Category Archives: Article

By What Authority?

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            In the religious world today, there is no shortage of worship styles and services, all of which differ in mode and operation.  It begs the question as to whether they are all approved of by God.  Some will say that the details of their worship to God do not matter, that anything is acceptable.  I wonder if those same folks would be okay with animal sacrifices being done in a voodoo ritual, or snake handling being done by some fringe group, however.  It would seem that we all would draw a line somewhere.

            The question then becomes where do you draw that line?  If we are all going to do something different in our worship to God, who determines if that is acceptable or not?  The root of the issue really boils down to authority.  Do we have the authority to make our own decisions when it comes to worshiping God?

            In the New Testament of the Bible the subject of authority comes up often.  In one such instance, the chief priests and elders are questioning Jesus in the temple and asking where His authority comes from to do what He was doing.  Jesus responded with a question of His own.  “But Jesus answered and said to them, ‘I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: The baptism of John—where was it from? From heaven or from men?” (Mat. 21:24-25 NKJV).  Notice that Jesus only gave two options for the source of authority.  Authority either comes from heaven or from men.

            Everything that is done in religion today is done by one of those two sources of authority.  Either what we do is done with the authority of God Almighty, or what we do is by our own authority.  God has a preference.  In rebuking the Pharisees and scribes, Jesus referred to them as hypocrites and stated, “And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7, Mat. 15:9).  Worship that is vain is useless.  God will not accept useless worship.  God wants to be worshipped as He has commanded.

            We need to have biblical authority for what we teach and practice.  Paul explained in Colossians 3:17 that whatever we do in word or in deed needs to be done in the name of the Lord.  That doesn’t mean we do what we want and slap the name of Jesus on it.  That means that we do it according to His authority.  Let us examine our own selves to see that we are doing what the Lord wants when it comes to our worship of Him.  By what authority do you do these things?

Can We Deal With the Devil?

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

Our current news feed is loaded with what has been going on in Israel in the war with Hamas.  Many are wanting for a cease fire that will bring peace to the region, but the question that must be answered is how you negotiate with someone who only wants your death or demise.  How can you appease them if all they want is for you to not exist?  Can we make a deal with the Devil? 

It’s difficult to see how that would bring about the desired result, and yet people seem to think that they can make a deal with the Devil and that it will somehow all work out.  Satan is referred to in the Bible many times and in many ways.  He is the tempter in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3.  He is the accuser of mankind in Job 1.  He is the leader of the fallen angels who have made war against the people of God in Eph. 2:2 and Revelation 12.  All he wants is for the demise and destruction of mankind.  How can you negotiate with him?

Moses certainly understood the importance of not giving in to the adversary.  In dealing with Pharaoh, Moses remained steadfast and sure and did not negotiate with the foe of God.  In Exodus 8:25 Pharaoh told Moses to hold a sacrifice in the land of Egypt, but that was not what God had demanded.  Later, in Exodus 8:28, Pharoah said to go, but only do not go too far away.  Satan would like for us to not go too far away from him. He wants for us to keep one foot in his synagogue (Rev. 2:9) and one foot in the church. 

In the plague of the locusts in Exodus 10, Pharaoh again tried to control the situation in allowing the men to go and sacrifice, but he wanted the children to be left behind.  Satan is delighted when we don’t bring our children with us into the church or into a right relationship with the Lord.  Satan loves to tell us that it is wrong for us to “force” our religion on our children, and instead would have us allowing our children to make their own choices when they are still young and naïve.

Pharaoh tried one last time to negotiate with Moses and his God in allowing the people to leave, but not taking their possessions with them.  “Then Pharaoh called to Moses and said, ‘Go, serve the Lord; only let your flocks and your herds be kept back’” (Exodus 10:24).  Moses answered Pharaoh that they would not leave a hoof behind when they exited Egypt (Exodus 10:26).  Moses understood that he could not give ground to the adversary.

Satan loves it when we give in and negotiate with him.  Go serve God, he might say, but don’t go very far away.  Go do what the Lord wants, but leave your children behind with me.  Go ahead and be a Christian, but don’t let that get in the way of your pursuit of material things.  We cannot give ground to the adversary.  We cannot deal with the Devil.  We cannot negotiate with Satan.  We need to stand, and to stand firm against the wiles of the Devil. 

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Eph 6:10–13).

Can We Die Apart from How We Live?

Posted on by under Article, Christian Living

            There is a country song by one of Knoxville’s more famous sons titled “Everybody Wants to go to Heaven,” which expresses the attitude that we can live however we want now and still go to heaven in the end.  In the song, the lyrics suggest that we can have the women and whiskey and all the worldly pleasures we want, as long as we put some extra money in the collection plate on Sunday.  Is that how God operates?

            The thought is nothing new.  Around 1400 BC, there was a prophet of God named Balaam who basically wanted to do the same thing.  Balaam was eager to go with the men that the king of Moab sent to him in order that he might come and curse the children of Israel, who had exited Egypt 40 years prior and were now encamped on the plain hear Moab (Num. 22-24; 2 Pet. 2:15).  You may remember that God did not want Balaam to go and even placed the Angel of the Lord in his way.  Balaam wanted to go and be ‘honored’ by the king of Moab, but he still wanted to die the death of the righteous (Num. 23:10).  Can we live wickedly and still die the death of the righteous?

            How we live matters!  We cannot live like the devil and die like an angel.  God says that we are to strive for holiness in how we live (1 Pet. 1:13-16).  Indeed, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” (Eph. 4:1).  We cannot live in disobedience and think that we can somehow buy our way into heaven.  It didn’t work for Balaam, who died with those who caused Israel to stumble by his counsel (Num. 31:8, 16), and it will not work for us.  If we want to die the death of the righteous, we must live in obedience to God!

Why Can’t I Use Any Wood?

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Gopherwood     In today’s modern culture there is an emphasis on self sufficiency. That is, man believes that he is to be the ultimate judge and determiner of his own destiny. He does not need to rely on any one else. In such a spirit, we can imagine a modern day Noah asking the title question when God instructed him to make an ark.

     In the story of Noah, we see that God specified that Noah was to use a particular type of wood for the ark. God said, “Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch” (Genesis 6:14 NKJV). While we do not know today just exactly what gopherwood was, it is clear that this is the wood that God specified that Noah was to use. It would not do for Noah to use any type of wood. When God specifically told him to use one kind of wood, He expressly eliminated all other types of wood. We see Noah’s righteousness in that he did just what God had commanded him to do (Genesis 6:22). Noah would not have been blessed had he not obeyed what God told him to do and used another type of wood.

     God did not need to provide Noah with a list of all the types of wood that were forbidden. He only needed to specify which wood was acceptable for the task. Today, many want to take the pages of Scripture and say that they are allowed to do whatever God has not specifically condemned. However, this is a misapplication of God’s Holy Word. For instance, God did not command us to make music, but instead told us to sing (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19). Had He told us to simply make music, we could do whatever we wished. Instead, He commands us to sing. That command to sing eliminates all other forms of music. He does not need to list all that is forbidden, since He has specified what is acceptable. It is the same as a sign on the restroom that specifies “Men.” That sign does not need to list who is not allowed, since it only authorizes men to enter.

     There are many other examples that can be used to show the same line of reasoning.  The fire that Nadab and Abihu used would be another indication that God specified what He wanted, and it eliminated all other types of fire (Lev. 10:1-3).  Just as Noah could not use any wood that he saw fit to use, we cannot be of the opinion that we can wander from what God has specified with regards to our worship to Him in our singing.  Let us not be guilty of going beyond what God has commanded!

Remember Me

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 remember me     In William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the title character has suspicions about his uncle regarding his father’s death. Those suspicions are confirmed when Hamlet speaks with his father’s ghost. The ghost admonishes Hamlet to action in his final words to his son by saying, “Remember me.”

     Although not in the form of a ghost, Jesus asks us to remember Him in one of His last acts before going to the cross. As He was gathered in that upper room with His twelve apostles, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. He took from the unleavened bread and the fruit of the vine and He instructed them to eat and drink (Matthew 26:26-28). In so doing, they were to remember His sacrifice for their sins and the sins of all mankind. Jesus told them to “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b NKJV).

     Later in his writing to the church in Corinth, Paul would repeat this admonition to remember the Lord by partaking in the Lord’s Supper. “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26). We also see in Scripture that it was upon the first day of the week, Sunday, that this memorial of the Lord was observed (Acts 20:7).

     There are many things that we may remember and make remembrances regarding them. It may be a special day in history. It may be a group of people who gave their lives in the defense of freedom. It may be in remembering some great leader or president. However, there is no one more deserving of our remembrances than the One who died to give us life. Let us be sure to remember Him each and every Lord’s Day especially. If you would like to know more about the One who died for your sins, come and see what God’s word has to say about Him.

He Kept His Integrity

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Tom_Brady_2011     There is much ado in the news lately regarding the issue of integrity.  For fans of the NFL this is especially true as the defending Super Bowl champions were just punished for a lack of integrity regarding the rules for proper inflation of the game balls used in one of their playoff games last season.  At stake is the integrity of the game.  At stake is whether it is desirable to endure future punishment for a reward now.  However, what is really at stake is something that is so much more important than just that.

     We have been told that cheaters never win.  That lies will eventually unravel and the truth will be known.  Today, some seem to think that our integrity and reputations are not that important.  If an advantage can be gained so we can win today, then we will deal with the consequences later with the prize in our hands.  That philosophy, unfortunately for them, is severely short sighted.

     There is value in having a good name.  Solomon wrote in Proverbs, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1 NKJV).  Silver and gold will perish.  Prizes and trophies will all gather dust or turn to rust.  There will be a time, however, when the quality of our name and the integrity of our lives will come into play.  There will be a time when we will be judged by something much more important than public opinion.  There will be a Day of Reckoning when all that we have done, whether good or bad will be brought into judgment by the God of the universe (2 Corinthians 5:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

     Just consider Job for a moment.  Job was a man who had great riches (Job 1:1-3).  He was a man who lost all that he had, including his children and his own health.  Even his own wife tormented him. “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” (Job 2:9).  Job kept his integrity.  He did not stop doing what was right for some temporary relief.  He held fast to what was right.  Job said he would hold on to his integrity even to the point of death (Job 27:5).  That is who Job was.

     Who are we?  Will we hold fast to our integrity and do what is right even if it means we do not receive some temporary prize?  Or will we trade away our future, trade away our good name, for something that will one day perish in the dust?  Rest assured, what we do will find us out, either one way or the other. “He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9). “The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them” (Proverbs 11:3).  “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Proverbs 28:6).  Let us never trade our integrity for that which we think makes us rich.  Let us hold fast to the prize that is to come, which no one can take away from us!

I Know Whom I Have Believed

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I Know WhomAs Paul is giving his final instructions to the young evangelist, Timothy, he writes, “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1:12 NKJV). Let us notice a few things about this particular verse.

First, Paul says that he knows whom he has believed. Paul does not have any doubt about the God that he serves. From the time that Paul first saw the light on the road to Damascus and spoke to our Lord and Savior, he never turned away. Paul was steadfast in his faith, even with all of the trials he had to endure (2 Cor. 11:23-28). Paul knows God, and we can know God too. He has left us sufficient evidence (Rom. 1:20).

Second, Paul is convinced that God is able to do anything He desires. God is all powerful. He is the God who spoke all of creation into existence (Gen. 1). He is the God who parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross on dry ground (Ex. 14:21-22). He is the God who was gracious to Paul by giving him a second chance, when he was persecuting God in his pursuit of Christians (Acts 9:1-5). God wants to give us a second chance also. He is able to cleanse our sins in the precious blood of His Son. He is able to make us whole.

Third, Paul has committed something to God. Like Jesus on the cross, Paul has committed his spirit, his soul, his very existence into God’s hands. Paul trusts that God is able to keep his soul well guarded. Peter also spoke of God’s ability to keep our inheritance in heaven under guard (1 Pet. 1:3-5). For those who follow God, their inheritance is reserved. No thief will break in and steal it, and rust will not corrupt it. It is ours, if we will obey and remain faithful to God.

We, like Paul, can have confidence in God. We can believe. We can know that He is able. We can trust Him with our very souls. If you would like to know more about God, please come and see us at the South Stokes church of Chirst.

A Desired Result

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WaxOnWaxOff     In the 1984 movie The Karate Kid, a young boy who is tired of being bullied comes to Mr. Miyagi to learn karate.  While training him, Mr. Miyagi is shown to have some strange teaching methods.  He has Daniel wash and wax his vehicles, sand the floor of his deck, and paint his fence.  When Daniel doubts that he has learned anything useful, Mr. Miyagi shows him what the motions that his muscles have memorized can do to help him defend himself.

     In the Bible we can read of a similar situation.  Naaman, a commander of the army of Syria, came to Israel to seek out the prophet Elisha in order to be healed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-8).  As he approached Elisha’s house he was met by a messenger who had come from Elisha.  The messenger told Naaman that in order to be cured of his leprosy he must dip in the Jordan seven times (2 Kings 5:9-10).

     Naaman was furious.  He thought that Elisha would wave his hand all over the place and make a great show in calling on the name of God.  Instead, Elisha has sent his word by a messenger.  To top it all off, Naaman was told to dip in the dirty Jordan river, not the much better rivers back home in Syria (2 Kings 5:11-12).  Nevertheless, Naaman did what the prophet instructed him to do, and his leprosy was healed (2 Kings 5:13-14).  Like Daniel with Mr. Miyagi, Naaman learned that simple obedience produced a desired result.

     How is it with us?  Do we expect to be tapped on the shoulder by God and told what to do?  At one time God spoke with man either directly or through the prophets, but now He speaks to us by His Son (Hebrews 1:1-2).  Jesus’ message for salvation is simple, “he who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16a NKJV).  We may be looking for a grander scheme, but why not simply obey what God has said to do.  After all, it worked out pretty well for Naaman!

Love Without Labels

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Couple_01     This week we are being told through a public service announcement that love has no labels.  That sounds pleasant, does it not?  Who could disagree that love has no labels?  However, just what is meant by this announcement?  What is being cast upon us is yet another attempt to show that homosexuality is normal and okay.

In an unrelated story, Dr. Ben Carson stated his belief that people choose to be homosexuals.  They are not born that way.  Very shortly after answering a question that exposed his belief, Carson took it back.  He back peddled and tried to explain his answer in a way that would be more acceptable to those of a gay persuasion.  The real question is, are these events really unrelated?

There is and has been a tremendous push in our country to justify, normalize, and force everyone to accept homosexuality as a viable, wholesome, alternative lifestyle.  Anyone who disagrees is instantly labeled as homophobic, hateful, or a bigot.  Let us just take a moment to think about the tactics from a logical standpoint for a moment.

Those of us who disagree with said lifestyle, are no longer allowed to express our opinion without fear of retribution, harassment, loss of employment (if employed within the media), and other labeling by the crowd that is telling us that love has no labels.  It cannot be about tolerance, for tolerance would demand that I can express my opinion as equally as they can theirs.  It is all about acceptance.  We are being forced to accept their opinion and say nothing about it.

I do not say this to be mean spirited, unloving, or otherwise prejudiced against a segment of society.  I merely mean to express another viewpoint with regards to this issue, and that is the viewpoint that God has written for our learning in the Bible.  By expressing what the Bible has to say about the issue, it is not my intention to “force my religion” down anyone’s throat.  God does not operate that way.  He merely tells us what is right, what is righteous, what is wholesome, and what is not.  Then it is up to us to decide if we will follow Him, or go our own way.  It is our choice, Dr. Carson.

Nowhere does God explain this better than in Paul’s letter to the Romans.  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them” (Romans 1:18-19 NKJV).  When mankind suppresses the truth, because they do not like it, that is called unrighteous and ungodly.  The creation of man itself is proof that there is a God.  There is no way that the complicated systems that exist within human life could have come about by chance.  Thus the evidence is within man, such that we are without excuse if we fail to believe that there is a God (Romans 1:20).

However, there are those who have not retained God in their knowledge.  They have made a conscious choice to walk away from God.  They do not glorify Him, nor are they thankful.  Instead, they profess to be wise when really they are being foolish for ignoring God (Romans 1:21-22).  Because they have given up on God and walked away from Him, He will also give them up.  They will not be considered to be His children anymore, while they are acting disobedient.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. . . For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due (Romans 1:24, 26-7).

Notice what God calls it when women exchange the natural use of their body to be with other women.  Notice what God says about men who burn in their lust for other men.  He says that they dishonor their bodies.  He calls their passions vile.  He says that their actions are shameful and deserving the penalty of their error.  It sounds like God has put “labels” on their “love.”

The real issue is a misunderstanding of love.  Men are to have brotherly love for one another.  This is the Greek word philos.  It is not the same as the love between a man and his wife that includes the sexual relationship.  This kind of love is eros (where we get the word erotic from).  Mankind has blurred the lines between the kind of love that we are to show toward one another, and the kind of love that is reserved for a married man and his wife.  So when people say, “well what is wrong with loving one another,” they are misunderstanding the difference between brotherly love and lust.

So why make such a big deal about this issue?  What harm is there in accepting what God says is vile, ungodly, unrighteous, and against nature?  Well, just notice what Paul goes on to write at the end of Romans 1:

(They) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them (Romans 1:29-32).

Not only does God disapprove of the homosexual lifestyle, His judgment is also going to be against those who approve of their behavior.  God says if you are okay with things that He calls evil, then you are deserving of spiritual death just the same as those who are practicing such.  That looks like God is placing many labels on their “love,” and none of those labels are good.

One last point with regards to this issue needs to be made.  The argument that homosexuals are that way because that is how God made them cannot be true if the Bible is to be believed.  Notice that God states the penalty for those who practice such behavior quite clearly in Romans 1.  If God were to make people that way, with that persuasion, then He would be making people to sin and be lost.  That is not God’s nature.  God does not tempt us to do evil.  We are tempted when we are led away by our own desires.  That desire then leads us to sin.  It is our own doing (James 1:13-15).  Indeed, God does not desire that anyone be lost.  He wants for all men to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4), and then to repent and follow Him (2 Peter 3:9).  People choose to practice what they practice.  They are not made to sin by God without a choice.

Furthermore, notice what Paul writes to the church in Corinth:

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11 emphasis added).

There were some who were in the church in Corinth who had formerly been homosexuals.  Paul says that they were washed, they were changed, they made a conscious decision to follow God rather than their own lusts.

There is no need to be lost in sin when we can repent, change our sinful lifestyle, and become a child of God again.  This not only applies to the sin of homosexuality, but with any and all sin.  God does not state that one sin is any worse than any other, and neither should we.  Let us only apply the labels that God applies, and strive to walk in His ways each day.

Shoot the Messenger

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Lewis_Hine,_A_typical_bike_messenger,_Birmingham,_Alabama,_1914     How do we react when we are given bad news?  Do we want to take it out on the one who is bringing us the report?  Many times, those who bring bad news are ostracized because of the message they carry.  We see that this was the case with Israel and the prophets.

     One such case occurs in 1 Kings 18 when Elijah comes looking for Ahab, the king of Israel, after hiding from him at God’s direction.  Ahab had been looking high and low for Elijah because of the drought in the land (Elijah had told Ahab that it would not rain again for several years 1 Kings 17:1).  When Ahab’s servant Obadiah comes into contact with Elijah, he is afraid to go back and tell Ahab that Elijah is here, for fear that Elijah will be called away and Ahab will kill him (1 Kings 18:9, 12, 14).  Obadiah fears that Ahab will shoot the messenger.

     Once Ahab finally sees Elijah, he greets him by saying “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17 NKJV).  Ahab is not happy to see Elijah.  Later Ahab will complain to Jehoshaphat with regards to Macaiah saying, “I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil” (2 Chron. 18:7).  Ahab was not thrilled with any of the prophets, because they did not hesitate to tell him that what he was doing was wrong.  Ahab had a tendency to shoot the messenger when it came to these men of God bringing him the word of the Lord.

     How is it today?  Are people willing to hear the word of God with an open heart, or are they only concerned with shooting the messenger because they don’t like the message?  We as Christians have a duty to spread the Good News about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and the hope of eternal life that comes from that blessed event (Mat. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16).  There is a need for us to tell the truth of God’s word just as there was in the time of Ahab.  We should be like Elijah and Macaiah and speak for God, even if others wish to shoot the messenger.