A Word to the Adults

Posted on December 2, 2009 by russellmckinney

I once had the privilege of speaking at the chapel service of our local Tri-County Christian school. Trust me when I tell you that wasn’t an easy assignment. If you doubt me, you try coming up with something that will keep the attention of young people whose ages range from K-12.

I began by having us all read Matthew 26:36-44 together, and then I spoke on the subject of surrendering yourself completely to God’s will. For a focal point of emphasis, I talked about the “nevertheless” way of living. That concept comes from Christ’s garden of Gethsemane prayer: “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” I really don’t know if my sermon made much of an impact on those young folks, but if even one of them got hold of the “nevertheless” concept, I accomplished a lot that morning.

After I left the school that day, I found myself thinking about Ecclesiastes 12:1: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them.'” As I reflected back upon the days of my own youth, I had to admit that even though I had remembered my Creator to some degree, my track record in that department had been a few billion miles from perfect. My prayer for those kids of Tri-County Christian school was that their efforts at serving the Lord during their younger days would far outdo anything previous generations had done.

The truth is, however, that much of what kids do or don’t do will always depend upon what kind of mentoring and guidance they receive from adults. That’s why us adults must never stop remembering our Creator, no matter how old we get. For one thing, God desires the obedience. For another, we need the blessings that come from such obedience. And for yet another, our young people need the role models. You see, it’s a win-win-win situation. So, adult, I ask you: What kind of a role model are you? That’s a good question to ask yourself right now, no matter what season of adulthood you currently find yourself.

Posted in Aging, Character, Children, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Elderly, God's Will, God's Work, Holiness, Influence, Parenting, Personal, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Service, Submission, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Five Good Questions About Water Baptism

Posted on December 1, 2009 by russellmckinney

There is much debate and confusion concerning water baptism. This is sad because the subject is such an important aspect of Christianity. Only by going to the Bible and studying all of the passages that relate to the issue can we get at the truth. When we do this, we find the answers to five fundamental questions.

Question #1: Who is qualified for water baptism?

The Bible plainly teaches that only born-again Christians can rightly submit to water baptism. To be born again, one must put saving belief (faith) in Jesus Christ (John 1:12-13; 3:3; 3:16-18; 1 John 5:1). Born-again Christians are people who have heard the gospel of Christ, felt God the Holy Spirit’s conviction in regards to their sins, seen themselves as sinners bound for hell, understood that Jesus (God the Son) died in payment for their sins, and genuinely believed in Jesus as their personal Savior. This belief (faith) in Jesus brings eternal forgiveness and salvation to the individual (John 3:16; Acts 10:43; Romans 1:16-17; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 5:1,13).

Such “believers” are qualified for water baptism because they have experienced Holy Spirit baptism (Matthew 3:11; John 7:37-39; Acts 1:5; 10:44-48; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Holy Spirit baptism is God the Holy Spirit taking up residence within the person who has put saving belief in Christ. This happens at the initial moment of the saving belief. Actually, it is Holy Spirit baptism that produces the “new birth” that makes one a born-again Christian. It is nonsense for people to claim to be Christians if they haven’t experienced Holy Spirit baptism (Acts 11:15-18; 15:6-8; Romans 5:5; 8:8-11, 8:14-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 3:3; 5:5; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:14; 1 John 3:23-24; 4:12-13).

All of this means that the common practice of baptizing infants is wrong. Likewise, it is equally wrong to baptize any adult who hasn’t put legitimate saving belief in Christ. The fact is that anyone, regardless of age, race, or religion, who hasn’t been baptized with the Holy Spirit has no business whatsoever being baptized in water. This is why water baptism is oftentimes rightly referred to as “believer’s baptism.”

Question #2: Does a person have to submit to water baptism to be saved?

No. The New Testament provides us with approximately 200 verses that teach that salvation comes through belief (faith) in Christ. Many passages use the word “faith” while others use words such “belief,” “believe,” or “believed.” Obviously, these words are interchangeable in regards to the salvation experience.

If water baptism played any part whatsoever in salvation we would find it consistently mentioned in the Bible whenever the plan of salvation is presented. What we find, instead, is the exact opposite. For example, the apostle Paul admitted that he didn’t even do much baptizing (1 Corinthians 1:13-17). Likewise, he didn’t mention water baptism when he gave the Corinthians his definition of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). Paul’s words and actions seem very strange if water baptism is required for salvation. Paul was like Jesus, who didn’t baptize anyone Himself (John 4:1-2).

It’s true that Peter mentioned water baptism in the invitation he gave as part of his famous sermon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:37-38), but he didn’t mention it in other sermons he preached (Acts 3:12-26; 5:29-32; 10:34-43). As a matter of fact, the Bible even points out that those who were saved after hearing the Pentecost sermon were saved by belief (Acts 2:44).

To contend that water baptism is vital to salvation is to create two plans of salvation. Summarizing the matter simply, the people of the Old Testament age, not being baptized, would have been saved in a different way than the people of the New Testament age. Actually, even the people who placed saving belief in Jesus during His three-and-a-half-year earthly ministry did not experience Christian baptism unless they later did so once the church age was begun following His death, resurrection, and ascension. That group included the apostles.

While it’s true that many of those pre-crucifixion believers were baptized in the Jordan river by John the Baptist, John’s baptism was not Christian baptism. Any individual baptized by John was merely making a public profession of repentance (Matthew 3:4-12; Mark 1:4-5; Acts 10:34-37; 18:24-25; 19:1-5). This repentance was supposed to prepare the individual to accept the Messiah (Jesus), who was soon to come and offer salvation (Matthew 3:11-12; Luke 7:24-30). This explains why John was hesitant to baptize Jesus (Matthew 3:13-14). John knew that Jesus had no sins for which He needed to repent and that He was the Messiah.

Getting back to the Old Testament believers, despite the fact that they did not experience Christian baptism, they were saved (Psalm 23:6; Luke 7:37-50; 23:39-43; Hebrews 11:1-40). There is even an entire chapter (Romans chapter 4) that is devoted to the teaching that salvation has always been through saving belief (faith) in the one, true Lord. That’s how every saved person from Adam to today’s Christians got saved.

Finally, one last piece of evidence that proves that water baptism isn’t a requirement for salvation is the fact that no one can baptize himself or herself. This means that a third party, someone besides the believer and Christ, factors into the salvation equation. This sets up the possibility of some unthinkable scenarios.

For example, what if a pastor, for whatever wrong reason, refused to baptize a genuine believer? That would put that believer in a bad spot because he or she wouldn’t actually get saved until they could find a pastor who would baptize them. Or what if a person believed in Jesus as Savior during the winter and couldn’t be baptized until the spring because his church did its baptizing in the local river and the river was full of ice? And what if that person died while waiting for warmer weather to be baptized? Are we going to say that the soul of such a person would end up in hell simply because he or she picked the wrong time of the year to believe in Jesus? Or what if a person believed in Jesus as Savior on his death bed, mere moments before dying, and went out into eternity without being baptized because there wasn’t a preacher there on the scene who could drag that person out of the hospital bed and get him or her to a bathtub for baptism?

Do you see what I mean? To make water baptism a necessary part of salvation is to throw the door wide open for some bizarre scenarios, all of which could end in sincere believers dying and going to hell. But all that gets eliminated when the salvation experience is understood to involve only the individual and the Lord.

Question #3: Why should the Christian submit to water baptism?

If water baptism isn’t a requirement for salvation, why should the Christian submit to it? He or she should do so because water baptism is a beautiful object lesson. Let me explain.

On the one hand, water baptism shows what has happened in the Christian’s EARTHLY existence. First, in going under the water, the Christian is publicly saying, “I am now dead to sin in regards to my way of life” (Romans 6:1-2; 6:6-7; 6:11-14). (The waters of baptism have even been called “a liquid tomb.”) Second, in coming up from under the water, the Christian is saying, “I am now alive to walk in the newness of the Christian life” (Romans 6:4; 6:6; 6:8; 6:10-14). This all speaks to the Christ’s earthly existence.

On the other hand, water baptism also shows what will happen in the Christian’s ETERNAL existence. First, in going under the water, the Christian is publicly identifying himself or herself with Christ’s death and burial (Romans 6:3-5; 6:8). Second, in coming up from under the water, the Christian is publicly identifying himself or herself with Christ’s resurrection from the dead (Romans 6:5; 6:8-9). You see, by submitting to water baptism, the Christian is saying, “I know that Christ will not leave my body in the grave and that my body will one day be gloriously resurrected, just as His body was” (1 Corinthians 15:20-24; 15:42-50).

Understanding how water baptism is a two-fold object lesson makes it easy to understand why Jesus commanded that those won to Him should submit to it (Matthew 28:19). The Bible even says that a Christian can be saved from a guilty conscience toward God only by submitting to water baptism (1 Peter 3:21). If the Christian refuses water baptism, he or she will eventually feel guilty about the disobedience (Luke 6:46; John 15:14; James 4:16).

In the days of the early church, those who believed in Christ as Savior were expected to immediately submit to water baptism (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-41; 8:12; 8:26-40; 9:17-18; 10:44-49; 16:14-15; 16:25-34; 18:8; 19:1-7). Keep in mind that the early Christians had no church buildings, pews, aisles, or altars. Therefore, a water baptism in public was a profound way for an individual to openly confess Christ as Savior (Matthew 10:32). For that matter, it still is!

Question #4: What mode of water baptism is correct?

Total immersion is the only mode of water baptism described in the Bible. This is seen not only in the passages that describe John the Baptist’s baptisms (Matthew 3:13-16; John 3:23) but also in the passage that describes Phillip baptizing the Ethiopian eunuch in the days of the early church (Acts 8:35-39). Putting it bluntly, the modes of sprinkling and pouring are just not scriptural.

Those who would object to this interpretation need to remember that it’s baptism’s object lesson that makes the mode so important. Again, water baptism is supposed to depict the Christian’s symbolic death and burial to sin as well as Christ’s literal death and burial. Accordingly, total immersion in the water is the only mode that truly pictures death and burial. When we bury a corpse, we don’t just sprinkle or pour a bit of dirt over that body. Instead, we immerse that body completely in the ground.

Question #5: What words should be said during water baptism?

Frankly, the exact words said during a water baptism don’t seem to be nearly as important as the mode. Consider the following:

Jesus told His followers to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Peter told a group of Jews to be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38).

Peter told a group of Gentiles to be baptized “in the name of the Lord” (Acts 10:48).

Paul baptized a group of believers “in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:5).

Most churches use the Matthew 28:19 words. This verse is also one of the Bible’s proof texts that God is one God who exists in three distinct personages. In the verse, Jesus says to His disciples, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name (singular) of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” You see, there is no need to immerse the believer three times into the water. To do so is to confuse the fact that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are One. Furthermore, it is to miss the fact that corpses aren’t buried three times.

Posted in Baptism, Belief, Bible Study, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Church, Conscience, Doctrine, Faith, Obedience, Salvation, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

To Doorbust or Not To Doorbust?

Posted on November 29, 2009 by russellmckinney

This past Friday I got closer than I’ve ever gotten to doing some “door busting” on Black Friday. Walmart was advertising a sweet laptop at an unheard of price, and so I made plans to hit in there about 4:00 a.m. and take my place in line. I dreaded it, but since I’d never actually had one of those “door busting” experiences, and since I really wanted that laptop, I thought, “This is the year.”

Since the store was open on Thanksgiving day, Tonya and I made a trial run over there that afternoon. Fortunately for us, the lady who was going to be selling those laptops the next morning was also working that afternoon and took the time to answer some questions for me. The question-and-answer session went something like this:

“What time do I need to be here to get one of those laptops?”  “By 1:30 or 2:00 a.m.”

“Really? That early?”  “Yes, definitely. I wouldn’t advise coming any later.”

“How many of those laptops do you have?”  “I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that. I know, but I can’t tell you.”

“If I do get here at 2:00 a.m. what will I need to do?”  “Go back to the appropriate part of the store and get in line.”

“What then?”  “I will start handing out tickets. Then, when the sale actually begins at 5:00 a.m., I’ll go right down the line and give the person with the ticket a chance to buy a laptop. I’ll go right down the line until all the laptops have been sold.”

“So, if I get in line at 2:00 a.m. and get my ticket, can I spend the next three hours walking around the store?”  “No, the best I can do is give you a five-minute bathroom pass.”

“In other words, I’m going to have to stand in line for a full three hours just to get a chance at buying one of those laptops?”  “Yes, that’s right.”

It was somewhere along about then that my “door busting” turned into bronco busting and I was thrown off the horse. NOTHING that woman said sounded good to me. She finished me off when I asked her how much the computer usually cost. She quoted something along the lines of $389. I say “something along the lines” because she was talking pretty fast at that point. The truth is, I could be wrong about the price she quoted. That’s the figure my brain heard, though. And since the sale price was $299, I did some quick math and came to the conclusion that all that just wasn’t worth it to save $90.

Now, I’ll grant you that three hours in line for $90 breaks down to $30 per hour. That’s good money. But it wasn’t enough to get me to bow down before that altar of American consumerism. So, I slept in Friday morning and enjoyed it. I did get out along about 10:30 a.m. with Tonya, the boys, and my mom. We hit the mall and had a good experience checking a few items off our “to buy” list. We didn’t get any 75% off deals, though.

I came away from my whole Black Friday experience with the following observations:

#1. Since that sales lady at Walmart was so adamant that I should be there no later than 2:00 a.m., I figure that meant they only had about ten of those laptops to sell.

#2. I’ve got enough willpower and sheer stubbornness to have gotten in line at 1:00 a.m., stood there all night, and staked my claim to one of those laptops, but I couldn’t do it and keep my self respect. That would have been me letting Walmart play me, and I just couldn’t give them that satisfaction.

#3. If I was someone else, or if the situation had been something else, maybe God would have given me a peace about doing what was necessary to get that computer. As things were, though, the only peace I found was in forgetting the whole deal and sleeping in late.

You know something? Even when I’m half in the mood to play this world’s silly little games, it’s just not something that I can do with ease or pleasure. God has had me too long. But I’m glad I’m that way because, after all, 1 John 2:15-17 is still in the Bible:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (N.K.J.V.)

Posted in Business, Choices, Contentment, God's Will, Money, Personal, Priorities, Stewardship, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Jesus Was Thankful For

Posted on November 25, 2009 by russellmckinney

The Bible specifically mentions four things for which Jesus was thankful. So, with your permission, I’d like to walk us through the list. Here we go.

#1: In John 6:11, Jesus gives thanks for the food by which He feeds the multitudes. In this passage, that food is five barley loaves and two small fishes, and those multitudes are 5,000 men. In another passage, Matthew 15:36, He gives thanks for the seven loaves of bread and few small fish that feed 4,000 men. Obviously, these stories teach us that we should give thanks for food.

#2: In John 11:41, Jesus gives thanks that God the Father has heard His prayers concerning the death of Lazarus. This shows us that we should give thanks that God the Father, despite all of His majesty, glory, and power, will take the time to hear our prayers. It’s no small thing to get an audience with the Creator of the universe!

#3: In Luke 10:21, Jesus gives thanks that God the Father hides spiritual truths from the earthly wise and prudent and reveals them to “babes.” This teaches us that we should give thanks that God doesn’t have to depend upon the world’s intellectual elite to get His message out or His work done. He is perfectly willing and able to work through common folk. (This same lesson is taught in Matthew 11:25 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.)

#4: In Luke 22:17-19, Jesus gives thanks for the symbolic elements He uses in the Lord’s Supper. The bread symbolizes His body and the cup symbolizes His blood. This teaches us that we should give thanks for Christ’s death. After all, it is because of that death that any of us have the opportunity to believe in Christ as Savior and be granted salvation (forgiveness of all sin, eternal life, entrance into heaven).

Of course, I’m not saying that Jesus never gave thanks for anything outside these four categories. Remember that the Bible in no way gives us a complete record of His earthly life and ministry. But for those of us who believe that all the words of the Bible are divinely inspired (2 Timothy 3:16), we can find great meaning in those facts the Bible actually includes. We have to figure that if they made the cut God had a good reason for putting them in there.

So, this Thanksgiving take the time to be thankful for the same things for which Jesus was thankful. First, be thankful for the food you get to enjoy. Second, be thankful for the fact that God listens to prayers. Third, be thankful that God can work through “everyday people” to accomplish His work. And, fourth, be thankful that Jesus died a substitutionary death on a Roman cross so that anyone who believes in Him as Savior can be granted forgiveness for all of his or her sins and get to spend eternity with Him. Such thankfulness will allow you to have a better appreciation for the goodness of God, and that, in turn, will allow you to have a better Thanksgiving.

Posted in Christ's Death, Crucifixion, Eternity, God's Work, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Salvation, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, The Bible | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Living Thanks

Posted on November 24, 2009 by russellmckinney

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, N.I.V.)

Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and his courts with praise; giving thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4, N.I.V.)

…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20, N.I.V.)

Here’s a good word that appeared in an issue of Pulpit Helps several years ago. The writer is William O. Vickery.

For Americans, there is a tradition of observing Thanksgiving Day each November. It is recognized as a national holiday and happily so. But one wonders if it were not a holiday, would there be any giving of thanks? That is the question that each person must answer for himself, just as each person will determine how he will express his thanks – by saying it, giving it, or living it.

Saying thanks is good; it is mannerly, tactful and serves as a lubricant to overcome friction. Giving thanks is better; it penetrates superficiality and allows for deeply-felt expressions to pass from one person to another. More of the whole person is exercised in giving thanks than in saying it. Living thanks is best. It transcends superficiality and exceeds spontaneity. It abides within the inner man as a continuing resource contributing to the development of character, shaping of lifestyle, and building of personal relationship with God, family, fellow Christians, and friends.

Vickery’s point is that we all need to take the focus off Thanksgiving and put it onto Thanksliving. While there’s nothing wrong with setting aside one day a year and calling it “Thanksgiving,” if we have to have turkey, pumpkin pie, and football games to cause us to pause and give thanks, we’re missing the point the rest of the year. Thankfulness should naturally pour out of us every day, all year, like water naturally pours over Niagara Falls, and everyone can find something for which to be thankful. Truth be told, most of us can find a long, long list of such things. That’s why ingratitude is one of the ugliest characteristics a person can show, and it’s also why being thankful should be a lifestyle we live as opposed to a day we observe.

Posted in Complaining, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Matthew Henry Was Thankful For

Posted on November 24, 2009 by russellmckinney

Matthew Henry was an English preacher in the late 1600s and early 1700s. He is best remembered for the legendary commentary set that bears his name. He died from a stroke while on a preaching tour in June, 1714.

Once, while Henry was traveling by horseback on his preaching circuit, he was held up and robbed. That night he recorded the incident in his journal. He concluded the record with the following prayer:

I thank Thee first because I was never robbed before; second, because although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed and not I who robbed.

Friend, when you and I reach the place in our spiritual maturity where we think and pray like that, we won’t have any problem finding things for which to be thankful. Matthew Henry obviously had learned the lesson of Ephesians 5:20, and may we learn it as well. That verse says:

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (N.K.J.V., emphasis mine)

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Contentment, Disappointment, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Problems, Revenge, Sanctification, Suffering, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Good Thought for Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2009 by russellmckinney

Let’s say that a father takes his child to McDonalds for french-fries. Once they have their order and are seated at a table, the father tests the child by asking, “Do you love me more than you love these french-fries?” The child has to think for a moment but finally answers, “Yes.” Do you know why that was the right answer? It’s because it’s better to love the source of the blessing than the blessing itself.

If that father had much money in his wallet, he could buy fries for all the people in the restaurant. But the fact that he only bought fries for his child showed that he loved that child and wanted to have an intimate time of fellowship with that child. You see, the real gift to the child was the father, not the fries.

I raised two wonderful boys, and I always enjoyed filling their lives with pleasing things such as food, clothing, comfortable beds, balls, bats, gloves, toys, televisions, and PlayStation systems. However, every time they received a gift from me, they should have appreciated me more than the gift. After all, stuff gets manufactured and purchased every day, but there is only one me. Ryan and Royce don’t have another earthly father. I’m it. That makes me infinitely more important than anything I could ever buy them.

This Thanksgiving spend some time thanking God for His person. Don’t just be thankful for the blessings He has bestowed upon you, blessings such as family, friends, health, peace of mind, home, money, possessions, etc. That’s just the child thanking the father for the french-fries. Be sure to thank God even more for simply being who He is.

Think about this: If all you can do is thank God for the blessings that He sends your way, what will you do if those blessings get taken away? As you might recall, that actually happened to Job. Chapters 1 and 2 of his book describe how he lost his wealth, his children, and his health. In the aftermath of all that, over the events of the rest of the book, Job learned to thank God merely for being who He is.

That’s a lesson that a lot of us still need to learn. I mean, seriously, could we offer up any heartfelt thanks if we lost the blessings that Job lost? Let’s all ponder that question this Thanksgiving. And as we answer the question, hopefully the thanks we offer to God will be more mature and insightful than any we’ve ever offered.

Posted in Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Provision, Parenting, Praise, Priorities, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Trials, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Faith

Posted on November 21, 2009 by russellmckinney

Flywheel was the first movie done by the Kendrick Brothers, who are associated with Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga. It’s not as well known as the brothers’ other movies (Facing The Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, War Room, and Overcomer), but I like it. At the end of Flywheel, the lead character names his new baby girl “Faith.” This comes on the heels of all the lessons about faith that God had been teaching him.

I once heard a preacher say, “The faith walk is on a need-to-know basis,” and my own walk with the Lord has proven the truth of those words. God never gives me the full revelation of what He’s doing in my life. Instead, I only get the guidance and instruction I need to take the next step. And whenever I think I’ve got the path figured out and can run ahead, He throws me a curveball to keep Me looking to Him.

In the New Living Translation, Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as “the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen” and “the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” Tell me, are you “hoping” for a particular thing from God? Are you desiring something you “cannot yet see”? If you are, then rest assured that if the thing is God’s will, He will bring it to pass in His timing and way.

In the meantime, though, He wants you to have sincere faith that He is going to get that job done. There really is no substitute for this faith, and you having it will make an incalculable difference in your overall attitude and mindset. You see, faith creates optimism, hope, and joy, but a lack of it creates pessimism, despair, and gloom. So, if you were naming your baby girl today, could you honestly name her “Faith”? If not, what you need to do is have a long talk with God about why you couldn’t name her that. The truth is, whether you like it or not, even the answers you are looking for in regards to your lack of faith can only be found in Him.

Posted in Adversity, Belief, Faith, God's Timing, God's Will, Patience, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Reward, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Church Bulletin Humor

Posted on November 20, 2009 by russellmckinney

There’s nothing wrong with using bulletins in your church, but you’d better make sure they are done well. Otherwise, they can make your church look kind of stupid. Today’s post offers a few examples from that category. I got these from an article that Bob Terrell ran in the December 17, 2000, edition of the Asheville Citizen Times. According to him, they were sent to him by Bea Pyle of Ormond Beach, Fla. See if you can spot the problem with each bulletin announcement.

-Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church. Come and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.

-Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday in the recreation hall. Come and watch us kill Christ the King.

-Miss Charlene Mason sang “I Will Not Pass This Way Again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

-The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on the Water.” The sermon tonight: “Searching for Jesus.”

-Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community.

-Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say “hell” to someone who doesn’t care much about you.

-Don’t let worry kill you off. Let the Church help.

-At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What Is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.

-Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

-Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

-The Lutheran men’s group will meet at 6 p.m.: steak, mashed potatoes, beans, bread, and dessert will be served for a nominal feel.

-Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person(s) you want remembered.

-Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a healthy lunch.

-Potluck supper Sunday at 5 p.m. Prayer and medication to follow.

-The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

-This evening at 7 p.m. there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

-Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the BS is done.

-Low Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 p.m. Please use the back door.

-The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the church basement Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

-The associate minister unveiled the church’s new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: “I Upped My Pledge – Up Yours.”

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Slander

Posted on November 19, 2009 by russellmckinney

Ray Donovan was the Secretary of Labor under President Reagan. His time in office was marked by a highly publicized case in which Donovan and six others were tried in New York on charges of larceny and fraud. In the end, Donovan and the six other defendants were acquitted. However, at the conclusion of the trial, Donovan pointed out a lingering problem when he famously asked, “Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?”

Proverbs 22:1 says: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” (N.K.J.V.). In light of this, we should all guard ourselves against committing the sin of slandering another person. And as proof that slander can take place, let me point out that some of the Bible’s greatest characters were slandered. I’m talking about the likes of Joseph (Genesis 39:7-20), David (2 Samuel 10:1-3), Stephen (Acts 6:8-14), Paul (Acts 24:5-6), and, of course, Jesus (Matthew 11:19, Matthew 26:59-68). Even though these men were all innocent of the accusations leveled against them, much damage was done to their reputations.

To be clear, all criticism is not slander. If the criticism is legitimate and valid, that’s another subject altogether. Furthermore, God’s word certainly does allow for not only the proper voicing of appropriate criticism but also the proper prosecution of criminals if a situation merits it. Christians are even scripturally mandated to rebuke sin. But we must tread carefully in the midst of this potential minefield, especially in these days when anybody can use social media to accuse anyone of anything. Ray Donovan was spot on when he noted that there is no way for a person to reclaim his or her unjustly destroyed reputation. As Proverbs 11:9 says: “The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor…” (N.K.J.V.). That’s why we must make sure that our words are marked by both accuracy and discernment. Otherwise, we’ll cross the line into sin ourselves by damaging someone’s reputation who doesn’t deserve it.

Posted in Character, Communication, Criticism, Discernment, Doing Good, God's Work, Holiness, Honesty, Influence, Personal Holiness, The Tongue, Truth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment