by Keith Hunt
THE ADVERSARY IS WAGING WAR AGAINST THE CHURCH OF GOD. HE IS OUT
TO DIVIDE AND DESTROY GOD'S CHILDREN. HIS WEAPONS OF ATTACK ARE
MANY - ONE OF THEM IS THE DART OF SLANDER. IN THIS ARTICLE YOU
WILL LEARN HOW TO WITHSTAND AND OVERCOME THE SLANDEROUS TONGUE.
Here is how the WORLD BOOK DICTIONARY defines slander, "l.a.
a false report meant to do harm to the good name and reputation
of another ..... b....a spoken statement tending to damage a
person's reputation. 2. the spreading of false reports .... to
talk falsely about...."
The Reader's Digest FAMILY WORD FINDER has this to say
about slander, "1 ... defamation, falsehood; malicious
fabrication, false statement, distortion, misrepresentation ....
2.... defame, malign, vilify, revile; smear, sully, soil,
besmirch .... Usage note: Slander and libel both refer to
defamation or unjustified attack on a person's reputation. A
slander is spoken: Did you bear him slander me in front of my
friends? A libel is written (published) or broadcast: I'm suing
the newspaper for libel. Remember: Slander is SPOKEN, Libel is
LITERARY."
Slander is obviously covered by the 9th commandment which
states, "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor".
It is a SIN to slander. Any sin begins in the heart and
those whose heart is not filled with God's Spirit will sin the
more (Luke 6:45). Some people are addicted to slander just like
some are addicted to alcohol or drugs. God speaks pretty plainly
to those who slander, "But unto the WICKED God says .... you give
your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and
speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son "
(Ps.50:16-20 KJV, emphasis mine). Those who slander others are
manifesting an outward sign of a deeper inward sin - hatred.
David cried out, "Hold not your peace, 0 God of my praise; For
the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened
against me; they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They
compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against
me without a cause" (Ps.109:1-3 KJV and emphasis mine throughout
unless otherwise stated).
Some of the people who indulge in slander are often those
whom the Bible terms as "hypocrites" - see Prov.11:9. A hypocrite
is a "play actor", pretending to be something he/she is not,
often putting on a "good front" of being a nice person or a loyal
friend, when the truth of the matter is they are knifing you in
the back when your not looking.
Those who are caught in the addiction of a slanderous tongue
shall reap a fearful end if not repented of; "Why boastest you
yourself in mischief ..... Your tongue devises mischief; like a
sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good;
and lying rather than to speak righteousness ... You love all
devouring words, 0 you deceitful tongue. God shall likewise
destroy you for ever, He shall take you away, and pluck you out
of the land of the living...." (Ps.52:1-5).
SLANDER AMONG THE PEOPLE OF GOD
Because slander is such an evil and destructive sin, you
would think that God's people would have little trouble with it,
that slanderous talk among the children of God would be
practically non existent. But such was not the case in the early
New Testament Church of God.
Peter found it necessary to say this in his letter to the
elect, "..... be you all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but
contrariwise blessing .... For he that will love life and see
good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips
that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let
him seek peace and ensue it"(1 Pet.3:8-11). Paul had to tell the
Church at Ephesus, "Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath
(passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and
quarrelling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil
speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you,
with all malice (spite, ill will or baseness of any kind) "
(Eph.4:31 Amplified Bible). Now fancy being a part of that
congregation with all that going on. It must have been a problem
with some or Paul would not have admonished them to banish such
conduct from their lives. Paul instructed Titus to, "Remind
people ..... to slander or abuse or speak evil of no one.."(Titus
3:1-2 Amplified Bible). Peter was inspired to write, "So be done
with every trace of wickedness (depravity, malignity) and all
deceit and insincerity (pretence, hypocrisy) and grudges (envy,
jealousy) and slander and evil speaking of every kind" (1 Pet.2:1
Amplified Bible).
Paul told Titus to speak those things that were sound
doctrine to the aged men and women. One of those points of sound
doctrine was for the women to avoid slander. Verse three of Titus
2 is translated this way by the Amplified Bible, "Bid the older
women similarly to be reverent and devout in their deportment, as
becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves
to drink. They are to give good counsel and be teachers of what
is right and noble." Paul also told Timothy that deacons and
deaconesses were not to be doubletongued or slanderers (1 Tim.
3:8-11).
The people that James wrote to also had problems with
slander. He had to admonish them, "(My) brethren, do not speak
evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or
judges his brother is maligning and criticizing the Law and
judging the Law.... (James 4:11 Amplified Bible). The word malign
and slander are synonyms.
Libel, we learned earlier, is with the pen - Slander is with
the tongue. While we are in the book of James it will be well
worth our time to again read what James had to say about that
"little member" of ours - the tongue - in chapter 3 and verses 2
to 18. The little tongue can indeed be a "world of iniquity"
reaping great havoc upon peoples lives if not controlled. Notice
these sober verses of scripture - Job.5:21; Ps.140:3; Ecc.10:11;
Prov.11:9; Ecc.10:13; Matt.12:36.
EXAMPLES OF SLANDER
The Bible has many examples of the slanderous tongue, and
what the result was for the innocent and/or for the slanderer.
Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob or Israel, found
himself in Egypt as the servant of Potiphar - an officer of
Pharaoh. This officer was a wise man and soon recognized that God
was with Joseph in all that he put his hand to do. Soon Joseph
was made overseer over the entire household of Potiphar. There
was complete trust on the part of Potiphar towards Joseph. Then
things began to turn against Joseph - pick it up in Gen.39:7,
"And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife
cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me." Potiphar's
wife wanted Joseph to go to bed with her. But he refused saying,
"There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept
back any thing from me but you, because you are his wife: how
then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" verse
9. Joseph was completely innocent - she was tempting him to have
sex with her but he was having nothing to do with it - he was not
going to hurt his master or sin against his God.
But this woman was not going to give up that easy, she day
by day, tried to tempt Joseph into bed with her. Then one day
when he was alone in the house she caught hold of him and tried
to force her way upon him. Joseph pulled himself away and ran
like a fox being chased by hounds, out of the house, but she was
successful in hanging on to one of his outer garments as he fled
from her.
Oh boy, was she angry and wild, like a cat on a hot tin
roof. She was going to get his wagon. How dare he refuse her
advances. She summoned the other servants and to them she cried
"rape", verses 13 to 15. When her husband came home she again
started her slander against Joseph (v.16-18).
Potiphar believed the story his wife told him about Joseph.
It would seem he never went to the horses mouth to get the truth
from Joseph, but with anger cast Joseph into prison (v.19-20).
What Potiphar's wife had said about Joseph was a complete lie - a
100% false story she made up because she was hating him for not
complying with her wishes. People will do drastic things when
filled with resentment and hate. The consequences of this slander
for Joseph was a prison sentence. Yet God was able to turn about
this hardship and trial for Joseph into further honor and glory.
The ultimate result was one of triumph for Joseph, as the
following chapters of Genesis show.
There were times when God dealt with slander in no uncertain
way. One of those times was when God told Moses to send men to
search out the land of Canaan. This story is found in Numbers
chapter 13 - 14:38. These men were to spy out the land, to see if
the people who dwelt there were strong or weak, whether the land
was good or bad, if the people dwelt in tents or strong holds.
They were to see if the land was "fat or lean" and if it
contained wood or not (Num.13:1-20). Forty days they searched out
the land and then returned. They brought back proof that the land
was flowing with milk and honey - much luscious fruit. But when
it came to describing the men of the land, they all except Joshua
and Cabel lied and greatly exaggerated their strength and
stature. They said, "...ALL the people that we saw in it are men
of GREAT STATURE. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak,
which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as
grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight "(Num.13:32,33). Yes,
there probably were some men of great stature, but certainly not
ALL as they tried to make out. And the sons of Anak maybe were
giants, but they greatly exaggerated in their "grasshopper"
analogy.
Slander is not only out and out lies, but also it includes
exaggerations. So effective was the slander of these men, the
whole camp of Israel save a few, rose up to murmuring and
complaints against God, to the point where the Lord was ready to
"smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them" and make of
Moses a great nation - chapter 14 verses 1-12. Moses interceded
on behalf of Israel so the Lord changed His mind about the
destruction He thought to bring upon those faithless and
rebellious people. Yet they who were led astray by the slander
and murmured would be punished - they would die in the wilderness
and not enter the promised land (verses 14-35).
As for those men who led Israel to sin against the Lord, it
is written, "And the men, which Moses sent to search the land,
who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against
him, by bringing up a SLANDER upon the land, Even those men that
did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague
before the Lord (verses 36,37).
The evil results of slander can be devastating!
Notice how God told Israel to deal with slander from a new
husband against his bride:
"If a man takes a wife and, after lying with her, dislikes her
and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, 'I married
this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of
her virginity,' then the girl's father and mother shall bring
proof that she was a virgin to the town elders at the gate. The
girl's father will say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter in
marriage,to this man, but he dislikes her. Now he has slandered
her and said, I did not find your daughter to be a virgin, but
here is proof of my daughter's virginity.' Then her parents shall
display the cloth before the elders of the town, and the elders
shall take the man and punish him. They shall fine him a hundred
shekels of silver and give them to the girl's father, because
this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall
continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he
lives " (Deut.22:13-19 NIV children's edition).
Slander is not "just a little white lie" to be taken
lightly; it can have very grave results for the person being
slandered.
Ahab was king in Samaria, and one day he coveted the
vineyard close to his palace that belonged to a man called
Naboth. Ahab asked Naboth to sell or exchange his vineyard for
another, so Ahab could have his. But he refused to do so and Ahab
went home and sulked (1 Kings 21:1-4). It was not long until his
wife Jezebel found out why Ahab was sulking, and came up with a
plan that would secure the vineyard Ahab wanted.
"So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, placed his seal on
them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in
Naboth's city with him. In those letters she wrote:
'Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent
place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him
and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the
king. Then take him out and stone him to death.' So the
elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city did as Jezebel
directed in the letters she had written to them. They
proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place
among the people. Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite
him and brought charges against Naboth before the people,
saying, 'Naboth has cursed both God and the king.' So
they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Then
they sent word to Jezebel: 'Naboth has been stoned and is
dead.'"(1 Kings 21:8-14 NIV children's edition).
The saying "sticks and stones can break my bones but names
will never hurt me" may be true in one sense, but then again in
another sense - names of slander - they can kill - literally!
Slander and libel come from a heart and mind filled with
resentment, animosity, and hate, and/or a heart of jealousy or
revenge.
The sinless one Himself - the perfect one - our Savior
Christ Jesus, did not escape the slanderers tongue. He was
charged by some to be a vinebibber (alcoholic) and a gluttonous
man - Matt.11:19. He was accused of being possessed by a devil -
John 8:48,52; 10:20. Some claimed Jesus was seditious - Luke
22:65; 23:5. And He was said to have blasphemed - Mark 14:64;
John 5:18.
Of course none of these accusations were true, yet some
carnal minded people told others that Jesus was guilty of these
things. They probably were willing to "cross by heart and hope to
die" to those they told these stories to, and no doubt many who
listened to them pricked up their ears and said, "Is that so, I
did not know that, thank you so much for telling me. Now I know
to stay away from that evil man."
Those who believed such false statements about Christ,
probably never thought of going to Jesus Himself and asking Him
if such stories were true. Instead of getting it straight from
the horses mouth, they merrily went their way being sure they now
had the truth about this guy who claimed to be the Son of God.
One of the evils of slander or libel is that OTHERS WILL
BELIEVE IT as "the gospel truth" and will never find the real
truth - they will believe a lie and have pleasure in
unrighteousness (2 Thes.2:7-12).
Many a true minister of God, while zealously doing the work
of the Lord, have been accused by their enemies of this or that
evil, and/or preaching false doctrines. This happened to Paul
many times in his life - sometimes the slander against him nearly
resulted in his death.
When Paul was in Jerusalem on one occasion, ".... the Jews
which were of Asia, when they saw him in the temple, stirred up
all the people, and laid hands on him. Crying out, 'Men of
Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all men every where
against the people, and the law, and this place(Paul was
slandered as to what he taught): and FURTHER brought Greeks also
into the temple, and has polluted this holy place(slandered
concerning his actions)'. For they had seen before with him in
the city Trophimus an Ephesian, whom they SUPPOSED(in the
imagination of their dark twisted minds) that Paul had brought
into the temple. And all the city was moved, and the people ran
together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and
forthwith the doors were shut. And as they vent about to kill
him(slander resulting in a lynch mob), tidings came unto the
chief captain of the band, that ALL Jerusalem was IN AN
UPROAR. Who immediately took soldiers and centurions, and ran
down unto them: and when they(the lynch mob) saw the chief
captain and the soldiers, they left BEATING of Paul" (Acts
21:27-32 emphasis and comments mine).
If the chief captain had not intervened, Paul would probably
have been killed. All because some jealous, hate filled, power
hungry men had slandered his name. Slander is nothing to be
laughed at.
THE EFFECTS OF SLANDER
As we have seen, defamation of character, falsehood,
malicious fabrication, distortion, misrepresentation - in a
single word, SLANDER - can have deadly results. Grievous wounds
can be the end result of slander; "The words of a talebearer
(those who indulge in slander and libel) are as wounds, they go
down into the innermost parts of the belly" (Prov.18:8 added
comment mine). Many who have been slandered can attest to the
fact that literal physical sickness can come upon the innocent
party from the results of the falsehood that many believe and the
actions they take.
Those that indulge in malicious fabrication and talebearing,
will usually cause much strife among people; "Where no wood is,
there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the
strife ceases" (Prov.26:20).
We have already seen from some of the examples left us in
the Bible about slander, that physical death can be the end
result for the one being slandered. King David came near to
experiencing this effect of one of Satan's darts. He wrote in
Psalm 31 and verse 13, "For I have heard the slander of many:
fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against
me, they devised to take away my life."
This wounderous and deadly arrow from the bow of the
adversary, can cause discord among brethren and separate friends;
"A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief
friends" (Prov. 16:28).
So devastatingly harmful is a false statement/distortion - a
slander/libel - that it effected the list of seven abominations
that God hates!
"These six things does the Lord hate: yes, seven are an
abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands
that shed innocent blood, An heart that devises wicked
imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false
witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among
brethren" (Prov.6:16-19).
Notice - slander/libel - is covered TWICE in those seven
abominations that the Lord hates.
THE END RESULT OF THE SLANDERER
To those who are wise and will listen, God says, "He that
hides hatred with lying lips, and he that utters a slander, is a
FOOL" (Prov.10:18). Why is a person foolish who partakes of the
slandering tongue? The Lord tells you why in verse 21 of this
same chapter in Proverbs, "The lips of the righteous feed many:
but FOOLS die for want of wisdom." The end result of those who
will not repent of using slander and libel is - DEATH!
Jeremiah was sent by God to warn Judah of death and
captivity if they did not repent of their sins, but they would
not listen or believe the words he spoke. Instead they devised to
attack him with their tongues, no doubt this included maligning
him, defamation of character, besmirching, and false statements.
This is what is written in Jeremiah 18, "They said, 'Come, let's
make plans against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the
priest will not be lost, nor will counsel from the wise, nor the
word from the prophet. So come, let's attack him with our tongues
and pay no attention to anything he says'(verse 18). In response
to this Jeremiah cried out to God, 'Listen to me, O Lord; hear
what my accusers are saying ..... Remember that I stood before
you and spoke in their behalf to turn your wrath away from them
..... they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares
for my feet. But you know, 0 Lord, all their plots to kill me. Do
not forgive their crimes or blot out their sins from your sight.
Let them be overthrown before you; deal with them in the time of
your anger'"(verses 19-23).
God will destroy with death those who will not repent of
practicing slander, for it is written, "Whoso privily slanders
his neighbor, him will I cut off"(Ps.101:5). And, "Blessed are
they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the
tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and
murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie"
(Rev. 22:14,15).
WHAT THE CHRISTIAN CAN DO ABOUT SLANDER
1. DO NOT LISTEN TO SLANDER
King Saul of Israel often tried to kill David (the man God
had chosen to replace Saul as king over Israel). This led David
to become a fugitive on the run. On one occasion it was told Saul
that David and his men were in the wilderness of Engedi (1 Sam.
24:1). As we read on in this 24th chapter of first Samuel, we
find Saul stopping at a cave when nature called him to relieve
himself. What he didn't know at the time was that David and his
men were inside the cave. David's men wanted to kill Saul but
David would have no part of such an idea, saying, "...The Lord
forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's
anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is
the anointed of the Lord"(verse 6). David did cut off a portion
of Saul's outer garment without him knowing about it.
There was never a time when David was seeking to kill or
hurt Saul, yet some had told Saul that David was planning to
physically harm him. Notice what David said to Saul after he had
left the cave, "David also arose afterward, and went out of the
cave, and cried after Saul, saying, 'My lord the king.' And when
Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth,
and bowed himself. And David said to Saul, 'Wherefore hearest you
men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks your hurt?'" (verses
8,9).
Saul was willing to listen to people saying false statements
about David. And in essence, David was telling Saul not to listen
to such slander.
The Christian should not entertain for one moment, known
slanderous statements about another person. And if it is not
known if such statements are true or not, the Christian should
not listen to second or third hand gossip, but should if he feels
it absolutely necessary, go directly to the horses mouth - to the
person themselves for the truth.
2. THE SLANDERER MAY HAVE TO BE REBUKED
"The north wind drives away rain: so does an angry
countenance a backbiting tongue" (Prov.25:23).
There may arise a time when a slanderer must be dealt with
in a loving but firm manner.
3. A CHRISTIAN SHOULD KEEP HIMSELF FROM SLANDER AND LIBEL
"Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking
guile" (Ps.34:13).
If every single person entering the Church of God was truly
and deeply filled with the Holy Spirit at all times, there would
never be any slander in the body of Christ. But the truth of the
matter is, unconverted people do sit in the Churches of God, and
converted people are not always filled with God's Spirit.
Nevertheless, as Christians we are admonished and instructed
over and over again by the word of the Lord, to control what
comes out of our mouth, to put a break or a straight jacket on
our tongue.
We are instructed to, "Let your speech be always with grace,
seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer
every man" (Col.4:6).
If we remember that it is from the heart and mind of a
person that the mouth speaks, and if we fill that heart and mind
with truth and goodness, we will have little or no trouble with
having a slanderous tongue.
As the apostle Paul said, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever
things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things
are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any
virtue, and if there be any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS "
(Phil.4:8 emphasis mine).
................
Written in 1991
A LIGHT in the Dark
Being like God
A LIGHT IN THE DARK - Thy Kingdom Come - 2007
by NELL STEVENSON
Writer's preamble: As I write these letters I marvel at the
precision of each word in the Bible; the accuracy of meaning and
consistency throughout along with every nuance. All the words
that seem so different end up converging into the same truth.
Amazing. Still, "Every word of God is flawless" (Prov.30:5).
It is rare to experience real darkness these days with light
emitting from high rise buildings, streetlights and vehicles both
day and night.
The "blackout" of August 2003 surely proved our dependence
on light.
When the power went out in a large area of Ontario that day,
much of the population had their first experience of total
darkness; no houses or streets or landscape to be seen; just a
huge expanse of black. Only the flicker of candlelight or the
beam of a flashlight broke the darkness.
The light did not diminish the blackness; nor did it blend
in with it. The light opposed the dark without compromise. It
stood out as a brilliant contrast against the dark just as a
beacon from a lighthouse that is a sailor's salvation on a black
sea. It isn't hard to imagine groping around in the dark with no
light to indicate our physical surroundings. In darkness we have
no direction and no anchor. Just as the sailor we long for some
flicker of light to give us our bearings.
This picture can also be applied to the spiritual life of
individuals and of the "world". The absence of light translates
directly into confusion and an absence of direction and purpose.
We are essentially in darkness in our world today with no
definite answers or standards and the rules can change without
notice. We may grasp onto something for a time only to be
disappointed. We live a shallow life with a pervading sense of
insecurity and instability.
In both the physical and piritual realm, light is an abso
necessity, but it is not always appreciated because its effect is
always to expose darkness. Turning on a light may expose a dirty
room that we would rather ignore. A well-lit alley may expose
unpleasant garbage and debris. In the same way a group of people
living as light true to Godly standards may expose some of the
corruption that is so blatant in the world around them and may
even incur its mockery. According to John 3:19 "This is the
verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness
instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does
evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear
that his deeds will be exposed."
Darkness in the spiritual sense as we have learned before
represents wickedness of the world and the god of this world,
Satan, who can masquerade as an angel of light to deceive God's
people. Light is light and darkness is darkness. Light represents
the righteousness of Christ. "God is light; in Him is no darkness
at all" (I John 1:5). The importance of these words cannot be
overemphasized. "No darkness at all" means absolute purity and
goodness with not the minutest degree of wickedness and therefore
no capability for deception.
From Genesis to Revelation we find many incidents using
light to describe our Lord. 1n Psalm 27:1 King David declares
"the Lord is my light and my salvation." The glory of God that
shone on Moses' face after being in His presence will also
provide light in the Holy City; "the Lamb will be its lamp. The
nations will walk by its light" (Rev.21:23). The Evangelist Luke
tells us about Simeon, a just man of Israel who immediately
recognized Jesus as the long awaited Saviour and exclaimed, "mine
eyes have seen thy salvation ...A light to lighten the nations,
and the glory of thy people Israel" (Lk.2:30-32).
What does Christ mean in Matt.5:14 when He tells his
disciples, including all true Israel today, "You are the light of
the world"? From Ps. 4:19 we learn that "the way of wickedness is
as darkness." In Ephesus, Paul reminds the new believers that "ye
were sometime darkness (not in darkness); but now are ye light in
the Lord: walk as children of light" (Eph.5:8). This may help us
to understand that light and darkness cannot blend but always
remain totally separate. You were darkness; now you are light.
Once we have repented of our sins and accepted Christ into
our hearts, our destiny is to be light. "What do righteousness
and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship does light have
with darkness?" (2 Cor.6:14). There is a stark contrast. There is
no middle ground. We can't walk in darkness and light at the same
time any more than one can serve both God and Mammon. Come, 0
house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Is. 2:5).
Our mandate is to be a light in the dark.
That light is Christ in us. He is our example of Light in
darkness. He knew that Satan is the god of this world yet didn't
get involved in the social system to change it. He remained
separate and glorified the Father in all that He did. Christ
simply led his life in obedience to the Father, teaching,
healing, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and speaking the
absolute truth to expose the unjust deeds of darkness. He was
Light and He was despised by many, but many also came to
recognize Him as the Messiah. As believers and "temples of the
living God" each one of us should be a light in the dark
displaying His light with justice, truth and honesty in a world
of corruption lies and deceit. "Let your light so shine before
men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in
heaven" (Mat.5:16).
..............
Spirituality - what is it?
Many are lopsided an unbalanced
WHAT IS SPIRITUALITY?
by
Alex Ciurana
What is spirituality? What does it look like? What does it
feel ' like? Is everyone spiritual, or is it the exclusive
property of Christians?
To encapsulate spirituality in one word yields a diverse
crop. To some, it is meekness. To others, it is primal - a return
to animalistic instincts. To some, it is stoicism the proverbial
"stiff upper lip." But to others, it is feeling.
Some see spirituality everywhere. Others believe it to
reside most fully in sacred times and sacred places. Some look
for the realization of spirituality in crisis, that is, in a
moment. Others insist that true spirituality is a process, taking
a lifetime to cultivate.
In scholarly circles it has been described as our "ultimate
concern" (Paul Tillich), a "blind leap into the dark" (Soren
Kierkegaard), and "a great instinctive truth" (Joseph Ernest
Renan). Even in modern Evangelicalism, there has been a revival
of this "great instinctive truth" through the practice of
spiritual disciplines. An excerpt from a recent Leadership
Journal article captures this dynamic within today's conservative
churches.
"There is a movement not only back to the disciplines, but a
kind of instinctive, if not fully articulated desire to know the
whole heritage of Christianity," says Phyllis Tickle, an expert
on religious publishing and author of a best-selling series of
books on fixed-hour prayer, The Divine Hours. According to
Tickle, this movement back to such ancient disciplines signals a
radical shift in the direction of postmodern Christianity, a
possible new Reformation.
(2005 Christianity Today International/Leadership Journal)
Could this resurgence of spiritual practice be a merging of
conservatism and mysticism? Mystical traditions emphasize
experience over dogma, and are found in every world religion. In
Judaism, experience reigns supreme among the Cabalists. In Islam,
it is the Sufis. In Buddhism, mysticism flourishes through Zen.
And in Christianity, seeking the divine has for centuries found
fertile soil in hermits, monks, wasteland wanderers and, right
here in America, in the Quakers and modern Charismatics.
What do these seemingly disparate views all have in common?
They believe metaphysical realities can be sensed in the present;
some even insisting it is not necessary, or wise, to wait for
"the sweet by and by."
Such spiritual ambition can leave many "orthodox" and "good
of boys" feeling uneasy. "Why can't you kids just read your
Bibles, believe the Gospel, and wait for heaven to feel good?"
Well, perhaps what has happened is that the first of this
threepart advice has been taken to heart.
Today's post-modern Christian has read the Bible, or, at
least, major portions of it. The distinction between devoted old
Christian and devoted young Christian is not rooted in their
reverence for the Bible - for their reverence is much the same.
Both believe the Scriptures to be the Word of God. Both believe
God's will is found within the sacred text. And both embrace the
major themes of the Bible: the need for divine intervention in
the human saga, salvation by grace through faith, God's final
victory over rebellion, etc.
The distinction is to be found in the emphasis today's
postmodern Christian draws from the Bible. The Christian of 2006
reads the Bible stories of Abraham, Moses, and Jeremiah and
thinks, "They experienced a great God, I should be able to also!"
He reads of the travels of Paul and thinks, "What adventure! 1
want some of that!" He reads the accounts of the passion of
Christ and thinks, "I'd die for such a savior." The emphasis is
on experience and application to modern life.
This, of course, does not mean that there is no doctrinal
deliberation over biblical texts. It does not mean that proper
hermeneutics is necessarily ignored.
It does not mean that precision in study cannot be achieved.
It simply means that one particular biblical truth is, at this
time, in the spotlight:
EXPERIENCE
Bible folks experienced God... the postmodern Christian
desires such experiences, too.
Should we think it strange that various emphases shuffle and
vie for center place in Christian devotion? In the early
centuries, the emphasis was upon Christological issues. Who is
Christ? What is the nature of His pre-existence? What is His
relationship to the deity of the Father? Questions like these
occupied much time of the early Church Fathers and councils
through the fifth century. It is interesting to note that Church
of God (Seventh Day) is still asking these old, old questions.
(What a shame, these questions should have been put to bed
decades ago, if not centuries ago - Keith Hunt).
In the Reformation era, focus was applied to the priesthood
of all believers (Luther), the complete sovereignty of God
(Calvin), and a general drive to protest (thus the title
"Protestant") against papal abuses. These hallmarks of the
Reformation do not encapsulate every thematic truth contained in
the Bible, but certainly are valid biblical conclusions.
Or, as Alan Watts has put it: "No one's mouth is big enough to
utter the whole thing."
Once one particular emphasis is seen as central, other themes
will necessarily be peripheral. That is simply the nature of
concentration; it is difficult to focus on two or more things at
once.
What would be ideal is for various historical emphases to
come together like individual threads and patterns in a grand
tapestry. An eclectic approach to spirituality would value the
good that has been gleaned in the past, yet also would allow
considerable freedom for modern exploration. Must we be tethered
to the past so tightly that contemporary expressions of Christian
experience are automatically discarded? No. For such an attitude
does not even do justice to those who have gone before us.
The early Fathers and Reformers saw it as their duty to be
the custodians of God's Word. That duty has been passed down to
us. In this age, we are the custodians of God's Word. In so
being, we must value the past - drawing from its good points,
being careful to not repeat its ignoble momentsand take our
present responsibility seriously by threshing out fresh paths of
spiritual and theological travel.
How is this done? It is accomplished by recognizing the
limits of devotion (i.e., spirituality) and theology (i.e.,
doctrine and dogma). Each can serve in ways the other cannot.
When the role of one element is made the exclusive monarch
over the other, imbalance is the result.
The Christian who exalts devotion above all else runs the
risk of becoming a tree hugging hippie, a sappy sort of fellow
merely craving his next warm fuzzy. On the other end of the
spectrum, the Christian who exalts theology above all else may
become a crusty curmudgeon, a grumpy, overcritical sour puss that
no one wants to be around.
Recognizing and appreciating the unique contributions that
devotion and theology make will create a balance to the Christian
life.
Devotion can deepen our awareness of God's love and grace.
It can deepen our love for others. It makes the Spirit-led life
an adventure of trust and surrender. Spirituality transforms
attitudes. It gives life a sense of purpose.
What can it not do? It cannot understand the historical,
cultural, structural, and linguistic forms, in Scripture. It
cannot provide rational explanations and defenses of religious
matters. It is helpless to construct a systematic paradigm from
which to understand the themes of Scripture. And devotion alone
cannot show the Christian religion to be substantially different
from other religions. But guess what can do these things?
THEOLOGY
DEVOTION
IT DEEPENS OUR LOVE FOR OTHERS
IT MAKES THE SPIRIT-LED LIFE AN ADVENTURE OF TRUST AND SURRENDER
Therefore, spirituality needs theology and theology needs
spirituality. The two can be held in what has been called
"dialectical tension" - each one balancing and gently correcting
the other. It is a principle described as "harmonious opposition"
by the eighteenth century Methodist clergyman John Fletcher. In
Buddhism it has been called "the middle way."
Truth is neither to the extreme left nor the extreme right,
but happily lives in the delicate and subtle middle. It is a
place of serenity and understanding, It is a place void neither
of doctrine or passion. It is a place where, this author
believes, Jesus' state of mind continually abided. He could
argue, but He could also love. And He did both better than anyone
ever has. May the Church follow her Messiah's example, and tred
that middle path of true spirituality.
................
A version of this article appeared m the April May 2006 Issue of
Bible Advocate and was entitled "The Middle Path"
Dynamics of Discipleship
Learning and Teaching
by Brian Knowles
In Jesus commission to the church, we find these words:
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . . " (Matthew
28:19). What did Jesus mean by the term disciple? And how do we
"make" one?
In addition to being the Son of God, Jesus was both a Jew
and a rabbi. His teaching nomenclature and methodology were
Jewish to the core. When He spoke of making disciples, Jesus had
something specific in mind - something grounded in the original
language.
Defining 'disciple'
In Greek, the word for disciple is "mathetes," meaning
literally "a learner." This contrasts with the word for teacher -
"didaskalo." A "didactic" person is inclined to teach; a disciple
is inclined to learn. In the Hebrew language, the word for
disciple is "talmid."
Jesus wanted His own disciples to go out into the world and
make more talmidim (the plural for talmid) like them.
Within the culture of second temple Judaism, talmid had a
specific range of meanings. Typically, talmidim were the
followers of great rabbis, many of whom were itinerant teachers.
In Jesus' day, rabbi, which meant "master," was a term of
honor, not an ordained office. Great rabbis gathered disciples
based on their reputation, not because of a line position in a
hierarchy.
A disciple was not just a student of the rabbi, but an
adherent. Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really
my disciples" (John 8:31). The result of discipleship was
spiritual fruit-bearing, which gave glory to the Father (15:8).
Anyone who is truly a disciple of Christ bears fruit for the
kingdom.
Characteristics
A disciple often sat at the feet of his master (Luke 8:35;
10:39). Of course, the physical posture wasn't so important, but
the relationship of rabbi to his disciples was. A lower position
illustrated humility before the master and showed itself in
childlike teachability and obedience (Matthew 18:1-4; 19:14).
Teachability is not gullibility, however. The pupil could
question the teacher, as Jesus did His teachers when He was only
twelve (Luke 2:46). In the Jewish school, in fact, discussions
between rabbis and their disciples could be boisterous and
assertive. This is the principle of "iron sharpens iron" at work
(Proverbs 27:17) - a process of thought refinement that reveals
truth and understanding.
Jesus felt that such learning couldn't stay within a small
group. That's why He instructed His disciples to take His
teachings into the world (Matthew 28:19, 20). This is the content
of the commission - to teach "all nations" the same things Jesus
had taught His followers.
A disciple, then, is one who sits at Jesus' feet by hearing
those who preach His gospel. He is humble, teachable, and
obedient, and shares Jesus' teachings with others.
Making disciples
So how do we make disciples? First, we expose them to the
gospel. People learn that Christ came into the world to be
offered as a sacrifice for sins. He was the foundation and
capstone of God's plan to rescue doomed humanity. Jesus died,
rose, and to intercede for us. Those who accept His sacrifice
have eternal life in Christ. Once they receive the Holy Spirit,
they are "sealed" (Ephesians 1:13,14).
Whenever people have heard the gospel, accepted it, and are
baptized, they enter into lifelong discipleship as students of
our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the Holy Spirit and through the
written Word, He teaches them.
As with the original disciples, Jesus doesn't teach only
through words but also through example and experience. This often
means suffering. Life for a disciple is boot camp for eternity.
We endure this boot camp with Paul's words in mind: "He who began
a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day
of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6).
That ought to be a comforting thought. Jesus will not allow
any of His disciples to slip through the cracks unless they, like
Judas, choose to fall away. They will continue to grow in the
knowledge, character, skills, and spiritual power they need to
serve Christ now and to take their God-given places in the world
to come.
Sometimes through excruciatingly painful trials and almost
unbearable tests, disciples are readied for a higher calling.
Like Paul and the other apostles, they can bear unjust suffering
at the hands of evil or ignorant people (2 Corinthians 11:16-33).
In this life we suffer loss: children, husbands, wives, parents,
siblings, and friends. Yet all we have lost in this life will be
restored in the next (Acts 3:27). The world swaddled in a sodden
blanket of evil and sin will be renewed, refreshed, and restored
to its Edenic state. God's instruction shall go forth from Zion
(Isaiah 2:3). The disciples of Christ will shine like Him, and
all will come to resolution.
The world will finally understand why it had to go through
these terrible eons of pain and suffering to get to divine
closure. As disciples of Jesus, we have been given insight into
the whys and wherefores of the human condition and into God's
redemptive plan.
Maturity and perseverance
Until the Lord returns, it is our duty to go into the world
and make disciples. The goal of discipleship is to move those God
has called and who have been reborn ("converted" is a better word
- Keith Hunt) by the Spirit in the direction of spiritual
adulthood (Hebrews 5:11-6:3; Jude 20; Matthew 5:48). As the
writer of Hebrews asserts, we must not freeze our spiritual
development at an immature level. Rather, we must "go on to
maturity" (6:1).
As disciples of Christ, we will encounter opposition,
persecution, and ridicule. In our post Christian culture, many
people do not take God seriously. That reality didn't stop the
original disciples, and it must not stop us. We must go out into
the world in humility, realizing that we are no better than
anyone else. We simply have good news to convey and disciples to
make.
...............
Brian Knowles writes from Monrovia, CA. USA. Scripture quotations
were taken from the New International Version.
NOTE:
I'm glad Brian used words like "sometimes" and "maybe" and "often
means" in relation to suffering and hardship and trials and tests
that Christians go through in this physical life. While it is
true we can find in the writings of the New Testament passages
encouraging Christians to bear-up under persecutions and
hardships. While it is true that Jesus said a disciple of His may
have to give up friends, family, husband, wife, children, to
follow Him, THAT IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE, NOR IS IT ALWAYS
AUTOMATICALLY SO.
Some Christians, in some places, under their circumstances, do
NOT have troubles with their employer, with their wife of
husband, with their children, with their friends or relatives,
and walk the Christian road relatively in peace and safety and
with little or no problems in this physical life. Just because
that is so does not mean you are less than what you should be as
a Christian.
Some mistakingly believe that unless you have big troubles or
large persecutions with an employer, mate, children, friends,
relatives, you are not much of a productive Christian. This is
NOT TRUE!
I think I've had it pretty easy and relatively smooth going in my
Christian life. Yes, I've had trials and tests and troubles here
and there along the way in different situations, but to me they
were nothing compared to what others have faced. Yet I know some
would think my Christian troubles and persecutions were LARGE, so
I guess it is a matter to some extent of your attitude towards
the thorns you encounter along the Christian pathway.
But we need to keep in mind the perspective that what is hardship
and difficult in the discipleship of a Christian for one person
is as nothing to another person. The apostle Paul most would say
did have many serious physical troubles, even near to death, but
Barnabas, Peter, and disciples like John, from what we know, had
little or none of what Paul often faced. They were no less
"Christian" than Paul.
How you live and conduct yourself, how you speak and work, how
you interact with people, how you serve with love, how you show
kindness and patience, in all situations is what makes you a
solid Christian, and a pleasing child to the Father in heaven and
to our elder brother Christ Jesus.
Please study my study called "Trials, Tests and Troubles" on this
blog, for a balanced understanding of the Christian life.
Keith Hunt
Stewardship for God
Serving with what you have
Stewardship
Orin and Sharon Dean
Who is a steward? Webster's Dictionary defines a steward as
a person who administers someone else's finances and property.
According to the Student Bible Dictionary, stewardship is
accountability for deciding how best to spend the time, talents,
and possessions, God has given to us.
God is the source of all things. In fact, we cannot give
anything to God that He has not first given us. Romans 11:36
says, "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things."
King David acknowledged this thought after the collection of the
offerings for the building of the temple in I Chronicles 29:14
saying, "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be
able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You,
and of Your own we have given You."
He has given all these things to us so we nominally think of
them as "ours." But because all things really belong to God, we
should be more careful how we manage them.
When we give, we are only giving back a portion of the
abundance He has given us. Some of us have less, some of us have
more, but we all have the privilege and opportunity to give back
to God what we do have.
Tithing is designated to support the work of the church
and offerings should not be confused with the tithe.
Money
What does the Bible say about money? Malachi 3:8,10 says,
"Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In
what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. Bring all
the tithes into the, storehouse that there may be food in My
house, and try Me now in this. . . . If I will not open for you
the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that
there will not be room enough to receive it."
(This is a teaching to Israel as a nation, the overall in Israel.
Jesus said the poor you will always have with you. The laws of
Moses helped the poor. This verse should not be understood or
taught as an individual dogmatic guarantee that YOU will have
material wealth - many of God's people down through history were
tithe paying people and were never materially wealthy - Keith
Hunt).
In the Old Testament the tithe was to support the Levitical
priests who were appointed to be ministers to take care of the
house of God. Since the time of New Testament, tithing is
designated to support the work of the church. The tithe is not
"ours." If we use that portion of money for our own will or
pleasure, we are robbing God.
Offerings should not be confused with the tithe. Though God
specifically stated what some offerings should be used for, most
were voluntary. Voluntary offerings are given according to our
own thoughts and directed by His Spirit in us. We think these
voluntary offerings are to test us to see if we would give and
help others without direct command.
Jesus criticized the Pharisees because they put too much
emphasis on giving the tithe and did little to take care of the
needs of the people. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and
have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and
mercy and faith" (Matthew 23:23).
Time
What do we do with our time? Do we (spend it on getting
"things" and forget about giving? Yes, we need to work. We are to
(labor earnestly. "Six days you shall labor land do all thy work"
(Exodus 20:9).
Ecclesiastes 9:10 says, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do
it with your might."
There is an appointed time on earth for man. Psalm 89:47
says, "Remember how, short my time is." "Whereas you do not, know
what will happen tomorrow. For what is life? It is a vapor that
appears for a little time and then vanishes away" (James 4:14).
Our time is always limited. What we do (with our time,
whether it is to labor, earn, give, or witness, is what really
counts. God is not interested in what we can do in our own
strength, but in what He can do through us.
"And whatever you do in word or deed, do tall in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving (thanks to God the Father through
Him" (Colossians 3:17).
Paul says in Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with
Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son
of God."
Paul also says, "But what things were gain to me, these I
have counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:8).
God wants us to do the right things and be righteous.
"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices
righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous"
(I John 17).
The prophet Hosea says, "Sow for yourselves righteousness...
for it is time to seek the Lord" (10.12).
We need to seek the Lord for wisdom and guidance. We need to
believe in the Lord Jesus and do what He teaches us to do.
Whatever we do needs to be done willingly and with enthusiasm.
By His grace, you shall be saved. But remember, "Not
everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the Kingdom of
Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven" (Matthew
7:21).
God promises many blessings for those who do His will.
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come,
you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and
you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you) took Me In; I
was naked and you clothed Me; I was in prison and you came
to Me .... inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My
brethren, you) did it to Me (Matthew 25:34-36,40b).
We cannot do anything for God except we do it for our
brother or sister. I John 4:20-21 says "If someone says, 'I love
God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not
love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he
has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who
loves God must love his brother also." So in reality, we serve
God by serving others.
It is by His grace that we
have abundance. We need
to be good stewards and use
what God has given us. He
expects us to use those gifts
to the best of our ability.
It is by His grace that we have abundance. We need to be
good stewards and use what God has given us. When we give to our
brothers in need, we have done to Him.
Gifts
Let's review the parable of the talents found in Matthew
25:14-30. A man gave talents (money) to his servants based on
each one's ability to use the talents. The man returned from his
journey and asked his servants for an accounting of the money. He
rewarded each servant based on how they used the money, not
according to how much money they had been given. Jesus gives to
us gifts according to our abilities. He ,expects us to use those
gifts to the best of our ability. He will reward each person
based on how they use those gifts.
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is "from above"
(James 1:17). Romans 12:6-8 states:
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them; if prophecy, let us prophesy
in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in
our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who
exhorts; in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he
who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.
"Give, and it will be given to you: good "Give pressed down,
shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38). When we give of
our time, talents, and possessions for the service of others, God
gives a full measure of blessing to us.
Love
The parable of the Good samaritan found in Luke 10: 31-38
provides an example of being a good steward and showing love to
your neighbor. A man travelling along a road was robbed and
beaten. A priest and a Levite passed by, had opportunity to help,
but they took a detour to the other side of the road. A Samaritan
saw the man and had compassion on him. The Samaritan went out of
his way and took the time to stop and bandage the man's wounds.
He took him to an inn and gave money so that the man could be
properly cared for. He gave of what he had in order to take care
of the man's needs. Today we see many people who, have much and
do little. Then there are others who seem to have very little,
who do beyond their ability. God expects us to use what He gives
us, to help those in need.
"As each one has received a gift, minister it to one
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (I Peter
4:10).
Paul writes, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even
in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Galatians
5:14). Christ said in John 15:12, "This is My commandment, that
you love one another as I have loved you."
What we do with our time,
whether it is to labor, earn,
give, or witness, is what really
counts. God is not interested
in what we can do in our own
strength, but in what He can
do through us.
In the parable of the rich young ruler, the ruler said he
kept all the commandments, yet Jesus said to him, "if you want to
be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you
will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me" (Matthew
19:21). The important part of this verse is "follow Me." Jesus
wants us to exemplify the love and compassion He had for all
people.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth
and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal: but lay up
for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust
destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where
your treasure is, there your heart is also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33).
We need to be careful about getting caught up with
accumulating the "things" of this world. As good stewards, we
need to use our resources and invest in the work of spreading the
good news about Jesus Christ.
When we give of our time, talents and possessions, we are
sowing seeds in order to grow the Kingdom of God. 2 Corinthians
9:6,7 says, "He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and
he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each
one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of
necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver."
Psalm 100:2 says, "Serve the Lord with gladness." We can say
from personal experience that when you give of yourself (time,
money), God will bless you and give you more. It has been said
that you cannot out give God. God is faithful to us, but will we
be faithful to Him?
Stewardship is a lifestyle of living in the will of God.
Each day we have opportunity to decide how we are going to use
our time, talents, and possessions. We need to seek God's
guidance and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
"To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it
is sin" (James 4:17). Sin separates us from God. If we are not
being obedient to God's commands, we are missing the blessings He
has promised.
We challenge you to take a few minutes to evaluate how you
are using your time, talents, and possessions (what God has given
you) for the building of God's Kingdom. If you are not giving,
perhaps it is time to make some changes. The clock is ticking.
Time is running out. Today is your opportunity to be a good
steward of God's resources.
Is your life God-centered or self-centered?
We need to be careful about getting caught up with accu-
mulating the "things" of this world. When we give of our
time, talents and possessions, we are sowing seeds in order to
grow the Kingdom of God.
.................
Orin and Sharon serve in the Mountain Grove Church of God 7th Day
and the Springfield Church of Day 7th Day in Missouri. All
Scripture is from the New King James Version.
ACTS magazine June 2007, a publication of the Churches of God,
Meridian, ID, USA.
Mercy and JusticeSome revealing ScripturesMercy and Justice
by Noel Rude
Has anyone ever composed more beautiful and meaningful music
than King David? We have his words in the Psalms, and if the
melody measured up to the words, it must have been awesome
indeed. In spite of all David's sins God was pleased with him
(Acts 13:22b): "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after
Mine own heart, which shall fulfil all My will."
But was it just the music? It was not, as it says (2 Sam
8:15; I Chronicles 18:14): "And David reigned over all Israel;
and David executed judgment and justice unto all his people."
Later, Jeroboam cut his people off from Jerusalem and
established an independent form of worship (I Kings 12:26-33).
Henceforth, of each king of Israel it is written, "he departed
not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made
Israel to sin" (I Kings 16:2,7,19,26; 21:22; 22:52; 2 Kings 3:3;
10:29; 13:2,11; 14:24; 15:9,18,24,28; 17:21; 23:15; etc.).
When we reject the source of God's Word - as Jeroboam did -
then the supply dries up. And so, Amos, a prophet to Jeroboam's
heirs, prophesies,
"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD GOD, that I will send
a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst
for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they
shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the
east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the
LORD, and shall not find it" (Amos 8:11-12).
We are living in such a day. It is not as if the words of
the Lord aren't right there at our fingertips. Bibles and Bible
helps and commentaries and studies are everywhere. But we've been
educated since the 1960s to believe that the Bible isn't true.
And so we search the globe in vain. We are, in that sense,
spiritual heirs of Jeroboam.
(It may be true in a sense, but the time is coming at the end of
this age that the truth of God's word will not be able to be
found as it is today. One day THIS Website will be condemned as
heretical and anti-Catholic, and will be removed from the
Internet. The endtime Beast Power will take away free access to
the truths of God's word. People will seek it, but will not be
able to find it - Keith Hunt)
Amos prophecies that in the latter days Jeroboam's spiritual
heirs will find themselves in darkness, yet, be self confident in
their worship (See Amos 5:20-25).
What the world needs, as Amos puts it, is for judgment to
run down as waters, and "righteousness as a mighty stream." There
is much suffering and hurt and poverty in this world because of
its unjust judges and because men "...call evil good and good
evil ..." (Isaiah 5:20).
But are we not ALL guilty to one degree or another? As God
said to Cain, "sin lieth at the door" (Genesis 4:7). And as Paul
tells us (Romans 3:23), "For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God."
In "AmazIng Grace," the best-loved of all hymns, John
Newton's allusions to the drama or his life tell the story of a
youth who was a virtual slave in Sierra Leone before ironically
becoming a slave trader himself. A gradual spiritual awakening
transformed Newton into an ardent evangelist and anti-slavery
activist.
And so, we sing a hymn by John Newton, an English sea
captain who repented of a life of sin.
Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like
me I once was lost, but now I'm found was blind, but now I
see.
But, is it Cheap Grace?
The hymn is beautiful, but is God's grace really as
"scandalous" as some would have it? Is it a "cheap grace"?
God is "the Judge of all the earth" (Genesis 18:25; Psalms 50:6,
75:8[7], 82:8; I Peter 4:5; Romans 3:6; Hebrews 12:23; etc.), and
Jesus is also a judge (Matthew 25:31; John 5:30; Acts 10:42;
Romans 2:16; 2 Timothy 4:1; etc.). God is merciful (Deuteronomy
4:31), "For the LORD thy God is a merciful God" - and His mercy
cannot be bought - that is the meaning of justice (Psalms
89:14,15): "Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy
throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face." This is what
Peter perceived (Acts 10:34), "Of a truth I perceive that God is
no respecter of persons", which is what the Torah proclaims
(Deuteronomy 10:17), "For the LORD your God is God of gods, and
LORD of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which
regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward."
This, I suggest, is what Paul meant when he says (Ephesians
2:8-9), "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast."
God's mercy cannot be bought - just as we hope our judges
cannot be bought off by the rich and powerful. But this does not
mean that we will not be rewarded according to our works. Solomon
asks, "and shall not He render to every man according to his
works?" (Proverbs 24:12). Jesus answers, "For the Son of man
shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then
He shall reward every man according to his works" (Matthew
16:27).
No Mercy Without Merit
Is the New Testament grace (charis) really "unmerited
pardon"? In one sense it is not! For will God invest His mercy in
one if He knows there will be no return on His investment? Maybe
not - considering Isaiah 55:10-11:
"For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and
returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it
bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and
bread to the eater: So shall My word be that goeth forth out
of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the
thing whereto I sent it."
God's mercy comes with strings attached. We repent, as God
instructs the spiritual seed of Jeroboam (Ezekiel 18:30):
"Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one
according to his ways, saith the LORD Goo. Repent, and turn
yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall
not be your ruin."
Jesus came preaching (Matthew 3:2), "Repent ye: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand." And Peter said (Acts 2:38),
"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus
Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy [Spirit]."
This is the merit of repentance that Christians should know
well. There is also the merit of the fathers, which Moses invoked
after Israel committed the sin of the golden calf. God says to
Moses, "Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot
against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of
thee a great nation" (Exodus 32:10). Moses adamantly refuses.
Yet Cain asks, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9).
Yes, we are our brother's keeper. We rest on one another's merit.
It is to this intent that Paul cautions (I Corinthians 7:14),
"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the
unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your
children unclean; but now are they holy."
The Merit of Going Beyond
Is it enough to just do what is required? Micah asks and
answers (6:8), "... and what doth the LORD require of thee, but
to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy
God?" And Jesus says, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done
all those things which are commanded you, say, We are
unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to
do" (Luke 17:10). Peter warns, "And if the righteous scarcely be
saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (I Peter
4:18).
Remember how it says (Matthew 16:27), "For the Son of man
shall come in the glory of His Father with His angels; and then
He shall reward every man according to his works."
God's mercy cannot be bought, but if we merit no reward, will
there be any mercy?
Jesus says, "in my Father's house are many mansions: if it
were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for
you" (John 14:2). He is talking about offices of authority. If we
are not willing to assume an office, to take responsibility for
others, to be our brother's keeper, then it's a good question
whether God will extend His grace to us. We are called to a
crown, and Jesus warns, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast
which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Revelation 3:11).
Abraham obeyed God (Genesis 26:5), but he also sinned (Romans
6:23), and thus he, too, was saved by grace (Genesis 15:6), "And
he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for
righteousness:" So in what merit might Abraham have received the
promise?
"For I know Him, that He will command His children and His
house hold after Him, and they shall keep the way of the
LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring
upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him"
(Genesis 18:19).
We are indeed our brother's keeper (James 1:27): "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." And charity begins at home.
(Galatians 6:10): "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household
of faith." Again Paul says, "But if any provide not for his own,
and specially for I those of his own house, he hath denied the
faith, and is worse than an infidel"
(I Timothy 5:8).
(continued on page 19)
Jesus' parables illustrate the concept of reward for works.
Remember, for example, the unprofitable servant who hid his pound
in a napkin. It doesn't say that this man was a grievous sinner.
Nevertheless, the Lord said to those that stood by (Luke
19:24-26):
"Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten
pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be
given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall
be taken away from him."
So let us seek the merit of repentance, and let us invoke
the merit of the fathers and especially the merit of our elder
brother who is the Messiah - and let us invest our talents in
doing God's work and, wretched that we might be, let us accept
the responsibility of an office in the world to come when, as
John says (Revelation 20:4), "And I saw thrones, and they sat
upon them, and judgment was given unto them: ... and they lived
and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
..............
Noel Rude is a linguist who works with American Indian languages
in the Pacific Northwest of the USA.
Scriptures taken from the NKJV.
Taken from ACTS magazine - July/August 2007 - a publication of
The General Churches of God, 7th Day, Meridian, ID, USA
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