PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN AMERICA IS NOT THEORETICAL

These are difficult times we live in. Paul writes to the Romans, "26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error" (Rom. 1:26,27). To the Corinthian Christians, he reminded them that they repented of and put away the sins of adultery, fornication and homosexuality. When God made man and woman, he created the institution of marriage (Gen. 2:24). The truth about sexuality and about the most holy institution of marriage is under assault in our world, but we must not yield to this assault. 

It is with the love of God that I write the following. The church family and the lost world must be warned of these sad realities that will directly influence their spiritual lives. It is becoming evident that something is adrift in this world, what with the recent passage of the gay marriage laws (the most recent being in Minnesota, and signed into law by Gov. Dayton) along with the proposed anti-bullying school legislation, in Minnesota called the, "Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act", that they are tied together and part of a larger agenda. Ostensibly, "Safe and Supportive" means to address the age-old problem of kids picking on other kids, which everyone agrees needs to be addressed. However, the real intent of this legislation and what we need to understand is that we, our children, and grandchildren's opposition to homosexuality will also be defined as "bullying". This Act will require training for educators and students on what is proper and improper speech. In the future, school children that speak out against homosexuality in school or in social media can and will be punished under the anti-bullying Act. The devil that I preached against recently, who is prominently addressed in the Book of Revelation, is advancing this attack. It is a real threat to the minds of our children, to the home, and to the church. Christians, young and old, are slowly being pressed and squeezed to be silent and say nothing more against the deviant lifestyle which is described in Romans 1:20ff. More than ever, we need to pray for God's hand to deliver us from this evil. 

It's not going to end with gay marriage indoctrination in the public schools. Recently we read of the case being made by some in public discourse to lower the age at which adults can have sex with children (Google search "Barrister Barbara Hewson"). This case is being made in England, Canada and soon the same case will be made in the United States. The group called North American Man Boy Love Association (NAMBLA, it's troubling that I know what that stands for!) has been quietly working towards this end. These perverted men, rightly called for they are child molesters, are slowly making the case that IT IS THEY who are being persecuted because of their "natural affection" for boys/children. 

What we must do. First, we must continue to speak the truth in love, Eph. 4:15. We cannot shy away from teaching the truth to our children in the home, in classes, and from the pulpit. Secondly, we need to protect our children as they are a heritage from the Lord, Psalm 127:3. It is parents "who have a right, nay they have a duty" to train their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, Eph. 6:1,2.  Let us recognize what is coming and understand that your children are in the cross-hairs to be conditioned to accept the abnormal. Teach them what the Scriptures say. Encourage, if they are able, that parents remove their children from the government school system and put them in private schools or home school them. 

As in Sodom, sexual deviants are not satisfied to privately live their profane lifestyles. They must have and they demand our acceptance. They will force affirmation and support in the public schools so that if we do not accept them, we will be accused of committing the "hate crime" of speaking "hate speech".
I feel as though in the past we have in the church spoke of persecution as something very far away or something theoretical but this is not the case any longer in the United States. If we Christians fail to address this persecution, then we are willfully blind, fearful, or we may not even be of God. The attack on Christian values is an attack of God, an attack on the church, an attack on the God-designed home, and an attack on our children and future generations. Persecution is coming. I never ever thought I would see this day. Stand firm and trust in the Lord. 

I speak this with love for every soul, even the souls of sinful men who oppose God's truth. - Dan

THIS IS AN ANIMATED SLIDE....7 - 10 SECONDS PER SLIDE

BAPTISM: MUST YOU KNOW THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM? (Originally posted 10/14/05)

ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF BAPTISM AND MUST THE PERSON BEING BAPTIZED KNOW THAT PURPOSE?

"an appeal to God for a clean conscience" - 1 Pt. 3:21
Among churches of Christ, this is a question being debated. There are some preachers who are approving baptism even though the person did not know the Biblical purpose of baptism. These are people who were baptized "because the Bible said to" without knowing its purpose.

Just do it and don't ask why. Let's apply this to another Biblical to partake of the Lord's Supper. Do people eat the bread without knowing the meaning or reason for doing so? You can imagine they do. But is this acceptable? Certainly not, but since it is done each Lord's Day, the Christian can learn and partake of it next week for the right reason. When there's a clear meaning or purpose to partaking, ignorance is not acceptable.  The Lord's Supper is a remembrance of something very important and it must be partook with this in mind.

What matters is sincerity, right? Where's the example in Scripture of the sincere person who is saved when taught wrong? Apollos was a disciple and they were even called disciples in Ephesus but sincerity didn't save them, Acts 19:1-6. They had to be rebaptized. These "disciples" believed in Jesus and got baptized, just like Jesus commanded, and since it was John's baptism they received, it was also for forgiveness of sins. But God didn't give His blessing on the basis of their sincerity. To say that a person's baptism is valid even though taught wrong simply because they were sincere is presumptuous. Is it wise to grant that people are saved on a presumption?

Most every religion teaches the importance of obedience. Baptizing adults is a step in the right direction, and we have to assume that any adult getting into the water must be doing it "out of obedience to Jesus." But it is important to ask if God wants or asks for "obedience alone"? Someone will say, "But it's not "obedience alone" because they do have faith in Jesus." Do they? Do they have faith in Jesus' words? Do they have the faith of the people in Acts 2:41? Do they have the faith of the Eunuch in Acts 8? Do they have the faith of Saul in Acts 22:16? No, those Biblical examples are of people who were taught the purpose of baptism and entered baptism with the understanding that they were lost and needed God's salvation.

Imagine if Jesus commanded His disciples to eat some unleavened bread and fruit of the vine. And imagine that nowhere else in Scripture is the subject elaborated upon. If such were the case, then Christians would obediently eat and drink those items. They could even say they did it "in faith" because "Jesus said to". But they wouldn't know a meaning for it. Now consider that Jesus does say why to eat and drink these items and the the only proper reason for partaking of them is the reasons He gave. So if someone eats and drinks the emblems without knowing the reason Jesus gave, would you say it pleased God? How could you be sure to say yes? To say yes is to affirm what you don't know. It's would be presumptuous. Instead, what you should do is gently correct the person so that he partook of it in a way to please God.  If last week he partook in ignorance and then learned by your gentle teaching the true purpose of the Lord's Supper, then next Lord's Day he would correct why he partook. Likewise, baptism is an act of faith in the saving power of God. And to receive baptism for the wrong reason, or for "obedience" alone, would be unjustifiable.

Look at the following verses:

"having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12)

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3:26,27)

Note that from these verses baptism and faith are integral parts of salvation, and Colossians 2 shows that being "raised" (terminology for the new life in Christ, Col. 3:1) happened at Baptism "through faith in the working of God." Obviously, if one is "raised" at the baptism, it requires that God is at work in the baptism. But this passages says that their is faith is IN the working of God to raise you. Paul says that the person being baptized has his or her faith in the power of God to save. A person who is baptized for no other reason than "God said to" has a denominational understanding of baptism and does not have faith in the power of God to raise him. Paul very clearly, as can be seen in this verse and in Colossians 3:1, is speaking of the new life or new birth in Christ. Everyone in the Bible had this information when they were being baptized.

To the Galatians, Paul says something in 3:26 that nearly everyone agrees on: "we are sons of God through faith." Like Paul says to the Ephesians, salvation is by grace through faith. Anyone who says otherwise is either confused, deceived, or a liar. But Paul is not finished with the discussion as the very next verse says that being "clothed with Christ" occurs through baptism combined with faith. The Galatians were "sons of God" by faith, because they were "clothed with Christ" when they were baptized. Baptism is truly a faith act. This is not the same thing as doing it "because he said to". Baptism for any other reason cannot be about faith, because it is not based on the commanded purpose. Like someone once said, you cannot be taught wrong and be baptized right (see Acts 19:1-6).

A sense of urgency that denominational baptism doesn't include. Why does Biblical baptism come with a sense of urgency? In Acts 22:16, the man who was known as the Apostle Paul, who had been blind, praying, and fasting for three days, was told that it was urgent that he be baptized. Ananias said, "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name", Acts 22:16. There are some obvious points to be learned from the text. As already said, there is a sense of urgency for Saul to get up and do something. Second, we may infer from the command by Ananias that Saul believes in Jesus and has repented of his sinful past. Third, Saul had not yet been Baptized. Fourth, Saul is not yet saved because he has not yet "washed away his sins." Fifth, washing away sins in baptism is the way to "call on the name of the Lord" for salvation. All these points are derived from this text. It's all very simple and straight forward. Baptism, when understood and acted upon correctly is an act of faith which brings about the release of sins by the gift of God.

Jesus said, "13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.", Mt 7:13,14.  People must seek the truth. Faith comes from hearing the word of Christ, Rom. 10:17. When people are taught error, and when they obey teachings not found in the Scriptures, then it is presumptuous to assume they are saved. We should do all we can to save these people by teaching them correctly. If they are honest and sincere, the simple truth will set them free. Baptism must be understood as they place where a sinner receives God's saving grace.

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In the comments below, Padziernik is Catholic and argues that Baptism is effectual in an of itself without understanding the person. Of course he speaks of an infants receiving effectual baptism without knowing it's meaning.

THERE ARE UNSCRIPTURAL MARRIAGES....CAN I CONTINUE IN ONE?

God's law on marriage, as with all moral issues, applies to non-Christians as well as to Christians. Because someone doesn't know God's moral law on marriage, just as with other matters, does not release them from the obligations to keep it and consequences for breaking them.

Baptism does not alter a sinful condition. The question of the effectiveness of baptism to save the unrepentant is before us. There are two kinds of sins. The ones we committed in the past that are done and can't be taken back, and the ones that are on-going. Because marriage is an on-going institution, then repenting of a sinful marriage isn't as easy as saying 'sorry' because it requires stopping the sin. 
 

Baptism is effective to wash away all sin except for the sin that is not repented of and put away. What I mean is that IF baptism made any marriage acceptable to God, then even a Christian, already baptized, could plead ignorance or weakness, and be baptized again and would be equally forgiven and allowed to stay in any marriage in which he finds himself. Baptism does not have this power.

It is clear that Jesus taught a hard teaching when discussing divorce, Matthew 19:9ff. The disciples said if its like this, its better not to marry, Mt 19:10. Jesus didn't say they were wrong or misunderstanding the conclusion of His words, but Jesus instead doubled-down and said that some make themselves Eunuchs to enter heaven. So its very clear that Jesus was teaching something very hard and said that what God joined together, let no man separate. The hard teaching is why John was arrested and beheaded. In the Old Testament Ezra and Nehemiah dealt with Jews who were married to foreign women. They didn't say for them to say 'sorry' and never do it again. Instead they had to repent by putting the wives away. In such situations, there is a need for the husbands to put away their wives, but there is no call to be unsupportive of the women and children. It is not unheard of in the Scriptures to forbid that some be or stay married.

When discussing this matter, people bring up the children of the unscriptural marriage. Though some marriages must be abandoned, decency would dictate a continued responsibility to support and participate in raising the children. While we are expressing our concern for the children, it's more important that we teach the truth about marriage so that children in general are born into a two-parent home and that they are not abandoned by easy divorce.

Can we get around this difficult teaching by nullifying or erasing those previous marriages, so that the new one is the first one in the eyes of God?  For Herod, it was a marriage though unscriptural. For the men who married foreign women in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah, they were marriages though they were unscriptural. For the woman at the well whom Jesus spoke to, she was married several times even though she was not a Christian and even if she was ignorant of God's law. The Catholics have tried to allow that its not a marriage unless done 'in the church', thus they allow for remarriages suggesting that the sin of fornication was all that was committed since the priest did not perform the ceremony. God does not sanction multiple marriages even though He recognizes their occurance.

Here's the long story short: its a hard teaching which very few religious groups bother to enforce. We do in the church of Christ. Its tough and painful, but we do. And despite the painfulness, its also a blessing because we encourage men and women to work harder on keeping their marriages intact and enduring. Our children are blessed because we encourage strong marriage. So this is the wisdom of God that we teach the truth on this matter even when we admit how difficult it is to teach.

CHRISTIAN BE CAREFUL WHO YOU FELLOWSHIP WITH

The Christian community has fellowship with fellow Christians and with God. Fellowship is the close sharing that people of like-mind have (Acts 2:42). Being devoted to fellowship also means not eating with false teachers. John writes,

"8Watch yourselves, that you do not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may receive a full reward. 9Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, has both the Father and the Son. 10If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting." (2 John 1:8-10). 

The false teacher, who may be in our midst, does not have the Father or the Son, which means he is lost and has no fellowship with the Godhead. Now does it make sense for the Christians to have fellowship with known false teachers who don't have the Father and the Son? Certainly it does not make sense to eat with and rub shoulders with those who teach error. 

Because we love the truth and because we walk in truth (2 John 1:2-4), we cannot even give the appearance that we are in fellowship with false teachers. Do they teach error? We cannot eat with them and give to others the impression that we are unconcerned. This takes courage and conviction from Christians to know where to draw the line of fellowship. Otherwise, we risks being "a participant in their evil deeds." (2 John 1:11). For the greater good, decide now that you will not fellowship with false teachers. Instead even expose them, (Eph. 5:11; 1 John 4:1ff). 

ANXIETY FROM A HOSTILE WORLD, 1 Peter 5:7

It's inspiring to read the Bible and have one of those AHA! moments. 1 Peter 5:7 provides such a moment when understood in context of the epistle. Some people are living right on the edge of mental collapse. The coffee isn't what they ordered and they call 911. The co-worker steals the stapler and you're ready to blow up. The finances aren't adding up to pay the bills and it's getting desperate. But these things don't come close to the level of troubles that first century Christians were enduring. 

See in 1 Peter that he says the following: "To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,..." 1:1 "...you have been distressed by various trials," 1:6; "…they slander you as evildoers,…" 2:12; "…AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED," 3:14; "12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation." 4:12,13.

All through 1 Peter we see that persecuted Christians are being encouraged to bear up under it all and remain faithful. It is under this context, the context of undergoing various trials by persecution, that Peter says, "casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you" 1 Pt 5:7. This is an AHA moment because I've always read that text in a more general context of anxiety. But the anxiety that we have in our world today, because we didn't get our way, because things are a little challenging at work, because a neighbor's dog goes potty in our yard, because the car is 10 years old, and all such things don't rise to the level of anxiety that the 1st century Christians lived under. The world was persecuting them and God cares.

When Christians are being hounded and hunted down by the world, they know anxiety. Peter says for them to bring it to God. When the devil is prowling about to destroy you, bring your anxieties to God. But if the normal pressures of daily living are able to get us down and keep us from walking with the spirit of Christ, certainly we can find help if we take such things to the LORD. But if daily life can cause us to buckle in our walk with God, how in the world will we do if the world turns hostile for you being a Christian!

So again, the AHA moment is understanding the anxiety of 1 Pt 5:7 more properly as the extreme sort that comes from living in a very hostile world. In all such times, be sure that you draw near to God and lay your anxieties before His throne. And stop crying when your co-worker eats your do-nut.

MARRIAGE IS BETWEEN A MAN AND WOMAN

"20 The man gave names to all the cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field, but for Adam there was not found a helper suitable for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 The LORD God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 The man said, “This is now bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed." - Genesis 2:20-25

When the Supreme Court decides there is no grounds for forbidding gay marriage, look out. This denial of Scripture and Biology will lead to further sin. What would be the grounds for forbidding incestuous marriage. Mothers will marry sons. Fathers will marry daughters. When a society becomes so dull and immoral that it doesn't recognize the supremacy of a man and woman marriage, it's lost the ability to decide anything is wrong. Certainly, there will be polygamy and women will further get the short end of the deal in the godless society. Marriage for love's sake alone will invite people to marry their pets....yes, it's true. People love their pets, sometimes more than humans. On what basis would a court decide that a person can't marry a dog? "It's just wrong!" Really, based on what? If a person can't say that a man lying with a man, or a woman sleeping with a woman is "just wrong", then what is the rule for denying marriage to an animal? Marriage has been so dumbed down that there will be no basis, except inevitable emotional ones, to deny any marriage. Christians must gird their loins because they are going to be a target for their old-fashioned and unenlightened beliefs. And what is on the horizon? Pedophilia, the sexualizing of children for the pleasure of adults. And God will smite this land when even pedophilia becomes normalized.

"there is a growing conviction, notably in Canada, that paedophilia should probably be classified as a distinct sexual orientation, like heterosexuality or homosexuality. Two eminent researchers testified to that effect to a Canadian parliamentary commission last year, and the Harvard Mental Health Letter of July 2010 stated baldly that paedophilia “is a sexual orientation” and therefore “unlikely to change”. The Guardian, Pedophilia

The idea that having sex with children could become acceptable behavior is hard to fathom at this moment, but the argument is already being made. It's love. It's normal behavior. It's consensual. Will we be called "Pedophobic" because we oppose it? Will we be told that we only oppose pedophilia because we are secretly pedophiles? The only sexual relations that God designed are between the married man and woman. Beyond that is sin. Said in love. Dan

CHRISTIANS AND PROPERTY

"4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart?" Acts 5. 

Ananias and Saphira owned property and they sold it and gave part of the proceeds of the sell to the church for charity. What they did was not wrong. It could have been a great good. But the trespass was in their deception to seek self-glory. They lied to God and man and God did not take it lightly. But as to ownership, the husband and wife owned property and it was their to do with as they pleased. This is an important principle.

The answer to both questions by Peter to the man and woman was, 'Yes, the property was yours and after the sale, the proceeds were yours." Ownership and possession of property is establish in Scripture.

Without ownership of property, there is no such thing as a free will offering. David would not give to God what cost him nothing. He would not give to God what was another man's possession. The gift has meaning because it cost David something. A sacrifice should be a sacrifice from YOU. A Will designates where your property will go after your death. But without ownership of possessions, there is not even ownership of self. If a man or a government can say, I own all of your possessions, then even the labor that went into acquiring those possessions is also owned by the person taking them.

In the Bible there was ownership of land, houses, animals, jewelry, and whatever a person could work for or purchase belonged that person. God's commandment, "thou shall not steal", is His validation of this principle that things belong to people.

Please don't get sidetracked with the caveat that all things belong to God though that's a facet of this discussion, as God has made us stewards of his possessions. We are to be good stewards of our possessions which God has given. But the discussion of ownership is addressing the horizontal, not vertical, nature of or possessions in the realm of man. In the realm of man, God's respects the ownership and commands that men not steal from one another.

What about taxes? Taxes are the taking of something that belongs to you, right? In theory, taxes are supposed to be a transaction where you pay for the services of the government, for example, services that maintain the peace and law. The admonition to give "what belongs to Caesar" supports the idea of that we owe something to Caesar for his service of praising good and punishing evil people. But what we owe has its limit. Does the government which derives its authority from God (Rom 13:1ff) have the right to take as much as it pleases from the citizen? Does it have the right to take, let's say, 100% of a man's earnings? No, because that's slavery. What about 99%? 90%? No, a government cannot take your earnings to the point that you may not provide for your own family, which a man is commanded to do, 1 Tim. 5:8. Many governments can and do this very thing, but it's immoral. If a government confiscated your wages to such an extent that you could not support the church or charity, that would be wrong. Paul said, "He who steals must steal no longer but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need", Eph. 4:28. How can it be right for a government to take from your wages so that you not only cannot support your family or the church, but also that you have nothing to share with those who are in need, Titus 3:13,14?

Stealing is a sin whether it is by an individual or by a government. Both are wrong, legislated or not. We own what we have earned through our labor and what has been given to us.

So the question is what are we doing with what we own? Proverbs 3:9 says, "Honor the LORD from your wealth and from the first of all your produce;". With your possessions are you honoring the LORD? Are we working with our hands and supporting our families? Are we supporting the church and doing charity that meets pressing needs? With ownership of property comes responsibility to use it to the glory of God. Said in love. - Dan 

PARENTING: STUMBLING BLOCKS OR GOOD EXAMPLES

Parents are always teaching their kids - for better or worse. I read someone's post that said, "A son won't always listen to your advice, but he will follow your example." This is true I know. Jesus warned against causing little ones to stumble and not to hinder them from coming to Him (clearly Jesus is talking about children in Matt. 18 & 19). Parents who care deeply about where their children spend eternity will be careful about the example they set because they will follow a poor example as surely as anything.

I read about a dad who was given instructions by his wife to avoid fast food for the kids while she made a trip out of town. Well, he was not very efficient with his time and took the kids to McDonald's the first night. He worried however what his wife would say and decided to 'coach' the little ones to say that they had Kraft macaroni for dinner. Later when mom called to say good night to the kids, he heard his little daughter say, 'We had Kraft dinner', at which he breathed a sigh of relief. Except his daughter then added, 'At McDonalds'. He was in trouble with his wife and he also taught his children to lie.

Teaching children to lie is a stumbling block to them. Parents who break the law are setting stumbling blocks for their children. Parents who miss worship for a hang nail are setting a poor example. All parents teach their children for better or for worse. Mostly in the world, parents are teaching their children to live in rebellion to God and to follow human philosophies and doctrines of men. It is only with care and a convicted faith that parents bring their children to the Lord. So be careful not only for the advice you give to the little children, but also and especially for the example you set. Said in love, Dan Mayfield

THE WORK OF CARING FOR SOULS AND GOSSIPING...

Not all "talking about" others is gossip. In Matthew 18, Jesus gives the church instructions on how to approach and discipline an erring Brother in Christ. The one that knows of the sin, should go privately and deal with the matter. If the Brother repents, the issue is dropped and nothing more needs to be said. But if the Brother refuses to listen, then you take 2 or 3 witnesses. Well, this requires that you have passed on information to these other trusted souls. That's not gossip. It's the necessary communication of vital information with the right motive to rescue a soul from death. Gossip's motive has nothing to do with love and care for souls. There are spiritual truths that require we get past the passé and formulaic rules we have learned. Warnings against gossip are to be taken seriously, but should not be applied to the extent that the church can't do its mission.

An example of oversimplification of Jesus' teachings is seen when a Brother says, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth". He thinks he is being pious to lay down this rule on every instance of good deeds. It usually manifest itself in a refusal to pray publicly. And he is fastidious to keep his giving a secret. And for him this attention to secrecy may be necessary and warranted. But the Scriptures cannot be saying that all of our good works be hidden, so that no one sees it is me that has done it. My experience is that those who abide by this strict interpretation have not considered the matter as deeply as it deserves. In Matthew 5, Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Jesus is not contradicting Himself in the same sermon. But the person who, "doesn't let his giving be seen", is unfazed by this extra ripple of knowledge that is absolutely necessary in true piety. Jesus is not saying not to give publicly or not to pray publicly, as He Himself did show many works publicly. Jesus is saying that you must check your motives for all of your works lest your deeds be tainted with impure motives of pride. The inability of a Christian to respect this distinction of giving with pure and impure motives might indicate a person who has stopped growing and favors the formula for covering his own hidden weaknesses.

Gossiping is a terrible sin where one relishes the discovery and telling of secret knowledge concerning others. The retelling of gossip doesn't care about the soul. Gossip is a carnal activity of an unspiritual person. Sooner or later, in the care of souls, spiritual people must share information they have with others who can help to rescue a straying Christian. This is not gossip and such private information is never shared with someone who is unspiritual.

Paul received the "report" that Corinth was immersed in division and sin, 1 Cor. 5:1ff. That was not gossip. Paul received information from Chloe's people and it was not sin, 1 Cor. 1:11. The work of God requires communication. Sometimes good news and sometimes bad. At all times, Christians must check their motives if they are pure in the retelling. With the right motive, which is care for the soul, retelling information is as holy an activity as bringing the matter to God in prayer. If you can talk to God about your concern for a fellow Christian (e.g. not like this guy, Lk 18:11), then you may tell others if it is done according to the prescribed guidelines given in Matthew 18:15-20.

God bless you. Dan M

AS GOES THE HOME.... SO GOES THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

I heard it said that as goes the home, so goes the society. The strength of society depends on the home. All of the positives or negatives in the home will be manifested in the culture. If the family is strong, so will be the society. 

God intends for the family to be strong because the good and bad will be manifested in the church family. If dad and mom are holy and if they exemplify the christ-like spirit towards all family members, that spirit will be part of the larger church family. Similarly, if the family is fractured and materialistic, then that spirit will be felt in the larger church family.

Paul said to Timothy to "show yourself an example of those who believe", and that he wrote to Timothy "so that you will know how to conduct himself in the household of God", 1 Tim. 3:15; 4:12. Our private lives must be holy because we are always influencing others. If the young preacher is holy at home, then it will show in the church. If the Elders are holy at home and work, then it will show in the church. If mothers are the sweet and gentle spirit that pleases God in the home, then that spirit will be part of God's church.

Indeed it is true that as goes the family, so goes the church. The world is seeing the breakdown of the family and the god-designed home. This breakdown and dysfunction will lead to the breakdown of our society. But the church is to be "the pillar and support of the truth" that shows the lost world the way, 1 Tim. 3:15. If we are light and salt in a society that's imploding and decaying, then we will show some the way back to God's design for the home, church, and society.

So don't change and don't waiver in your faith in God. Be holy at home. Be holy fathers. Be holy mothers. Provide for your children a sanctuary where God's voice is heard and a place that is a shelter and refuge from the corruptions of the world. Jesus needs a holy church to accomplish His will in this world. And for the church to be according to God's will, the family must be holy. God is counting on you. Spoken in love. Dan

WHY JESUS CAME THEN AND NOT NOW....

We believe that the coming of Jesus was perfectly timed according to the wisdom of God. But some people question why then and not now. They argue when Jesus came would surely have been more effective if He had come in the 21st Century. This is the reasoning of man. They say, the technology alone would make it easier to get the message to every soul at lightning speed. Would we agree? Is it true that everyone who has a message has no problem getting his message across to the masses? Isn't the media and others in control of communications always willing to tell good news?

The truth is that Jesus came at the perfect time...

Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 1:10; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 1:3; Romans 5:6; Ephesians 3:9 (New American Standard)

Galatians 4:4
4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law,"
The word 'time' is KRONOS, from which we get chronology or chronologically.

Ephesians 1:10
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him

1 Timothy 2:6
6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

Titus 1:3
3 but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,

Romans 5:6
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Ephesians 3:9
9 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things;

Man will ever be 'Monday morning quarterbacking' the plan and administration of God and spiritual things. But we believe in Jesus who is risen from the dead and that message is relevant to day as much as ever. And what Jesus did when He came at the perfect time is still saving souls. 

COMPROMISE IS GOOD, RIGHT?

In marriage, at work, in politics, compromise is held up as noble and virtuous principle. But here is where we need to think because there is a place for compromise and there is a place where it is completely unacceptable.

Take the church of Christ, the first century church, can it compromise with denominations? Of course not? No more than Jesus Christ could compromise with the devil. The Apostle Paul couldn't compromise with the Judaizers. The Apostle John wouldn't compromise with the Nicolaitans.  The church wouldn't compromise with Rome. On matters of doctrine, there's no room for compromise. On matters of opinion, compromise is a good thing. But when it comes to standing on the Truth, any compromise would mean we give up ground on the Truth. Principled people don't do that.

In politics, when the decisions are matters of policy and the best way to maintain security, for example, thoughtful men can disagree and they can compromise. But if the compromise means giving up ground on moral issues, and areas that apply to worship, family, moral standings, then we can't add or take away from God's Word because compromise would be akin to dealing with the devil.

The devil doesn't mind giving up some of his goals as long as the opposition is fooled to think it has to also give up some ground. When we deal with the devil, we always lose and he wins. So when it comes to areas of opinion, compromise away. But when the Bible says not to add or take from it, compromise would be sin.

THE ONLY KIND OF FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD

Faith is necessary for salvation. This is something most all agree on. But what kind of faith is debated. There are various kinds of faith mentioned in the Bible. There is faith that is not perfected, Jas 2:22. Faith is perfected when accompanied with obedience. There is also the doubting faith, Jas 1:5ff. This is the faith of a double-minded, or two-souled person whose allegiance with God is divided with the world. There is the worrying and anxiousness of little faith, Mt 6:30; Mt 14:31. Those with little faith have trouble turning their needs and concerns over to God. But faith that is pleasing to God is unique and always the same.

There's only one faith that pleases God. By this kind of faith men of old gained approval, Heb 11:2. The same chapter is filled with people like Noah, Abraham, and Moses who had this obedient kind of faith. It's the faith that is confident and convicted about God and His promises, which always shows by one's deeds, Heb 11:1. This faith that pleases God always does what God calls for the person to do. When God says repent of your sins, faith begins repenting. If God says go and confess the good news to the lost, faith starts talking. If God says to be baptized, faith gets in the water. If God says to give liberally and sing spiritual songs, faith starts giving and singing. The point is that saving faith, the only kind that God approves of, is always doing the will of God.

If a man is confronted by the will of God and that man does not act, then that man does not have the saving faith that's described in the Bible.

Some people try to start their walk with God by faith but afterward they seek to be perfected by their own works. In other words, they wind up putting their faith in their own works. This was the problem with the Galatians when Paul said to them, "3Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?", Gal. 3:3. This error of trusting in owe's own works is also what Paul was combating against in Rome. By preaching justification by faith, Paul was slanderously accused of teaching a license to sin. It was a slanderous accusation against Paul that he was teaching, "let us sin that grace might increase." Paul explained that faith doesn't mean you may do what you please since it's sin that separated you from God, Rom. 6:21-23. Since Paul explains that sin separates man from God, obviously he wasn't telling Christians they may sin because grace doesn't cover willful sin. However, though Paul had to combat the Judaizing "Christians" by assuring the reader that being "released" (Rom 7:1-7) from the Law of Moses doesn't mean you have a license to sin, Paul also did not back off from his message that justification comes by faith in God and not by works. This is why he said in 1:17, after saying that the Gospel is God's power to save, that, "for in it the righteousness of God is revealed 'from faith to faith'". This odd phrase "faith to faith" is Paul's inspired refutation against the Judaizers and Christians who were being fooled to seek to be perfected by their own works. No, from the first time one draws near to God to the time of your very last breath they breathe on this earth, God's righteousness is attained by "faith to faith", first to last.

"Faith without works is dead". James said this in James 2:14-26. If you are saying you have faith are not doing God's will, then your faith is not the kind that pleases God. The saving, justifying kind of faith is always doing what the will of God requires in the moment. Some people will pit this passage in James against what Paul said in Romans, particularly what he says in Romans 4, that Abraham was not justified by works. The question for these people becomes "to work or not to work?" They decide "not to work". But an honest reading of Paul's words make it clear that Abraham's obedience wasn't the issue. The issue in the Roman letter was WHERE Abraham's faith was - in his works on in God's grace. The question was never whether Abraham had to work or not. The faith of Abraham was always the same. Abraham didn't have one kind of faith that Paul saw and a different kind of faith that James saw. The faith of Abraham in James and Romans was the same kind of faith. Whenever Abraham was confronted with the will of God. his faith did what God said - which is James point. If it was to leave his parental homeland, he left by faith in God - Paul's point in Romans. If it was to offer his son as a sacrifice, he did it by faith - Paul's point in Romans. If it was to be circumcised, he did it by faith. The point Paul is making to the Romans is that Abraham's FAITH WAS NOT IN HIS WORKS. In all that he obeyed, Abraham's faith was in God. Paul does not want the Romans trusting in their own works as if a person can become perfected by works after having started by the Spirit. James, on the other hand, while still speaking of Abraham's same kind of faith, is dealing with the other aspect of the same faith that it is always obedient. A person can't say, "fine, God's grace is what makes me righteous, therefore I don't have to do anything." That attitude or response makes ones' faith dead (which is why denominations are leading many astray, teaching that justification comes by this kind of dead, disobedient faith). So that's the two aspects of same faith as dealt with by Paul (Rom 4) and James (Jas. 2).

The only kind of faith that pleases God is always obedient to God, doing whatever the moment requires, and this faith does not trust in the work itself to save but it always trusts in God who justifies.

Why do I bring this up? Because as I stated earlier, the only kind of faith that pleases God is always of the same nature. From beginning to end. From the beginning of time until the end when Jesus returns, the faith that saves is always the same. There's not one kind of non-working faith prior to salvation that afterward becomes an active and obedient faith. The faith that pleases God after salvation is the same faith that pleases God before salvation. It's always obedient and it does whatever God's word confronts the person to do.

Prior to salvation, the person of faith is confronted with his or her sin. So faith repents and puts down the sin. Before salvation, a person is confronted with Jesus' will that the person be baptized for the remission of sins, Mt 28:18-20; Mk 16:14-16. The person by faith gets into the water and God rewards the faith. You will see this is exactly what Paul says in Galatians 3:26,27; and Colossians 2:12,13, where Paul actually says that faith, baptism, and God's salvation all converge in one moment. And if you are a new or old Christian, the person of faith is confronted by new situations at home or work, and faith acts according to the will of God. God rewards the faith because "He is a rewarder or faith", Heb. 11:6. Whatever situation a person finds himself in, faith that is pleasing to God is always obedient to God. My point is that God's righteousness is revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ "from faith to faith", meaning that first to last, do all that you do with faith in God and not in your works. Faith is always obedient, first to last, beginning to the end.

COLOSSIANS: MODERN JEWISH TEACHERS

In the epistle to the Colossians, Paul encourages the Christians who were saved by faith in Christ to remain faithful. He encourages them to not be misled by the false teachers who are creating trouble in the church.

At one point, he says they died to the "elementary principles of the world", and they are saved and risen by Christ (2:12; 3:1), and therefore he ask why are they listening to those who would suggest they aren't saved without following fleshly principles?

Let me ask the question to you. Have you "died" to the "elementary principles of the world"?

First, what are "the elementary principles of the world"? The things they died to are sin. Paul says to them that they died and now their life is hidden with Christ, 3:3. He then goes on to say that they are to "consider the members of your earthly body as 'dead' to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry..., Col. 3:5ff" This dying and death to the"elementary principles of the world" is death to sin so that they live a new life of righteousness in Christ. Paul says we Christians don't do these things because we, "laid aside the old self with its evil practices", Col 3:9. The "elementary principles of this world" are the things of this world where carnal men set their minds, Col. 3:2.

Second, when did it happen? When did this "lost to saved" threshold get crossed by the Colossians? The same chapter and discussion answer this question. In 2:13, Paul says, "when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive...." There is the transformation being described of going from lost to saved. The previous verse 12 shows that it happened at the moment that they got into the waters of baptism, and therein they trusted in the working of God to raise them from the dead to be alive. This teaching in Colossians 2:12 corroborates with the teaching on baptism in other passages (see Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-5; Galatians 3:26,27; 1 Peter 3:21). My religious friends, even family members, have learned denominational doctrines before they learned the Bible. They have been taught to believe that Jesus is the Christ, but they were taught religious error that salvation is by faith alone, something that's contrary to what Paul or James taught, and they therefore do not understand that God's saving grace is received at the point of baptism. They have been deceived to believe that the proper teaching on baptism (the truth can be seen in the passages I have given above) is the same as a work of the flesh, like something the Jews would teach. They don't distinguish between Mosaic external requirements and Jesus' requirement, Mt 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-16! Salvation is by God's grace, we believe this, but contrary to what the denominations teach, God's saving grace doesn't happen with a prayer or a verbal confession of that prayer, but it happens when the repentant sinner is taken down into the water. Colossians 2:12,13, like Romans 6:3-7, and Galatians 3:26,27, makes this abundantly clear. It's why Peter said that, as Noah saved through water, Baptism now saves you by the resurrection of Christ, 1 Pt 3:21. The modern incarnation of the Jewish teachers are the denominations that nullify simple teaching and hinder people from getting into the water by faith. See again that Colossians 2:12 and Galatians 3:26,27 shows that faith is the necessary ingredient when a person is going down into the water. Not faith in the water or in man's work, but faith in God's power at work to make the buried sinner to be raised and born again.

Third, what replaced those things in your life; and Fourth, Why if you have died to them do you continue to follow those who are not rooted in Christ and teach carnal things that have the appearance of religion but are worthless to saved? Paul describes what replaced the old life where men lived according to the "elementary principles of the world", saying it's the life of the "new self" they put on and so "put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also shoul dyou. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." Paul describes the new life in Christ , which is incompatible with the old life and old man that was buried with Christ in baptism, Col. 2:12.

That last point, which Paul is making in Colossians 2:8ff, especially verse 20ff, is a finger pointed at the Jewish teachers who teach a brand of Christianity that continues to emphasize the Old Law with circumcision, sabbaths, dietary rules, and etc. Since we today don't have much of this brand of interference in the church, is there a modern incarnation of this? I believe so. Denominations and Denominationalism.

Denominations emphasize Old Testament cold tablets and cold commandments, and they emphasize the tithing and some even have carried over the "holy temple" idea so that the "church" is a building instead of people, AND they even go so far as to teach the heinous error that Jesus will come again to reestablish a physical kingdom that's headquartered in Jerusalem. Denominations continue to teach that the Jewish nationality of people are still God's people and that God will miraculously convert them all to believe in His Messiah. The Denominations are binding in their brand of Christianity things that are not rooted in Scripture.

Controversial to say this about Denominations? Sure, but try to find a denomination in the Bible. Colossians is a powerful reminder to be faithful to the God that saved the Colossians from sin and raised them to walk with Christ. The old man was buried with Christ in baptism and he was raised out of that baptism by the power of God who raised Christ from the dead. Now that we have been saved, not by human wisdom and human rules, but by the power of God, let's keep walking with Christ.