The Danger of Companions

In 2 Chronicles 19:2 the Lord, speaking through Jehu the son of Hanani, admonishes King Jehoshaphat of Judah for his alliance with the exceedingly wicked King Ahab of Israel. Jehoshaphat had joined Ahab in going off to war.  During the battle, Ahab was killed, and Jehoshaphat was nearly killed. He was only saved from death due to the intervention of the Lord who delivered the king from those who sought to kill him. However, prior to riding off to war with Ahab, Jehoshaphat had entered into an alliance with Ahab by having his son marry Ahab's daughter, Athaliah. This alliance would eventually lead to the elimination of the religious reforms Jehoshaphat had made in Judah by his daughter in law, for when Athaliah became queen she reintroduced the worship of idols and false gods to Judah which Jehoshaphat had eliminated. Eventually, Judah's continued worship of these idols and false gods would lead to the nation's defeat at the hands of Babylon, the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of many of the people of Judah in Babylon.

The Lord's admonishment spoken through Jehu the son of Hanani reads: "Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the Lord, and so bring wrath on yourself from the Lord?"

During Jehoshaphat's time as king he instituted religious reforms which the Bible says in speaking of the people of Judah, ". . . brought them back to the Lord, the God of their fathers."(2 Chr 19:4b).  God showed Jehoshaphat mercy because his mostly faithful service to Him showed that Jehoshaphat truly loved the Lord. However, his decision to make Ahab his companion in both the alliance they formed and in battle was ultimately a disastrous one. Speaking of this instance in a devotion, the Puritan pastor David Clarkson explains what we as Christians can learn from this part of King Jehoshaphat's life. He writes:

"What danger was there in Jehoshaphat's familiarity with Ahab? This, those that knew Jehoshaphat to be a good king, walking in the commandments of the Lord, and seeing him choose Ahab for his friend, might conclude that Ahab's ways are not so abominable, otherwise Jehoshaphat cold not be so intimate with him. And thus the bad opinion of Ahab being something taken off, they might be more inclined to comply with him in his ways and worship, and thus Jehoshaphat's familiarity with Ahab would be a snare to others. We judge of a man by his companions, and men are apt to think we approve of those whom we choose for our friends. And so by our company, you may approve of wickedness, and thereby partake of it, though you never act it out."

We don't really know what people thought of Jehoshaphat's companionship with Ahab, but we do know that once Jehoshaphat died the people of Judah accepted the idol worship which his daughter-in-law replaced the worship of the Lord with. Perhaps Jehoshaphat's companionship with Ahab in both war, and in joining their families together made some doubt the sincerity of Jehoshaphat's reforms. Regardless of the answer to that question, what we do know is that Jehoshaphat's closeness with Ahab bore no good consequences.

Those of us who are Christians should be wary of what intimate relationships we foster and maintain. Certainly, we do not want to cut ourselves off from the rest of the world. Certainly, we want to have relationships with those who are lost in sin in the hope that God will use us to bring them to faith in him through the gospel. There are too many parts of scripture which instruct us to share our faith wit the lost to think either of those things are true.

However, as it is dangerous to hold onto a drowning person because they can pull us down to the depths with them, we need to be careful in our intimate relationships with those who are lost in sin because if it is not God's will for us to have an intimate relationship with them so that we may share the Gospel with them, we may be courting disaster in our lives, or possibly the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Pastor Wayne

Death in the Flowers

During my morning devotions the other day I read the following story told by the Puritan scholar Joseph Mede:

"I once walked into a garden with a lady to gather some flowers. There was one large bush whose branches were bending under the weight of the most beautiful roses. We both gazed upon it with admiration. There was one flower on it which seemed to outshine all the rest in beauty. This lady pressed forward into the think bush, and reached far over to pluck it. As She did this, a black snake, which was hid in the bush, wrapped itself around her arm. She was alarmed beyond all descriptions; she ran from the garden, screaming, and almost in convulsions. During all that day she suffered very much with fear; her whole body trembled, and it was a long time before she could be calmed . . . Such is her hatred now of the whole serpent race, that she has never since been able to look at a snake, even a dead one. No one could ever persuade her to venture again into a cluster of bushes, even to pluck a beautiful rose."

Joseph Mede uses this story to make the following point:

"Now this is the way the sinner acts who truly repents of his sins. He thinks of sin as the serpent that once coiled itself around him. He hates it. He dreads it.He flees from it. He fears the places where it inhabits. he does not willingly go into the haunts. He will no more play with sin than this lady would afterwards have fondled snakes."

In a short devotion, Mede makes a powerful point. Consider where the snake which wrapped itself around the lady hid - in the most beautiful bush of roses. The one that someone would most certainly be drawn to. It is only after the woman makes herself completely vulnerable that the snake attacks. 

This is the way of sin. It deceives. it disguises. It ambushes. We see this first in the book of Genesis, chapter 3, when the serpent deceives Adam and Eve by making that which God had commanded them not to do seem like the most wonderful thing in the world and by convincing them that God wouldn't really be upset with them if they did what he told them not to do. Sin works the same way in the lives of Christians today. It disguises itself as something which is harmless but in reality is dangerous to our spiritual well-being. It disguises itself as something desirable and yet in reality is something destructive. It disguises itself as the way of wisdom, but actually leads to the way of fools. When sin has successfully deceived the believer with the disguise it has chosen, it proceeds to ambush the believer. 

Mede's solution for the Christian who truly has repented of their sin is to avoid sin and the places it inhabits. In his devotion, he cites I Timothy 6:11 which reads, "But as for you O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness."(ESV)  What are the "these things" mentioned in the verse? Well verse 11 follows a section of scripture which describes various sins which arise from false teaching and the love of money. So the "these things" are sin. In Genesis 4, God warned Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, that sin was crouching at his door ready to harm  him. Cain did not heed God's warning. The snake wrapped itself around him, and he was not able to escape, and and as a result he murdered his own brother. In the book of First Peter chapter 5, the apostle warns the church to beware of it's enemy the Devil, who is the father and master of sin, because he is roaming around like a lion looking for someone to devour. May we heed the warnings of scripture and be aware that sin is always seeking to attack us. May we remember it will attack us by working to deceive us, and then it will hurt us. Let us be like the woman in the story who was attacked by the serpent. Let us hate sin, and stay as far away from it as we can always remembering that as Christians we have been born of God and through the faith God has granted us, we can overcome the world (I John 5:4)

Pastor Wayne 

My Lifeguard

In 1994 I was a freshman in Bible College at an Assemblies of God school. I had been born-again in and had grown up in an Assembly of God church so when I felt the call of ministry on my life, I naturally attended a school which followed the tradition I was part of. Pentecostalism, the tradition I grew up  in was about as far from what is generally referred to as “Calvinism” on the theological spectrum as one can get which is what made my introduction to Dr. Robert Charles (known as R.C.) Sproul so interesting. I had heard of RC Sproul from a friend of mine, but didn’t know much about him. That was about to change.

One afternoon, a friend and I walked the short distance from our dorm to the campus bookstore, mostly out of boredom because it was the beginning of the semester, and we both had just spent an ungodly amount of money on textbooks, so despite my love of reading, I wasn’t exactly looking to drop more coin on books. However, as we were perusing the small bookstore, I came across a book entitled Grace Unknown by R.C. Sproul. Remembering the good things that friend of mine had told me about Dr. Sproul, I bought the book with money I really didn’t have to spend. As we were walking back to the dorm, the friend I was with asked me in a somewhat agitated tone why I had bought the book. I replied I had heard good things about the author and wanted to check it out. In an even more agitated tone he replied that R.C. Sproul was a “heretic!”  I asked him why and he gave me a brief explanation of why he felt that “Calvinism” which he stated R.C. Sproul taught was wrong and antithetical to what the Bible taught. I patiently listened to his thoughts, and told him that I was going to read the book for myself. He shook his head in a somewhat disgusted manner which seemed to communicate to me that he felt I was wasting my time.

I read the book and enjoyed it, for it gave me some things to think about regarding the means that God saves men from sin. I was struck by how knowledgeable Dr. Sproul was, but also by how humble he was in his writing. He gave all glory to God, didn’t promote himself, and seemed to be writing in a way that reached off the page into my heart.  I had some conversations with the friend who had recommended R.C. Sproul to me, but I really didn’t change my view on the means of salvation. At the same time, I came away with a great respect for R.C. Sproul, and I now realize that God was beginning a work in me by revealing what Dr. Sproul would refer to as , “The Doctrines of Grace” to me.

In December of 1997, I tore my ACL playing intramural basketball at college, and ended up sitting out of school for three years at first to recover from my surgery, and then because I accepted a position as a Youth Minister at a church pastored by one of the men who had been my Youth Pastor. In 2001, feeling God leading me to return to school in order to finish my degree and pursue ministerial credentialing, I returned to college. While there I took a Systematic Theology class. One of the methods the teacher used in the class was to show teaching videos of Dr. Sproul. He would allow the video to play for a few minutes and then would pause it and tell us the ways he felt that Dr. Sproul was in error about theology, especially regarding the means of salvation and how “Calvinism” was incorrect.

At this point let me pause and say my intention is not to mock or make the Assemblies of God or Pentecostalism look bad in anyway. Despite the fact I eventually left the Assemblies of God and embraced The Doctrines of Grace, I still have a great affection for the tradition I was formerly associated with. I consider many in that tradition my brothers and sisters in Christ, am grateful for how God used many of them to change and shape my life in a godly way, and for the fruit I have seen God use them to produce. That being said, I do believe that they are in error on certain theological issues, namely their Soteriology. I relate these stories to illustrate the positive effect Dr. Sproul had on my life not to insult the tradition I formerly was associated with.

For me the Professor’s tactics had the opposite of the effect he intended. I came away from those lectures convinced he was in error, and Dr. Sproul was correct, and that began a journey of learning for me. I began to read about what I had once referred to as “Calvinism” but came to call “The Doctrines of Grace”. I read more of Dr. Sproul, and listened to his radio show. I also read Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield's sermons, John Calvin, Martin Luther, a plethora of Puritan writers, John Piper, and many others. I joined a Reformed Theology book club, and had a conversations with men (and women) who had been Reformed for a long time in order to understand more of what I had initially learned from Dr. Sproul. God used the writings and sermons of these people  to show me what the Bible has to say about Soteriology. I slowly moved away from the incorrect view I had before my meeting Dr. Sproul in Grace Unknown to one that seemed to be truly consistent with scripture. I became a part of the Reformed tradition. I don’t say that to boast. I say it to show how God used a humble, learned, and courageous man like Dr. Sproul to lead me to a greater understanding of Him and his Gospel.

I was sad to learn of Dr. Sproul’s passing, my prayers are with his family and friends, and I am sad that his days of teaching and reaching this world with the Gospel are at an end. However, I rejoice that Dr. Sproul has left this broken world and joined the Church Triumphant. God bless you Dr. Sproul, for like a lifeguard you pulled me out of the deep end of confusion regarding sound doctrine and led me to a better understanding of God and his Gospel. I will always be thankful that God used you in my life.

 Pastor Wayne

Pizza, Gravel, and Total Depravity

It should have been easy.

My mom called the pizza shop, ordered, and was told the pie could be picked up in 20 minutes. She handed me a twenty, and asked me and my friend, who was over for the day, to walk down to the pizza shop and pick up what would be lunch for her, me, my friend, and my cousin.

We didn't have much money in those days so ordering pizza was a real treat. As my friend and I walked to the pizza shop I was salivating at the thought of biting into the pepperoni pie. The pizza shop was on the other side of the streetcar tracks and Willow Avenue. We walked in, and giving the clerk my last name, I proudly stated I was there to pick up a pizza. I handed him the twenty, and he handed me the pizza and my change.

We walked out of the pizza shop and as we crossed Willow Avenue we were continuing the conversation we had been engaged in on our way which although I don't remember the exact details of, most likely had to do with Transformers, GI Joe, or Star Wars. After we crossed Willow we had to cross the streetcar tracks.

And then it happened . . .

My friend was in front of me as we walked. Right before we crossed the streetcar tracks, I looked backwards for some reason. I don't really remember why. Maybe I heard a loud car or something and looked to see if it was a muscle car. Whatever the reason, because I looked back I didn't see the streetcar coming. I also didn't see my friend stop right in front of me. He stopped of course to allow the streetcar to pass before we crossed the tracks. Unfortunately, since I didn't see him stop, I ran into him which caused me to drop the pizza. As it fell from my hands the box came open, and the pizza slid out of the box and landed on the ground. It fell onto a patch of broken asphalt which had gravel, and dirt spread over it.

My friend and I just looked at the pizza. The pizza we had been looking forward to eating. The pizza that was going to such a treat for us to have. Just then a police officer walked by and said, "You guys better clean that up."

Looking back, I suppose we could have gathered the pizza up and went back to the store. The owner might have had mercy on us and given us another pie. If not the owner, another customer may have felt bad and bought us another pie. Neither of those things could have happened, but we could have at least tried. We could have walked home and told my mom what had happened. She would have been upset, but she was a loving and patient woman and she would have forgiven us after initially being upset. We may have had to endure getting yelled at, but we would have survived.

What we chose to do instead was gather the pizza up, put it back in the box, fix it up as best we could, take it home, and try and pass it off as a normal pepperoni pizza. So, we got it in the box, tried to organize the cheese and pepperoni as it had originally looked, and wipe the dirt and gravel off it. Satisfied, we had done as good a job as possible, we walked back to my house.

My cousin, who was two years younger than my friend and my ten years let out a yelp of excitement when we walked in the door. She cried, "pizza!" and ran to sit at the table. Her and my mother had the table set, and my mother had produced some Coca-Cola (another treat in those days) for us to have with the pizza. My mom seemed happy to have been able to treat us with pizza and coke when my friend was over.

I set the pizza on the table and then we all sat down. My friend, and I held our breath as my mother opened the box and looked at the pizza. She cut it up and served everyone. "We did it!", I thought. We had pulled it off. My mother had not noticed that there was anything wrong with the pizza. I briefly thought that perhaps one day I would be a famous pizza maker since I obviously had skills in that area based on my reconstruction of the pie we had dropped. My friend and I shared a covert smile. We prepared to enjoy our pizza and Coke and then play outside the rest of the afternoon.

We had forgotten about the dirt and gravel. 

Dirt, and gravel can be small. Anyone that has ever done laundry, or swept and mopped a floor knows this. Just when you think you've gotten it all off the floor you find more of it. Well my friend and I had thought we had gotten all the dirt and gravel. As I chewed my pizza I could feel small bits of dirt. I just kept on chewing and hoped my mother wouldn't notice as she ate her pizza. I realized this wasn't going to happen when my cousin exclaimed to my mother, "Aunt Patty there is a rock in my pizza!"

My mom replied that she could taste something weird in her pizza as too. She looked at my cousin's slice and saw more dirt and some small pieces of gravel. She looked at me and asked me, "Wayne, what happened to the pizza?"

Decision time. I could have come clean at that moment. Like I said earlier, my mom was pretty understanding. However, I chose to double down on my attempted deception. I replied that I had no idea what had happened and the pizza must have come that way. I suggested she call the pizza shop and find out what happened.

Now my mother was patient and understanding, but she wasn't a fool. With some questioning, she broke down my story quickly. I admitted what had happened, but not before making sure to mention my friend had stopped short in front of me and in my opinion, had caused me to drop the pizza. My mom was mad, but I don't remember her yelling much. She made us some sandwiches and we had lunch. I knew she was disappointed in me. Mostly about my lack of honesty, my excuse making, and my blaming my friend.

For years, I've told that story to get a laugh, and most people do laugh because it is a funny story. It was a learning experience as well, although I didn't realize it at the time. However, when I seriously think about it several things are prominent:

1. My first instinct was to lie, and deceive.

2. I was willing to throw my friend "under the bus" as some say to mitigate whatever my punishment might be.

3. Before my cousin bit into a piece of gravel, I was proud that I had been able to get away with my deception.

Lying, betrayal, and pride are all sinful according to the Bible. No one had ever taught me to do these things. In fact, since I had grown up in church, my experience had been quite the opposite. Yet, when my back was against the wall did I trust in the ways of God as outlined in the Bible? No, instead, I embraced sin.

The reason I embraced sin is simple. I embraced sin because I am a sinner by nature. My nature is totally depraved, and corrupted. My nature chooses to do the opposite of what God says to do. In theological circles, this idea is known as the Doctrine of Total Depravity.  

From GotQuestions.org:

While often misunderstood, the doctrine of total depravity is an acknowledgement that the Bible teaches that as a result of the fall of man (Genesis 3:6) every part of man—his mind, will, emotions and flesh—have been corrupted by sin. In other words, sin affects all areas of our being including who we are and what we do. It penetrates to the very core of our being so that everything is tainted by sin and “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags” before a holy God (Isaiah 64:6). It acknowledges that the Bible teaches that we sin because we are sinners by nature. Or, as Jesus says, “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” (Matthew 7:17-18).

Sometimes I'll be talking theology with someone, and they'll tell me they don't believe in the Doctrine of Total Depravity. My response is to tell them the story of Wayne and the Gravel Pizza which usually causes them to think about their opinion on the matter.

For more on Total Depravity:

https://www.gotquestions.org/total-depravity.html

Pastor Wayne

Error from Truth

Perhaps the most persistent enemy of the church throughout its existence has been false teaching infiltrating its ranks. False teaching is teaching that is not based on a solid reading of scripture in its context. Typically, the most dangerous false teachings contain some truth, but do not maintain fidelity to that truth. Rather they use that truth as a hook to lead the faithful into accepting the false teaching which diverges from the truth that initially appealed to the listener.

For example, the Bible clearly shows that God has the power and willingness to physically heal, yet what it does not say is that God plans to heal every individual who has a physical malady while they are here on Earth. There are pastors, teachers, and Christians who cite the verse in Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” as evidence that all those who petition the Almighty for physical healing will receive it. Unfortunately, the context of this verse shows it is not talking about physical healing, but rather is talking about how through Christ’s sufferings, believers receive salvation. This understanding of the meaning of Isaiah 53:5 is not new. It has been consistently interpreted as dealing with salvation, rather than physical healing, throughout the history of the church, and the verse’s true meaning has been documented in a plethora of Biblical commentaries, Bible study notes, and books on the subject (for more on this see this link: https://www.gotquestions.org/healing-Bible.html).

Yet, even though the true meaning of this verse has been acknowledged, these Pastors, teachers, and Christians continue to erroneously cite it as having to do with physical healing. Books have been written on the subject, and ministries have been created that revolve around this false premise which have attracted millions of followers, many of whom are hoping for a physical healing for themselves, or a close friend or family member. Typically, these ministries stress that one must truly believe and have faith in Isaiah 53:5 if they want to see a miraculous healing.  Yet, as has been demonstrated throughout hundreds of years of church scholarship, they are encouraging people to have faith in something that God does not promise. Typically, despite what these ministries claim, people are not healed and when they are not they are encouraged by the ministry to “have more faith” if they want to see a miracle. Typically, the miracles never happen, and those who follow these ministries either become dejected and leave the church, or they become increasingly fervent in the belief that they need to have more faith, and because of their fervent belief they cease any growth as a believer and merely become acolytes for the ministry they follow. Their fervent belief in the ministry’s teaching they follow replaces their faith in almighty God. At the direction of those who lead the ministries they follow, they ignore the parts of the Bible, including I Peter 4 (the whole chapter) which instructs Christians that suffering is often a part of the Christian life on Earth, the benefits of suffering which include developing a stronger faith in the Almighty (2 Corinthians 12), and that true healing is only promised to all believers in Heaven (Revelation 21). So, by simply taking one verse out of context, and by ignoring all the evidence that shows the verse is being taken out of context, these ministries can propagate a belief that is not Biblical and are able to shipwreck the faith of many believers.

Certainly, there is more to say about these ministries, but that is for another post. The point of this post is to demonstrate how easily a false teaching can develop from a Biblical truth. As Christians, we must be able to recognize the charlatans who work to infiltrate the church and propagate false teachings. The best way to ensure we will be able to do this is to spend a significant amount of time both reading and meditating on the Bible, and to utilize helpful resources such as reputable Biblical commentaries and Christian books, conversations with our pastor, and Bible studies with other believers who are grounded in the true meaning of scripture. We must also trust the leading of the Holy Spirit who will lead and guide us in ways that are consistent with the scriptures and will also sound a warning to us when we encounter Charlatans who would lead us astray.

Wayne

Judging "Decisions"

Over the past week---and largely in reference to the Supreme Court's recent "decision," I have been perplexed and disheartened by what seems to be an increasingly and common notion that "Christians," in the name of "love"---and by the mandate of Scripture, should never be about the business of "judging" anyone. 

Of course, this sentiment is just one more symptom of a much bigger problem; that of Christians and even Pastors, who habitually and incessantly insist on interpreting Scripture out of context---and not only out of context, but also interpreting while ignoring the plain and antithetical opinions of Early Church Fathers---both pre and post-Nicene, on the exact same subjects.  Scripture is played with loose and fast---and the orthodox tenants of the Christian faith are completely ignored---both traded for a new manner and means of arriving at Biblical interpretation---namely, their opinion---founded, formed, and flaunted as Gospel, when in reality, it is grossly untrue and dangerously misleading.

Lest some of you arrive at the opinion that I am exaggerating the issue by using adjectives such as “grossly” and “dangerously,” let me assure you that I have seen friendships destroyed and ministries thrown into a state of upheaval, all over misinterpretations concerning the subject of judging.  

I have heard, both from the layman tongue and authoritative pulpit, that Jesus said, “judge not, lest ye be judged...(Matthew 7:1-5).”  These verses are displayed as a badge of honor for those who champion tolerance in every situation and circumstance, but especially in the areas of everything that is an enemy of the Cross---whether it be someone of another faith tradition speaking ill of Christ and His Christians’ or it be someone inauspiciously indicating ill-will toward Americans and their “imperialistic” vice, we are instructed to dismiss all discernment and judgement and welcomingly accept their unfounded and ungrounded sentiments with joy and without comeback, all because Jesus said, “judge not!” 

But what did Jesus really mean and what do the Scriptures actually say about the subject and practice of judging? Well, let’s look at what Jesus did not mean first.  In Matthew 7:1-5, Jesus did not mean that one should not or could not recognize the faults of others. If he did mean that, then his meaning would not have been compatible with Matthew 7:5-6 where Jesus indeed speaks of removing the splinter from your brother's eye.  If one were to read the entirety of these verses in Matthew 7 and consequently interpret them in CONTEXT, they would plainly see what Jesus meant; namely, that the Christian disciple who is concerned with the faults of others and ignores his own faults, is committing a serious offense.  These verses are NOT a prohibition against judging rightly or justly.

In fact, the Bible indeed teaches, that we are to judge rightly and justly.  In John 7:24, Jesus said, “Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.”  In this text, Jesus is talking about making righteous judgments in regard to God’s laws. It is imperative and incumbent upon us to make right judgments in matters of Christian doctrine vis-a-vis the Word of the Living God.  The Church Fathers, along with Bible Scholars today, understand that to not do so, will result in nothing but conflicting opinions about what the Bible means or says---and the result will be disastrous because everyone will be interpreting Scripture to suit their own needs---and indeed they are and do. The Scriptures warn us implicitly about this.  We are admonished to look out for false teachers who will malign the way of truth and in their own greed seek to exploit believers with false words and deceiving doctrines (read 1 Timothy 6, & 2 Peter 2).”  

We are admonished by the Apostle Paul to judge those inside the church (1 Corinthians 5:11-13 and admonished by our Lord himself to judge those outside the church (Matthew 10:14).  

Matthew 18 is clear, that Christians occupying God-ordained, authoritative offices within a local church (namely, Elders), are to judge those in the church who are living in or exhibiting habitual sin(s).  They are not only to judge, but they are also commanded to remove an unrepentant sinner from the congregation if they see fit to do so. Jesus taught them that whatever decision they made on earth in this regard, would be ratified in heaven.  

Paul commanded Timothy to rebuke in the presence of all, those leaders who continue in sin after being warned (I Timothy 5:17-20).  How can such a thing be done without first passing judgment?  

Furthermore, Paul publicly rebuked and corrected his fellow Apostle, Peter, for catering to the Judiazers (Galatians 2:11-14).  Paul also publicly spoke against other men who were in error and did so by naming them (2 Timothy 2:16-17; 4:14-15; 1 Timothy 1:19-20).  The Apostle John, also warned the church by openly naming Diotrephes---and his sinful ways (3 John 9-10).  Paul even told Timothy that he is a “good minister” of Christ Jesus” if he does these things.  The opposite must be true then; a bad minister of Christ does not point out sin, error, and false teaching, if a good minister does.    

These are just a few examples of many that time and space does not allow me to expand upon here. It is entirely sufficient to say that the Scriptures are clear that we are to judge and openly expose error and habitual, unheeded sin, along with publicly disciplining those who resist and refuse repentance.  The propagation of the Gospel, the salvation of souls, and the purity and growth of the church depends on it!  

What about judging those outside the church?  As I alluded to above (shake the dust from your feet), there is Biblical precedent to judge those outside the church (don’t make the common mistake that some make regarding Paul saying we shouldn’t judge those outside the church in 1 Co. 6, because right before that he says that Christians WILL judge the world---remember; context!).  But what about relationships and friendships with unbelievers?  Shouldn’t Christians befriend those who are not Christians for the purpose of Evangelism?  What does the Scripture teach?  Again, let’s answer this question by first answering who we are not supposed to befriend.  

Many Christians think that “unequally yoked” pertains---or only pertains to marriage.  It doesn’t.  As a matter of fact, Paul warns us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers in the context of righteousness verse lawlessness (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).  He says, “what fellowship does light have with darkness---what portion does the believer have with the unbeliever?”  Then Paul straight-up says, “go out from their midst, and be separate from them says the Lord...”  

It is a misnomer to label Evangelism as “befriending unbelievers.”  One might object and say, “didn’t Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?”  Yes, he did, but Jesus also said, “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.  If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.  But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan and a tax collector.”  It turns out that Jesus wasn't speaking very fondly of his pagan "friends," was he?

Jesus was not FRIENDS with tax collectors and sinners to the degree and in the way that some believe and interpret him to have been.  He was “friends” with them in that he was offering SALVATION to them (CONTEXT!). He was not a drunkard with them and he did not participate in their sin or allow himself to be corrupted by them (if that were even possible). He was acquainted with them---he met them where they were in their sin-sickness and he offered them healing (to be free from their sins).  Nowhere in Scripture is it inferred that Jesus was in the HABIT of hanging out with them to the degree that some think Christians should hang out with sinners today.  If you study the teachings of Paul (who God saw fit to write two-thirds of the New Testament), he nowhere teaches that Christians should have intimate or involved friendships with unbelievers.  He actually says the exact opposite throughout his epistles (“Don’t be MISLED; bad company corrupts good morals--1 Co. 15:33”).  

So, for the sake of this post, let it be said that we are to judge those outside the church. We are not only to judge their lives, but we are admonished by Jesus and Paul to be careful not to get so wrapped up with them that our friendship with them begins to corrupt us---or at the very least, cloud our judgment.  

Jesus, and all of Scripture (Genesis to Revelation) teaches us to judge both those inside and outside the church.  We are to do so for all of the reasons mentioned above, as they culminate into one thematic motif; keep yourself from being polluted by the world (James 1:26-27).  Please don’t allow yourself to be polluted by the world, by buying into the ill-conceived and popular notion that Christians’ should tolerate everything and judge nothing.  Nothing is more anti-Christ and nothing is more damaging to your soul.

Pastor Mike

So, Christian... Are You Reading Your Bible?

I don't pretend to know what percentage of professing Christians are reading their Bibles on a regular basis. And I don't pretend to know all of the excuses that one might propose for why the ones that don't, don't. But here's all I'm saying...

Why wouldn't you read your Bible?

Come, let's reason together from the Psalms.

The Bible promises blessings to those who delight in reading it.

Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalms 1:1-3 ESV)

OK, Christian. Have you no interest in blessing? Have you no interest in an unshakable faith (tree), in being fed with exactly what you need (streams of water), bearing fruit for the Kingdom of Christ (yielding fruit), remaining strong and courageous (leaf not withering), and prospering?

The Bible promises to provide us with the pure words of the Living God.

The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in a furnace on the ground,
purified seven times. (Psalms 12:6 ESV)

Elsewhere in the Bible, the Apostle Paul tells us "...whatever is pure...think about these things." (Philippians 4:8) So, it seems obvious that if we are to obey what the Apostle commands, should we not then go straight to God's word?

The Bible promises to provide us with the truth.

This God—his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD proves true;
he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. (Psalms 18:30 ESV)

Again, from Philippians 4:8, Paul tells us "...whatever is true...think about these things." Again, if we are to obey Paul, should we not go to God's word?

The Bible promises to provide us with the perfect and sure word of God, which will revive our souls and make us wise.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple; (Psalms 19:7 ESV)

I love to read and to listen to sermons and good, solid Bible teaching. The internet has been such a blessing in this regard, all of the bad teaching on the internet notwithstanding. However, we must admit that the best sermons preached by mere men and the teachings taught by mere men are not perfect...so we must, like the Bereans of Acts 17, always "examine the Scriptures daily" to test everything we read and hear.

And which of us, brothers and sisters, do not want to be wise? Or, at least, wiser? For this, there is only one sure source, and that is God's inspired word. Let us resolve to go there often. Or, at least, oftener?

The Bible promises to provide us with firm steps on the narrow path of righteousness.

The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
and his tongue speaks justice.
The law of his God is in his heart;
his steps do not slip. (Psalms 37:30-31 ESV)

Which of us would say that we infallibly know what our next step is when faced with so many decisions day by day? Which of us doesn't need guidance for which way we should go? Of course, the Bible itself doesn't give us the minute details: which job should we take? where should we eat dinner when we're headed out on the town? But there is little doubt that the Bible does provide us a sure foundation for the big decisions in our life, answers to the question: "God, what exactly do You require of me?"

The Bible promises to provide us with a means to battle against fear of man.

In God, whose word I praise,
in the LORD, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me? (Psalms 56:10-11 ESV)

Dear Christian, have you never been afraid? Of a mere mortal? Jesus our Lord tells us that we should not fear men (who can only kill our bodies), but that we should fear God (who can cast our souls into hell). (Matthew 10:28) So how can we avoid such fears? The Psalmist tells us that we should praise God's word, and our fears will flee.

The Bible promises to provide us with a means to battle against all anxieties.

I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Psalms 77:11-12 ESV)

The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 77 cannot sleep. Why not? His soul is anxious and refuses to be comforted (verse 2). What is his solution? To remember the deeds of the LORD, the wonders of old, all of God's work and mighty deeds in the lives of His people through the ages as recounted in His holy word. There is no surefire solution to anxiety except for recounting the faithfulness of God throughout the ages!

The Bible promises to provide us with healing and deliverance from destruction in the midst of our sin.

Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction. (Psalms 107:17-20 ESV)

Interesting thing about the Bible. It wounds and it heals. For it is the Law of God that reveals to us our sin, and yet it is His word of grace that provides the balm that we need, to receive the Gospel of sins forgiven and righteousness bestowed upon us by faith. And when our sin is revealed - by the word of God and the righteous requirements that He demands - He also, by His word, provides us with the means of deliverance as we turn to Him and obey.

The Bible promises to provide us with guidance to keep our way pure and to avoid sin.

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you. (Psalms 119:9-11 ESV)

Is this not the desire of your new, regenerated heart? To keep your way pure and to not sin against God? Then there is only one solution: guard your way according to God's word by storing the word up in your heart. It really is that simple!

The Bible promises to provide us a means for acquiring strength in the midst of sorrow.

My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word! (Psalms 119:28 ESV)

Jesus was sorrowful even unto death. (Matthew 26:38) Paul was sorrowful many times. The great saints who have gone before us have not escaped the sorrows of this fallen world. It is likely that you, dear Christian, have dealt with an unceasing anguish at one time or another. What will be our comfort? What will be our strength? Yes, again, it will be the word of God.

The Bible promises to provide us comfort in times of trial and affliction.

Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope.
This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life. (Psalms 119:49-50 ESV)

In addition to our sorrows, this fallen world provides us with trials and afflictions that many times seem to be unbearable, too much for us to handle. Again, what will be our comfort? The promise of eternal life that God has given to us in His inspired word! That is enough!

The Bible provides us with a reason to praise God.

At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules. (Psalms 119:62 ESV)

It is God's word that leads us to praise. It is our theology - our knowledge of God - that leads us to doxology - our praise of God. Dear Christian, does your Bible lead you to worship? Pray that it will!

The Bible helps us to find our true companions in the Lord.

I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts. (Psalms 119:63 ESV)

How good it is when brothers dwell together in unity! (Psalms 133:1) And what, brothers and sisters, unites us in a way that nothing else can? The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 4 that we are united in: one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all! It is our faith that unites us, our faith as derived from God's word! May we be ever more familiar with what we believe that our fellowship with other saints may be enhanced!

Oh, dear Christian! Tell me again: why wouldn't you read your Bible?

Posted by Steve Vinay III