Who Told You That

     This past Saturday we had our third annual clothing drive in Payson.  We were able to distribute clothing to between 350 and 400 people from this town.  This year we added a couple of questions to the material we require them to fill out.  We asked them these two questions,  “Do you have a home church?” and “Do you wish to have a visit in your home?”  From these cards we learned of fifteen families who wanted visits in their homes.  We are in the process of making those visits.  As we do this we will attempt to do two things.  We will attempt to set up Bible studies and we will do what we can to get these people in our assemblies.

     As Christians we must find a way to take the gospel outside the walls of our buildings.  It is important that we teach truth.  Certainly we do not want to teach anything outside the will of God.  But teach we must.  It is essential we find ways to connect with those outside the body of Christ.   We may have complete doctrinal purity taught each time we assemble, but if that truth never reaches the masses we have accomplished precious little
     As Christians, congregations, and as the body of Christ as a whole we must be like the Good Samaritan.  We need to be looking in the ditches for those to whom we can extend a helping hand.  Unless we can make a difference in the lives and souls of those in our respected communities we aren’t fulfilling the mission of Christ.

     Tonight we were studying 2 Corinthians 6:14-18.  Two primary points were made.  The first point that was made was from the context of Scripture.  The point was made that Paul was warning the Corinthians not to choose the lifestyle of the Corinthian culture.  At the obedience of the Gospel the lifestyle of Christ was the chosen lifestyle of the Corinthian believer.  Paul was warning them not to stray from it.
     The second point made is the usual “talking point” we hear from years gone by in Churches of Christ.  This second point made was that this Scripture was written to forbid members of the Church of Christ from marrying those who aren’t.  As I listened to these ideas several thoughts came to my mind.
     First, when we are studying a passage of Scripture that Scripture has to be interpreted to fit what was going on in the context.  It  has to first apply to those to whom it is written.
     Second, We cannot apply this Scripture to our situation in a way that is not consistent with it’s original writing.  This has to be interpreted in the context of the situation.  We must be consistent with the original intent.
     Too often we bend Scripture to fit our doctrine.  This is not the way it ought to be.  Instead of bending Scripture to fit our doctrine we ought to bend our doctrine to fit what the Scripture actually is saying.  It is disturbing that so many are willing to read between the lines of Scripture in order to uphold pre-concieved doctrine.  Why not let the intent of Scripture determine doctrine? Isn’t this much better than bending Scripture to fit doctrine?

 In Luke 18:15-17 parents are bringing their children to Jesus in the hope He would bless them.  The disciples misunderstood.  As a result the disciples rebuked them.  They believed Jesus had more important things to do.  They had missed the mission of Jesus.  It took the direct intervention of the Holy Spirit in order that the disciples might understand why Jesus had come.
    Jesus used this occasion as a powerful illustration.  Jesus made two major points.  First the kingdom belongs to such as these children.  Second, He tells all that the kingdom is to be received as the children would receive the kingdom.
    How do we receive the kingdom as the children would receive the kingdom?  The answer is extremely simple yet unbelievably profound.  Children receive things with total trust.  They accept  things at face value.  Rarely do we see this in adults.  We wait for the other shoe to drop.  We ask the question, “What are we missing?”  Children also accept in total joy.  They live for the moment.  Children accept both the depth and source of joy without question.  Adults have a problem with blind acceptance of anything.  To us this isn’t reasonable.  We know we don’t deserve the joy.  We have difficulty understanding the grace of God.  Jesus is teaching we receive the things of God by simple faith.
    Second, Jesus taught that the kingdom belongs to such as these children.  In the fellowship I knew as a child, the kingdom only belonged to those who understood and obeyed perfectly.  Jesus taught that the kingdom belongs to those like the children.  What do Christians share with these children?  It certainly isn’t superior understanding or superior obedience to God.  What then did the children have that we ought to seek?
    It appears that children have two basic qualities that we must have if we have what Jesus saw in them.  Little children are totally innocent and totally honest.  They have no hidden agendas.  With children what you see is what you get.  Would’t it be great if this were true in the adult world?