From the Preacher’s Desk: The Wrong Side of the Road

As I was driving home from Dasher last night on 41, you would never believe what happened: I met a car. What, you will ask, is so amazing about that? Well, this particular car happened to be travelling southbound in my northbound lanes. Evidently, the driver thought he was either in the correct lane or thought he was on a two-lane road, but he was not. For me, no harm was done. I called the sheriff's department and alerted them and I drove on. I assume that all turned out well, not having heard word to the contrary, but it could have been tragic! A horrible accident could have occurred, and it would all have been an avoidable, wholly senseless calamity.

I do not know if the driver was alone or had passengers with him. If the driver were alone, if he were inattentive enough to have turned into the wrong lane to begin with, the chances of figuring it out on his own were pretty slim. If he had passengers, the truth is that many times those who are "along for the ride" are quicker to pick up on mistakes like that than is the driver. (I am NOT trying to encourage "back-seat drivers" here.)

But let's assume he had someone with him. Imagine this conversation taking place inside that car. "Honey, I think you're on the wrong side of the road." "No I'm not. This is the side of the road I always drive on." "But Honey, all of the signs are facing the other way." "What signs? I don't see any signs." Final plea. "But Honey, the yellow line is over here on the right instead of on the left where it should be." "Yellow line? What yellow line? Oh, that one. Well, I never could remember what the white lines and yellow lines meant anyway." It could have been the classic "leave me alone; I know what I am doing" syndrome.

Jesus warns us about getting on the wrong road to salvation. In Matthew 7:13-14 he said:"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." What we must come to realize is that yes, it could happen to us; yes, the result would be calamitous; and yes, it can be avoided!

Have you ever talked to someone who was on wrong path of life? Were you met with the "leave me alone; I know what I am doing" syndrome? The truth is that there are warning signs designed to help us to know if we are travelling on the right road or not. As we open up the word of God, it is literally full of admonitions to caution. To those who "pick up on them," it seems so obvious which way one should be travelling.

But what if you are the one in the wrong? Do you have someone who loves you who will help you to see the signs? Will you bull headedly say, "Leave me alone; I know what I am doing"? Slow down and take a look around. Notice the path you are travelling. Examine your life in the light of the Word of God. Heed the warnings. You do not have to meet the calamitous end of eternal damnation.

From the Preacher’s Desk: I Believe in God a Little Bit

My girls have the DVD version of Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader? Usually, it is on long road trips that they decide to play it, and their "cheats" usually consist of asking an adult in the car to help them out. If you are not familiar with the game, the rules require you, should you lose, to state: "I am NOT smarter than a fifth grader." You can well imagine how frequently (or infrequently) that rule is actually followed.

Now, here is the scenario. The game has rules, and when you consent to play the game, you consent to abide by the rules. We expect this in life, whether it is basketball, football, or a game show. Consistency demands that it be so. For example, when a baseball team from America travels to Japan or Cuba to play, they do so in full faith that the opposing team will know the rules of the game and they will play by them to the best of their ability. This principle is not limited to athletics, but is expected in all realms of life, whether it be in business, politics, and relationships. If it were otherwise, chaos would reign supreme. The label of "cheater" Could rightfully be applied to those whofailed to abide by the rules. Only those who do not care or who believe they are not subject to scrutiny would accept such an accusation.

For some reason, however, people do not seem to think that this principle should apply to God. No, one's service to God should not be considered a game, but anyone who has given serious consideration to His Word should recognize that there are definitely things which please or displease the Almighty. And yet, everyday there are people who make the great confession: "I believe in God," with their conviction having stopped right there. Shouldn't they actually be saying, "I believe in God a little bit"?

Some merely believe that God is. Oftentimes as we read of the hypocrisy of the Athenians in Acts 17, we marvel at how they could have actually worshipped "the unknown god." The city was full of devotions to literally every deity imaginable. While our society today does not exhibit such a display of polytheism, the same lackadaisical approach to God is still seen. It is almost as if some believe in God for fear of offending Him if they do not, but their devotion ceases there.

Some believe that God is Creator and Sustainer. They attribute their existence and being to Him and recognize that all good or gracious things that appear in their lives have come to them by the goodness of God. However, most of these people believe that these blessings are a right which they possess, many even to the point of believing that God owes them these things. Their gratitude to Him stops short of reverence.

Is believing in God a good thing? Absolutely. Is believing in God an essential? Without doubt. The Hebrews writer put it this way: "But without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he thacometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (11:6). For the sake of argument, let us apply the principle of inversion. "WITH faith, it is POSSIBLE to please him: therefore, for him who does NOT come to God believing that he is, God is NOT the rewarder of them that do NOT diligently seek him." Should we desire to please God? Yes. Should we desire His rewards? Yes. Then we must have faith.

But wait! The object of the sentence is to please God! And even from this verse, it should be evident that a mere belief in God's existence or in His role as rewarder IS NOT ENOUGH. One must also come to God and diligently seek Him. All of the sudden, the responsibility of those who believe in God greatly increases. Can it be said that someone is diligently seeking God who curses His name (or takes it in vain)? What about someone who fornicates (1 Corinthians 6:18)? Or someone who is using drugs (1 Corinthians 3:16)? Or is drinking (1 Corinthians 6:10)? Or is forsaking the assembly (Hebrews 10:25)? Diligently believing in God dictates that one will diligently seek Him and diligently please Him.

Where does that leave those who say they believe in God, but the living of their lives declares that they only believe in Him a little bit? Unfortunately, the label of "hypocrite" or "cheater" could be rightfully applied to them. When the day of judgment comes, if they are told, "I never knew you; depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:23), will they admit their lack of faith or will they try to justify their hypocrisy? Sadly, at the time when "every tongue shall confess" (Romans 14:11), for many it will be too late?

Do you believe in God a little or a lot?

[This article is to appear in the bulletin on November 16, 2008]

Hmmm. Maybe the Open Letter needs help....

I need to find a way to expand the concept of the open letter.  After church last night, Jim Gore found this notice under the door handle of his car....

Prayer Requests

Noel McFann, an elder at Dellhalf Church of Christ, a neighboring congregation from where I grew up and a congregation at which I have preached and visited countless times, was in an accident this past week.  He rounded a curve on a gravel road and hit a road grader head on.  He is in Elvis Presley Trauma in Memphis with lots and lots of broken bones.  Please pray for him.

Also, my cousin, Jason Sloan, is not doing well.  On top of that, his dad (a.k.a., my uncle) Paul is having some serious medical problems as well.  Please pray for them.

An Open Letter

[NOTE: To ANYONE who sends me unseemly material concerning ANY political figure, this is the reply you can expect to receive in your inbox.]

Dear Friend,

I write to you gravely concerned for your patriotism, but mostly concerned for your soul. If you truly believe that the powers that be are not worthy to serve their country based upon their race or gender, how can you possibly believe in the equality of the saving power of the gospel of Christ?

Please note the following:

• "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16).
  
• "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good,
  to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile" (Romans 2:9-10).
  
• "Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith" (Romans 3:29-30).
  
• "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:13).
  
• "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 3:28).
  
• "Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all" (Colossians 3:11).
  

(Emphasis has been added by me. Also, indulge me to ask but this one question: Are you a Jew or a Gentile by birth?)

I mean no offense, I mean no harm to your feelings whatsoever, but the responsibility enjoined to us as Christians dictates that honor be given to the powers that be (Romans 13:1-8; 1 Peter 2:17). While I most emphatically cannot agree with all of the positions and stances taken relative to biblical issues, whether I personally like the powers that be or not is of no consequence: I cannot and will not be part nor parcel to their slandering or defilement. I implore you to no longer send me or anyone else material of such a nature, and if you persist in so acting, any and all future communications from you will be blocked before they reach my inbox.

In Service of the Most High God,

Keith

Democracy Doesn’t Work

It should come as no surprise that everything about this Sunday will probably be seasoned with a decidedly political flavor. Many are celebrating that America elected her first black President; others are lamenting the electing of the most liberal President in American history.

But there was more to the elections last Tuesday than that. Much more.

Three states had on their ballots proposed Constitutional Amendments which would define marriage as between only male and female (Georgia has already been there). In all three, California, Arizona, and Florida, the measures passed. Democracy proclaimed that the majority of people wanted marriage definitively established as a union between man and woman only. By following their respective laws, by the voice of the people, this measure has now become law in these states.

But here is where democracy failed (bear with me, please). In California, protesters came out, and in some cases, these protestations turned violent. In Los Angeles, people were banging on the doors and walls of the CNN bureau station*.

Does this not sound eerily similar to Genesis 19:9, where the Sodomites threatened to break down the door of Lot's house? They had been told "no," but they didn't care. They were denied what they sinfully desired, so they, burning in their lust, were planning to take it one way or the other.

First, please note that democracy is not God's way. If you recall from the Old Testament, God's preferred method of governing was a theocracy (cf. 1 Samuel 8:7). That, of course, yielded way to a monarchy, and we all know how that turned out. But in the New Testament, there is no prescribed method of civil government. God does not advocate one form of civil government over any other. Instead, God has merely said, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers" (Romans 13:1).

Second, please note that the devil doesn't care about democracy. For over two centuries, Americans have touted democracy as the most humane and effective way to govern a nation (and rightly so). This democracy came into place in large part by the influence of the Magna Carta, but it was also heavily based (and laced) with godly principles. And it is now failing its intended cause (from a godly viewpoint). Satan has patiently waited in the background for the opportunity to turn the most civil form of government ever known to humanity into his own pernicious tool, but his patience is wearing thin. The ungodly surges we have experienced over the past few decades are only going to increase in frequency and magnitude.

Third, please note that democracy will fail to legislate morality. The idea that morality cannot be legislated is ridiculous on its very face. Our own Bill of Rights was designed to provide freedom for the majority by the legislative restraint of the few who would take those freedoms away. Rights had to have been defined in order to establish those restraints. But Satan has been allowed to influence and modify the characterization of those rights. By the very definition of the democratic theory, those rights are and have been subject to modification. The end result is that those civil and moral rights can be removed.

So where does that leave the faithful child of God? Right back at Romans 13:1. Give tribute to whom tribute is due, honor to whom honor, never thinking for a moment that God's will will ever be changed by or subject to democracy.

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*http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,447744,00.html

(This is an article written to appear in our church bulletin on 081109.)

Another Blog

Great. All we need is another blog. But there are some things I just didn't really want to post on the family blogsite and clutter it up. Maybe this will help keep all the junk separated from the junk.