CALL ME MARA

Posted on March 10, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

Hebrews 12:1 says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”  The “great cloud of witnesses” referred to in this verse includes the excellent examples given in the previous chapter (Hebrews 11), those who had faith in God and the good works they did because of that faith.  The good examples we have in the Bible are to encourage us to have the same living faith we need in running the Christian race.  After reviewing many of those good examples for 31 verses, Hebrews 11:32 says, “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets.”  To know and understand the entire “great cloud of witnesses” is what the rest of the Bible is for.  The Book of Ruth contains some of these, and not just Ruth herself.  Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi is another righteous example to encourage us, especially as we see how she handled great trials on her faith.  At one point, she was so discouraged that she asked to be called by a new name, Mara.

 A bitter time

The Book of Ruth begins with an introduction to Namoi and her family, a husband and two sons, and their journey to Moab to escape a famine in Israel (Ruth 1:1-2).  They spent 10 years in Moab, and during that time, Naomi’s husband died, her two sons married women of Moab, and then her sons also died (Ruth 1:3-5).  But being driven from her home by famine, spending a decade in a strange land full of idolatry, and then returning home as a poor and childless widow challenged Namoi’s faith and her understanding.  When she tried to send her two daughters-in-law away before journeying back to Israel, Naomi said, “It grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me” (Ruth 1:13).  Namoi then returned home, and her daughter-in-law Ruth insisted on returning with her.  Ruth 1:19-21 says, “And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi? And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?”  In Hebrew, the word “Mara” means bitter.  This was the name the Israelites gave to the place in the wilderness where the water was bitter (Heb. 15:23).  In his own great trial of affliction, Job said he was speaking in the bitterness of his soul (Job 7:11 and 10:1).

 God’s good purpose

Naomi did not fully understand God’s purpose for her trials while she was in the midst of them.  But that should not be difficult for any of us to relate to.  She also did not have the plain words that we have in the New Testament about God working all things together for our good (Rom. 8:28).  Suffering for righteousness’ sake is the pathway by which we grow spiritually to be in the image of Christ (2 Cor. 1:3‑6; 2 Cor. 4:16-17; 12:9‑10; Gal. 3:3-4, Php. 3:10‑15; Heb. 2:10; 5:8‑9; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6‑9).  That is why it is necessary for all Christians to suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake (Matt. 13:21; Php. 1:29; 1 Thess. 3:14; 2 Tim. 3:12; 1 Pet. 2:21; 3:9).  But God was forming His faithful children in the Old Testament too.  And they also grew spiritually by suffering affliction (Psa. 66:10-12; Prov. 17:3; 25:4).  In Psalm 119:67, the psalmist said, “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”  The affliction taught him to keep God’s word and not go astray.  “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psa. 119:71).  He learned God’s statutes by what he suffered.  “I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me” (Psa. 119:75).  God was good and faithful to give him this affliction to help him grow.  Job was being tried that he might come forth as gold (Job 23:10).  The Old Testament prophets also foretold that suffering for righteousness’ sake would be the pathway of spiritual growth under the New Covenant (Zech. 13:8-9; Mal 3:1-4).  Suffering for righteousness’ sake is how Jesus grew to be perfect (Heb. 2:10; 5:8‑9).  Christ’s sufferings are our example to follow (2 Cor. 13‑7; 1 Pet. 2:19‑25) so that we can also grow to be spiritually complete like Christ (James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6‑9).  Therefore, we should rejoice when we suffer for doing well (Matt. 5:10-12; Luke 6:22-23; Rom. 5:3; 2 Cor. 12:9-10; James 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:6; 3:14; 4:12-16).  That is the way that Christ’s strength is made perfect in us (2 Cor. 12:9-10).  That is how our faith is purified, and how we grow in patience (1 Pet. 1:6-7; 5:10; Rom. 5:3-4; Jas 1:2‑3).

 A happy ending

Once again, that is why we have that great “cloud of witnesses” that we need to follow in running our race to perfection and overcoming sin (Heb. 12:1-4).  James 5:10‑11 says, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”  Naomi is another example of enduring affliction.  Even when she thought God had dealt bitterly with her, she did not stop serving Him.  And, like Job, she too came to see the pity and tender mercy of God in the end.  God provided a husband for Ruth from among Naomi’s kinfolk, and Naomi then had a new family that God used to provide for her.  And this is the very family that God made to be the ancestors of David, the royal line of the tribe of Judah, and ultimately of Jesus Christ the Son of God.  What happened with Naomi reminds us of what our Lord says in Romans 8:18: “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”  And 2 Corinthians 4:17 says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

—Jon Macon

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A study on Bible authority (specific and generic authority)

Posted on March 9, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

Divine Authority:  Specific and Generic

1.    Gen. 6:12-22 – Was Noah told or commanded to build an ark?
2.    Is the command to “build” the same as a command to “buy”?
3.    If Noah was specifically told to “build” an ark, would buying an ark have been an act of disobedience?
4.    If God had said “get an ark,” Noah could have bought one, built one, borrowed one, or something else.
5.    The command to “build” was a specific command that prohibited other options.
6.    Since Noah was commanded to “build an ark,” what tools was he required or allowed to use?
7.    If God had told Noah he had to build the ark all by himself, this would have meant no helpers.
8.    In Gen. 6:14 Noah was told to make this ark out of “Gopher wood.”
9.    Would it have been okay for Noah to have used Cedar wood instead of Gopher wood?
10.    If there had been a metal factory, could Noah have purchases use steel to build the ark?
11.    Gen. 16:14 – If God had simply said, “Seal the ark” Noah could have sealed it in as he wanted.
i)    Heb. 11:7 says Noah “prepared an ark” that led to the “saving of” his household.
ii)    The “preparation” of this man meant doing things as God had commanded.
IN NOAH WE FIND THREE ESSENTIAL PRINCIPLES TO PLEASING GOD.
1)    When we look at the Bible we find multiple commands.
2)    These commands and instructions use the very same principles we have outlined from Gen. 6.
3)    When we find a command from God we typically find a “specific part” to it and a “general part.”
4)    Let’s take the subject of baptism as an example.
5)    Rather than tell us to simply get others wet, Jesus said we are to “disciple” people and then “baptize” them (Mt. 28:19).
6)    The word “baptize” means “dip, plunge, immerse.”  God says, “immerse” people who have been taught.
7)    He has also specified who is to be immerse; Mt. 28:19 tells us baptism (immersion) is for those who have been taught.
a)    If God has specified some things about baptism, do we have the authority to somehow change God’s word?
b)    If immersing people is inconvenient, are we authorized to sprinkle or pour water on them?  No.
c)    Would we want to ever baptize someone in a tub of perfume, olive oil, or something else?  No.
8)    Some of what the Bible says about baptism is specific just like the ark, but not everything is specific.
a)    Has God said baptism must take place in a “church building”?
b)    Has He specified that baptisms must be inside or outside?
c)    Has God told us the water must be of a certain temperature, or even “hot” or “cold”?
9)    The things God has authorized often have some optional things we can choose where we freedom to choose.
a)    1 Cor. 11:24-25 says we are to partake of the Lord’s Supper in “memory” of Jesus.
b)    This is a specific command, just as Noah was told to build an ark.
10)    Jesus has instructed His people to use “bread” and the “fruit of the vine” — specific items.
11)    We also have specific information on the “day” for the Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7 says “first day of the week.”
a)    Where are we to partake of the Lord’s Supper?  God has not specified that.
b)    God has also not specified a time.  We could meet and have the Lord’s Supper a second after Saturday ends.
12)    I know some have tried to argue for having just one container, but God has not legislated the number of containers.
a)    If God had said “make music,” this would have been a general command.
b)    “Make music” would mean we could sing, play an instrument, hum or something else.
c)    Eph. 5:19 and Col. 3:16 say “sing.”  If we “sing and play,” we have gone beyond what is commanded.
d)    Where does the Bible talk about having a church building?
e)    Rather than read about “the church buildings,” the Bible simply says “the church” (the people).
f)    Verses like Rom. 16:5 say, “the church in their house.”  1 Cor. 14:28 means silence “in the assembly.”
g)    Philemon 2 says the man who received this letter had a “church in his house.”
h)    God has not told us where to meet; He has told us what to do as a church, but not where to do it.
i)    We thus might meet in a home, a rented facility or build some type of building.
13)    We are to teach people the gospel, but God has not told us how to teach it.
a)    We may teach one on one, by Bible correspondence, the telephone, internet, or some other way.
b)    God’s word, as we learned last week, is what we must use to authorize all our activities.
14)    We are authorized to give, but God has not specified a percentage.
15)    We have a command to give on the Lord’s Day, but the method of collection has not been specified.
16)    One of the great challenges in life is to learn about the subject of authority and obey this information.

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George Washington, the father of America

Posted on March 7, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

The Father’s Humility

George Washington – as you well know – is rightly portrayed as the “Father of our Country.” I wish to share an anecdote with you that illustrates his character, specifically his humility. May we emulate the Christian virtues we see around us as they are a reflection of the nature of God (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1).

Early in the Revolutionary War, General Washington had a series of misfortunes. The Patriots lost Boston and they lost New York. They were, early at least, no match for the professionally trained British army.

During these emotionally-trying times, General Washington needed a confidante. This was in the summer, June, of 1776. He turned to his adjutant general, Joseph Reed. Reed, himself, harbored his own doubts about Washington’s ability to effectively lead the military.  Joseph Reed, in turn, confided those doubts to Charles Lee, an ambitious and cocky man in his own right.

In November, Washington sent a letter to Lee, asking for help in Philadelphia. Reed slipped his own note into the satchel with Washington’s letter to Lee. In this letter, Reed suggested to Lee that General Washington’s own staff did not have much confidence in him and that he was too irresolute. Reed even suggested that it was to the praise of Lee that America’s army was still able to fight! Reed also advocated that he and Lee should go to Congress and form a new army.

A letter from Lee returned, which Washington, in all honesty, thought was directed to him relative to his need for Lee in Philadelphia. Along with news that Lee was not going to do that, there was also a private letter from Lee to Joseph Reed. In that letter, Lee refers to Reed’s letter and agrees with Reed’s assessment of Washington’s vacillations. He suggested that this was even worse than stupidity or lack of courage. It dawned on Washington that Lee was quoting and alluding to an earlier letter from Joseph Reed.

You can imagine how hurt and let down Washington felt. But here’s an indication of the man inside the man. He wrote a letter to Reed and sent along the letter from Lee. In that letter, he made no reference to Reed’s opinion of him and assured him that he had not inclination nor intention to read the private letter. In essence, Washington was apologizing to the man who owed him an apology! How mature is that?

In took about six months for Reed to acknowledge and apologize to Washington for his indiscretion and Washington accepted the apology.

Humility. The English word comes from the Latin which means “soil” or “earth.” It also gives us the word humus. It means to lower yourself for the benefit of another.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10). I am still reading Washington: A Life by Ron Chernow. We’ll see how the relationship between Washington and Reed develops. But we all know how it ends with Washington. First, humility, then exaltation.

–Paul Holland

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Ron Chernow, Washington: A Life

Posted on March 6, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

Irregular Raids & Small Skirmishes

Crossing the Delaware is an iconic painting from America’s Revolutionary War – General George Washington standing majestic in the middle of a boat as he crosses the Delaware in anticipation of a battle in Trenton, NJ. Some historians had portrayed the Hessian mercenaries in Trenton as drunk and thus the reason for Washington’s triumph there. It was Christmas Day, after all.

Ron Chernow, writing in his biography, Washington: A Life, says that, in fact, the Hessians were not drunk. Rather, Washington’s advance men had worn down the Hessians with “irregular raids and small skirmishes” across the countryside. The Hessians’ leader, Colonel Johann Gottlieb, had to keep his  men on high alert. They were, therefore, “frazzled and exhausted from constant drills and patrols” (275).

That’s why these highly-trained mercenaries fell to the far-less trained Continental Army. In less than an hour, the Hessians lost 22 in death, 84 to wounds, but 900 to capture. The upstart Continental Army – mocked as being only teenage boys and old men – only lost 2 in death plus 4 or 5 to exposure.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, in The Myths of Happiness, discusses how the daily hassles of life can be more traumatic – over the long-haul – than major crises. If we experience a major trauma – a car wreck, job layoff, suspension of a child from school – we cope with it immediately and as best we can. We deal with it and move on. We seek advice from friends. We get better training from employers. We ask for suggestions from counselors or doctors. We read books or get more information from the internet.

In contrast, with the “irregular raids” and “small skirmishes” of life, we don’t have – or rather, do not use – these “coping mechanisms” as efficiently as we could. If you feel harassed by the ticket agent at an airline counter, you probably do not rationalize, “he/she just made a human error.” Instead, we tend to sulk and stew and steam in our irritation and aggravation.  We do not seek counsel or advice from a friend on how to handle the situation. We think that is “overkill.”

Yet, those “irregular raids” and “small skirmishes” motivate us to become bitter, aggravated, impatient, and – to put it mildly – open to the advances of our enemy – the Devil. Small annoyances – not properly dealt with – can add up and lead to huge losses in our spiritual battles. We lose our temper with our children. We argue with our spouse. We insult or berate our boss or a perfect stranger. All because we did not handle the small hassles of life as maturely as we might have handled a major trauma.

Peter mentions two mechanisms for dealing with daily hassles in 1 Peter 5:6-7: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” Humility and casting our daily anxieties into the lap of the Father.

Don’t allow Satan to cross your Delaware and take your heart captive. He can do it simply by wearing you down with daily hassles. Be humble – daily. Pray to God – daily.
–Paul Holland

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The Church of Christ

Posted on March 5, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

We have looked in January and February at the pattern for the church of Christ in the book of Acts. In January we observed that the church is to follow a pattern sent by the Holy Spirit and revealed to the apostles and that we see that pattern being worked out in everyday life in Acts. In February, we saw that the church of Christ is to continue the mission of Jesus of preaching and teaching the Gospel.

Today, we observe that Christianity involves sharing with others. Let’s begin in Acts 3…

HEALING THE LAME BEGGAR – Act 3:1-10:

This man had been lame from his mother’s womb (vs 2). According to the reference made in 4:22, he was over forty years old. His legs had clearly atrophied and he probably looked an unsightly mess. He begged alms from those who were entering the temple to worship.

“I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene – walk!” (vs 6).

They took him by the right hand and picked him up. Immediately, his feet and ankles were strengthened. He jumped up, stood upright, began walking, went into the temple to praise God, walking, leaping, and singing as he went.

The church of Christ shares with others. We share with others because Jesus shared with others. Peter told Cornelius that Jesus “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).

Jesus told us in Luke 6:38: “give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

But the sharing with others in Acts was not limited to miraculous healings. You and I can’t do that today. But that’s not all the first century Christians did either.

ACTS 4:32-37:

The church of Christ is still only limited to the city of Jerusalem at this particular point. But they included both wealthy Christians and poor Christians. The wealthy Christians gave generously and liberally to help the poor.

Christians give generously because Jesus gave generously. 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.” Going back to the poor widow in Mark 12:41-44, Christians through the centuries have likewise given back to God, to others, and to charities in order to help our fellow man. It’s who Christians are and it’s what we do. We give. We share.

ACTS 11:27-30:

The church in Antioch was a non-Jewish church. It was not the only one but it was a significant congregation. The church in Jerusalem, which was a primarily Jewish (culturally, speaking) church, sent a prophet up to Antioch. The prophet’s name was Agabus. The Holy Spirit led Agabus to share with the Christians in Antioch that a famine would hit the area, which happened we know from secular literature during the 40s A. D.

But we are to give according to our ability. That’s what Paul says we are to do when we give on the first day of every week (1 Cor. 16:2) – give “in keeping with our income.”

When Paul traveled to Jerusalem, following his baptism into Christ, he compared the message he was preaching to the Gentiles with the message the apostles were preaching to the Jews. They were teaching the same thing. The one thing the apostles in Jerusalem encouraged Paul to do was to “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10), something Paul said he was “eager” to do.

One last verse we’ll mention is Ephesians 4:28: “Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.”

The church of Christ shares with others as Christ has shared with us.

–Paul Holland

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How we are justified by faith

Posted on March 4, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

                                                    Justified by Faith

Twenty-two years ago, the day after Valentine’s Day, Jeffrey Dahmer was sentenced to 15 terms of life imprisonment. He was convicted of rape, murder, and dismemberment of 16 men and boys in Wisconsin. He committed these atrocities from 1978 to 1991. He was also later sentenced to another life-term for a murder in Ohio. Two years after his incarceration, he was beaten to death by a fellow inmate.

You might think that someone who could commit such heinous crimes against humanity must have some kind of mental disorder but he was found legally sane to stand trial.

While in jail in 1991, Dahmer requested a Bible. A Christian in Virginia also sent him a Bible correspondence course. When he expressed a desire to be baptized, this Christian put him into contact with Roy Ratcliff in Wisconsin who continued studying with Dahmer. Dahmer was baptized into Christ in May, 1994.

What do you make of that?

One woman, a Marilyn Bardsley, wrote a review of a book Roy Ratcliff wrote about the events, She said that Dahmer learned that with baptism, “he can undo all of that and still get to heaven. What a deal!” (www.crimelibrary.com) That sounds condescending to me.

What do you make of it?

Is it a deal? I don’t suppose that Ms. Bardsley has ever committed murder. But I wonder if she has ever lied – even a little white lie – or been guilty of wrath, slander, lack of self-control, or maybe even a little bit of pride and arrogance…?

Dahmer reminds me of the apostle Paul, who, in 1 Timothy 1:13, says he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent aggressor. But, in verse 14, he says the grace of the Lord was more than abundant with the faith and love found in Christ Jesus. Can baptism undo all of that and Paul still get to heaven? First of all, baptism does not “undo” anything. It will not bring someone back from the dead. It will not soothe the breaking heart of a family member. It will not pay the bills to put food into the mouths of orphaned kids.

Secondly, baptism per se does not forgive all of that. But Jesus Christ does. He’s the deal!

In Galatians 3:23-29, Paul talks about being justified by faith. First, let’s define the word “justified.” It has particular significance for Jeffrey Dahmer. The word “justified” comes from the legal system, the law courts. It is an act of administering the law. When God justified, He acknowledges there is sin involved – how can He not (Rom. 3:23)? But then, He pronounces the guilty acquitted, excluding him from all possibility of condemnation.

Now, how does Dahmer or Paul or you and me stand before God with any hope of acquittal? Take a look at Galatians 3:23-29.

There was no justification before faith came. Verse 23 says we were “shut up.” Jews were in custody under the law because of their sin (verse 22). Gentiles were “shut up” because of the law, being alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, without the promises and privileges of Israel. That is, until “faith” came. “Faith” here is used as a metonymy, in place of Christ. The effect is put for the cause.

The law brought us to “faith” or to “Christ” (vs 24-25). The law brought us to Christ as a “tutor” or “custodian” in the first century would walk his master’s child to school and walk him home. He would guide the child morally during the day and may even help a little with homework. But, once the child became an adult, he had no need of the tutor. Once a Jew came to faith in Christ, he no longer needs the law.

Justification comes through faith in Christ (verse 26). We are all sons of God through faith in Christ. Compare this statement with 1 Corinthians 12:13 and Romans 6:3. Faith is the means of our justification. The role of Christ Himself is mentioned by Paul back in verses 10-14. He was condemned for our sakes. He was punished for our sins – mine, Paul’s, yours, and Jeffrey Dahmer’s. The ground of our justification is in our union with Christ, effected at baptism (ver 27).

This justification, Paul concludes, is for all people (verse 28-29). There is no distinction. We are all, through Christ, Abraham’s seed.

Now, Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 1:16, that Jesus saved him as an example for the rest of us. Jeffrey Dahmer is also an example. Justification by faith is available to everyone, through Jesus Christ.

–Paul Holland

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America’s Blessings, Dr. Rodney Stark

Posted on March 3, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

Biting the Hand that Feeds

The typical, probably it would be accurate to say the majority, university today is anti-Christian. Evolution is taught as a scientific fact in nearly every laboratory. “God” is taught as a figment of our imagination in every psychology class. Atheism, or at least agnosticism, is taught in every philosophy class. Christianity is taught as an opiate for weak-minded people in nearly every sociology class.

Despite the historical fact that the medieval (Catholic) church invented the university and despite the fact that Calvinistic Puritans established public education for the universal good of the citizenry, the modern “academic” portrays Christianity as being “anti-educational.” We are a group of ignorant, unscientific (indeed, anti-scientific) superstitious fools.

To accompany the proven and provable thesis that Christians actually have stronger, better marriages and stronger and better families is the concomitant thesis that Christian families excel in academic achievement. The modern public school and public university is biting the hand that fed it.

Dr. Rodney Stark presents the evidence in America’s Blessings: How Religion Benefits Everyone, Including Atheists. Religious students score higher on standardized tests. They get better grades. They are more prone to do their homework. They are not as likely to get expelled from school or even drop out of school.

The evidence holds true regardless of socio-economic status. In fact, it is actually more true in black and Hispanic families! President Obama recently announced a $200 million initiative to support and strengthen black and Hispanic boys. He could save the taxpayer $200 million if he would: 1.) Encourage black and Hispanic moms to get (or stay) married to their children’s fathers; 2.) Encourage the dads to get (or keep) their jobs. Academic improvement would skyrocket among those families.

Christian parents, generally, have high academic expectations of their children. They frequently discuss what is happening at school. They challenge their children to take harder classes. They make their children set aside time to do homework. They provide adult supervision for their children.

Additionally, Christian teenagers, generally speaking, expect more out of themselves and thus, perform at a higher level. Christian teenagers study more and don’t skip classes.

Something else President Obama could do, if he really wanted to help black and Hispanic boys is he would support the initiative to provide vouchers for such children to go to private schools. The evidence is clear. In private, religious schools, the academic gap between whites and blacks is much narrower. Among those students who are religious in religious schools, the gap is even smaller. Among students who are from intact families, the gap is smaller. In fact, if a black boy comes from: a religious school, and he is himself religious, and his parents are still married – there is no achievement gap!

Politicians really ought to quit playing games and get serious about what troubles America. They need to quit buying votes with taxpayer money and do the right thing.

When it comes to college – the results are also clear. Conservative Protestants are second among the college-educated crowd – behind the Jews! They are ahead of the “nonreligious” even. Dr. Stark also presents the results of one study that the weekly worship-goers are more likely to attend college (and finish high school) as opposed to those who never attend worship.

Jesus commanded Christians to love the Lord with all of their minds (Matt. 22:37). The evidence shows that Christians take Jesus seriously.

Paul Holland

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Doing all things by the authority of Jesus Christ

Posted on March 2, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

1.    Today’s lesson is going to do a fairly detailed study of the first half of Col. 3:17.

2.    We will not study “giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

3.    Our study begins with Paul’s reference to Jesus – the Lord Jesus.

4.    More than 100 times in the New Testament we find Bible writer referring to the Lord Jesus.

5.    Only twice in the books of Matthew-John do we find a reference to the “Lord Jesus.”

6.    Both of these times (Mk. 16:19; Lk. 24:3) describe things which took place after Jesus resurrection.

7.    If you would like to do an interesting Bible study this week, look up where “Lord Jesus” occurs.

8.    The “Lord Jesus” is the LORD!  He is at the head of all things; the king of kings and the Lord of Lords.

 NOW THAT WE KNOW WHO PAUL WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE PART OF THIS VERSE WE ARE DEALING WITH, LET’S BACK UP A LITTLE MORE.

 a)      Just prior to referring to the “Lord Jesus” we read about the “name” of Jesus.

b)      Paul spoke about “doing” things “in the name” of the Lord Jesus.

c)       “In the name of the law” means “by the authority of the law.”

d)     Some religious groups wrongly kill in “the name of God.”

2)      In virtually every translation I checked for Col. 3:17 the word “do” is used two times.

a)      Paul spoke about “doing” various things by the authority of Jesus who has “all authority”(Mt. 28:18).

b)      He all said “all” is to be done by Jesus’ authority in Col. 3:17.

3)      Prior to Paul’s saying “do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” we find the word “deed.”

a)      The word “deed” describes activity.

b)      The word “deed” is connected to the word “all.”

c)      All activities need to be done “in the name” or “by the authority” of Jesus.

d)     The word word is also joined with “doing all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

e)      All the things we do and all the things we say need to be “authorized” by the “Lord Jesus.”

f)       The word “whatsoever” reinforces this fact.

4)      Whatever we do – ALL we do – in the areas of speech as well as activities –

5)      We must do only what the LORD JESUS has “authorized.”

SOME OBJECTIONS TO THIS CONCLUSION.

 a)      Is it possible to get authority from the LORD JESUS for something like brushing teeth?  Yes.

b)      1 Cor. 6:19 – Our temporary physical abode is something that needs to be cared for/maintained.

2)      What about mowing grass?  Does Jesus authorize us to mow a lawn?

3)      People are to be “faithful stewards” in 1 Cor. 4:2.

4)      In the spiritual realm:

a)      Where is the authority for a “clergy,” special religious titles, and special clothing?

b)      Where is the authority for denominations, various forms of church organization, sprinkling?

c)      Where is the authority for Saturday worship and instrumental music in NT worship?

d)     Everything we do must be authorized, including the steps to become a Christian.

 

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In support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other, our fortunes, our lives and our sacred honor

Posted on February 28, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

The Virtue of Partisanship

No doubt, you are sick and tired of our politicians bickering and arguing and – in general, not getting along. I concur – to a degree. On one hand, where are the politicians who love our country enough to sign their name to a document whose closing words were: “In support of this declaration, we mutually pledge to each other, our fortunes, our lives and our sacred honor”? We would have much less rancor in D. C. if President Obama and his supporters and Speaker Boehner and his supporters could sign a statement like that – and mean it.

That would be unity. That would be the type of unity that the apostle Paul enjoins upon Christians when he says, “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).

In a congregation of Christ, there is no substitute for having that type of unity. It inspires the members. It strengthens them for a world that is, by nature, divisive. It draws Christians together and draws outsiders in. Selfless unity is like a magnet that draws and holds.

Unfortunately, D. C. is nothing like the church. There is not much unity there because D. C. is not the church. Few up there are Christians and few act as if they were. So many of the politicians are after their own interests. Frequently, bills are decried as “incumbent-protection” bills. Laws designed to meet special interest groups’ wishes that bring in the money which allow the incumbents to outspend their opponent.

Democracy. Our system is currently a two-party system. It is inevitable that polarizations would come. One stands up for the producer, one stands up for the consumer. You are now polarized. In the church, you don’t need representatives. Why? Because two Christians can (should) work out their differences between the two, as Jesus instructs in passages like Matthew 5:23-24 and 18:15-17. That’s the ideal because that is Christianity.

But we don’t live in an ideal world. In a speech in the House of Commons on November 11, 1947, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those others that have been tried.”

Yes, I get frustrated with the bickering in D. C. and lack of accomplishment. I would prefer to assemble a random sample of 535 people from across the country and get them to solve America’s problems. We could accomplish something then!

But we have this system set up in our country and, as Churchill said, our system is the worst form of government except for all the rest. The inherent problem with any system of self-government is the “self” part. Man who is left to himself is destined for destruction.

James Madison, who threw away better material than modern politicians write, had this to say in the Federalist 51: “The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government. But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions.”

The heart of this “American experiment” is the rule of a written Constitution. God foresaw the need for His own people to have a written, immutable law to which all Christians – both non-leaders and elders and preachers – were accountable. In that spirit, our founding fathers knew that, since men weren’t angels, they needed to be held accountable to a written law which they, themselves could not change.

God bless them for that. Our founding fathers had an important insight into man’s nature.  When men (or a conglomeration of men such as a political party) get into power, they tend to think they can do what they want to do. Just as men have a hard time submitting to God’s written word, so men also have a difficult time submitting to man’s written word (the Constitution). The British historian, Lord Acton, wrote in a letter in 1887: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

That’s why I consider partisanship – in this modern climate – a virtue. When one political party is in power, the other political party calls them on the carpet, calling them back to the Constitution. When another political party is in power, the same thing happens. Were it not that way but man is not an angel and neither are our politicians.

Partisanship, in a perverted way, is good for the country. It keeps people in power from exercising ultimate, dictatorial power. The Constitution was designed to protect the average citizen from abuse of power. Until man can come up with a better way to govern himself, that’s the way it has to be.

–Paul Holland

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New Testament Christianity

Posted on February 27, 2014 by howtobesaved@abiblecommentary.com

Survey Says New Testament Christianity is Needed Now More than Ever

Is the glass half empty or half full? I, for one, am the kind of person who tends to see the glass as half full. Do you? A new American Religious Identification Survey was released. It instills fear and trepidation in some and glee and giddiness in others. The percentage of Americans who claim no religion at all has nearly doubled in twenty years, from 8% in 1990 to 15% in 2009. That “no claim” category is now the third-highest religious group.

As Christianity is commonly viewed, America is still a “Christian” nation. Seventy-six percent of Americans claim some “brand” of Christianity. But they seem to be more interested in the “don’t know” or “generic” category than in one of the “organized religion” categories. And that “no claim” category does not mean they are all atheists.

The percentage of Muslims in America has doubled – from 0.3% to 0.6%. Eastern religions – like Buddhism – have more than doubled – from 0.4% to 0.9%. New movements like the pagan Wicca movement have quadrupled from 0.8% to 1.2%.

The thing that strikes me initially is that – we have got work to do! New Testament Christianity – you and me – is needed now more than ever. If you were a shoe-salesman and went to Africa where they went barefoot, wouldn’t you say to yourself – “This is great! My clientele is unlimited!” An American culture which is adrift in agnosticism and religious confusion means we will be quite occupied, busy evangelizing as God wants us to.

A second matter is that we need to be prepared to defend the faith. If/when these different religions come to our home town, we need to know how to evangelize them. Agnosticism. Atheism. Buddhism. Islam. Wicca. At one time, it was enough to know the errors of Catholicism and Protestant denominationalism. Those are still here but our evangelistic audience is now much wider. There are Muslims in little ol’ Paris, Kentucky!

Third, a tiny foot-note in the USA Today article which drew my attention to the ARIS study notes that the “Protestant Denomination” category – distinct from the “Mainline Protestant” group – includes churches of Christ, among others. That group grew from 2.6% to 3.1%. That category and the “Pentecostal/Charismatic” group (3.2% to 3.5%) are the only two “Christian” categories that saw a growth. That means many people are still interested in Christianity!

Yes, there is cause for concern in this increasingly pluralistic society. But that cause also shows that we have work to do. We have the solution – the Gospel. We, too, must be about our Father’s business. To the work! To the work!

–Paul Holland

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