It has been suggested that America is the most religiously divided nation in the world. Whether or not that is true is hard to determine. But, if it isn’t completely accurate, it is close. In addition to the non-Christian religions in this country, there are more than 2,500 different churches claiming to be the church of the Bible. Though some would argue to the contrary, all this religious diversity is not good. Jesus said, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe on me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be one in us that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John 17:20-21). The intent of that prayer is obvious. Jesus desired unity on the part of believers. Only a united Christendom will bring the world to Christ. Division leads to unbelief. Therefore, if the lost are to learn of Jesus, those who follow him must be united. The apostle Paul appealed for unity among believers in the church at Corinth. He pleaded for them to agree and stand as one (1 Corinthians 1:10). It is still a valid plea! We believe that great harm has befallen the cause of Christ in this world because those who claim to follow him are so divided. But, we also believe that unity is possible. It is our desire to cast aside all manmade

Isaiah, a prophet of Israel, seven centuries before Christ, warned his nation of impending disaster. The moral foundations of Israel were crumbling, and without a strong moral foundation, no nation can long survive. As I read Isaiah, I am struck by the similarities between that society and our own. First, Isaiah described a people who loved alcohol and sought escape in the bottle. He wrote: “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them” (Isaiah 5:11). In a culture where alcohol and drug abuse have reached epidemic proportions, his words are hauntingly familiar. People are still looking for escape, but are not finding it. Misery is the companion of those who turn to drugs and alcohol. Second, Israel had forgotten God. They would go into captivity because they had no knowledge of God (Isaiah 5:13). Today, parents do everything in their power to see that their children have the best toys, the latest fashions, the nicest houses and the finest education money can buy. But, that which parents need to pass on to their offspring is neglected. Children are growing up without a spiritual foundation. Only in God can we find answers to the great questions of life. If God is left out, it matters little what kind of education we provide our children, for they will grow up spiritually ignorant, without meaning and purpose for their existence. Third, he spoke of a nation with

Can it be said with any degree of certainty that anything is necessarily wrong? Have black and white really dissolved into the murky world gray? Are there no absolutes any more, except, of course, that there are no absolutes? A few years ago I would not have considered such questions as worthy of serious discussion. Right and wrong were clearly differentiated, and most folks understood the difference. Abortion was unthinkable, divorce unacceptable and unwed pregnancy a disgrace. Now these are common occurrences in many families. And, there seems to be no shame, no sense of failure, no stigma attached. Why is the realm of ethics and morality shrouded in a dense fog? Is there nothing that we can point to as always right or always wrong? The “enlightened” answer is “No!” Is that your approach to this subject? Are you among the growing number calling for tolerance? Is your voice among those who plead for acceptance? Do you sit in judgment of those whom you condemn for judging? Are you among that number whose knowledge of the words of Jesus is limited to his statement, “Thou shalt not judge”? If you find yourself in this crowd, answer these questions. Is it ever right to abuse a child? Is child pornography ever morally acceptable? Is it ever wrong to treat people the way you want to be treated?  And, how do you know? The realm of right and wrong is not nearly as murky as we are led to believe. Whether

The Bible is all-sufficient in that it thoroughly equips man for life with God (2 Timothy 3:15-17). When it is asserted that the Bible is all-sufficient, what is meant is that the Bible contains everything needed to enable man to have forgiveness, live righteously and prepare for eternity. We are therefore thoroughly equipped for every good work(NKJV). Nothing pertaining to our relationship with God is lacking, and therefore additional revelation is not needed. Given the all-sufficiency of the Bible, any new revelations must be superfluous, erroneous or repetitious. One should be very cautious of anybody who claims additional revelation of the Divine will beyond the Scriptures. Jeremiah warned, in behalf of God, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD(23:16). Further, he wrote: Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD(23:32). Some still claim that God speaks directly to them apart from the Scriptures. They embrace the idea of progressive revelation, but the doctrine cannot be sustained from the Bible. A number of questions need to be considered. Why do new revelations often contradict the clear teaching of the Bible? Why do the new

As Christians we understand that it is impossible to separate faith from life. Every aspect of life is impacted by faith. Faith dictates conduct. The Scriptures could not be clearer. Paul wrote to the church at Philippi: Only let your conversation [conduct] be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Philippians 1:27). There it is. Conduct must be governed by the Gospel. Religion is validated not simply by what we say but by what we do. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:27). The apostle John asked: But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John 3:17). He then went on to admonish: My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth (1 John 3:18). It is not enough to talk a good religion, we must live it! Faith dictates how we deal with each other. It was Jesus who said, Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets (Matthew 7:12). Believers understand

There is a belief commonly shared among both active churchgoers, and non-churchgoers alike that says, As long as a person tries to be good, to be morally upright and to treat people fairly, he will be all right eternally. Those who make this argument generally do so in defense of themselves or others who have little or no religious involvement or commitment. They often seek to bolster their position by saying that they can be just as close to God on the golf course, along the trout steam or on the ski slopes as others are in a church building. The argument is not nearly as convincing as they think it is. Is there any support for this way of thinking in the Bible? The answer to that question is an emphatic no! Before I proceed, I need to acknowledge that faithful church attendance is no guarantee of salvation either. It is possible to be a faithful churchgoer and still be a scoundrel. So, no one should jump to the false conclusion that church attendance is all that God requires. As the late Jess Nutter was often heard to say, Sitting in a church building no more makes you a Christian than sitting in a hen house makes you a chicken. Cornelius is an excellent example of the point I am making. He was a Roman centurion (a solider over 100 men) stationed at Caesarea, a city on the Mediterranean seacoast. According to the account of this man’s conversion, he was devout, generous and prayerful

I’m a terrible shopper. My motto is get in and get out!The longer I’m in a store the more frustrated I become. I don’t enjoy shopping, and I probably never will. I avoid it if at all possible, but once in awhile I find it unavoidable.  Not long ago my wife asked me to stop at the supermarket and pick up a couple of things. As I walked up and down the aisles, I spotted red raspberries. Knowing how much she enjoys them, I hurriedly picked up a container and headed for the checkout.  The next day, to my dismay, I watched as she discarded half of them. They were rotten. Needless to say, I should have inspected them more carefully. What’s the point? Good fruit requires careful inspection. There is more than one kind of fruit. Jesus used this analogy to warn of the dangers of false teachers. He said, Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:15-20). Faithful men of God will be recognized not by the claims they make, but by

James wrote: But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves… If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world (James 1:21-27). It is easy to talk a good religion, but it is quite another thing to live it. To hear the truth but not be changed by it will do no one any good. As the text says, we must be more than hearers; we must be doers. What does this entail? Christianity is the religion of the bridled tongue. Our relationship with Jesus is reflected in the language we use, the things we talk about and the things we do not talk about. If we think we can follow Jesus while we embrace the language of the world, we are sadly mistaken. Religion without a bridled tongue is vain religion. Christianity is the religion of the compassionate heart. We cannot be children of God while closing our hearts to the needs of those around us. Widows and orphans are representative of all who are in genuine need. The apostle John expressed it this way. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

William Barclay writes that once President Lincoln was asked how he was going to treat the rebellious Southerners when they had finally been defeated and returned to the Union of the United States. The questioner expected Lincoln would take dire vengeance, but he answered, “I will treat them as if they had never been away.” There was a father with two sons. The youngest came to his father and demanded his inheritance. His father complied, and in short order, the young man had wasted it away. Far from home, penniless and friendless, he resolved to return, confess his sins and ask to be made a household servant. From a distance, his father saw the wayward son approaching. The father ran to him, embraced him and kissed him. In short order, the young man was cleaned up and a great celebration held. What a wonderful story of forgiveness, but it’s not over, yet (Luke 15:11-24). The elder brother, returning from the field, heard the merrymaking as he approached. Inquiring of one of the servants, he learned that his brother had returned, and a celebration was underway. Outraged, he stubbornly refused to participate. His father came out and pleaded with him to join the festivities, but he would not. He had been a faithful son, yet he had never had a party. How could his father possibly justify a celebration for his wayward brother (Luke 15:25-32)? I have no doubt that story was told by Jesus not only to illustrate the Father’s

Someone has illustrated the differences between men and women this way: “A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.” Probably an over generalization, but it does imply a difference between men and women that is often denied. In this age of equality, we must not lose sight of our differences. They reach beyond the obvious physical dissimilarities. There are clear distinctions between men and women, but these differences have nothing to do with our worth. At a time when a woman was viewed first as the property of her father and then of her husband, the apostle Paul asserted: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:27). In the home, it was the intent of the Creator to place man in the leadership role. He is to be head over his wife even as Christ is head of his church (Ephesians 5:23). That does not imply his superiority or her inferiority. It does indicate a difference in roles. Some men have abdicated their headship, and some women have usurped the leadership role in the home. Neither negates the fact that God has ordained how the home should function. Whether we like it or not, that’s what the Bible teaches. In the church, we have a similar dichotomy. Men are given the leadership role in the

Someone has suggested that there are two basic causes for trouble in marriage: “not finding in marriage what one expected to find, and not expecting what one actually finds.” The fact is, no marriage is trouble-free. In the best of marriages, there are ups and downs. Couples generally expect to find three things in marriage — stability, security and predictability. There are times in every marriage when one or more of these expectations will not be realized. What is often the cause of marital problems? One might think it is sexual incompatibility, infidelity or in-law trouble, but financial worries are the root cause of the greatest number of marital disagreements. Family conflict, interpersonal strife, anger and frustration are all related directly or indirectly to the pursuit and management of money. Money is not the problem, but rather our attitude toward money, and our inefficiency in handling it wisely. Learning how to set up and stick to a budget can go a long way in building a meaningful and lasting marriage. It is not money, but the love of money that the Bible says is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). Money should be seen as a gift from God to be used wisely and managed carefully. What we have is not ours, but belongs to God. It has been loaned to us that it might be used, not hoarded. The Bible offers many warnings regarding our attitude toward money and the things money can buy (Matthew 6:19-21; 16:26;

What’s the easiest way to identify an apple tree? To see apples on it, of course! What is an apple tree good for if it doesn’t produce apples? Firewood! Is an apple tree still an apple tree even if it produces no apples? Yes, but it is an essentially worthless apple tree! What is the easiest way to identify a Christian? Again, the answer is to look at the fruit being produced! What kind of fruit do Christians produce? Some have argued that the fruit of a Christian is another Christian, but that cannot be supported logically or scripturally. The fruit of an apple tree is not another apple tree, but apples. How important is it that Christians bear fruit? Jesus answered that question when he said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2). This is a passage often misused today. Jesus is the vine. Of this, we can be certain. It is then argued that the branches are the various churches (denominations) found today. This assertion is not supported by the text. The branches are not churches, but individual Christians. Jesus further said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Further, he stated: “If anyone

It is said that money meant little to Albert Einstein. When he joined the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, the salary he requested was so low that officials had to double it to preserve the Institute’s standards. It is reported he once used a $1500.00 check from the Rockefeller Foundation as a bookmark, then lost the book. The Foundation’s records were out of kilter for months. When they finally sent a duplicate check, Einstein wrote back, “What’s this for?” Someone has written: “Dug from the mountain side, and washed in the glen. Servant am I, or master of men. Steal me, I curse you. Earn me, I bless you. Grasp me, and hoard me, a friend shall possess you. Lie for me. Die for me. Covet me. Take me. Angel and devil, I am what you make me.” The Bible doesn’t say that money is evil, but it does say that the “love of money” is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The more prosperous we are, the greater the temptation. The apostle Paul warned: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:10). He further advised Timothy: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Jesus had much to say about the

It was early Sunday morning when Mary Magdalene made her way to the tomb where the body of Jesus had been laid to rest. To her great surprise and distress, she found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb and the body of Jesus missing. What had happened? Where could he be? Who would do such a thing? These, and a dozen other questions, must have flooded her mind as she rushed to tell the other disciples of her discovery (John 20:1-23). What she did not know but would soon learn was the startling revelation that Jesus Christ was alive. The devil had been defeated. Death had been unable to hold him. Christ had conquered all. It was resurrection morning, and Jesus was alive. Because of his victory, all can be victors. His resurrection was the crowning miracle of his ministry. It was the “good news” of the Gospel. By it, he demonstrated the scope of his sovereign power. Doubters deny, scoffers scoff, skeptics question and critics seek to controvert it. But the fact remains; there is no viable explanation for the empty tomb other than the resurrection. Consider these questions. 1) If his enemies had taken his body, why did they not produce it? 2) If his disciples had removed his body from the tomb, how did they do it without being detected by the guards. 3) If his disciples had taken his body, they would have known that the Gospel was fabricated on a lie.

The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). There is an event in the history of Israel during the forty years they spent in the wilderness that is familiar to all good Bible students. Balak, King of Moab, sought the services of the prophet Balaam. Balaam was offered a huge sum of money to curse the children of Israel. He found the offer quite appealing. The story is well known because Balaam’s donkey is said to have talked (Numbers 22:21-30). What I find most striking about the whole incident is Balaam’s response to the messengers of Balak. He said, “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God” (Numbers 22:18). As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Balaam would have liked to curse Israel, but God would not allow it. Balaam could have been bought had God not prevented it. I have heard it said that for enough money a man could be persuaded to do anything. I don’t believe it, though in Balaam’s case it was probably true! Jesus raised this question: “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26). No amount of money can compensate for the loss of a soul! Yet, folks sometimes sell out for next

Early in our history as a nation, two prevailing views surfaced in respect to the supreme law of the land, the United States Constitution. One view, championed by Alexander Hamilton, favored a strong federal government and a loose interpretation of the Constitution. The other, championed by Thomas Jefferson, advocated States’ rights and a strict interpretation of the Constitution. Both men were part of President Washington’s cabinet. Hamilton headed the Treasury Department and Jefferson was Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Secretary of State). These two parties came to be referred to as the Federalists (loose constructionists) and the Antifederalists (strict constructionists). Although the parties have long since faded from the American scene, what they represented remains a part of the basic fabric of American politics. One of the first battles in the new administration was fought over the establishment of a national bank. Hamilton supported the proposal while Jefferson opposed it. Jefferson argued that the Constitution said nothing about a national bank. There was no provision for it. Hamilton countered that the Constitution did not prohibit it. The Constitution did not say, “Thou shalt not have the government engage in the banking business.” Hamilton won that fight. The next President was John Adams, a Federalist. But, Jefferson continued to preach the doctrine of respect for the Constitution, and when the third election for President came around, Jefferson prevailed. The pendulum has been swung back and forth ever since. But, enough of history and politics. We now turn to the subject of religion

No one likes to be misrepresented. It’s neither honest nor fair. It is the equivalent of lying, and we all know that lying is wrong (Exodus 20:16; Colossians 3:9). Solomon tells us that God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:17). Jesus identified the devil as the father of lies (John 8:44). Anyone who claims to follow Christ must surely speak the truth, and must never intentionally misrepresent his own or another’s positions! In an ideal world, the truth would always be told, but ours is not an ideal world. As a result, we find ourselves frequently misrepresented. I have heard it said that we in churches of Christ think we are the only ones going to heaven. But that is a misrepresentation of the truth. We are not in the business of determining who will be in heaven and who will not. Judgment is in the hands of Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10). Our focus is not on who is right, but what is right. We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, and we seek to teach and do what is contained therein. The Lord, not us, will make the ultimate determination as to who will and who will not enter heaven. Anyone who tells you otherwise is misrepresenting the facts. It has been said that we in churches of Christ believe in water salvation. It is another misrepresentation. It stems from the fact that we teach what Christ and his disciples taught regarding baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38;

It seems hard for many people to grasp, but the New Testament clearly teaches that one is not a Christian until he has been baptized. We are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). We are baptized into his body (1 Corinthians 12:14). We are baptized for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38). We are baptized to be saved (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21). Jesus demanded the new birth of water and the spirit (John 3:3, 5, 7). Baptism was clearly a part of the new birth experience, and that was the meaning attached to Jesus’ words regarding the new birth from the beginning of the church. Baptism clearly involved the immersion of the convert in water. In a Christian context, it never meant the sprinkling or pouring of water upon an individual. The meaning of the word is indisputable, and if correctly translated, would be translated immersion. Our English word is not a translation but a transliteration of the Greek word. The translators, by and large, have refused to translate the word because doing so would be devastating to those who have substituted the practice of sprinkling or pouring for the biblically mandated act of immersing the convert. Baptism is described as a burial followed by a resurrection to new life (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12). It involved a going down into and coming up out of water (Acts 8:38-39). John baptized converts at Aenon near Salim because there was much water there (John 3:22). Jesus was immersed (Matthew 3:16). Jesus

Some think that being a Christian means that one never sins. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have a Savior who withstood every temptation and overcame every obstacle to live a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22). We are called to follow his example. But, it is a mistake to think that we must live a perfect life to do that. In essence, Jesus sets the standard which we strive for, but never quite achieve. John warned that those who say they have no sin are self-deceived and devoid of truth (1 John 1:8-10). The Bible tells us that we all sin and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). Except for our Lord, there is no man who does good in life and never sins (Ecclesiastes 7:20). What then is the difference between Christians and non-Christians if all are sinners? First, Christians are saved sinners. Having been obedient to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a Christian’s sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1:7). Further, as long as we “walk in the light” or live as a child of God ought to live, his blood continues to cleanse us of all sin (1 John 1:7). Through him, we are justified, sanctified, forgiven, redeemed and saved. Second, Christians are not controlled by sin. Sin does not have dominion over God’s people (Romans 6:14). That means that Christians are motivated by a desire to do what is right and to reject what is wrong. It

“These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:14-15). Many churches have abandoned long held beliefs regarding both doctrine and morality. The Bible is no longer viewed as the inspired, authoritative, all-sufficient, inerrant Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17). And, if the Bible is rejected, then there is no basis for objective truth. Morality then becomes a matter of personal preference. Churches which have embraced this philosophy no longer believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to God (John 14:6). They now deny such fundamental biblical doctrines as the virgin birth, the deity of Jesus and his resurrection. For many he was at best a good man. There are many ways to God, they argue, he is but one of them. In the realm of morality, little is considered inherently evil. We are told to be nonjudgmental. We must tolerate different points of view and be critical of no one. Tolerance is defined as acceptance, and the only sin is that of intolerance. In the quest to incorporate everyone and alienate no one, sin has been air brushed away. Anyone who argues otherwise is judgmental, intolerant, homophobic, pharisaic and unchristian. But that’s a lie! The church must be the pillar and support of truth. This

“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 1:2). This is not a skeptical and pessimistic view of life, but a poignant refutation of materialism. Wealth, power, pleasure and fame are all fleeting. Solomon, generally acknowledged as the author, observed: “I denied myself of nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11). This is the attitude of one looking at life from a purely materialistic point of view. It portrays the hopelessness of those who trust in wealth, power, pleasure and knowledge. Experience teaches that rich or poor, wise or foolish, great or small, all must die. That being true, our author laments: “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. I hated all things I had toiled for under the sun, because I must leave them to the one who comes after me. And who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have control over all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 2:1, 18). Maybe you’ve

Faith in an essential element in our response to God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is defined in Scripture as “…the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). Living faith is the operative agent in man’s obedience to God. It is faith that leads to action. Faith and works are inseparably linked. One is ineffective without the other (James 2:14-26). Given the importance placed on faith in Scripture, it is imperative that we understand the meaning of faith. Faith is often seen as the proverbial “blind leap into the dark,” a crutch for weak individuals. But, nothing could be further from the truth. Superstition results from ignorance and fear of the unknown. They originate in ignorance. Faith is often associated with superstition. In fact, one of the definitions provided in Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary for faith is “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” I suspect that to be the definition many people attach to “faith” in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. Faith, as used in Scripture, is not belief without proof, but belief based on evidence. Peter admonished Christians to provide reasons for their faith, because our faith is reasonable (1 Peter 3:15). Our faith in Creation, in the Bible, in Jesus

I get the distinct feeling that many people want the blessings and privileges that come with faith, but they desire few of the responsibilities of discipleship. These folks want the Father close at hand, but never take time to talk to him in prayer. They want to be spiritually alive, but spend little time with the “bread of life” (the Bible). They want a faith that will sustain them in times of trouble, but have little thought of God when things go well. They want worship to be exciting, emotionally fulfilling and spine tingling, but are spectators — not participants in the assembly. They talk about the importance of Christ in their lives, and then crowd him out of their lives. Paul described these folk as “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5). Faith in Jesus Christ is life changing, or at least it was meant to be. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). To follow Jesus requires that we rid our lives of all that is contrary to his will and nature, and that we imitate his life, his love, his devotion and his compassion. He gave us a perfect example to follow (1 Peter 2:21). As Christians, our purpose is to do the will of him who died to save us. We are not people pleasers, but God pleasers (Galatians 1:10). What

She was an incurable grumble. Nothing pleased her. But one day her neighbor heard of her excellent apple crop and figured at last he had found one thing she couldn’t complain about. “Well,” he said, “I know you’re happy. I’ve heard a lot about that apple crop.” The old woman glared at him as she replied, “Oh, I guess they’ll do, but where’s the rotten ones for the pigs?” You are probably thinking no one could be that bad, but I’m not so sure. I’ve met one or two who very easily could be the guilty grumbler. As I have noted before, these are the folks who feel bad when they feel good for fear that they will feel worse when they feel better. For them nothing is quite right, and they want the whole word to know it. They are so focused on the one thing they perceive to be wrong that they never see all the right things. How do you suppose God feels about grumblers? Did you know that exactly one month after leaving Egypt the Israelites were grumbling that they would have been better off if they had remained Egyptian slaves (Exodus 16:2-3)? It was in response to their complaints that God gave them manna to satisfy their hunger. On another occasion, now tired of the manna, they complained, “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks and the onions, and the garlic: but now

Dale Carnegie observed, “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.” In a sense, the Psalmist said the same thing. He wrote: “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24, KJV). Someone else has written: “Today is the day I have been looking for. All my life has been spent in preparation for it. Yesterday and tomorrow are faraway nothings — the one a faint memory, the other a vague promise. But this is my day. It offers all that God has to give, and I’m a laggard or a coward if I fail to make the most of it.” We cannot afford to spend all of our time regretting the past or daydreaming about the future. If we do, we will miss out on the present. Nor can we afford to live today in fear. Life is too brief and time too precious for us to do that. Yet, there is a sense in which all of us must be vitally concerned about both the past and the future. A relationship with Christ will take care of both and enable us to live today. Through obedience to the demands of Jesus Christ, we can have all our past sins washed away

The apostle Paul wrote to two young preachers. Both were encouraged to set good examples. Timothy was admonished: “Let no man despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). Titus was challenged: “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say to you” (Titus 2:7-8). The challenge of the Gospel is to live life imitating the example of Jesus Christ. He left us an example that we should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:21). We are to walk as he walked (1 John 2:6). A mature disciple is one who can say with Paul: “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:19-20). The effects of a good sermon are destroyed by bad living. The best parental advice is overruled by a bad example. Children imitate what they see and hear. Imagine the frustration of a child who is punished for smoking the cigarette butt his father threw away, or has

Benjamin Franklin wrote: “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of. If time be of all things the most precious, wasting time must be the greatest prodigality; since lost time is never found again and what we call time enough always proves little enough. Let us then be up and doing to the purpose; so by diligence shall we do more with less perplexity. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry all easy. Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure. Since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour.” Jesus observed: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). Time is a precious commodity. Life’s moments are fleeting. Moses observed: “We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is there strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away” (Psalm 90:9-10). Tragically, too many people do squander time. They spend the present regretting the past or dreading the future, neither of which should be our greatest concern. We cannot change the past, and there is no future if we neglect the present. The crucial question is not, “What have we done?” Nor, is it, “What are we planning to do?”

What do we know for certain about tomorrow? What will the weather be? Will the market be up or down? Who will win the big game? Is there a major tragedy or triumph in our future? There are those who claim to have the answers to these questions, and similar ones, but they don’t. The only certain prediction about the future is that it remains uncertain! It is not wrong to look to the future, but we must consider the uncertainties. James wrote: “Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that. As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16). I am reminded of something Ahab, king of Israel, said to Ben-hadad, king of Syria. Ben-hadad demanded of Ahab all of his gold and silver, and the best of his wives and children. Believe it or not, Ahab agreed. Then Ben-hadad went a step further. His representative would enter Samaria and seize anything of value. That, too, would become Ben-hadad’s property. This was more than Ahab could stomach. He had agreed to forfeit his silver and gold. He would even allow

Some of my fondest memories of childhood revolve around sunny Sunday afternoon. I grew up in the country. Both my parents came from large families. Their siblings were all married with children and lived nearby. Sunday afternoons regularly brought many of them to our house. Softball, badminton and horseshoes were typical afternoon pastimes. And the games were so frequent that grass didn’t stand a chance. Did my parents complain about the damage done to our lawn? Not once that I recall. In fact, they were almost always involved in the games. There is not enough money in the world to buy the memories I have growing up on Bunner Ridge. But, today I know parents who won’t let their children or grandchildren walk, let alone play on the lawn. Not long ago I read about a woman who bought a beautiful new dining room table which was finished with a special polyurethane varnish that guaranteed it to be waterproof, stain-proof and mar-proof. Unsatisfied, she bought a finely made cloth to protect the beautiful tabletop. Still not feeling safe, she purchased a quality plastic cover to protect the tablecloth. Then, to protect the new plastic cover she decided to eat off the old table in the kitchen. You may find it hard to believe, but I know people who are much like that woman. They won’t use their best china or their best silver. They’re saving them for a special occasion. I once knew a man who bought a new suit,

Solomon observed, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). The pen is mightier than the sword! Our words reveal a great deal about us. What comes out of the mouth reveals what is in the heart. If you have listened carefully, you are aware of some serious heart problems. Vulgarity, profanity, lying and racial and sexual slurs seem to be the order of the day. Hollywood has filled the big screen with foul-mouthed men and women. Television has not done much better. Filthy and profane language floods the work place, the classroom and the schoolyard. Children pick up the filthy talk from the media, from their peers and from their parents. They think it’s cool to talk that way. They do not understand that adults, who spew forth a fountain of filth, do so because they lack the intelligence to express themselves in a decent and civil manner. Intelligent men and women do not need to resort to filthy and profane language to get their message across. Christianity demands that we watch our words. The Bible is very clear. Paul admonished: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak

Few would dispute the fact that marriage, home and the family have been under assault of late. The breakdown of the home is one of the most significant problems we face. There was a time in our history when family ties were close and solid, but that time has passed for many families. This is a problem we cannot afford to ignore. What has caused the disintegration of the American family? Several factors are involved. Among them are: 1) the high divorce rate, 2) acceptance of alternate lifestyles (living together outside of marriage, homosexual unions), 3) rampant sexual immorality, 4) the mobility of society (the average family moves once every five years), 5) materialism (the belief that we need to have more has pulled young mothers out of the home and into the workforce), 6) the breakdown of traditional religious values. These factors and others are combining to destroy the traditional American family. Can anything be done? The only solution is a return to the biblical framework for marriage and family. The home was the first institution ordained by God, and it was meant to be lasting (Genesis 1:28; Matthew 19:9). The home should be the center for spiritual, emotional and physical growth. It should be the place where love is nurtured and cultivated. It is the place where values are instilled. It is in the home that respect for God, country and fellow human beings is learned. Home is the heart of society. The ties that bind us to

There’s an old story which goes something like this. A young preacher in Kentucky wanted to make a good first impression on his congregation so he preached a fiery sermon against horse racing. After the sermon one of the deacons took him aside and reminded him that he was in horse country, and that many members enjoyed horse racing. The next Sunday he preached a powerful sermon against smoking. The same deacon approached him once more. This time he reminded the preacher that tobacco was a major cash crop in that area, and that much of his salary was derived from tobacco money. The following Sunday the preacher spoke out strongly against alcohol. Once more the deacon reminded him that the church building sat in the shadow of a distillery, and that many of the church members worked in the distillery. Frustrated, the preacher demanded, “What can I preach on?” The deacon responded, “Why not preach against heathen witchdoctors? There isn’t one of them in a thousand miles of here!” I’m afraid that many preachers today would commend that deacon for his keen insights and astute advice. After all, preaching ought to make people feel good. No one should be made to feel guilty. Sin need not be exposed. Everything is relative anyway. What may be one man’s vice is another’s virtue. That may be a fair assessment of modern preaching, but it is certainly not an accurate picture of New Testament preaching. Paul charged Timothy: “Preach the word; be

One of the truly low points in the history of Israel came in the days of King David. Israel was beginning to exert herself as a world power. The army was strong and victorious. Israel’s borders were secure. David was loved by his subjects, respected by his allies and feared by his enemies. Times were good. But, then sin raised her ugly head. David had an affair with a married woman, the wife of one of his soldiers. She became pregnant. The king sought to cover his crime, but couldn’t. Ultimately, he had the woman’s husband murdered and took her as his wife. He thought he had gotten away with it until the prophet, Nathan, paid a visit to the king. David was confronted, confessed his sin and received forgiveness (2 Samuel 12:7-14). However, the consequences of his actions would haunt him for the rest of his life. Because of his sin, the sword would never depart from his house (2 Samuel 12:10). Evil would arise against him from within his own family (2 Samuel 12:11). And, the child which had been conceived in the adulterous liaison would die (2 Samuel 12:14). Forgiveness did not deliver him from the consequences of his actions. Though forgiven, he was still accountable. We believe strongly in the divine principle of forgiveness. Those who seek forgiveness from a penitent heart are to be forgiven (Luke 17:3-4). But, forgiveness does not free one from the consequences of actions which cannot be undone. There are some

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19) Peter offered the definitive answer. Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Peter had not learned this from some other man, but from God himself. Exactly how this revelation may have been given to Peter is not stated, but the truth of our Lord’s identity is not a matter of doubt for Peter, nor should it be for us. Everything we know about Jesus validates Peter’s confession. In addition to Peter’s confession, and the Lord’s own acknowledgment that he was the Son of God, we have the testimony of John the Baptist. Further, on at least three occasions the voice of God

If I hear one more person say, “I know it was wrong, but I couldn’t help myself,” I think I’ll be sick. Contrary to popular belief, we do not have to be slaves to our passions. We can practice self-control, restraint and self-discipline. God’s Word offers the following promise. “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). It is not necessary to surrender. The devil doesn’t have the upper hand unless we give in to him. Peter admonished, “…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love” (2 Peter 1:5-7). He went on to promise, “… if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins” (2 Peter 1:8-9). They are not optional matters. Special attention should be given to the fact that self-control is included in the list. Without it, we become slaves to our own wants and desires. When that happens, the

A valuable lesson to communicate to youngsters is that actions have consequences. Sinful conduct has serious negative consequences, but moral conduct produces positive results. That is what Paul was getting at when he wrote, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). It is generally believed that it is impossible to live an exciting, joyous and fulfilled life while at the same time serving Christ. That’s simply not true. I would argue that it is impossible to live a full and meaningful life unless one is a Christian. Jesus saith that he had come that we “might have life” and that life in him is “abundant” (John 10:10). To live life fully, we must live it as Christians. Many today do not know, but Jesus knew that God’s laws were given to enrich life. When the Word of God prescribes a certain type of conduct, we can be confident that life will be more rewarding if we listen. When the Bible prohibits something, it is because it is in our best interest to avoid it. If we don’t, we should be prepared to face the consequences. Adam and Eve were driven from the garden because they did not listen to God. With their transgression, sin entered the world. As a result of sin, they were separated from God. Life became difficult. Death — eternal separation from God — became a reality. What God had pronounced as very

Many of you no doubt saw the movie “The Titanic!” As you know 1,513 of the 2,224 people on her maiden voyage perished when, on April 14, 1912, the ship went down after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Only six survivors are still living. The Titanic had double wall construction. It consisted of 16 water tight compartments, any four of which could be flooded without affecting the ship. It was billed as “unsinkable,” yet it sank! The billing was a lie, and believing that lie, no doubt, cost some people their lives. There is a popular idea in religion that says that if a man believes a thing to be true, honestly follows his convictions and is sincere, his course will ultimately lead to heaven. But, only in religion is this thought to be true. Suppose you had invested several hundred thousand dollars in James McDougle’s savings and loan, sincerely believing that he was an honest man and that the institution was on a solid financial foundation. Would that have meant that your money was secure? Obviously not! Sincere belief in the integrity of the institution would not have protected you from financial harm! Belief in a thing is no guarantee that it is true. Jacob believed that Joseph was dead, but he was not (Genesis 37:32-35). Though it was not true, Jacob’s grief was real because he had believed a lie. Paul sounded an alarm regarding the danger of believing a lie (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). We would

We live in the age of the mega church. These churches have thousands of members, mulit-million dollar campuses and resemble a shopping mall more than a meetinghouse for Christians. They sometimes include bowling allies, coffee shops and gymnasiums. One even added a fast food restaurant to its facility. The focus is not salvation but self-help, softball and socializing, and they pack them in on Sunday. Success is measured by the size of the crowd and the contribution. But, is this what New Testament Christianity is all about? If big crowds and large contributions are all that is important, then I suggest that there are better ways to accomplish both. Major league sporting events, for the most part, can draw crowds and raise money. And, when the event is over a large number of folks go home quite satisfied with the outcome (assuming their team won). Surely there is more to Christianity than crowds and contributions! A great church is not great because of its budget or its big crowds. Great churches are great because of their faith in the greatness of God. Paul commended the church at Colosse for its “faith in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:4). Great churches put their trust in the Gospel, not in gimmicks. It is the Gospel which is God’s power to save (Romans 1:16). Great churches are great because of their love. The church at Philippi was a loving church. They were encouraged to abound in love (Philippians 1:9). Great churches have members who love

Saul was the first king of Israel. He was commissioned by God to destroy the Amalekites. He was to slay them all — men, women, children and all their livestock. In short order, the Amalekites were defeated and Saul returned the conquering hero. Much to his surprise, God was displeased with him. It seems Saul had not followed orders. He spared Agag, king of the Amalekites, and the best of their flocks and herds. Upon returning, Saul said Samuel: “Blessed are you of the Lord! I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:13). Samuel replied: “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” (1 Samuel 15:14). Saul tried to defend his actions but couldn’t. Samuel continued to chastise the king: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). Finally, Saul was told that the kingdom would be taken from him because he had rejected the word of the Lord (1 Samuel 15:23, 26). What do we learn from this account? First, partial obedience, even if considerable, is still disobedience. Saul had carried out most of what had been commanded, but he had not fully complied. James wrote, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James

Jesus was a teacher of rare ability. At the close of the Sermon of the Mount, Matthew tells us: “… the people were astonished at this doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:28-29). On another occasion, temple guards dispatched to arrest him returned empty-handed. They defended their failure by saying, “Never man spake like this man” (John 7:46). He was especially effective in his use of parables. One of his most familiar parables was that of the “Sower and the Seed” (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23; Mark 4:3-8, 13-20; Luke 8:5-8, 11-15). The seed represented the Word of God, and the soils stood for the hearts of men (Luke 8:11). Obviously, the productivity of the seed is determined by the type of soil in which it is planted. The same can be said regarding the Word of God. The impact of the Word is determined by the nature of the heart in which it enters. In the parable, Jesus identified four types of soil (hearts) — the wayside, the rocky, the thorny and the good. All of us can see ourselves somewhere in the parable. The wayside represents those hearts which are hardened by sin (Hebrews 3:8, 13). There are some among us who have completely closed our minds to the Gospel. They refuse to give the Lord a fair hearing. They will not examine the evidence. Their ears are stopped. Their eyes are shut. Their minds are closed. Their hearts are hardened. Remember, the

  There is some question as to exactly how many men bore the name James in the New Testament, but there were three who figured prominently in the ministry of Christ and the history of the early church.  They were James the son of Zebedee and brother of John and an apostle (Matthew 4:21; 10:2; Mark 1:19; Luke 5:10), James the Less, son of Alphaeus and also an apostle (Matthew 10:3; Acts 1:13) and James the brother of our Lord (Matthew 13:35; Mark 6:3; Galatians 1:18, 19).  Jesus had three other brothers in addition to James.  They were Joses, Simon and Judas (Matthew 13:55).  The Lord’s sisters are also mentioned, but not by name (Matthew 13:56).  We are not told how many sisters he may have had, but there must have been at least two.  Roman Catholics, because of their belief in the perpetual virginity of Mary, argue that those who are mentioned as the brothers and sisters of our Lord were his cousins, or stepbrothers and sisters, children of Joseph from a previous marriage.  There is absolutely no support for this idea in the Bible.     James, like the Lord’s other siblings, was not supportive of Jesus during his early ministry.  The apostle John makes the point that even his own brothers did not believe in him (John 7:5).  However, that was to change.  Among those disciples who were found with the apostles in Jerusalem following the Lord’s ascension were his brothers, which obviously included James, who was to later