Where Are We Headed, part 2

Where Are We Headed, part 2 

1 Timothy 3:15 teaches that the church is the “pillar and ground of the truth.”  Regardless of what is going on in the world, the true people of God are required to remain steadfast and obedient to the truth of God’s word.  However, many of God’s people have been carried away by the flood of worldly change.  Let us consider a few more worldly changes that are influencing churches today…

3) Lack of qualified leadership.  It is evident that New Testament churches were required to have qualified leadership in the form of elders (I Peter 5, I Timothy 3).  Titus 1:5 suggests that a lack of qualified elders reflected some deficiency in a local congregation.  Sadly, we are seeing a great reduction of qualified leadership in local churches.  Even more alarming than the lack of elders, is the lack of those who desire to serve as elders.  Instead, many churches adopt trending models of leadership in the form of men’s business meetings, deferring to the judgement of a single elder member, or the preacher becomes the default leader of a church.

As we have seen in recent studies, building up the leadership begins with building up the members.  Let us all strive to thwart this trend by edifying one another and encouragingour young men as they prepare to serve as future heads of families and elders of local churches.

4) Distraction and deception by technology.  In the past few decades our world has been overwhelmed by the digital revolution.  With the introduction of smart phones, tablet computers, and other forms of mobile technology, the world has seen a major shift in how and when we entertain ourselves, how we communicate, how we learn, etc.  Technology is neither good

nor bad in and of itself.  It can be a wonderful tool in the hands of one individual, and an instrument of sin and corruption in the hands of another.

II Corinthians 2:11 teaches that we must by vigilant in regards to how Satan tries to undermine our faith.  In the world today, many people use technology as if it were a drug, and often become addicted to its allure, convenience, and potential power.  Screen addiction is now a diagnosable disorder.  Many people are dangerously close to having an idolatrous relationship with their technology and the creators thereof; technology can be an extremely useful and effective tool, but, contrary to what many in the world believe, it is NOT the answer to man’s greatest problems!

As Christians, we must be careful about how we allow technology to affect our spiritual lives.  How quickly and how subtly social media and apps can distract us from a bible study or during worship service.  How easily it is to get lost in our own world in a public place, staring at our phone, while there may be opportunities to spread the Gospel sitting right next to us.

5) “Judge not…”  The verse (Matthew 7:1) says, “judge not, lest ye be judged.”  Does that mean we are not supposed to judge the behavior or beliefs of anyone else?  If someone has a different view on salvation, or if someone is engaged in what you believe is sin, is the verse saying we are not supposed to judge that person?

Simply read the following verse (2) and the explanation is given: “For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged likewise.  Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but ignore the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you remove the speck from your brother’s eyes, when there is a plank in your own eye?”  The passage is teaching us not to judge hypocritically.  Over and over again, we are instructed to make judgments about who we fellowship with, who is or is not involved in sin, whether or not we will go along with some way of the world or not (I Cor. 5:3, I Cor. 11:13).

The world is rapidly racing toward a being a “judgment free zone.”  Churches, swayed by this attitude of the world, are adopting the same attitude toward sin and error.  Many churches advertise, “come as you are”, “we will not judge you.”  Preachers and teachers are reluctant or unwilling to teach on any Bible subjects that might offend or alienate those who are involved in sin.

While we must be accepting of all who are seeking the knowledge of truth, we must exercise some form of judgment when it comes to the sins of others.  The word of God was given that men might be changed, transformed (Romans 12:2).  How are we helping others to obey the Lord if we encourage them to remain in sin?

Where are we headed?  Let us “not be conformed to this world”, and do our best to resist the alarming changes we see taking place around us. 

Jeremy Koontz

Where Are We Headed, part 1

Where Are We Headed, part 1

 Every generation of Christians must face its own unique set of challenges.  Some generations may do better at keeping the commandments of God than others.  But there will always been challenges and opposition to our faith and way of life.  II Timothy 3:12 says that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  Every generation will have pressure from the world to conform to the world.  The next verse says that “evil men, imposters, and deceivers will grow worse and worse.”  But our goal as Christians is to remain steadfast in the faith despite what the world is doing around us.

Sadly, more and more churches are going along with the ways of the world.  More and more of God’s people are giving in to the pressure of the world to conform, and many Christians and churches live IN and OF this world.  Are we going to allow ourselves to get swept along with the ways and attitudes of the world, or are we going to stand firm on the word of God, and remain “the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15)? 

Consider some of the following changes that are taking places in churches in the world today, as we ask ourselves as a local congregation of God’s people, “where are we headed?” 

1) Ignorance of Scripture.  One reason many churches are going astray today is simply due to a lack of biblical knowledge.  Many people in the world want to do good works and serve God, but in their zeal, they fail to consult the word of God for direction.  As a result, there are MANY kinds of churches in the world, with doctrines, leadership, and practices that are not found anywhere in scripture.  Sermons across the land have been reduced to inspirational talks, sprinkled (maybe) with a scripture or two, instead of careful examinations and presentations of God’s’ word.  People lack even basic understanding of the history of God’s people, the meaning of a covenant, and the gravity of sin. 

Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”  Each and every one of us must be dedicated students of God’s word, and everything we do and say must begin and end with “what is written.” (Colossians 3:16,17)

2) Less time spent in worship and fellowship.  There was a time when Sunday services would last over 5 hours.  It was practically all that people had planned on the first day of the week, recognizing that it is “the Lord’s day.”  Then, the single service was broken up into two services, morning and evening.  Gradually, both of those services got shorter and shorter.  Many churches are now doing away with the second service because they are so poorly attended.  Sermons used to go on for 2 or more hours.  Gospel meetings used to last 2 or more weeks.  Now, it is unusual for Gospel meetings to last more than 3 days.  If the preacher goes on for over 25 minutes, people often start looking at their watches and sighing with impatience.  If the service itself lasts for over 45 minutes, many people leave before service is over. 

The word of God doesn’t prescribe a set length of time that we are supposed to remain assembled.  But, where is this trend headed?  Will the single Sunday service be reduced to 30 minutes, 15 minutes?  How much time will future generations spend in worship, if they assemble at all?  How is it that Christians have gone from planning nothing but serving the Lord on Sunday, to having many other activities that church service often gets in the way of?  Yes, the trend is that the assemblies of the saints are getting in the way of our worldly activities, and the answer to this problem for many churches, is to change the assembly times and lengths to accommodate worldly activities.  But, in principle, shouldn’t it be the other way around (Matthew 6:33)?

In the next article, we will look at some other ways in which we must avoid getting swept along with the ways of the world…

Jeremy Koontz

                        “THESE THREE”                    march 2019                                                                                         

“so now faith, hope  and love abide, these three:

but the greatest of these is love”.

FAITH  abides.  Also translated belief, “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe …” (Hebrews 11:6).  

Faith refers to that by which our steps are guided.    To become a Christian; or to live as we should as Christians, we must walk by faith.  “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Romans 10:17).   Therefore, that faith by which we walk is not “faith alone”, not an empty, barren thing.  Faith without works is dead, James writes (2:17).  Hebrews 11 offers several examples of people walking by faith, and they all have this in common, they are identified by the obedience of faith that led to their salvation from a flood or from an opposing army, et al.

The faith by which we walk is not ad lib, so that whatever suits me is acceptable to God.  This was the force of Paul’s words in I Corinthians 4:6, “ … that you may learn by us not to go beyond what  is written …”.  It was the negative example provided by Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron “who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them” (Leviticus 10:1, 2).  God wants our submission, not our originality.

To walk by faith is to take only those steps in service to Him that He has spoken.  “We walk by faith, not by sight”, II Corinthians 5:7.

Faith may refer to the trust in God which was displayed by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  King Nebuchadnezzar said, worship me.  He said, if you do not worship me, you will be thrown into a fiery furnace.  The three young men said to him, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But if not, be it known to you, O King, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:15 – 18).  Faith says to error, “do your worst, we will not serve your gods”.

Faith  “is the assurance of things hoped for … “ Hebrews 11:1.  As we walk by faith we are assured that our hope is valid.  Faith supports hope.

HOPE abides.  Hope is desire plus expectation.  Hope is produced by character, Romans 5:4. Things we desire but do not expect are not hope, they are wishes.  Things we expect but do not desire are obviously not hoped for.  However, when the thing I desire is something I can reasonably expect, then I have hope.  All sensible people desire to go to heaven.  Those who have obeyed the gospel of Christ, and walk in the light, can expect heaven, James 1:21.

What does an abiding hope do for us?    Well,                          it gives us a helmet which is “the hope of salvation”              (I Thessalonians 5:8) .  We all know about helmets, and what they provide for athletes, bicycle – and tricycle -- riders of every age, protecting the head with its precious cargo, things essential to life.  The helmet which is the hope of heaven gives protection against the “hard knocks” of life that might otherwise overwhelm us.  How do people without hope survive the anxieties and heartaches of life?  I have stood at caskets containing the bodies of loved ones lost, and the survivors’ hopeless grief was simply overwhelming, sympathetic words fail.  

Hope sustains.  “Rejoicing in hope” (Romans 12:12).  We get loaded down with the cares of life, and sometimes those cares seem to be more than we can bear.    The God we serve, “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think …’, Ephesians 3:20.  Able to deliver us, He will not always respond in the way we think He should; but He will respond – and we should rejoice in hope.

LOVE is “the greatest of these”.  Greater than faith?  Greater than hope?  How? 

 All three “abide” (remain).  Love is greater than faith, and hope.  Faith may fail, Luke 22:32, but love never ends, I Corinthians 13:8.  Hope is the motivation of patience, in anticipation of that which is not seen. Romans 8:24, 25. Paul wrote, “Let all that you do be done in love” (I Corinthians 16:14), thus revealing our motives for all we do.  And John said, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments” (I John 5:3) revealing the behavior of love toward Him.

What is love?  The “commanded love” is not something you “fall into”.  It is not a feeling, not an emotion.  It is illustrated by the heavenly Father, who “so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life …” John 3:16.   What did the Father do, to show He “so” loved the world?  He did that which the world most needed: He gave perishing people a Savior.  He loved.

Again, Matthew 5:43-45:  “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.  For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.”

Children take on the appearance or mannerisms of their parents; so that an observer can say, you sound just like your Daddy.  It seems that this is in view when Jesus says, do these things that you may be seen to be sons of your Father: Who loves His enemies by doing good for them: giving sun and rain, to bad and good alike.  Are we seen, by our behavior, “to be sons of your Father”?

Paul writes, “Let all that you do be done in love” (I Corinthians 16:14).  From time to time we may find it necessary to rebuke someone.  The admonition of this verse demands our careful attention.  Our rebuke or instruction or whatever should be presented in the most effective way possible, not using the occasion to beat the person down but speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  Let all that you do be done in love.

No picking and choosing; “So now faith,  hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Something’s Better than Nothing…?

Something’s Better than Nothing…?

Have you ever been asked by someone to help them move?  Perhaps you got an email one day addressed to several recipients, saying something like, “We’re moving, come help (free breakfast tacos)!” inviting all who could to come and lend a helping hand.  In such a situation, most of us would be happy to help out if we are able, but then there are those times when, well, we just don’t feel like it even if we have the time and resources.  Sometimes, when we’re, for whatever reason, not up to it, we think to ourselves, “well, maybe I could go a little later in the day, or just stop by and carry a few boxes for a little while, after all, something is better than nothing.”

Such thoughts are not uncommon to our thinking.  The same attitude can overcome us when we see the panhandler on the corner at the traffic light and give him the change we find under the driver’s seat of the car, or when we know we should get some exercise and we walk once around the house when we could have rode our bike to the park.  Maybe your spouse wants to spend time with you and you suggest, “come back on Tuesday, the 3rd, and we can talk for about 10 minutes”, and you are perplexed when he or she becomes upset because, after all, something is better than nothing.

Is this attitude ever justified?  If we are able to do anything that is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, or praiseworthy (Phil. 4:8), if we are able to do anything which serves or provides for another (Luke 22:26,27), if we have the time, strength, and resources to do anything that is “good and acceptable in the sight of God” (I Timothy 2:3), why would we choose not to give all that we are able?

When it comes to our spiritual service, not giving all when we are able displeases our Lord.  God has always required His people to give all when it comes to faith, obedience, and work.  If we recognized the Lord requires something from us, the something is better than nothing attitude should never enter our hearts.  We should be ready and happy to, within reason, give all and, yes, even make sacrifices.

In the book of Malachi, God’s people were guilty of this attitude of partial service.  Instead of giving the first and best of their flocks as they were commanded, they gave the weakest, smallest, least valuable of lambs for sacrifice (Malachi 1:7,8).  No problem, right?  They gave something, which is certainly better than giving nothing at all.  Well, the Spirit calls their sacrifice evil, and their attitude provoked the anger of God.  God did not command they give just somethingbut had given them a specific instruction which they were to follow completely and absolutely.

Perhaps we’d rather not think about it, but at some point or another, we’ve all had the attitude of the Laodiceans in chapter 3 of the book of Revelation, in that they were “neither cold nor hot” (v.15) in their service to the Lord.  The passage goes on to say that the Lord would rather they be cold or hot, instead of just “lukewarm”.  The brethren at Laodicea were apparently doing something in service to the Lord, in their own minds thinking themselves rich and increasing in goods (perhaps even numbers), having need of nothing (v.17).  But in the same verse, the Lord calls them “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”  Indeed, they were doing something, but it clearly was not better than nothing.

The phrase “I know” is used 7 times in chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation, making it clear that God indeed “searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts” (I Chronicles 28:9).  We can make a display of service to God.  We may create the visual impression to others that we are giving all, appearing to make sacrifices, appearing to sing our best during song services, appearing fully devoted in remembering Christ during the Lord’s Supper, appearing to give our full attention to the lessons, but God knows if we are truly giving our all.

The scriptures are full of examples of individuals thinking they were hiding something from the Lord.  In Acts 5 Ananias and his wife Sapphira are convicted of lying to God about the amount they were able to contribute to the work of the apostles (5:1-4).  What a terrible conviction!  Would we want to be caught lying to God?  Well, men may not see what we are able and not able to give to the Lord, be it in financial contribution to the work of the church, in our encouraging the brethren, in our work in spreading the Gospel, in the manner of our lives and expression of love, but God will witness and judge if we are not giving more than just something.  God knows!

Let us practice doing that which we know is right and acceptable to God.  Let us begin today to adopt an attitude of complete spiritual service.  Don’t let the devil convince you that you’ve done enough.  Something is not better than nothing.  When it comes to serving the Lord, everything is everything!

Jeremy Koontz