May 8, 2012
Who You Gonna Call?
In 1984 the world was exposed to one of the most famous catch phrases of all time- “Who you gonna Call? Ghostbusters!” This phrase was not only the tag line used in the film, it was the choirs line of a hit song from the same movie. Ghostbusters was a box office hit that got people not only thinking about ghosts, but thinking about who they would call if they came across a ghost.
When it comes to different events in our life we may not always know who to call. Sometimes we turn to family and friends. There are times when we turn to co-workers or mentors. We also reach out to those in the church. Perhaps a preacher or some other brother or sister. We need to know in times of need as well as times of rejoicing who to call.
In the midst of pain or confusion we sometimes forget that we can and should call upon God. In Ephesians 6:18 Paul teaches us that we should be a people of prayer. He teaches us that prayer, “calling God”, should be something we do “always”. In 1 Thess. 5:17 Paul again reminds us to call God when he writes “pray without ceasing”. Both Ephesians 5:20 and Colossians 3:17 teach us that we are to pray to God through Christ. Jesus himself instructs us to be a people that pray in Matthew 6:5-13. He helps us to answer the question; who you gonna call?
Is your life filled with prayer? Do you make time to “call” God? When a need arises or a joy is experienced, is God on your call list? I hope so. For the Christian, the answer to “who you gonna call?” is simple– God! When was the last time you called him?
April 22, 2012
“Though He Slay Me”
The world is in short supply of faith these days. A recent poll that was conducted of 24 countries asked Muslims and Christians how important faith was to them. 94% of those in Muslim countries said faith played an important role in their life. In Christian countries only 66% responded that faith was important to their life. In light of Hebrews 11:6 it is alarming that Christians would think faith is optional in their life. The author of the Hebrew letter is honest when he writes “Without faith it is impossible to please God…”. I worry that many in the Lord’s Church are adapting this type of mentality when it comes to their faith.
The life of Job gives us a glimpse into the importance of being a people of faith. Job was a man that was severely afflicted by Satan. He lost his children, his wealth and his health to the wiles of the Devil. He was even the subject of ridicule by his wife and friends. Yet, Job kept his faith in God. In Job 13:15 we read a very powerful and telling statement that is made by Job. He says; “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him…”. We would all be wise to consider the depth of Job’s faith.
How many of us have developed a faith that stands strong even when things around us are falling apart? How many of us have a faith that allows us to keep trusting in God in the face of doubt and discouragement? How many of us have the same type of faith that Job possessed? A faith that is strong enough to affirm that even in the face of God slaying us we will trust that he is at work and in control? What a mighty faith Job had! Do we have faith like this?
Faith does not occur by accident. We must tend to it as we do a garden. It must be watered, culled, fertilized, and nurtured. A strong faith is the result of much effort. A faith like Job had is the result of being refined in the furnace of suffering, struggle and pain. It is a faith that comes through stronger and more committed to God. Is this the type of faith you have? Romans 10:17 teaches us that without time spent in God’s word we can not develop, grow and mature our faith. May we all have a faith that can affirm “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.”
April 15, 2012
Why Some People Don’t Sing
For a person who has no talent for singing, I sure like to sing. I like everything about it. The way it encourages, uplifts, teaches, renews and at times corrects. There are multitudes of different ways in which the same song can have an effect on me. Even a song I know well can at times cause me to think or feel something new. As wonderful as singing is, I have noticed that some don’t sing.
Ephesians 5:19 says, “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Could anything be clearer to us? We are instructed to be a people who speak to one another through song. Yet, even with the Bible’s instruction to sing we sometimes fail to do so. Why is that? I would like to kindly offer several reasons.
Some do not sing because they are afraid that others will be offended by their voice. We should put that thought out of our mind. The Bible calls us to sing but it does not call us to sing well! Think about that the next time you are afraid to sing because your voice is a little scratchy.
Another reason people fail to sing is that they do not know the song. This is a valid concern and one that song leaders should be mindful of. When it comes to leading songs
April 8, 2012
Is This “Holy Week”?
Newspapers, TV, radio and magazines are all filled with advertisements from denominational churches inviting people to join them in their “Holy Week” activities. Some are advertising “passion plays”. Others have sunrise services. And still others are promoting dramatic reenactments of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. All of this, the ads say, will come to a head on Easter Sunday.
As members of the Lord’s Church are we missing out on “Holy Week”? Have churches of Christ failed to look into the scriptures and glean from God’s teaching the call to celebrate a week once a year culminating with an Easter Sunday worship service? Could it be, that in our desire to be a Book, Chapter, Verse (BCV) people, we have missed the scriptures teaching us to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead once a year? It appears that some congregations of the Lord’s Church have taken up “Holy Week activities” and joined with the rest of the world. Have they discovered something we have missed in scripture? I think not.
The New Testament is silent on any type of yearly religious celebration focused on the resurrection of Jesus. To be certain, the resurrection is taught. Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 15:14 “If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up– if in fact the dead do not rise.” Paul is adamant that the resurrection is part of the gospel message. It was part of the gospel when Peter preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:32 these words; “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” So we can be certain, that the fact of the resurrection was preached and that the first century Church held fast to this doctrine. But what about Easter Sunday? Where is the doctrine in the NT that teaches us to celebrate this day once a year? As I mentioned before, the NT is silent on any type of yearly religious celebration regarding the resurrection of Jesus. This should tell us something.
As a people called to hold to the pattern of sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13) we must seek to do all things with a “thus says the Lord” approach– or put another way– by his authority (Colossians 3:17). Remember, the issue is not “did Christ rise from the dead”? Of course he did (Romans 6:9). The issue is one of worship. Are we taught in the Bible to set aside a day once a year and center our worship around the resurrection? If we are, where do we read about this doctrine in the New Testament? The truth is, we don’t. There is not one example in the NT of the first century church “celebrating Easter”. No, not one. Now, if we are a people holding to the pattern of sound words (2 Timothy 1:13) and if we are seeking to do the will of God (Matthew 7:21), knowing that the Bible will be the standard by which we are judged (John 12:48), we should make sure we have this whole “Easter Sunday” thing understood. Right?
God cares a great deal about the worship we offer to him. In John 4:23-24 Jesus teaches that our worship is to be done in spirit and in truth. In Matthew 15:9 He reaches back to Isaiah 29:13 and denounces “vain worship” that is offered to God. He teaches that this type of worship is that which “teaches as doctrine the commandments of men.” If the first century Church did not celebrate Easter, if there is not one command, example or necessary inference of Easter in the NT then that should prove to us that Easter is clearly vain worship. It is worship that teaches the doctrines of man as commandments.
Many Christians have come to see the error of Easter as being a religious “Holy Day”. These individuals celebrate Easter not as a religious holiday that is forced upon the Lord’s Church polluting it’s worship, but as a day to celebrate Peter Cottontail as he brings goodies for kids. This they do in their homes and can do so without any violation of scripture. Again, when we bring in the “religious aspect” we create, command and promote that which is foreign to sound doctrine (2 Timothy 1:13).
Is this a “Holy Week”? Well, it depends on what you mean. Every week is a call for Christians to be holy (1 Peter 1:16 “...Be holy, for I am holy.”). On the other hand, have we missed the teaching in scripture instructing us to celebrate a “Holy Week” with Easter as its culmination? Absolutely not! Our goal is, and should always be, to hold to the pattern of sound words.
December 27, 2011
A New Blog For A New Year
As the last week of 2011 quickly fads away I wanted to introduce my new blog. Once I get up to speed, I hope to post on a regular bases. What will I be posting you ask? Well, a little bit of everything. A little humor, theology, doctrine, scripture and even some pictures. You will see! Just sit back, enjoy and be sure to come back and check in from time to time.
See ya soon!