The Power of Purpose

Proverbs states, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV). Bill Hybels, in his book Courageous Leadership, tells us, “When a leader is casting a vision publicly the goal is to help people know, understand, and remember the ‘main thing’.” Purpose is all about keeping the “main thing” as the “main thing,” which is found in the five purposes of the church that are set forth by the New Testament as: 1) worship, 2) evangelism, 3) fellowship, 4) discipleship, and 5) ministry.

Ed Stetzer, in his book Planting Missional Churches, emphasizes that people must “envision” the core values of the congregation before they can ever become part of the vision. Without knowing the church’s purpose a congregation will be deprived of direction, leading to confusion, shattered enthusiasm, and the abandonment of the calling and mission. This article examines how Nehemiah stated, and even restated, Jerusalem’s purpose to the returning captives following the Babylonian exile.

“Then I said to them, ‘You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach’” (Nehemiah 2:17).

Back in Nehemiah 1:1-4, we read how Hanani delivered a message to Nehemiah while in Babylon, reporting how the survivors of the captivity in Jerusalem were in great distress, and that the wall of Jerusalem had been broken down and the gates burned with fire. Therefore, Nehemiah sought the Lord in prayer. Afterwards, he approached King Artaxerxes with his concern, and he was then granted permission to return home to address his people in Judah (Nehemiah 2:1-11).

In the first part of verse 17, we can see the immediate problem of which Nehemiah brought awareness. He pointed out to the people the exact same thing that Hanani had told him; that Jerusalem laid in ruins, its gates had been burned, and that its wall had been torn down. If you know the history, then you understand why the city found itself in such a terrible state. The Jews had rejected God’s leadership and coveted after foreign gods and idols; therefore, the Lord allowed them to be taken captive by Babylon; and during the siege the city was overrun and destroyed.

Nehemiah stated the immediate problem, and in turn, the people could do something about it; and back in Nehemiah 1:5-6, we learn that the first step to renewal is repentance. In the last part of verse 17, Nehemiah identified their present vision and purpose: their immediate purpose was to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. And our immediate purpose is to begin rebuilding this church and realigning with God’s plan for the strategic location in which He has planted this congregation; and a good place to start is with repentance. We need to turn away from the wall-crumbling direction that we’ve been travelling, do a “180,” and run back to what is right and true.

“And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. So they said, ‘Let us rise up and build.’ Then they set their hands to this good work” (Nehemiah 2:18).

In verse 18, Nehemiah motivated the people with news that God had been guiding him, and that King Artaxerxes had given him permission to rebuild Jerusalem (cf. Nehemiah 1:1-6). Back in Nehemiah 1:7-9, we learn a few more details of what the king had done for him, which was information that he most likely passed along to the people. The king had sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem with letters of passage, and a letter of instruction to Asaph, keeper of the king’s forest, that he must give the Jewish people timber to rebuild the city wall and the temple citadel. This news was surely encouraging!

Thus far, we’ve seen that Nehemiah 1) pointed out the problem, 2) led the nation in repentance, 3) identified their present purpose, and 4) communicated a message of hope. Through these four steps, Nehemiah laid out a clear plan and process for getting the nation back on track with where God wanted it to be. As a result of hearing Nehemiah’s clearly communicated purpose we can see, toward the end of verse 18, that the people jumped on board with the vision and got to work!

Rick Warren says, “There is incredible power in having a clearly defined purpose” (p. 86, The Purpose Driven Church); and also, “When a church clearly communicates its destination, people are eager to get on board. This is because everyone is looking for something that gives meaning, purpose, and direction to life” (p. 91). A good way to communicate purpose is through a simple and easily remembered “purpose statement” or “vision statement,” such as the one used by Saddleback Church that Rick Warren developed around the five purposes of the church. His purpose statement reads as follows:

Our purpose is to bring people to Jesus and membership in His family, develop them to Christ-like maturity, and equip them for their ministry in the church and their life mission in the world, in order to magnify God’s name (p. 107).

“So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work. Now it happened, when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were being restored and the gaps were beginning to be closed, that they became very angry, and all of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night” (Nehemiah 4:6-9).

Here, we see something that should serve as a warning. When God’s people start getting serious about His purposes, then those outside the walls will begin to attack; as we see here with the opposition from Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites. As we read in verses 7-8, people will become angry and begin trying to create confusion in the land; or perhaps, in the community. This opposition could arise in the form of criticism and gossip, as those who are threatened by the progress start trying to deter others from jumping on board with the vision.

When people in the community begin attacking the church, trying to discourage the membership and others from following the vision, we should do as seen in verse 9, and immediately go to the Lord in prayer. We should also be on guard both day and night, willing to run interference, interrupting any criticism we hear; and ready to set people straight with words of truth and passion, affirming the positive things that God is doing as the church seeks to fulfill the Lord’s purposes for His church.

“Then Judah said, ‘The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall’ . . . And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, ‘Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.’ 15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work” (Nehemiah 4:10, 14-15).

Look at what the people of Judah declared in verse 10: “The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall.” From this verse we find two important observations: 1) When people get off track from their purpose, they become discouraged; and 2) the very thing that contributes to discouragement is rubbish. “Rubbish,” is defined as “worthless, unwanted material that is rejected or thrown out; [or] debris” – which is probably the sense in which Judah used the word; and it’s also defined as “foolish words or speech; [and] nonsense.” I contend that rubbish talk from without and within will halt a church from pursuing God’s purposes.

In verses 14-15, we see that because the people had begun to lose their sense of purpose, Nehemiah had to restate the importance of their work. Rick Warren comments, “Although the wall took fifty-two days to complete, the people became discouraged at the halfway point” (p. 111, The Purpose Driven Church). This midway point was twenty-six days into the project, at which time Nehemiah had to restate the vision. From this account Warren devises what he calls the “Nehemiah Principle,” which holds that vision and purpose must be restated every twenty-six days to keep people confidently moving in the right direction (p. 111).

Warren continues to state, “The vision of any church always fades with time unless it is reinforced. This is because people become distracted by other things. Restate your purposes on a regular basis. Teach them over and over . . . By continually fanning the fire of your purposes you can overcome the tendency of your church to become complacent or discouraged” (p. 118, The Purpose Driven Church).

Therefore, based on this principle of repetition, from time to time I will preach messages related to the five purposes of the church. This must be done so that, as we read in verse 15, “all of us [can] return . . . everyone to his work.” We must be encouraged to stay on track with our work and purpose, because we all have a role, and we all have a part to play, in building the church and the kingdom of God!

Five Sayings Not Found in the Bible – Part 1

I pastored my first church fourteen years ago, and I recall how the congregation would tell me time and again how the most intriguing sermon they ever heard was when one of their former pastors preached on “popular sayings not found in the Bible.” Ever since I heard about this idea, I have wanted to preach such a sermon. I guess a devotion will have to do for now. In this newsletter article we’re going to look at five common sayings that aren’t actually found in the Bible; and what I like about this article is that it gives me an opportunity to share five mini-devotions at once. So, let’s get started by looking at the first commonly used aphorism or proverb:

Hate the Sin, Not the Sinner – Believe it or not, this commonly used expression dates back to 424 A.D. in St. Augustine’s “Letter 211,” which contains the phrase, “With love for mankind and hatred of sins” (Latin: Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum). Mahatma Gandhi later adapted this quote and rendered it in the more familiar form of “hate the sin, love the sinner,” which appeared in Gandhi’s 1929 autobiography. It’s a catchy little statement, but it’s not found in the Bible.

So, does God “hate the sin and love the sinner,” as Gandhi put it? Most definitely! God does hate sin (Proverbs 6:16-19); however, He loves sinners. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This common saying among Christians might not be found in the Bible, but it conveys a biblical concept that teaches us how to act towards unbelievers and those living in sin. So, how should Christians act around those living in sin? We should be kind, loving and accepting; though not accepting or approving of their sin.

God Helps Those Who Help Themselves – According to researcher George Barna, eight out of ten Americans believe this saying is found in the Bible. One of its earliest known expressions is from Aesop’s fable “Hercules and the Wagoneer.”  A man’s wagon got stuck on a muddy road and he prayed for Hercules to help him out. Hercules appeared and said, “Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel.” The moral of the story was then given as “the gods help them that help themselves.” The moral of this fable was later adapted by Benjamin Franklin in his 1736 work called “Poor Richard’s Almanac” to become the more familiar saying we hear and recognize today.

So, does “God help those who help themselves?” Personal accountability and responsibility are prominent themes found in the Bible; however, ultimately, God desires followers who are totally dependent on Him. Proverbs 28:26 says, “He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,” and in Jeremiah 17:5-7, we read, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.”

God Won’t Give You More Than You Can Handle – This saying is based on 1 Corinthians 10:13; however, it’s a misquote of the Scripture, meaning that it’s a saying not technically found in the Bible. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13 is speaking about the pressures of temptation, and if you look at it carefully, it doesn’t say that God sends temptation on us. In fact, James 1:13 says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God;’ for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.” When temptation comes knocking on your door it’s from the devil. Both Matthew 4:3 and 1 Thessalonians 3:5 call Satan “the tempter.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 is simply saying that the Lord “allows” us to experience temptation, and that He also makes a way of escape.

So, let’s be careful about blaming God for all the bad things that come into our life. When someone’s experiencing a time of crisis, telling them the Lord did it as a test, or for some reason that only He knows about, is not going to bring about comfort and healing to anyone. If we were to change this saying to be more theologically correct, it would be that “God won’t allow you to endure more than you can handle.”

Do unto Others as They Would Do unto You – This popular saying is based on Matthew 7:12, where Jesus stated, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Some people will get the content halfway correct in saying, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” but I’ve actually heard it quoted on television as, “Do unto others as they would do unto you.” This faulty rendering implies taking revenge, and in Romans chapter 12, we’re told, “Repay no one evil for evil . . . do not avenge yourselves” (12:17, 19).

When Jesus said, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12), He was saying, “If you want to be treated with love and respect, then treat others with love and respect.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Now, on the flip side, Jesus was warning us, “If you treat others unfairly and poorly, then they will treat you unfairly and poorly.” So we definitely don’t want to be doing unto others as they would do unto us!

Be In the World, Not of the World – This expression is not an actual verse found in the Bible; however, you could say it finds its basis in the Priestly Prayer of Jesus seen in John chapter seventeen. Jesus said in John 17:14, “The world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” It’s clear that Jesus doesn’t want His followers to be “of the world.” He says that He Himself is “not of the world,” and His disciples are “not of the world.”

Jesus then prayed in John 17:18, “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” This is probably where the part of the statement “in the world” comes from. David Mathis notes that we need to make a distinction in what Jesus said. He did not pray for His disciples to simply “be” in the world. We’re not supposed to be peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9) sitting on the sidelines of life, afraid to engage our culture. Jesus specifically said that we are “sent into” the world.

Mathis says, “Maybe it would serve us better – at least in light of John 17 – to revise the popular phrase ‘in, but not of’ in this way: ‘not of, but sent into.’ The beginning place is being ‘not of the world,’ and the movement is toward being ‘sent into’ the world. The accent falls on being sent, with a mission, to the world – not being mainly on a mission to disassociate from this world” (DesiringGod.org). So, instead of “being in the world, but not of the world,” let’s “be not of the world, but sent into it” – sent with a purpose.

The Inspired and Authoritative Scripture

I wish to begin this newsletter submission by sharing some comments made on an Internet blog site. The anonymous individual writing this article says, “The Bible contains too many beliefs which we reject today . . . Take for instance the modern Christian view of hell . . . [which is] such a repugnant view in light of the knowledge of a global world of sincere people.” This person also states, “There are problems I have with the claims of miracles in the Bible. How can we judge that they ever happened when we must believe the writings of ancient superstitious people to do so?” and “claims of miracles in that same ancient world, [are] claims that Christians themselves will deny.”

It’s very difficult witnessing to unbelievers, and even preaching to Christians, when many people today don’t believe in the inspiration of the Scripture. So, what do I mean when I use the term inspiration? The beginning of The Baptist Faith and Message states, “The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man.” To believe in the inspiration of the Scripture is to acknowledge that God spoke to the authors and writers of the Bible through the Holy Spirit, guiding their thoughts as they put pen to paper (or quill to scroll). 2 Peter 1:19-21 states,

We have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” To hold that the Bible is inspired by God means it holds weight and authority in our lives, providing a moral compass to guide our thoughts and actions. The Bible, therefore, becomes the source of truth by which we live. The prophet Daniel said of the Scripture, “But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth” (Daniel 10:21).

The inspired Word of God, being the source of truth, lends authoritative weight to its precepts. The Baptist Faith and Message continues to say, “[The Scripture] is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.”

The Baptist Faith and Message says that the precepts contained in the Scripture guide the Lord in His judgments and are meant to guide us in our conduct, creeds, and opinions. I already stated that the Bible is the source of truth; however, we live in a world today where people want to form their own truth, and make it up as they go – a false truth that becomes a license to sin and live independently from accountability to God or anyone else, for that matter. When everyone holds his or her own truth, and there is no absolute standard, then chaos ensues leading to social collapse.

A rejection of the inspiration and authority of the Scripture is simply the resurfacing of a very old problem, one that’s been around since the beginning of the creation of the world; which is sin and rebellion against God. What you believe concerning the inspiration of the Scripture boils down to a matter of faith. You either believe that the Bible is inspired, or you don’t. You either believe God is who He says He is, or you don’t. You can’t walk the middle of the road or ride the fence, for Jesus views those who are lukewarm as vomit to be spat out and rejected (Revelation 3:15-16).

This may sound like a harsh, unloving and judgmental message to those who believe in tolerance and allowing people to believe what they want. Josh McDowell writes, “Tolerance says, ‘You must agree with me.’ Love responds, ‘I must do something harder: I will tell you the truth, because I am convinced the truth will set you free’.” Bill Fay, in his book Share Jesus Without Fear, says, “Either you can share your faith, or you can say nothing and in your silence love your friends into hell.”

God didn’t call me to be tolerant and share a false love; He called me to demonstrate true love, which sometimes requires offending people to set them on the right path; and the right path concerning the Scripture is to receive it in faith as being the inspired and authoritative Word of God, “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Joshua said of the Scripture, “You shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). Heeding the Bible as the inspired and authoritative Word of God will lead to abundant life; therefore, I encourage you to receive the Scripture in faith; to believe it and trust it with all your heart.

A New Name Inscribed in Stone

In Exodus chapter 28, we read where the Lord commanded that Moses’ brother Aaron, along with his four sons, be set aside from the children of Israel as holy priests (vv. 1-2); and the Lord commissioned artisans to fashion sacred garments for them, containing a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a tunic, a turban, and a sash (vv. 3-8). We then read the following words of instructions found in Exodus 28:9-12:

Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: six of their names on one stone, and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel.

You shall set them in settings of gold. And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial.

We encounter a word here that some of us probably don’t recognize, which is the word “ephod.” Easton’s Bible Dictionary defines the word ephod as “a sacred vestment worn originally by the high priest, [and] afterwards by the ordinary priest . . . It was made of fine linen, and consisted of two pieces, which hung from the neck, and covered both the back and front, above the tunic and outer garment . . . The two pieces were joined together over the shoulders by clasps or buckles of gold or precious stones.”

These verses tell us that on the shoulder straps of the ephod, probably on the buckles, there would be two onyx memorial stones set in place (size unknown), on which would be inscribed by an engraver the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; six names on each stone, in order of their birth (vv. 9-11); and then we’re told about the purpose of these two stones: They would be worn by Aaron as he entered the holy of holies; and thereby, the names of the twelve tribes of Israel would be seen by the Lord (v. 12).

The reason for displaying these two onyx stones before God in His holy tabernacle is so they would serve as “memorial stones” to the Lord (v. 12), always reminding Him of His covenant with the tribes of Israel; for it was by God’s covenant that the Lord extended His mercy and favor toward Israel.

On Memorial Day we recognize the names of those who have died in the armed services, and we also recall our loved ones who have died of some other cause; but the main thing is that we remember them. Being remembered by the people we love is something we all hope will happen when we die; but the most important thing is to be remembered before God when we stand at the judgment.

In Revelation 2:17, Jesus declared, “To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” To him who overcomes; or rather, to him who has received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; he will receive a new name inscribed on stone that will serve as a memorial before God; reminding the Lord of His mercy and favor extended toward us.

The new name depicts a new spiritual beginning, and the white stone portrays being cleansed from our sin. Therefore, when we pass away and stand before God’s throne, He won’t recall our former sinful life; but He will instead remember His covenant; the new covenant made in Christ. The writer of Hebrews said, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them” and “their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more” (Hebrews 10:16-17).

As we remember our loved ones, let’s be certain that we’ll see them again. If we have a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, then He will remember our name when we stand before His throne; and He will remember His covenant and mercy, and declare, “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21).

Answering A Cohabitation Nation

In this article we’ll be looking at the topic of cohabitation. This word means more than just living together as friends. The website Dictionary.com defines “cohabitation” as “to live together as if married, usually without legal or religious sanction” and “to live together in an intimate relationship.” Cohabitation may be best understood by the well-known and crude expression “shacking up,” which describes living together outside of wedlock.

In nearly every movie and prime time television show, you’ll see depicted a man and woman in bed together without being married; even living together for the purpose of having relations outside the bond of marriage. In fact, what we see in popular media is quickly becoming the norm of our society. This should be no surprise, however, for the apostle Paul warned, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith . . . forbidding to marry” (1 Timothy 4:1a, 3a).

Many Christians will agree that marriage can be traced to Genesis 2:24, which says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Yet, in talking with so-called Christians who are cohabiting, I’ve heard a common misguided argument: “In the beginning, Adam and Eve weren’t married through a traditional wedding ceremony, or held to a legal binding contract. Their physical union was viewed by God as them being married. Therefore, living together is okay, because it’s like we’re already married in the eyes of God.”

Well, I propose that if they really believed they were married in the eyes of God, they wouldn’t switch partners so frequently. What you just heard is a lame excuse for a license to sin. Hal Lane of the “Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission” says, “Where do professing Christian couples find justification for living together without marriage? Their own desires and an immoral culture provide support, but God’s Word is neither vague nor confusing on this point: A personal commitment between a man and woman is not the moral equivalent of a biblical marriage.”

Jesus cited Genesis 2:24 when He referred to marriage as a permanent and unbreakable bond between a man and woman: “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?’ So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Matthew 19:4-6). In spite of what Jesus said, however, there are still some who want to form their own opinion about sex and marriage.

So, what does the Bible tell us elsewhere? Hal Lane elaborates, “When God revealed the law to Moses on Mount Sinai, there were many regulations regarding marriage. [For example], a man who seduced a virgin and had sexual relations with her before marriage was required to pay the father of the girl and was required to marry her if the father permitted.” He bases this observation on Exodus 22:16, which says, “If a man entices a virgin who is not betrothed, and lies with her, he shall surely pay the bride-price for her to be his wife.”

Lane continues to tell us, “Sexual relations with a virgin betrothed to another resulted in death by stoning of both parties.” He cites Deuteronomy 22:23-24a for this observation, which says, “If a young woman who is a virgin is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the city and lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gate of that city, and you shall stone them to death with stones.” Lane adds, “These laws revealed the importance of marriage and the sin of premarital sex.”

Today, the Lord extends mercy to those who’ve committed sexual sin. For example, when the scribes and Pharisees brought before Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery, Jesus replied, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” After hearing this, everyone departed one by one. Jesus then arose from where He was writing on the ground, and asked the woman, “Where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” When she replied, “No one, Lord,” Jesus then said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (see John 8:1-11).

In Hebrews 13:4, we read, “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Physical relations outside of marriage, which includes cohabitation, is defined as sin which will be dealt with by God; that is, unless we repent. Jesus didn’t just tell the woman caught in the act of adultery, “Neither do I condemn you” and leave it at that. He told her, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11); or rather, “Turn away from what you’re doing, and head the other direction, never to return,” which is the definition of repentance.

“Go and sin no more” is what the Lord says to those who are cohabiting with a partner; and this is the message that we need to be communicating as Christians. We need not be afraid or ashamed to confront someone whom we know is living in sin, and tell them “The Lord loves you, but He doesn’t love your sin. However, He will to forgive you if you’ll just repent, turn from your sinful behavior, and sin no more.”

Pursuing God’s Best Just Released

Damian Phillips wrote a book entitled Pursuing God’s Best, subtitled “Reaching the Place of Your Calling.” His book has been published by Innovo Publishing, which produces titles from many well-known authors. Some of Innovo’s books are stocked by CBD and LifeWay; and Damian’s title will be available on Amazon.com, and has the ability to be stocked in major book stores across the country.

Innovo Publishing will be taking his book on tour to trade shows across the world, such as “Book Expo America” in New York City, “The International Christian Retail Show” in Atlanta, the “American Library Association” expo in Seattle, and “The Frankfurt International Book Fair Show” in Frankfurt, Germany. The exposure gained from these book tours often results in major contracts with retailers.

If you wish to order a copy of Damian Phillips’ book in either paperback or e-book format, you can purchase one directly from the publisher’s website at http://www.innovopublishing.com/pursuing-god-s-best-by-damian-phillips.html, or go to Amazon.com. Keep in mind that authors receive the greatest royalties on orders purchased directly from Innovo Publishing.

Don’t Fight the Shears

I remember when I was a grounds keeper at Center College and my supervisor taught me how to prune trees and shrubs. He explained that you must be willing to cut away whatever it takes to open up the center of the plant to life-giving light and air. I became the “master pruner,” to where the supervisor sent me to do all the pruning.

One time I was sent to prune a berry bush that the other workers ate from. I pruned it according to my training, but the workers became very angry with me and wouldn’t let me live it down – that is, until the spring, when the bush bore more fruit than it ever had as a result of pruning.

Sometimes God has to prune people – and even churches – to get them to grow, and wherever He is pruning it hurts. Just remember that pruning is necessary for health, growth and productivity. Jesus said, “Every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:2). Don’t fight the shears, but allow God to do His life-giving work in your life.

Canton Baptist Church Is Positive

Clive Walters, Sr. said, “Perception is 99 percent of reality.” Churches can get anxious when members perceive the wrong reality; and perceptions can become misguided when people see only what’s negative instead of what’s positive; and added to these two observations, negativity will result in a church travelling down a path of destruction. So, how does a church get back on track with God? Stephen R. Covey says, “To change ourselves effectively, we first [have] to change our perceptions,” and Philippians 4:6-8 provides a prescription to do just that. We read in these verses:

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

Based on this text, if a church finds itself anxious, then it needs to 1) take it to the Lord in prayer with thanksgiving for what God’s already done, and 2) focus on the things that are positive, the good things that are happening in the life of the church – and that’s what we’re going to do right now, as I remind us about some amazing events that have taken place over the past 8 months at Canton Baptist Church:

1.) Back in the fall of 2013, we held a Canton Block Party, with games, blowups, food and fellowship, which is an event that’s still being talked about today. There were 125 people in attendance that Sunday evening.

2.) In the spring of 2014, we held a women’s conference with inspirational Christian speaker and author Sarah Meece, who is Harold Calhoun’s sister. Everyone who attended had a wonderful time, and there were 103 people in attendance, and about 10 area churches were represented from numerous denominations.

3.) Also, Josh Horner joined us from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and brought some uplifting messages. We had some “up-nights” and “down-nights” in attendance, but on the “up-nights” we had around 80 people.

4.) Don’t forget that Michael Rust, our Associational Missionary, along with his wife Debbie, led us in a Deacons Training for the deacons and their spouses.

5.) And let’s not forget that Michael “Two Shadows” Brennan joined us from Sharp’s Corner Baptist Mission in South Dakota, where he minister’s to the Lakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Michael is Cherokee himself, and he spoke about his mission work, and led us in some Native American worship. Everyone left the service feeling blessed. There were around 80 people there that night, which is excellent for Sunday evening worship attendance.

6.) We just held the Beasley Bash, which is designed to recruit volunteers for the bereavement committee meals; and our newest church member who was baptized last week, signed up to help provide food for those who have lost loved ones.

7.) And aside from special events, we have a newly formed ladies group that meets on the last Sunday night of each month, with the purpose of finding ways to serve the church and community. They have started a card ministry for the shut-ins and sick, they are making sure that church birthdays and anniversaries are announced on WKDZ, and they do a quarterly outreach at Trigg Manor to celebrate the residents’ birthdays.

We have experienced some uplifting and positive things here at Canton Baptist Church; but there are some who would say that nothing good is going on; and we allow these naysayers to affect our perception of reality. Tony D. Clark stated, “Decide now to be in charge of your own perception of reality; because if you don’t, there are plenty of folks whose sole purpose in life is to craft that perception for you. Do you trust them to have your best interest in mind?”

I trust the Holy Spirit to guide my perceptions; and if you’ll allow yourself to be led by the Spirit, then He will show you what is good. 1 Corinthians 14:33 says, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” It’s not the Lord who would lead us to say and feel things that lead to conflict and division; it is the devil.

In John 10:10 we’re told, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” I encourage you to walk in life; the abundant life that comes by focusing on, and giving thanks, for God’s many blessings in our life and here at Canton Baptist Church.

Are We Investing in the Kingdom?

“Titus Maccius Plautus, a Roman poet and philosopher who lived from 254-184 B.C.” provided the following well-known words of business advice. He said, “You have to spend money to make money.” I understand this saying as meaning that you have to invest in something in order to see a return on your money.

For example, if a person starts a new business selling a product, then he must begin advertising. If the individual decides he doesn’t want to spend the extra money on marketing, then he probably won’t sell much product; but without marketing, sales won’t be strong enough to sustain the business, and so the initial investment in start-up costs will be lost as the business fails and has to close up shop. However, if the person had invested in advertising, then the product would have been sold and he would have made a profit and been able to keep the doors open.

In Matthew chapter 25, Jesus shared a parable about investing. He said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money” (vv. 14-18).

To make a long story short, the two servants who invested the master’s money were rewarded; however, the one who hid it was severely punished (vv. 19-30). Notice the excuse of the servant who hid his single talent of money: “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (vv. 24-25). This man was afraid of doing the wrong thing, and his fear led to financial inactivity; and he wound up burying his talent, and thus losing all he had in the end (vv. 26-29).

Plautus’ expression “you have to spend money to make money,” or at least the basic concept, can be applied to the work of the church. I’m not saying we should invest in order to see a return in “cash flow.” The church should never be in the business of making money. However, we do need to be investing our financial resources in order to see a return in “lost souls” won for the Lord. We need to be investing in things that will reach the lost for Jesus Christ and grow the kingdom of God.

God doesn’t bless a church financially so it can just sit on the money and earn cash interest. In fact, these days the interest rates are so low that this strategy won’t do any good! The Lord blesses a church with money so it can be invested in people; and the type of investments we need to be making are those that lead to the greatest return in lost souls saved from the consequences of sin.

Some churches believe that investing in people is giving away lots of money in benevolence; but the kind of investing the New Testament teaches is meeting people’s spiritual needs. For example, in Acts 3:6, the Apostle Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” We need to be investing in things that provide an opportunity to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ; and that lead people to getting saved.

If a church is struggling with low attendance, and as a side-effect low income, then perhaps that church somewhere along the way decided it was better to grow its bank account than to invest in programs, outreaches, and even personnel that would better minister to the spiritual needs of others. Just as the business that refused to invest in marketing and advertising for its new product had to close up shop, a church that fails to invest in people will eventually have to close its doors.

(I have a question for you): “In what ways has our church, out of fear, failed to invest financially in effective programs, outreaches, and personnel – or, perhaps something else – and our church is now experiencing the consequences?” This is some good food for thought. (Here’s one more question): “If we discover that we’ve been hoarding money instead of investing it, then how can we turn things around; especially if we’re feeling a financial crunch?” Keep in mind that making an attempt to do what’s right is a sure sign of a sincere heart.

Which Is Easier: Tithing or Giving?

In numerous places in the Old Testament, tithing is commanded of God’s people (cf. Lv 27:30; Neh 10:35-37; Mal 3:8-10). However, many believers will say that tithing was an Old Testament rule that’s no longer valid – that giving is the new principle. This premise is based on the notion that Christ came to abolish the law; which is an idea derived from such scriptures as Colossians 2:13-14 and Hebrews 7:18-22.

In Matthew 5:17, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” I don’t see Jesus saying anything about abolishing the Old Testament law; He came to fulfill the law. So what exactly did He mean? William Barclay, in The Daily Study Bible, says, “Men blame the past for many things . . . [but] as Jesus saw it, it is man’s duty neither to forget nor to attempt to destroy the past, but to build upon the foundation of the past.”

The law culminated in Jesus, who is the embodiment of the law; and the moral and godly principles taught in the Old Testament are still valid for instruction in righteousness; however, because of Christ there’s grace and forgiveness for when we fall short of the law. Grace is the idea communicated in Colossians 2:14, when Paul stated that Christ has “wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

I can’t persuade you one way or another in whether you’ll choose to believe in tithing versus giving. Hopefully, you won’t view it as either/or, but that you’ll believe as Randy Alcorn teaches in his book The Treasure Principle, that tithing “can be the training wheels to launch us into the mind-set, skills, and habits of grace-giving.” Hopefully, you’ll realize that tithing is just the starting blocks, or the base requirement from God, and that you will practice both tithing and giving.

It’s your decision on whether you choose to tithe or give, or to do both. However, what I can do is ask you to seriously think about something. What I want you to consider is this: Which is easier, tithing or giving? Which requires a bigger commitment?

Those who claim that Christ abolished the law will usually make another claim alongside this one. They will say that we are now a New Testament church; and therefore, the New Testament is the basis for our guidelines, not the Old Testament. Okay, if we’re a New Testament church, then perhaps we should look at what that entails. If we want to get serious about becoming a New Testament church, then there’s a model for us to follow in Acts 4:32-35:

Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.

Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

Here, we see the New Testament church in its infancy, as it’s just beginning; and we learn some things concerning our belongings and what’s expected by the Lord. This Scripture tells us that the things we possess aren’t really ours, but God’s. We’re just stewards of His resources. Here, we see how all the people liquidated their assets, converted it all into money and laid it at the apostle’s feet for use in the church; which was then “distributed to each as anyone had need.”

How much of what they owned did the people of the New Testament church give unto the Lord’s work? Everything! Many people like the idea of giving, because it provides an excuse to donate less money to the Lord’s work; but in the principle of giving, God will often ask people to give more than a mere ten percent, and He might even ask them to give their all! So, if you’re someone who’s keen on the model of giving, are you prepared to give your all if God were to ask you?

One of the tenets of giving is that you should give in proportion to what God lays on your heart. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, “Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” What we purpose in our heart should be a response to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But what happens if the Spirit tells you how much to give, but you get His voice mixed up with your own selfish motives? This can easily happen to people who prefer the model of giving versus tithing. Listen, as I share from another passage in Acts 5:1-6:

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

Ananias was in the process of selling his land, in order to give the proceeds to the church; however, he kept back part of it for himself. Peter said that in doing so, Ananias lied to the Holy Spirit and to God. How did he lie to the Holy Spirit, and what does this mean? The Holy Spirit convicted him of what amount he was to give, and when he withheld part of the amount, he tried to deceive the Lord. If God convicts us of what amount we should give, and we refuse Him, then this a serious offense. Refusing to give the right amount could result in experiencing times of hardship.

So, which is easier, tithing or giving? Tithing is a whole lot easier! In the tithing model, you have a set amount that you’re to give on a regular schedule. It will always be the same unless your income changes. In the giving model, God might require more than ten percent; and at times require your all. Also, you had better hope that you’re really giving what God lays on your heart, and that you’re not using the model of giving so that you can skimp on your offering. If the voice of greed overpowers the voice of the Holy Spirit, then there could be a world of hurt to suffer.

The giving model views the Lord as lenient and tolerant of our meager gifts born out of cheating hearts; but on the contrary, God was, and is, and always will be a God of justice who holds us accountable for our sin. I don’t know about you, but tithing seems a whole lot easier and safer than adhering to a giving system. Once again, however, I must emphasize that this shouldn’t be a matter of tithing versus giving. We should practice both tithing and giving; with tithing being the starting blocks.

Responding to Phil Robertson’s Comments

It seems that pastors today are often afraid of addressing the topic of homosexuality, because we live in an age where speaking biblical truth can result in minor religious persecution. In Canada, for example, it’s illegal for pastors to preach against homosexuality. It’s labeled a hate crime, and can result in strict fines and jail time. I fear that we’re heading this direction in America and that perhaps this article will one day come back and bite me; but sharing the truth is a worthwhile risk.

Most people are probably aware that, back in December 2013, Phil Robertson of the show “Duck Dynasty” was temporarily suspended from A&E Network for his comments on homosexuality. I tried to keep up with the debate by reading Internet articles and blogs, and by viewing reader comments posted after each article; and I was greatly disappointed by how so-called “Christians” were responding.

There were two streams of thought I noticed: 1.) There were influential Christian leaders who avoided addressing the content of Robertson’s remarks for fear of becoming a target of the media themselves; and they instead made it an issue about losing one’s freedom of speech. 2.) There were numerous reader comments posted by those claiming to be Christians, who said things such as, “I’m a Christian and I believe homosexuality is okay, because Jesus said that we’re supposed to love everyone.”

I would like to give us a proper perspective on how Christians should have responded to the remarks made by Phil Robertson; and provide some insight on how to act around those of the homosexual persuasion. First of all, we’ll look at what Robertson “really” said in his actual comments; and secondly, we’ll consider the remarks made by those who posted under the articles and blogs.

“The Christian Post” records Robertson as saying this: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers – they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.” This appears to be the main statement that offended people, but keep in mind that these were not his own words. He was just quoting the New International Version of 1 Corinthians 6:9. Robertson testifies, “All I did was quote from the scriptures, but they just didn’t know it.”

Mainstream Christian leaders should have addressed what Robertson said and supported his comments, because he was proclaiming the words of the Bible (cf. Rom 1:24-27). The major issue wasn’t about losing freedom of speech; it was a matter concerning the truth of God’s Word. Keep in mind that Robertson wasn’t beating people over the head with the Bible. He was asked a question in an interview and he answered honestly according to his biblical worldview. Like Robertson, each of us as believers should uphold what the Bible has to say about the sinfulness of homosexuality.

Now, what about the reader comments such as, “Jesus loved and accepted everybody; and therefore, we should too”? Jesus did love and accept everybody; however, He refused to accept their sin. We don’t have to campaign against homosexuality and become a public spectacle; however, when asked about what we believe, we need to be open and honest. Love should compel you to share with people the hard truths. Robertson said, “If you give them the bad news, they’ll start kicking and screaming. But you love them more than you fear them; so you tell them [the truth]” (The Christian Post).

So, how are believers supposed to act around those who are homosexuals? Well, we should be cordial, kind, loving and accepting – though not approving of their sin. Robertson stated, “I would never treat anyone with disrespect just because they are different from me. We are all created by the Almighty; and like Him, I love all of humanity” (The Christian Post). Well said. Love is the very thing that will soften hearts hardened by sin and open a door to share the truths of the Bible.

John Daniel, “12 Quotes: Phil Robertson’s Homosexuality Quotes and Defenses,” (posted December 23, 2013): http://ipost.christianpost.com/news/12-quotes-phil-robertsons-homosexuality-comments-and-defenses-12701/.