Rethinking Our Role as a Church

Posted on May 19, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

It is my educated opinion that many Christians have much too narrow of a view of the role of the church.  They are comfortable with the church proclaiming the Gospel, what one must do for salvation, how the church is to be organized, and how it is to worship.  They are comfortable with the church educating and edifying by teaching the Bible, typically in a public Bible class setting (“We offer Bible classes”).  However, when people are struggling, they don’t want to get too close.  More than once, I have heard the line, “They church simply isn’t equipped to deal with that.”  Yet a brother or sister really needed help.

Here are some real-life examples of what I am speaking.  (1) A sister went to the elders of the church claiming that she was being physically abused by her husband.  They did not want to get involved.  They said that they were not marriage counselors, and suggested that she find one.  (2) A brother went to the elders of the church asking for help with his drinking problem.  They said that they were not A.A., and suggested that he go to A.A. meetings.  The man knew they were not A.A..  However, he did think that they could become more involved in his life and help him deal with his temptation and help hold him accountable.   He told me that the church was not much help when he really needed it.  (3) A brother suffers from depression.  He turned to a Christian friend for help.  The answer was “just snap out of it.”  (4) A brother wanted to present some lessons on PTSD.  The attitude of some was that he could do that in another setting.  This was not a subject for the church to address.  (5) A sister has mental issues.  She reached out for help.  Not knowing exactly how to help, someone replied, “the church simply isn’t equipped to deal with that.”  That is the easy answer.  Let’s wash our hands and move on.  Here are my thoughts…

 1.  We are a family. We are born into a family, the family of God (Galatians 3:26-28).  We are to treat other members of the church as family members (1 Timothy 5:1).  “Brotherly kindness” should characterize us (2 Peter 1:7).  Remember that “a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).  We are to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).  Paul instructs, “Warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14).

2.  We need to have the heart of a servant. Jesus washed the feet of the disciples (John 13:3-17).  Paul instructs “through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).

Some years ago, I was teaching in James.  James 5:14 reads, “Is anyone among you sick?  Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”  I set forth my view that this was teaching that elders are to: (a) depend upon God (pray for the person); (b) Serve [anoint with oil, which I understand to either be done to refresh or for medical purpose (see B.H. article Pray/Sing/Call)].  Someone spoke up and said, so the elders are to be medical experts?  My response was no, but they are to be servants (I believe that this point is true, whether one agrees with my understanding about anointing oil, or not).

3.  It is my belief that many of the issues of life, even many mental health issues (not all, but many) have a spiritual dimension. Some are overwhelmed with grief, guilt, shame, fear, worry or anger.  Some have an improper view of self.  Some have an improper view of God.

Steven Lloyd has come to the same conclusions.  Consider these excerpts from his book, Coping: A Biblical Approach- (a) “Martin and Deidre Bobgan, in their book How to Counsel from Scripture, quote research psychiatrist, E. Fuller Torrey, who argues that about 75 percent of the problems psychiatrists address are problems of living, 5 percent are organic brain disorders, and 20 percent ‘will require closer examination to make a final judgment.’  The Bobgans conclude: ‘Therefore, most people seeking help need the kind of counsel in which the Bible excels: how to live, how to relate to others, how to find meaning in life, how to know God, and how to become the kind of person God wants.”’ (p. 42).

(b)  “It is amazing how many people hinder God by believing that he deals only with those things they believe relate to their initial salvation and ‘spiritual’ matters… and yet… God’s word addresses even the practical matters of life (that is, friendships, marriage, family matters, finances, addiction, unbelief, communication problems, etc.) (p. 45).

(c)  “It has been my experience that those who claim the Bible was insufficient to help them either did not search the scriptures for their answers or they did not search them enough.

“After one man told me he could not find help in the scriptures for his problem, but that he found help through a secular support group, I asked him to look back at what he had learned, to reflect on his knowledge of the word, and to tell me what he could not have found in the Bible.  After reflecting on the question, he admitted that there was nothing he learned that he could not have found in the Bible, if he had only thought through it more completely.  He has become a great advocate for the sufficiency of God’s word.  He came to realize that the only thing the support group supplied for him was other people who could commiserate with his experience as a child of an alcoholic” (pp. 49-50).

(d) “I would have to say that most of the counseling I have ever been a part of centered around helping a person change the way they think.  It has involved correcting some wrong or false notion about God or it has involved correcting someone’s thinking about the very nature of man.  Consequently, most counseling sessions become Bible studies.  Once I have listened to the case and have asked whatever questions I felt were necessary to get at the heart of the problem, I would then direct our attention to the light of the scripture.” (p. 63).

Let us remember this, “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).

4.  It is my belief that we can do better. We should be able to confess our trespasses to one another, and pray or one another (James 5:16).

Steven Lloyd writes, “Because some Christians think that the church does not deal with their kind of problem they have sought help from support groups outside the fellowship of other Christians.  I have asked some of them, ‘What is it that your support group offers you that you did not find in the church?’  They tell me that they found ‘openness’ and someone to talk to who has been where they have been.  You see, people are not going to open up unless they think they are in a ‘safe’ environment” (pp. 144-145).

Jimmy Jividen gives these thoughts in his book Koinonia – (a) “The need for such openness in relationships is well documented by the rise of counseling professionals. People desire to open their souls to someone who really cares and understands. Psychologists and counselors are more and more filling the void which has been created by the neglect of this important part of Christian fellowship.  These people – helping professionals certainly have their place, but they are only a counterfeit of what God intended Christian fellowship to be” (p. 118).

(b) “An unknown author has penned these words which fit so well what fellowship in       Christ should be.

‘If this is not a place where tears are understood, where do I go to cry?

I this is not a place where my spirit can wing, where do I go to fly?

If this is not a place where my questions can be asked, where do I go to seek?

If this is not a place where my feelings can be heard, where do I go to speak?

If this is not a place where you’ll accept me as I am, where do I go to be me?

If this is not a place where I can try and fail and learn and grow,

          Where can I be – just me?’”

(p. 119).

 

(c)  “Fellowship in Christ provides a forum of caring Christians with whom he is able to share his real self.  He is able to take the risk of being vulnerable with others… He has a community in which he can let down his guard and still find acceptance.  His concern is not ‘What if people really find out about me?’  It is rather: ‘How can I be more open and honest about my needs?’  In this fellowship there is forgiveness, openness, acceptance, and caring confrontation” (p. 118).  May it be.

 

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Don’t Be Too Subtle

Posted on May 13, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

Yes, we are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  We do not want to be unkind, rude, or unnecessarily offensive.  However, neither should we be so subtle that the point is missed.  The LORD told Habakkuk, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it” (Habakkuk 2:2).  Peter’s words cut to the heart, prompting the response, “What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).  Paul was plain enough that he asked, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16).  There is a time to be plain in our speech.

In the book “Outliers” by Malcolm Gladwell, there is a chapter entitled, “The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes.”  Some cultures are very subtle in their speech.  They use mitigating speech, especially when an authority figure is being addressed.  Gladwell explains, “Mitigated speech… refers to any attempt to downplay or sugarcoat the meaning of what is being said.  We mitigate when we’re being polite, or when we’re ashamed or embarrassed, or when we’re being deferential to authority” (Gladwell, Outliers, p. 194).  In some cases, this can be dangerous.  Gladwell writes, “Mitigation explains one of the greatest anomalies of plane crashes.  In commercial airlines, captains and first officers split the flying duties equally.  But historically, crashes have been far more likely to happen when the captain is in the ‘flying seat.’  At first, that seems to make no sense, since the captain is almost always the pilot with the most experience… Planes are safer when the least experienced pilot is flying, because it means the second pilot isn’t going to be afraid to speak up.  Combating mitigation has become one of the greatest crusades in commercial aviation in the past fifteen years.  Every major airlines now has what is called ‘Crew Resource Management training,’ which is designed to teach junior crew members how to communicate clearly and assertively” (Gladwell, p. 197).

Malcolm Gladwell gives a few examples.  Let us consider one: Aviana Flight 052, January 25, 1990.  The Columbian Airlines was flying from Bogata to New York’s Kennedy Airport via Medellin.  The weather in New York was poor, causing delays.  The 707 ran out of fuel while circling and crashed on a hill side on Long Island, killing 73 of the 158 people on board.  The N.T.S.B. determined that the crash occurred due to the flight crew’s failure to properly declare a fuel emergency (Wikipedia).  When asked if the fuel was Ok for another pass, the first officer told Air Traffic Control, “I guess so.  Thank you very much.”  Yet they knew better.  One flight attendant asked how serious the situation was.  The flight engineer pointed to the empty fuel gage and made a throat-cutting gesture with his fingers.  Yet, one Air Traffic Controller said they talked with Air Traffic Control “in a very nonchalant manner… There was no urgency in their voice.”  They seem to have been intimidated by Air Traffic Control.  One pilot commented after the fact, “The thing you have to understand about that crash is that New York air traffic controllers are famous for being rude, aggressive, and bullying.  They are also very good… All the guys had to do was tell the controller, ‘We don’t have the fuel to comply with what you are trying to do.  We can’t do that.’  …Look, no American pilot would put up with that… They would say, ‘Listen, buddy.  I have to land.’”  They did, a half hour earlier, tell Air Traffic Control, “We’re running out of fuel.”  But what did they mean?  Did they mean that they were critically low?  If so, this was not understood by Air Traffic Control.  There seemed to be no panic or worry in their voice.  Nothing more was said.  (Story told in Outliers, chapter 7).

Application for us.  Sin, salvation, and eternity are serious matters.  There should be enough concern to speak plainly on these matters.  Let us not be so subtle that the point is missed or dismissed as not urgent.

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Misused Passages (Part 2)

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

This series concerns passages which are commonly misused.  Specifically, this series concerns passages misused by brethren (later we will deal with passages misused by others).

 

6.  “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily” (1 Timothy 5:22).

This passages is used to teach that congregations should move slowly and cautiously in selecting elders.  However, this is a misuse of the passage.

It is true that congregations should not move quickly.  The Bible says of selecting deacons, “let them also fist be tested; then let them serve” (1 Timothy 3:10).  This makes sense when appointing elders as well (reasoning from the lessor to the greater position).

However, The context of this has to do with correction, not selection (1 Timothy 5:19-22).  One should be cautious not to rush to judgment.  Sufficient evidence is needed (note: Evidence can count as a witness.  Cf. John 5:31-34, 36, 37-39).  If an elder is found to need correction, then he should be corrected.  David Lipscomb well said, “When we cover up sins in the church, we corrupt the morality and virtue of the church and destroy its efficacy to honor God or save men.”

7.  “Be faithful until death” (Revelation 2:10).

This is used to teach that one should be faithful until the end of life.  Endurance through time is needed.

It is true that such is needed.  Various passages teach this (e.g. 1 Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Hebrews 3:14).

However, this passage is teaching us to be faithful even if it cost us our lives.  This is the context (Revelation 2:10 cf. 12:11).  This same point is taught elsewhere (John 12:25; cf. Revelation 12:11; Hebrews 11:35b).

8.  “Study to show thyself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV).

This passages is used to encourage Bible study.  The rendering in the KJV is quoted for this.

Bible study is important.  There are passages which make this point (Acts 17:11; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).

However, the passages is not specifically about Bible study.  The word “study” in the KJV, leaves the wrong impression to modern readers.  The original word “spoudazo” means “to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, endeavor, give diligence” (Vine’s).  The NKJV reads, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God…”  Wayne Jackson comments, “The term is much broader than the KJV ‘study,’ but as a practical matter, it surely does include that” (Jackson, Before I Die, p. 238).  This is true.  Still, we should remember that this passage is not specifically about study habits.  It has much greater appreciation.

9.  “…rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

This passage is used to teach that one must be careful to distinguish between the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Moreover, many believe that this is what this passage is primarily teaching.

It is absolutely true that this distinction should be recognized (Romans 7:4, 6; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; Galatians 4:21-31; Ephesians 2:14-15; Colossians 2:16-17; Hebrews 7:12; 8:1-13).

However, the meaning, while it may include such, is not so specific.  The word orthotomeo, which is translated “rightly dividing,” literally means “to cut straight.”  Thayer reads, “to cut straight… hold a straight course… to do right.”  Vine’s says, “What is intended here is not dividing scripture from scripture, but teaching scripture accurately.”  Vincent says, “expound soundly.”  Denny Petrillo comments, “To cut straight and rightly; to cut a straight path through the word, giving it the proper interpretation.  Because of that, some have said it is the cut between the two covenants.  While this would include the correct treatment of God’s word, this is not specifically what Paul is dealing with.  Paul has the idea of treating the word correctly” (Petrillo, Commentary on 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus, p. 122).

The A.S.V. reads “handling aright the word of truth.”  The NASB reads, “handling accurately the word of truth.”  It is possible to mishandle the words of the Bible (2 Peter 3:16).

10.  “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9 cf. Isaiah 64:4).

This passages is used in speaking of heaven.  Some think that this is specifically what is in view.

It is true that heaven is to be desired.  It is a glorious existence (Matthew 6:19-20; Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 2:7; 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:1; Philippians 1:21-24; 3:20-21; Colossians 3:4, etc.).

However, while this may be included, this is not specifically what is in view.  This is about revelation.  Dub McClish comments, “His point in this verse is to emphasize the fact that no man or group of men possessed enough knowledge or wisdom to ‘figure out’ God’s gracious plan of salvation.  Rather, the only way that man could know God’s will was by the revelation of it (v. 10)” (McClish, Commonly Misapplied Scriptures, Part 3).

What is the purpose of this series?  It is to encourage us to be better Bible students, and to know the context before using a passage.

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Misused Passages (Part 1)

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

There are certain passages which are commonly misused.  I am speaking of passages which are misused by brethren, not the passages which are misused by the world at large.  These passages are sometimes used as crutch passages, to support a position which is otherwise weak.  These passages are sometimes used as catch-all passages, flexible enough to use to cover many issues, when other passages are more difficult to find.  These passages are sometimes used in ignorance of the true context.  In this writing, we will consider some of these misused passages.

1. “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).

This passage is used to condemn any practice that one has personal scruples against.  Moreover, it is used by many to bind personal opinions on others.  I wrote a recent article on Easter.  I made the point that Easter should not be considered a special holiday.  We should honor our Savior by assembling for worship each first day of the week.  However, I did not believe that there was anything inherently sinful about children hunting colored eggs or eating chocolate bunnies.  A reader replied by citing the above passage.

It is true that one should not partake in anything that has an appearance of evil to one personally (Romans 14).  Moreover, it is true that we should be concerned about how things appears to others (2 Corinthians 8:21).  These things are true Biblically.

However, the passage under consideration does not teach what so many use it to teach.  The NKJV reads, “Abstain from every form of evil.”   James Burton Coffman comments, “Despite the traditional usage of this verse (as in the AV) to warn against ‘the appearance of evil,’ the actual meaning, in this context, is that having tested what is true and false, the believer should cling to the true and abstain from the false.”  J.W. McGarvey comments, “These words close the sentence; the full thought is this: despise no prophecy, but prove it; if it is good, hold fast to it, but abstain from every form of evil teaching or practice.”  Leon Crouch comments, “best taken as describing the false prophecy no matter what its form.”

2.  “God is no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).

This passages is used to deny various distinctions.  I wrote an article on what it means to marry “only in the Lord.”  I believe that this means that Christian widows, if they remarry, should marry Christians.  A reader replied by citing the above passage.  Others have used this passage to defend using non-Christians to teach or lead worship, and to defend women preachers, women deacons, and women elders.

However, the passage under consideration has nothing to do with these things.  The passage concerns the offer of salvation.  J.W. McGarvey comments, “There is to be no further national limitation to the gospel… It is a positive declaration that God respects not persons but character.”  This chapter is about the first gentiles receiving the gospel message.

3.  “Teach them, baptizing them, and teaching them some more,” is how some understand Matthew 28:19-20.

It is true that teaching is needed both before and after baptism.  Teaching is needed before baptism (Acts 2:36-38; 8:12; 8:26-38, etc.).  Teaching is needed after baptism (Acts 14:21-22; 15:36-41; 18:23; 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2; 5:14; etc.).

However, this is not what the passage is teaching.  Dave Miller writes, “Observe that the English reader might be tempted to interpret Jesus’ command to mean that the apostles were first to make disciples… and then baptize them to teach them additional Christian doctrine.    However, the Greek grammar of the passage… weighs heavily against this interpretation… The main verb of the sentence, ‘make disciples.’ Is followed by two present participles that represent actions that occur at the same time as the action of the main verb” (Dave Miller, Baptism & the Greek Made Simple, p. 12).  The participles “baptizing” and “teaching” are both necessary to make disciples.  The order of these two things is not necessarily implied.  Consider: “Go clean the yard, mowing the lawn, raking the leaves.” (ibid).  Consider: He had mercy on the man clothing, housing, and feeding him.  The participles explain how he had mercy on the man, without necessarily implying order.

Some have used this passage to suggest that one should initially teach only enough to bring one to baptism.  The harder demands of discipleship should not be set forth up front.  Those things can be set forth afterwards.  This is not what this passage is teaching, and is contrary to what Jesus said about counting the cost (Luke 14:26-33).

4.  “Moderation in all things,” is how some understand Philippians 4:5.

This passage is used in a couple of different ways.  Some have used it to teach against overeating.  The Old Testament does teach against such (e.g. Proverbs 25:16).  The New Testament teaches the principle of self-control (e.g. Acts 24:25; 1 Corinthians 6:12b; Galatians 5:23; Titus 1:8; 2:2; 2 Peter 1:6), and stewardship (e.g. Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27; 1 Corinthians 6:20).

Some have used this passage to justify the moderate use of certain substances, such as alcohol and marijuana.  This is a subject for another time.

However, this passage is not addressing either of these things.  Consider: (1) The word “epieikes.”  It is translated “moderation” (KJV), “forbearance” (ASV), “gentleness” (NKJV), “reasonableness” (ESV).  Wayne Jackson comments, “The term suggests the disposition of one who is willing to forego his own ‘rights’ in the interest of the higher good of others” (Wayne Jackson, Philippians, pp. 79-80).  Thayer’s Lexicon says, “equitable, fair, mild, gentle.”  (2) The context.  Christians should not live only thinking of themselves.  Christians should be considerate of others (Philippians 2:1-8), Timothy (Philippians 2:1-8), Timothy (Philippians 2:19-21) and Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25-30) are set forth as examples of those who lived thinking of others.

What is the origin of the phrase, “Moderation in all things”?  It is credited to the Greek poet, Hesiod (c. 700 B.C.).

5.  “In honor giving preference to one another” (Romans 12:10).

Many have used these words to teach that in association, and in business, Christians should prefer Christians.  I do believe that a case could be made for this principle (cf. Galatians 6:10).

However, this is not the point being made in this passage.  The word translated “giving preference” is “proegeomai.”  Thayer’s Lexicon says, “to go before and lead, to go before as a leader.”  J.W. Shepherd comments on Romans 12:10, “Instead of waiting around for others to honor us, we should lead them in the manifestation of esteem and respect” (David Lipscomb, Romans).  Roy Deaver comments, “The point is, in having the attitude of love and respect, and high esteem for others, Christians ought to be examples to each other” (Roy Deaver, Romans).  This seems to be the meaning, and this is a point clearly taught by Jesus (Matthew 20:20-28; 23;11; John 13:1-17).

               

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Rest From Labor

Posted on May 1, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

In 1844, President Grover Cleveland made Labor Day a Federal Holiday.  “It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well being of our country” (History of Labor Day, dol.gov).

 American workers are consistently listed as among the most productive in the world.  In 2017, the United States ranked fourth in GDP per hour worked ($72).  This was behind Ireland ($99.5), Norway ($83.1), and Germany ($72.2); but ahead of the rest of the world including – Canada ($55.2), Japan ($46.2), South Korea ($37) and Mexico ($21.6), according to Forbes (Where Labor Productivity is Highest by Niall McCarthy, February 05, 2019, Forbes.com).

The country music group Alabama paid tribute to the American worker in the song, “40 Hour Week (For A Livin’).”  The song closes with these words, “Hello America, let me thank you for your time.”

Here are some thoughts on work.

1.  Let us remember for whom we ultimately work.

Christians ultimately serve the Lord.  Paul wrote, “And whatever you do, do it heartily  as to the Lord and not to men… for you serve the Lord” (Colossians 3:23-24 cf. Ephesians 6:5-8).  Let us honor Him in what we do.

2.  Let us give our best.

Our service should be done “Heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23). Our work ethic should be one of integrity and sincerity, and “not with eye-service, as men-pleasers” (Colossians 3:22 cf. Ephesians 6:6).

 If we are going to do a work, let us give our best.  Martin Luther King Jr. said this to a group of street sweepers in Memphis, Tennessee on March 18, 1968, “If it falls your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, like Shakespeare wrote poetry, like Beethoven composed music; sweep streets so well that all the host of Heaven and earth will have to pause and say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper, who swept his job well’” (William J. Bennett, The Book of Man, p. 92).

3.  Let us give our best when doing spiritual work, or work in and for the church.

 Let us be “fervent in Spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11).  Roy Deaver commented, “‘Fervent in spirit’ is the very phrase used in Acts 18:25 to describe Apollos.  Christians are to be earnest, sincere, devoted, dedicated, zealous in the Lord’s work.  They are not to be cold; they are not to be indifferent” (Deaver, Romans: God’s Plan For Man’s Righteousness, p. 476).

Bible class teachers should give their best.  Time should be spent in prayer, study, and meditation on the text.  The teacher should be enthused about teaching.  If the teacher is not enthused, likely the students will not be.

Preachers should give their best.  Hours should be spent in prayer, study, and meditation about the lesson.  I have known of preachers who get their sermons word for word off the internet.  I am not talking about a sermon idea or outline.  I am talking about word for word, even the “personal” references, and stories.  I was told by a preacher about another preacher who calls him on Saturday night asking for a sermon manuscript to preach the next day.  This disgusts me.  Paul told Timothy, “give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:13), “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all” (1 Timothy 4:15), “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5).

Song leaders should give their best.  They really set the tone (pun intended!).  They should know the song before leading it (note: I am not speaking of a singing in which new songs are tried).  I heard a song leader apologize to a guest speaker saying, “I am sorry, the members did not know the song.”  The guest preacher replied, “neither did you!”  He had the words all wrong.  The words of the song should be carefully considered.  Thought should be given to the song selection.

 Those who lead prayers and serve on the table should give their best.  All should make effort to be holy (1 Timothy 2:8) and faithful (2 Timothy 2:2).  Thought should be given to what is said.  Vain repetition should be avoided (Matthew 6:7).

Those who publicly read scripture should give their best.  The scripture should be read beforehand and pondered.  Pronunciation should be considered.  Punctuation should be observed.  They should make effort to “read distinctly from the book” (Nehemiah 8:8).

Those in supporting roles (A\V, custodial, deacons) and all members should give their best.  We should be one body working together for the glory of the Lord (1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12).

4.  The rest is to come.

Sometimes we do need a break.  Jesus told the apostles, “Come aside by yourselves to a desert place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31 cf. Luke 5:15-16).

However, no Christian should retire from duty in this life.  We are able to “be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 cf. Galatians 6:9).  We are to be “zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14).  We are to be careful “to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8, 14).  The rest is yet to come (Hebrews 4:9-10).

5.  In the words of the song, “let me thank you for your time.”

I sincerely wish to express my appreciation to all who labor with me in the Lord, in church of Christ Youngsport.  Any good that we are doing in Youngsport, Killeen, Central Texas and beyond is being done together.  Your work is important, and appreciated. Moreover, we are told, “God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10).

Note: I wrote this for Labor Day. However, I believe that it is appropriate to publish this at this time. Things are beginning to open up in Texas following shelter in place orders. What now? Let’s cautiously and wisely get to work, and let’s give our best. Church, we have work to do.  Let’s give our best.  “To the work! to the work! We are servants of God, Let us follow the path that our Master has trod; With the balm of His counsel our strength to renew, Let us do with our might what our hands to do. Toiling on, toiling on, Toiling on, toiling on, Let us hope and trust, Let us watch and pray, And labor till the Master comes”(Song: To The Work by Fanny Crosby).

 

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Men Like Trees Walking

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

An unusual miracle is described in Mark 8:22-25.  A blind man was healed in two steps.  First, Jesus restored sight.  He asked the man if he saw anything.  The man answered, “I see men like trees walking.”  Second, Jesus restored the man to clear sight.

This miracle is unique for two reasons.  First, it is found only in Mark, not in the other gospel accounts.  Second, this is the only time recorded of a miracle of Jesus involving more than one step.  There must be a significance, one would think.

Why two steps?  This has puzzled more than a few Bible students.  A common explanation is that this is designed to teach a lesson about spiritual sight.  One commentator explains, “The disciples had begun to gain spiritual insight but still did not understand clearly.  They needed to continue their diligence to gain a second touch, to see adequately Who and What Jesus was” (Ancil Jenkins, Mark, p. 80).  It is true that clear spiritual sight, and insight, does not come all at once.  We must grow (1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 5:12-14).  Is this the contextual point?   (cf. Mark 8:13-21).  Perhaps, but this is not very clear to me.

There is another possible explanation.  It may be that both the eyes and the brain needed Jesus’ touch.  Moreover, Jesus, by using two steps, may have provided us with faith-building accuracy.

In 1689, an Irish philosopher named William Molyneux set forth a question: If a man born blind can feel the differences between shapes such as spheres and cubes, could he, if given the ability to see, distinguish those objects by sight alone.  This is known as “Molyneux’s problem.”  Some philosophers answered “yes” and others “no” (e.g. John Locke) to this question.  The issue was not resolved.

Flash forward to 2011.  “That year, per the New York Times, ‘researchers tested five subjects from rural northern India, four boys and a girl ages 8 to 17, all of whom had been ‘blind since birth.’  But had these children grown up in a more developed area, their vision would have been improved through advances in medicine.  The subjects’ blindness was caused by cataracts (or in one case, a damaged cornea), and the researchers were able to improve their vision – and did.  The Times explains: “Before their operation they could perceive light, and two could discern its direction, but none could see objects.  Afterward, they all had vision measured at 20/160 or better, good enough to distinguish objects and carry out the tasks of daily living.”  That improvement included giving them the ability to see the shapes – spheres and cubes – that they could previously not discern.  As a result, we were able to put Molyneux’s to the test.  And it turns out that Locke was right.  The children couldn’t tell the difference between shapes by sight alone” (The Solution to an Unanswerable Question, Now I Know, May 16, 2018, nowiknow.com).

Our brother Steven Lloyd wrote an article entitled “A Two-Fold Miracle” which appeared in the Gospel Journal, May 2000.  He wrote, “Dr. Sacks compares learning how to depend on sight – after being blind all one’s life – to learning a language for the first time, not learning a second language, but learning to speak for the first time.”  He quoted from Keith Mano, who said of Mark 8, “A faker, not knowing about post-blind syndrome would have reported that Jesus had given him perfect vision.”  Again, “The blind man must be taught (in one miraculous instance) what you and I have known since childhood – how to see.”

Jesus could have cured the man in one step.  He did not.  I believe that this provides us with subtle evidence for authenticity.

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Sunk Cost and Counting Cost

Posted on April 25, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

There were many food trucks options at the Texas Book Festival.  However, I wanted empanadas.

Therefore, Melinda and I, and our son Jasper waited in what appeared to be the longest food truck line.  As we neared the half-way point in line, two women in front of us left the line to go elsewhere for food.  I said, “it is too bad that they wasted all that time just to walk away.”  Jasper replied, “Sunk cost.”

His point was that the cost already spent should not be the determining factor. Prospective (future) cost should be considered.  If they decided the future time in line was not worth the investment to them, then why not walk away?  No disagreement from me.

However, it seems to me that sometimes people walk away from things without really considering the future cost.  They simply grow impatient, or become weary.

Here are a couple of applications in the spiritual realm.  (1) Sunk cost should not be the determining factor.  Future cost should be considered.  I have met those who will not walk away from a religious system, which they understand to be in error, because of sunk cost.  (a) Paul was of different assessment.  He said, “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ” (Philippians 3:7).  Early Christians said of him, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy” (Galatians 1:23).  (b) Brethren at Thessalonica were of different assessment.  Paul said that others told him how they had, “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9).  (c) Brethren in Ephesus had a different assessment.  They fully rejected their past practices.  We are told, “Many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all.  And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:19).

(2) One should not walk away without soberly considering future cost.  I have known those who have walked away from living the Christian life, after years of living it.  I wonder if they have really counted the cost.  (a) There is a cost to self.  Peter warned, “if after they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.  For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:20-21, cf. Luke 12:42-48).  The pleasures of sins are short-lived (Hebrews 11:24-26).  “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:2-3).  (b) There is a potential cost to others.  One may negatively influence others (1 Corinthians 5:6b; 15:33; Proverbs 13:20).  One’s lack of faithfulness may affect family members.  A lack of attendance may lead one’s children or spouse down the same path.  One’s actions may harm the church.  Some members’ actions harm the church’s influence in the community.  A lack of attendance hinders potential edification.  A preacher’s or elder’s infidelity may cause some members to give up.  “It is impossible that no offense should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:1-2).

Let us finish faithfully.  “Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).  “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:7).  “Be steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).  May we, as Paul, come to the end of this earthly life saying, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

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Wrestling With God

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

“Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.  Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.  And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’  But he said, ‘I will not let You go unless You bless me!’  So he said to him, ‘What is your name?  He said, ‘Jacob.’  And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed’” (Genesis 32:24-28).

    The context concerns Jacob’s return to Canaan land, after 20 years in Haran (cf. Genesis 31:38-41).  The LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you” (Genesis 31:3).  When he had left Canaan, two decades earlier, God had promised him, “The land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.  Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you” (Genesis 28:13-15).  However, as he journeyed home, Jacob heard that Esau was coming to meet him, and that 400 men were with him (Genesis 32:6).  “Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed” (Genesis 32:7).  Jacob prayed for the LORD for deliverance (Genesis 32:9-12).  In this prayer, Jacob reminded God of the promise He had made to him, years earlier.  Next, he sent presents, by servants, ahead for Esau (Genesis 32:13-21).  This was no small offering.  Nearly 600 animals were sent.  Finally, Jacob wrestled with a mysterious man.  At some point, Jacob realized that he was actually wrestling with God.  This was a theophany.  Jacob was hurt, but he refused to let loose of God until he was blessed.

What is the significance of this strange wrestling match?  (1) There are struggles in life.  Jacob feared Esau.  He needed to trust God.  This struggle was within Jacob.  We all have our own struggles.  (2) We need to hold on to God, and trust in Him.  At some point, Jacob realized that this man was actually God.  Therefore, he refused to turn loose until he received His blessing.  We need to hold tightly to God, when struggling with issues in life.  (3) We need to spend time alone with God.  Jacob was alone when he wrestled with God (Genesis 32:24).   Jesus spent time alone in prayer [Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12; Mark 645-46 (Matthew 14:22-23); Luke 9:18; Mark 14:32-42 (Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22:39-46)].  He also taught this (Matthew 6:6).

The wrestling match changed Jacob.  (1) It strengthened him.  Jamison, Fausset, and Brown comments, “The moral design of it was to revive the sinking spirit of the patriarch and to arm him with confidence in God” (JFB, p. 38).  He was weakened in body but strengthened in faith.  God appeared to him in the form of a man.  This one had the power to dislocate his hip with just a touch.  He could have killed him, but instead He blessed him.  (2) It resulted in a new name being given.  The name “Jacob” means “one who takes by the heel” or “supplanter” (Genesis 25:26 cf. 27:36; See Truth For Today Commentary, p. 249; The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, p. 398).  The meaning of the name “Israel” is disputed.  Some believe that it means “He who struggles with God” (Genesis 32:28; 35:10; See: Truth For Today Commentary, p. 249; The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, p. 398).  Others believe that it means, “Ruling with God” (Young’s Concordance).  The reason given for the name is stated: “For you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28).  William Grasham comments on verse 28, saying “The meaning of ‘Israel’ is paradoxical: only when Jacob was willing to submit to God and allow Him to be prevalent in his life was he able to prevail over his circumstances” (Truth for Today Commentary, p. 249).

Yes, we may wrestle with God at times; but let us never give up.  “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6).  Those who trust in Him will not be disappointed, or put to shame for doing so in the end (Romans 10:11).

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Your Brother’s Bloods

Posted on April 17, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

God said to Cain, “What have you done?  The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10).

The literal language is “bloods” (plural), not “blood (singular).  What is the significance?  (1) Does it refer to future descendants? Consider this comment, “The Talmud interpreted ‘bloods’ as referring not just to Abel’s blood, but to the blood of all his potential descendants who will now never be born.  When one person kills another, he has not only killed that person but also all those who would have descended from him” (Dennis Prager, The Rational Bible: Genesis, p. 70).  This is an ancient interpretation.  From this, the Israelites would write, “Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world.  And whoever saves a life, it is as if he saved an entire world (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5).  This concept is referenced in the movie Schindler’s List.  The Quran even recognized that this was a teaching given to the Israelites, saying – “We laid it down for the Israelites that whoever killed a human being, except as a punishment for murder or other villainy in the land, shall be looked upon as though he had killed all mankind; and that whoever saved a human life shall be regarded as though he had saved all mankind” (5:32), though some ignore the context and credit this teaching to Islam. (2) Does it refer to current dependents or family? Adam Clarke comments, “Some think…Abel’s widow and children are to be understood” (Clarke’s Vol 1, p.60). If he had a wife and children they lost a husband and father.

Whatever the significance, it is a serious thing to take a human life.  There may be many unforeseen consequences.  Dennis Prager writes,  “Some years ago, Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz was giving a talk to lawyers in Hamburg and asked the audience members, ‘How many of you have suffered from the Holocaust?’  A few hands of several elderly lawyers were raised.  Dershowitz then asked, ‘How many of you or your family members have had cancer, coronary problems, diabetes, or a stroke?’  This time, nearly every hand was raised.  Dershowitz paused, and then asked, ‘How can you be sure that the cures for those diseases did not go up in the smoke of Auschwitz or Treblinka?’  There was stunned silence.  ‘Following my talk,’ Dershowitz recalled, ‘Dozens of these German lawyers came up to me and said, ‘We too have suffered from the Holocaust’” (Prager, p. 71).  There may be world consequences to taking innocent life.  Life should be held as precious.

However, it is not only the taking of life that may have enduring consequences.  Influence and actions of all sorts affect others.  The proverb says, “Like mother, like daughter” (Ezekiel 16:44).  May we each soberly ponder: What affect am I having on the future of this world?

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All in All

Posted on April 15, 2020 by Bryan Hodge

                                                  You are my strength when I am weak                                                                                                       You are the treasure that I seek                                                           You are my all in all.

                                                      Seeking You as a precious jewel                                                                                                               Lord, to give up I’d be a fool                                                              You are My all in all.

                                         (Song: You Are My All in All by Dennis Jernigan)

The phrase “all in all” occurs four times in the New Testament.  Let’s notice:

1.  Colossians 3:11, “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.”

Biblical unity is a result of Christ being “all and in all.”  (a) Christ is to be “all.”  He is to be our focus (Hebrews 12:1-2).  He is to be our pattern of life (1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21).  (b) Christ is to be “in all.”  He dwells in our hearts through faith (Ephesians 3:17).  His will is to live within us (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 5:15).  Relationships should be Christ-centered.

2.  Ephesians 1:22-23, “He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

The church is, in God’s plan, to be filled with His fullness.  A.T. Robertson explains, “We see in Ephesians the Dignity of the Body of Christ which is ultimately to be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19) when it grows up in the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13; 4:16)” (A.T. Robertson, Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament, studylight.org).  Albert Barnes comments, “Mr. Locke renders it, ‘which is his body, which is completed by him alone,’ and supposes it means that Christ is the head, who perfects the church by supplying all things to all its members which they need” (Barnes’ Notes, studylight.org).  Both of these views take “fullness” in the passive sense (that which is filled) and as modifying its immediate antecedent – “body” (Gary Workman, The Book of Ephesians, Spiritual Sword Lectureship book, editors Garland Elkins and Thomas B. Warren).  Either way – whether Christ or God is doing the filling – the church’s fullness comes from its connection with the divine.

Even today, spiritual life, maturity, and success can be found only through this connection.  God’s word was given so that we “may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  We “are complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10).  Jesus told the disciples that it’s vital that they abide in Him (John 15:1-8).  The church and Christians should be Christ-centered and connected with God and His will.

3.  1 Corinthians 12:6, “And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”

The context concerns miraculous gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31).  Some at Corinth were arrogant, puffed up, over the miraculous abilities which they had received (1 Corinthians 4:6-7).

Here is what they needed to appreciate.  (a) The gifts that they had were from God (1 Corinthians 4:6-7; 12:6, 11, 18).  (1) God worked “all.”  He was the source of this power, not they, themselves.  (2) He worked all “in all.”  He distributed the gifts according to His will and wisdom (1 Corinthians 14:6, 11, 18).  (b) These gifts were to be used to profit the whole church (1 Corinthians 12:7, 12-27; 14:26b; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11).

There is still an application.  Instead of being arrogant, let us use whatever abilities we have to do the work of the church, to edify the body, to minister one to another, and ultimately to glorify God (Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 4:10-11).  Christians who are Christ-centered seek to glorify Him (1 Corinthians 6:20; 10:31; Philippians 1:19-21). They realize that what ever abilities or talents which they possess are from Him, and ultimate credit belongs to Him.

4.  1 Corinthians 15:28, “Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”

How do we understand this?  There are passages that seem to indicate that there will be no end to the reign of Christ (Luke 1:33; Revelation 1:6; 3:21; 11:15).  However, this passage speaks of the Son being subject to God.

(a) Some believe that this has to do with Christ’s redemptive reign.  (1) Wayne Jackson explains, “There is no problem if we recognize that the term ‘reign’ can be employed in different senses.  In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostle is discussing the Lord’s present reign as mediator between God and man – His redemptive reign (1 Corinthians 15:25 – B.H.).  On the other hand, other passages address Christ’s regal glory as a divine being.  In that sense – as deity – His will reign forever” (Wayne Jackson, Will Christ Reign Forever? Christiancourier.com).   (2) Jim McGuiggan offers this explanation.  “God gave glory and dominion to man but man refused to recognize his subservience to God.  Man rebelled, refused to acknowledge God as his sovereign and  sought to please himself… The ‘new’ Man (Jesus) will carry out God’s loving purpose and will at the same time acknowledge this submission to his Father by surrendering the royal power when he has completed the Father’s work (1 Corinthians 15:28)… This Man, acknowledged that his dominion was delegated to him!… What he surrenders is ‘delegated’ authority (it was ‘given’ to him; Matthew 28:18; John 17:2 and elsewhere).  He does not now reign by virtue of his Godhead.  When he complete the task of ‘delegated reign’ he will surrender that authority and reign by virtue of his deity!” [Drew Leonard, A.D. 70: Taking a Look at Hyper-Preterism, pp.157-158 (quoting Jim McGuiggan, The Reign of God, pp. 96-97)].  Again, “At present he reigns with delegated authority.  It isn’t primal authority, it is given to him.  Prior to his incarnation, the word reigned by virtue of his Godhood.  Having been made flesh, he takes the place of a servant and from that time to this he has exercised only what power that has been given to him.  When the end comes… he will end that kind of rule.  What happens then is another matter.  Paul doesn’t go into it” (Jim McGuiggan, The Book of 1 Corinthians, p. 195).

(b) Some believe that the Son will continue in a role of subordination, even in the hereafter.  Wayne Jackson writes, Christ was not subject to the Father before the incarnation (cf. Philippians 2:5-ff); he will be in some sense after his second coming.  Why?  The answer is not supplied.  It could reflect a deeper level of devotion to humanity than anyone can possibly imagine from our vantage point – forever identified with the redeemed!” (Wayne Jackson, A New Testament Commentary, p. 336).  Much of what is to come remains a mystery.

There is a point that is being made that is not so difficult to understand.  God will be exalted.  The N.I.V. Study Bible understood this to mean, “The triune God will be shown to be supreme and sovereign in all things.”

Jesus lived a life on earth which glorified God (John 1:18; 17:4).  He is still working towards this end.  Let us be like Christ.

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