own views concerning what could and could not be done.  As a result their personal views became the standard rather than God’s law.
   When they stopped seeking God they began to seek ways to uphold their opinions since their doctrine had become the standard.  If anyone came in with a view that did not match the official view held by the Pharisees, that individual was wrong. They soon would be shunned.  This proved true even if the view being taught belonged to Jesus Himself!
   The Pharisees had made it their intention to restore Judaism back to the primitive form as in Moses day.  In their mind they had restored Moses law.  In reality they had made several major mistakes.  Their initial mistake was very basic.  There had been no mandate from God for them to restore anything.  Their attempt to restore Moses law back to its primitive form was never what God had wanted.  In man’s mind restoration seems to be a good thing. What could possibly be wrong with walking in the old paths?
   Truthfully God has never asked for legalistic  restoration of patternism.  God’s desire has always been for the heart of man.  The Pharisees grossly missed God’s intent.  Instead of giving their heart to God, they prided themselves in getting all the facts right.  In their pride they established their legalistic values as the standard.  The Pharisees probably knew more facts about Moses law than any group on the face of the earth at that time.  In all their legalism and patternistic knowledge they missed Jesus.  Why we might ask?  Quite simply because they thought they had fulfilled the restoration of Moses law. This became their defining characteristic.  As a result they stopped seeking God. Their view of their ”restored law” became the standard rather than God’s Word being the standard. 
   When man’s doctrinal restoration of God’s Word becomes more important than God’s Word we are one step away from where the Pharisees were.  May we always be seekers of God rather than defenders of patterns and doctrines.  May our defining characteristic be, “We are seekers of God!”

   
  

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Wednesday, March 12, 2008

A Tribute to Wayne Berry

   Almost three years ago I was visiting Payson.  I was in the process of making one of the best decisions I have ever made .  I was trying to make a decision about the work of the church here in Payson.  I certainly wanted my decision to be in God’s will.  Should I come here or not?  I was struggling to know what God wanted.  While I was in Payson I was spending some time at the church building.  The church had only been in the new building for a few months and I was looking around.  While I was there an elderly gentleman walked in off the street.  He introduced himself as Wayne Berry and asked if we were open for business.  The men with me assured him that we were.  He was given a tour and invited to come back anytime he wanted.   After I moved here I made my first order of business visiting with Wayne Berry.  The first year I was here I had the pleasure of baptizing Wayne Berry into Christ.  Wayne was then 90 years old.  
    Presently Wayne’s health rarely allows him to make it to worship.  Today I was able to spend about an hour with him in his home.  Wayne still loves the Lord and still wants to see men obey the Gospel.  We talked about many needs of the church in Payson.  He has some very worthwhile ideas.  Wayne’s mind is clear but his body is tired.  At this time in his life Wayne has two major goals.  He wants to finish a book he is writing and he wants more than anything else to go home.  He will be 93 years old his next birthday.  Wayne’s greatest strength remains his love for the Lord.  Even in advanced years Wayne remains a warrior for the Lord!
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Monday, March 10, 2008

If Ever A Place For Honesty

   If ever there is a place for honesty it ought to exist in Biblical scholarship.  I was reading one of the papers of condemnation published by our brethren.  In the publication the author said, “The saints in Galatia had been influenced by false teachers.  Paul wrote,” I marvel that you are so quickly removing from him that called you in the grace of Christ unto a different gospel; which is not another gospel; only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-7).  We are faced with the same situation today.”  This is an example of the real problem existing in our fellowship today.  The author is condemning all who do not practice religion as he thinks it ought to be done. His statements go on to tell that those who seek to change his view of religion are change agents, with an agenda of change.   He is using as proof text Galatians 1:6-7.  In this text Paul is warning against allowing the Judaizing teachers to bind their culture and particularly circumcision on the churches of Galatia. If we are going to condemn others for practicing what we view as unbiblical, at the very least we ought to be correct and honest in our proof texts! Galatians 1:6-7 has absolutely nothing to do with the changes we see occurring in the church today. 
   Another of the favorite texts used by those who want to hold to the unwritten creed is 2 John 9-11.  In the King James Version this text says, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”   This section of Scripture has been used as a “monkey wrench passage”.  It has been used with little or no regard for the context.  In the context it is talking about those who refuse to acknowledge Christ as coming in the flesh.  We have been all over the map on this section.  Usually we are consistent with this Scripture applying it to anyone who does not agree with our particular version of truth.
   On and on we could go with similar passages.  All misapplied so we can hold the accepted doctrine together.  It is past time for us to apply God’s Word with honesty.  Rather that studying so we can defend the dogma, lets seek diligently for truth.  Let’s apply the truths of God’s Word, as they actually exist rather than twisting Scripture to defend pre-determined positions!  If there is ever a place for honesty it certainly ought to exist in Christians as we diligently seek Him.

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Saturday, March 8, 2008

Truths From Ephesus

  

In Acts chapter 20 we have the account of Paul leaving Ephesus.  He calls for the elders of the church and begins to detail an occasion that ought to touch the heart of any Christian.  Paul had been here for almost 3 years.  In that amount of time you build friendships.  By now Paul knew whom he could count on and whom he could not.  He knew those who genuinely loved the Lord and who didn’t.  He knew who put the cause of Christ first and those who did not.  By now he even knew the names of those who would lay down their lives for him.  This was a sad occasion.  Paul knew that likely he would never see these people again this side of eternity.  The apostle knew that trouble awaited him in Jerusalem.  He was certainly struggling with the facts as they were unfolding before him.  When we struggle we tend to dwell on those things that anchor our souls.  Paul was doing the same thing at his dark hour.
   He begins by reminding them in verse 26 that we are responsible for one another.  He does it in a kind way.  He says, “I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.”  He goes on to tell them why.  He had declared to them the whole will of God.  This thought was an anchor in Paul’s life.  His life was built around the need to declare God’s will and thus showing responsibility for his fellow man.  A reoccurring theme throughout Scripture is man’s responsibility to his fellow man.
   In Verse 28 Paul shares a second anchor.  He tells them that the church is blood bought.  This changes our thought process concerning the body of Christ.  At times we get so carried away we put all emphasis on the church forgetting about Jesus.  It is important we not loose focus.  At the same time it is essential that we never forget the importance of the church.  Our personal desires and wants can never come before the needs that exist in the body of Christ.  If you notice this anchor, “the importance of the church”, drives the direction of Paul’s life.  It ought to be one of the truths that point our life in the proper direction as well.
   In Verse 29 Paul gives us a third anchor thought.  When we show the importance of the church, not everyone will care.  It took me a few years as a preacher to realize this truth.  In my first years as a minister I thought everyone who was a member of the body of Christ loved God with all his heart, soul, and mind.  Soon enough I begin to realize that for some Christianity was more like a social club.  It was a religion of convenience rather than conviction.  The sooner we pick up on this truth the better off we are.  Don’t be fooled, not everyone cares.  Paul in his distress was making this warning to his friends in Ephesus, “Not everyone cares.”  
   Paul’s final thought is shared in verse 31.  Perhaps this is the anchor that held Paul’s life and mission together.  This is a night and day with tears issue. Paul had not hesitated to warn them night and day with tears.  When things needed to be put in proper prospective Paul could do so.  Paul understood a truth that we need to understand.  When the world breaks loose around us the gospel of Jesus Christ is still a night and day with tears issue.  
   If these four anchors held fast in our lives things would certainly be different.  This would allow us to put first things first and hold them there.  We might not get every issue right but you would certainly know the direction we were headed.

 

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Monday, March 3, 2008

What has happened to this concept called integrity?

   When we think of integrity we think of men like Job.  When everything looked bleak he continued to stand for God regardless of cost. He didn’t manipulate the facts.  He didn’t bemoan his losses, he simply stood for God.  What has become of this concept we call integrity? 
   It hasn’t been so many years when a man’s word meant something.  Many of us can recall when a handshake was a good as any signed document.  What has become of this concept we call integrity?
   A few years ago I left a congregation where I had served as the preacher for many years.  This had been a very pleasant work.  We had grown significantly with very few problems.  The last year I was there we had baptized a large number from the community who had no previous ties to the church.  We were concerned about what would happen to them in the transition.  Babes in Christ must continue to be fed.  One of the men from the congregation stood in my office and told me he would see they were cared for.  He went on to say, “You need to know it may seem like I am against you before it is over.”  I thought this statement strange  but I was glad to know someone would see that the work of the kingdom remained intact.  This  brother kept his word, the new converts and church remained intact. His method was simple, he did it by doing everything in his power to destroy my credibility. This certainly softened the transition and I appreciate the fact that the church didn’t lose those new Christians.  On the flip side, in the process of attempting to destroy my credibility  this brother destroyed a thirty year friendship I had enjoyed with a fellow preacher.  We had been friends since our college days. I wouldn’t have given up that friendship at any cost short of eternity.   I was beginning to realize what he meant when he said, “It may seem like I am against you.”  For years I had taught that the end does not necessarily justify the means now I had faced its sting first hand.  Time has now passed, feelings have settled, I have long since forgiven him, but the question still burns brighter than ever, “What has happened to this concept called integrity?”
   In the years I have preached the gospel I have come across many stories similar to the one I just shared.  Individuals who certainly meant well but were misguided in their approach. I have always understood that integrity meant standing for the standards the Lord placed before us regardless of the cost.  What has happened to this concept called integrity?
   In the body of Christ there is no room for politics.  In no congregation is there a place for manipulation.  In the church every effort must be made to be above board in all matters.   The end does not justify the means if the means lack integrity.  Perhaps one of the most important questions we can ask is, “What has happened to this concept called integrity?”

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