What Can You Do to Help?

Posted on June 15, 2020 by russellmckinney

I am 53 years old and have never seen days such as these. Pick your headline: Covid-19, social distancing, police brutality, race riots, the Confederate Flag, Civil War monuments, polarizing politicians, etc., etc., etc. I recently talked with one man who said, “I don’t watch the news anymore, not any of it. I just turned it all off.” I have to admit that his approach would have its benefits.

Living in such a time makes attempting to make a difference for Jesus even more complicated than it already is. How can we, as Christians, be “salt” and “light” to a world that seems determined to remain saltless and dark? How can we do our part to promote justice when injustice seems inherently built into every situation we encounter? How can we let our voices be heard when all they would do is add to the deafening din of noise that has been created by everybody’s voice already being heard?

Some Christians are posting on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Others are taking to the streets to join protest marches. Others don’t really know what to do and so they are just spending more time in prayer. The whole situation has reminded me of a quote that I picked up somewhere along the way from John Stott, the noted theologian who died a few years ago. He wrote:

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.

People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them. Help them anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

Stott’s point was that serving Christ in this fallen world can oftentimes get downright messy. That’s why logic and common sense might tell us, “Don’t do it.” And God help you if you are a Christian who demands to see worldly rewards from your acts of service. Good luck with that.

Still, though, this world does need loving. It does need good done in it and to it. It does need help. As the old saying says to Christians, we are the only Jesus that some people will ever see. Or if you prefer, another old saying implores Christians to be Christ’s hands, feet, and voice today. Both sayings carry the same meaning: Christ’s followers bear the awesome responsibility of continuing His ministry today. So, Christian, stay on your knees in prayer asking the Lord to show you how to play your role in that, and then get up off your knees and go out and do whatever it is He tells you to do.

Posted in Commitment, Current Events, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Work, Influence, Prayer, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Fanning Your Inner Flame

Posted on June 12, 2020 by russellmckinney

Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you… (2 Timothy 1:6, N.K.J.V.)

J. Glenn Campbell tells the story of a family who many years ago ran a sheep farm in Australia. Each year the family struggled to eke out enough to earn a living through the sale of their wool. Occasionally they would be forced to slaughter a sheep just to have something to eat.

One day a geologist happened to be passing through the area on his way to do some work in Australia’s mining districts. The family, who rarely got to enjoy company, happily invited him to join them for tea. During the visit the geologist noticed a large black stone the family was using as a doorstop. He asked, “May I see this?” The family son answered, “Go ahead; it’s just an old rock my father dragged in years ago. He said it looked interesting, so we’ve been using it as a doorstop ever since.”

The geologist spat upon his thumb and rubbed the saliva across the stone. Then he tried using his fingernail to scratch the stone. Having no luck, he pulled out his pocketknife and used it in an attempt to scratch the stone. Still having no luck, he pushed his diamond ring along the stone’s surface. When that didn’t work his eyes opened wide and he announced to the family that their old stone was actually an extremely rare, extremely valuable black star sapphire. Not long afterward the family sold it to a gemstone brokerage for several hundred thousand pounds.

That family had been using that stone as a doorstop for over thirty years! Can you imagine such a thing? Every day they scrimped, saved, worried, and lived hand-to-mouth. Every year they struggled to stay in business just one more year. But all the while they were the owners of an vastly underappreciated treasure.

The truth is that such underappreciated treasures are lying around all over the place. No, they aren’t valuable stones that can be sold for exorbitant prices. They are, instead, talents, skills, abilities, and spiritual gifts that God wants to use to bring great blessings not only to those who possess them but to those who could benefit from their use.

In our text verse, Paul tells Timothy to stir up the gift that was within Timothy. The Greek verb translated as “stir up” is anazopureo, and it is the combination of three Greek words: ana (which means “up” or “again”), zoos (which means “alive), and pur (which means “fire). The metaphoric word picture is one of Timothy’s spiritual gifting being an inner fire that needed to be kept in full flame lest it die out through neglect.

The Bible teaches that each Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift that is to be used in service to Christ. This gifting is imparted by way of the indwelling Holy Spirit who takes up residence within the person the moment he or she exhibits saving belief. This gift is given in addition to the individual’s inborn talents, skills, and abilities. Those were built into the person by God as part of the person’s natural birth, but the spiritual gift is a direct byproduct of the person’s spiritual rebirth in Christ.

Right now let me encourage you to do a self-evaluation and honestly assess what you are doing — or what you aren’t doing — with your talents, skills, and abilities. Furthermore, if you are a Christian, you should honestly assess how you are using — or how you aren’t using — your spiritual gift. Maybe God has you reading this because it’s time for you to fan the flame inside you of something that is lying dormant. And if that’s the case, please don’t drag your feet concerning the assignment because you are no doubt sitting on something wonderfully rare, something that will not only bring great blessing to others but to you as well.

Posted in God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Service, Spiritual Gifts, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Hand & God’s Shoulder

Posted on June 10, 2020 by russellmckinney

For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ (Isaiah 41:13, N.K.J.V.)

The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place. (Deuteronomy 1:30-31, N.K.J.V.)

A lawyer landed a job at a law firm in New York city and moved his family to the metropolis. As a way of getting to know the city, he began taking his young son on long walks around town. The custom was for the boy to hold tightly to his father’s pinkie. But one day the little guy became very tired and was barely able to keep hold of the pinkie. He looked up at his father and said, “Daddy, I can’t hold on to you much longer. If you want us to keep walking together, you’re just going to have to take hold of my hand.”

Christianity means walking with the Lord, but sometimes we Christians get like that young son. The walking makes us so tired that we feel like we can’t hold on much longer. During such times each of us should take the little boy’s example and say, “Lord, if you want us to keep walking together, you’re just going to have to take hold of my whole hand.” That’s where the Isaiah 41:13 reference comes into play.

As for the Deuteronomy 1:30-31 reference, some of the fondest memories that I have are of carrying my two sons when they were little fellows. It was a nightly ritual that I would pick them up in my arms, carry them to their beds, kiss their foreheads, and make sure they were tucked in for the night. I can still remember each of those heavy heads flopped over onto my shoulder as I made my way through the house.

You see, those moments illustrate the times of our lives when we can’t even stand on our own feet anymore. I’m talking about days and nights when us holding onto God’s pinkie or even Him holding onto our hand isn’t enough. Those are the times when we need Him to just pick us up and carry us, as He carried the nation of Israel through the wilderness and into Canaan.

Perhaps you are in such a time right now. If you are, let me encourage you to allow God to carry you to where He wants you to go. Tell Him that you are too tired to hold onto His pinkie. Tell Him that Him holding onto your hand will only result in Him having to drag you along. Tell Him that you need to rest your tired head upon His strong shoulder. Remember, Christian, this is one of the greatest privileges of your salvation, the privilege of having God bear you up when you can no longer do it yourself. So never fail to claim this privilege anytime you need it, and know that your heavenly father will be more than happy to play that role for you. I know that I sure do wish that I could travel back in time and play it for my children once again.

Posted in Adversity, Children, Comfort, Depression, Encouragement, God's Love, God's Mercy, Grace, Loneliness, Mercy, Personal, Prayer, Problems, Salvation, Suffering, Suicide, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

But What Do I Know About It?

Posted on June 8, 2020 by russellmckinney

Drew Brees just can’t win. The Super Bowl champion quarterback of the New Orleans Saints swan-dived himself into social media hell last week when he stated in an interview, “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States or our country.” He made that comment in the context of a discussion about Colin Kaepernick, who was blackballed from the NFL for purposely kneeling during the playing of the national anthem and the unfurling of the American flag before the start of NFL games in 2016.

Kaepernick’s stated reason for kneeling was to bring awareness to a series of high-profile cases in which black men had died at the hands of police officers. He said, “I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.”

Apparently, Brees had never correctly understood Kaepernick’s motivation for kneeling. This confusion was evidenced last week as part of Brees’ explanation for why he felt so strongly about anyone refusing to stand for the playing of the national anthem and the unfurling of the American flag. According to Brees, he associated respecting the anthem and the flag with respecting his two grandfathers, both of whom served in the United States military. He also mentioned that the association extended to those who had been involved in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. At one point in the interview, he said, “Is everything right with our country right now? No, it is not. We still have a long way to go. But I think what you do by standing there and showing respect to the flag with your hand over your heart is, it shows unity.”

In another place and time, Brees’ comments might have been well received. That wasn’t the case, though, in the current social climate of America. In the wake of his comments, Brees was quickly and severely chastised on social media for being an out-of-touch, self-absorbed, entitled, rich, white American. The backlash became so bad that Brees had to issue a public apology. That apology said in part: “It breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused. In an attempt to talk about respect, unity, and solidarity, centered around the American flag and the national anthem, I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark on the issues we are facing right now as a country.”       

Okay, case closed, right? Brees expressed an unpopular opinion, got his hand slapped for it, and apologized. Once again, in another place and time….. But in 2020 America, Brees’ apology only made his seat hotter. On the one hand, those who had been angered by his original comments classified the apology as nothing more than a disingenuous attempt at damage control. On the other hand, those who had respected Brees for his original comments saw the apology as a cowardly sell-out designed to appease his critics. To make matters even worse, President Donald Trump joined the latter crowd by tweeting that Brees shouldn’t have taken back his original stance. That prompted Brees to take to social media yet again, this time to say to the President, “Through my ongoing conversations with my friends, teammates, and the leaders in the black community, I realize that this is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been.”

Then came yesterday. That’s when Brees wife, Britanny, weighed in on the whole situation by using social media to issue a lengthy apology of her own. She began the apology by saying, “WE ARE THE PROBLEM. I write this with tears in my eyes and I hope you all hear our hearts.” She followed that up by sharing a couple of quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. and promising that she and her husband will do better at not only not being racist themselves but also actively working to fight against the problem of racism. Her promise reminded me of a sign that I recently saw a protester holding as part of a peaceful rally. The sign read: “It’s not enough to not be racist. You must also be actively working to fight against racism.”

I guess the question that I’ve been dealing with these past few days goes something like this: “How should I, as a white American Christian who believes the Bible is the divinely inspired word of God, process all of this?” I’ll admit that I’m still attempting to hash out that answer, but I think I have to start with certain things that I know. For example:

  • I know that Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, which includes all races.
  • I know that I, as a Christian, will spend eternity with a wide variety of fellow believers who come from all races and nationalities.
  • I know that Jesus made a point of ministering to those who had little or no social standing, people such as scandalous women, hated tax collectors, and Samaritans (whom the Jews despised on the grounds of racial bigotry).
  • I know that Christ’s Great Commission to His followers was and still is: Go into all the world, preach the gospel, baptize believers, and teach them to observe all the things that He commanded us.
  • I know that even though actively working for racial justice might be considered a slice of teaching new believers to observe all the things that Jesus commanded us, it’s not the same thing as preaching the gospel.
  • I know that Jesus made no active attempt to overthrow the Roman government under which He lived His life. To the contrary, when He was at the height of his earthly popularity and His followers wanted to make Him their earthly King, He dispensed the crowd and went off by Himself to pray.
  • I know that none of Jesus’ apostles made any active attempts to overthrow the Roman government under which they lived their lives.

Of course, I realize that some people would say to me, “But you can’t possibly understand the racism problem because you are a privileged white American.” Well, I’ll concede that I am a white American. Depending upon the definition of “privileged,” I might even concede that I am privileged. But does that mean that I am, by default, inherently racist? Does it mean that when Britanny Brees said, “We are the problem” that I must be grouped in with the “we”? Does it mean that I’m missing God’s will if I don’t join the marching, the rallying, and the protesting?” No, it doesn’t.

For the record, Drew Brees is a professing Christian. I don’t know if he is a legitimately born-again believer or not, but he is at least one in his way of thinking. And if he can get labeled as a racist for saying something as seemingly non-racial as he said, then I can get labeled as one, too. I mean, seriously, how can you respond when someone looks at you and says, “The color of your skin prevents you from being right on this issue”? Isn’t that comment, in and of itself, patently racist in reverse? It seems to me that it is. But then again, apparently I’m incapable of rendering an accurate assessment on this whole topic. At least that’s what some people would tell me.

Posted in Christ's Death, Current Events, Evangelism, Government, Racism, Sports, Witnessing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

When Christians Cuss

Posted on June 5, 2020 by russellmckinney

I wasn’t always a preacher, and I must confess that I used to cuss like a sailor. As a matter of fact, when I did become a preacher, a good friend of mine said concerning my cussing, “If Russell Mckinney can become a preacher, anybody can.” He said that merely as a reporting of the facts, not as an indictment on my call to preach.

For years, my wife Tonya worked alongside a Language Arts teacher who liked to say, “Words are free; why not use the best ones?” That’s such a wonderful line. It sounds just like something a Language Arts teacher would say, doesn’t it? Unfortunately, once you’ve learned how to cuss, you never forget how to do it. If you think you have forgotten, try hitting your finger with a hammer and see what word flies into your mind. I doubt that it will be a word of praise to the Lord.

As we now live in a world that is dominated by social media, our voices can be heard more than ever. If we want to express our opinions, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. all give us the platforms to do so. And in case there was ever any doubt, professing Christians do have opinions. A problem arises, however, when Christians resort to profanity and vulgar language to express those opinions.

It is with this problem in mind that I want to list seven verses of scripture for you. I could list more, but these seven will make the point. As evidence that this basic truth is expressed in every translation of scripture, I’ll even cite the verses by way of seven different translations. Here we go:

  1. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (Colossians 3:8, K.J.V.)
  2. No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29, H.C.S.B)
  3. Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from trouble. (Proverbs 21:23, E.S.V.)
  4. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. (James 1:26, N.I.V.)
  5. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14, N.R.S.V.)
  6. Dirty stories, foul talk, and coarse jokes — these are not for you. Instead, remind each other of God’s goodness, and be thankful. (Ephesians 5:4, T.L.B.)
  7. Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. (Psalm 141:3, N.K.J.V.)

Obviously, God is very much interested in the words we use to communicate. That’s why we should all be careful regarding the language we employ for everyday conversations, postings on social media, texting, sending emails, and (yes) writing blog posts. It’s been my experience that communicating by way of profanity, crude comments, and dirty little jokes is primarily just a habit anyway. And if it’s a habit, you can break it if you try hard enough.

In closing, let me ask you something: Can you imagine a preacher peppering his sermons with profanity, gutter language, and crude expressions? You say, “No, that would be terrible. How could anybody take that man’s Christianity seriously if he did that?” Well, I hate to be the one to break the news to you, but you won’t find one Bible verse wherein God makes a distinction between preached sermons and everyday talk. So, if you profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, and you want people to take your Christianity seriously, you are going to have to lose the profanity, the filthy communication, the dirty stories, and the coarse jokes. It’s just that simple. They don’t make you sound more intelligent, they don’t drive home your point all the more effectively, and, most importantly, they certainly don’t bring honor to the Savior you profess to serve.

Posted in Communication, Discipleship, Influence, Personal, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, The Tongue | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Six Feet Farther

Posted on June 3, 2020 by russellmckinney

The story is told of a Swedish miner who purchased an expensive claim in a certain region known for its mother-lode of gold. He then spent the next three years working hard to strike it rich in that claim. In the end, though, the claim produced nothing and he sold it for $10,000, which at the time was a fine sum of money for a useless shaft.

The miner was still celebrating the sale when the shaft’s new owner excitedly came racing into camp. He had dug and blasted just six feet and had hit a vein of gold that was incredibly rich. When the Swedish miner heard the news, he said, “I will never sell another claim until I dig just six feet farther!”

Did this story really happen? Well, it’s supposedly true, but I do realize that such stories are a-dime-a-dozen. Still, regardless of whether the story is historical or fictional, it certainly makes an excellent point. That point is: Some people quit on a worthy task just before the blessing unfolds.

Galatians 6:9 is one of my favorite verses. It says:

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (N.K.J.V.)

If we think of God and Satan as each being employers who reward their workers with pay, we might say that Satan pays at the end of the day. (Actually, it seems as though he pays immediately following each sinful act.) God, on the other hand, pays at the end of the month. (Sometimes it seems as though He waits till the end of the year!) What we must never forget, though, is that God’s rewards are lasting while Satan’s are fleeting. Satan’s pay can provide momentary fleshly pleasure, but God’s pay will provide eternal joy. That’s the difference.

Perhaps you are reading this and you are just about ready to throw in the towel on a God-approved assignment. How easy it is to grow weary in doing good when God’s expected harvest is delayed. All I can say is that God always rewards the doing of good. Yes, that reward might take a while to reach you, but it surely is on the way. That’s why you should keep on digging until you experience it. Seriously, it could be a matter of you digging just a few more feet farther.

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Commitment, Decisions, Doing Good, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Timing, God's Will, God's Work, Impatience, Patience, Perseverance, Reward, Satan, Sowing and Reaping, The Devil, Waiting | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Biblical Perspective on the Arrest and Death of George Floyd

Posted on June 1, 2020 by russellmckinney

I didn’t need to rewatch the video of George Floyd’s arrest to know that those four police officers, specifically Derek Chauvin, sinned in how the arrest was handled. Neither did I need to rewatch all the videos of the looting and fire-starting in the streets of various cities to know that those rioters sinned in how they handled their reactions to Floyd’s death. Those folks might be likened to a husband who figures that he can do whatever he wants to do, including having an affair, in retaliation for his wife cheating on him.

While I in no way excuse the behavior of the rioters, I have to say that I understand why they are so angry and frustrated. Instances of racial profiling and racially-tinged arrests have been happening in America for a long time, some of them resulting in the deaths of those arrested. Clearly, though, the black community playing it nice and trusting American justice to eventually right itself hasn’t gotten the problem solved. And by the way, if you are a white person in America and you still don’t think there is a racial divide in regards to justice in this nation, how many more videos of the excessively violent arrests of minorities do you need to see? Speaking for myself, as I watched Derek Chauvin sit there with his knee over the throat of a clearly subdued George Floyd for almost nine full minutes, I couldn’t help but wonder how many similar arrests have gone unfilmed and unprotested in this country. Seriously, Chauvin looked like some ancient gladiator who wasn’t content to just defeat his opponent but also had to show his supremacy over him by keeping him pinned in his defeated place.

Are all white cops racist in America? Of course not. Are all black men criminals? Of course not. Are all white people complicit by default anytime a racial sin is committed? Of course not. Are all black people innocent by default of all wrongdoing simply because of their race’s tragic history? Of course not. Did George Floyd’s soul go to heaven because of the unjust way his body died? Of course not. Are Derek Chauvin and those other three arresting officers inevitably destined for hell because of their participation in George Floyd’s arrest? Of course not. It’s times like these that we all need to keep a Biblical perspective on things.

Any serious student of the Bible will admit that the book, shockingly, doesn’t prohibit or outlaw the institution of slavery. Even the great apostle Paul, who lived in a Roman empire wherein millions of people were owned as slaves, didn’t say, “Owning slaves is a sin.” To the contrary, he left us with two passages — Ephesians 6:5-9 and Colossians 3:22 — in which he laid down rules for how Christian slaves and Christian slave owners should get along. He even sent one runaway slave, Onesimus, back to his master, Philemon (Philemon 1:1-25).

It isn’t hard to see how white slave owners who were professing Christians once used these passages to justify their practices. For example, many of the most prominent founders of the Southern Baptist Convention denomination were not only pro-slavery but actually owned slaves. Two such cases were James Boyce and John Broadus, the first two Presidents of the denomination’s flagship seminary, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Of course, even as slave owners staked out Ephesians 6:5-9 and Colossians 3:22 as the moral high ground for their conduct, they obviously relegated a whole bunch of other passages to lesser status. Consider the following:

  • Genesis 1:27 says that all mankind is created in the image of God.
  • Acts 17:26 says that God has made from one blood every nation upon the face of the earth.
  • Romans 2:11 says that God doesn’t show partiality.
  • Both James 2:1 and 1 Timothy 5:21 instruct the Christian to show no partiality.
  • In a situation where a slave owner and his slave were both Christians, Paul taught in Galatians 3:28 and 1 Corinthians 12:13 that each person was equal in Christ and received the same Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation.
  • In Mark 12:31, Jesus says that we should love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves.
  • Leviticus 19:33-34 teaches that you should love the stranger/foreigner who dwells in your midst as much as you love yourself.
  • James 2:8-9 says that we can’t love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves if we show partiality.
  • In Matthew 28:19, Jesus commands His followers to make disciples of all nations, not just the light-skinned nations.
  • 1 John 4:20 says that if you claim to love God, but hate your brother (your fellow man), you are a liar.
  • 1 John 3:15 says that hating your fellow man amounts to murder.
  • Philippians 2:4 says to stop looking out for your own interests and start looking out for the interests of others.
  • John 7:24 warns against judging a person on the basis of that person’s appearance.
  • 1 Samuel 16:7 shows that God judges by looking at each person’s heart rather than each person’s appearance.

The takeaway from these passages is that racism is sin, and it’s even more so sin when it involves the cruel treatment of others. That’s a message that some white people need to hear. But do you know something? It’s a message that some people of other skin colors need to hear as well. And when the discussion gets around to the topic of salvation, the Bible is clear about that, too. According to God, all have sinned and fallen short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Consequently, all need salvation and the forgiveness of sin that comes with it (Galatians 3:22; John 3:16-18). Therefore, Jesus died for all the sins of all the human race in order to be able to offer that salvation (1 John 2:1-2).

Actually, the root cause of racism is the same as the root cause of looting: sin. This is not a politically correct message right now, but that doesn’t make it any less accurate. We are all members of Adam’s fallen race, and that means we are all born with the nature of sin coursing through our veins. This nature manifests itself in a long list of sinful deeds, and that list includes racism and looting.

Unfortunately for the legitimate cause the rioters are promoting, their destructive actions have given anyone who is prone to defend what those police officers did an easy rebuttal. Whenever someone says, “Those officers should be punished” the quick comeback can now be, “Oh, and those rioters shouldn’t be?” You see, the rioting, the looting, and the burning have created an escapist talking point for any white American who feels uncomfortable discussing just how awful that video of George Floyd’s arrest is. And that’s a real shame because, for a fleeting moment there, that video made white Americans more open than ever to doing something about the complaints the black community has been registering for many, many years now. Has that moment passed? Frankly, I don’t know. I guess we’ll all just have to see what the future holds to get that answer.

Posted in Christ's Death, Current Events, Depravity, Personal, Racism, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

How To Treat Your Enemy

Posted on May 30, 2020 by russellmckinney

The political climate in America these days is decidedly not good. Leading Republicans and Democrats can barely be civil toward one another, let alone work together for the common good of the country. Are there major ideological differences between the two parties? Absolutely. But such stark differences have pretty much always marked American politics. What’s changed is that hostility has replaced civility on both sides of the aisle. That’s why I thought it would do us good to revisit a story from the life of William McKinley.

McKinley was the 25th President of the United States and is generally considered by historians to have done an above-average job in office. Although America won The Spanish-American War during his time as President, he is more famously remembered for being assassinated early into his second term. On September 6, 1901, he was shot twice in the abdomen by an anarchist named Leon Czolgosz and died on September 14, 1901. As McKinley lay dying, his wife Ida said to him, “I want to go, too. I want to go, too.” In reply, McKinley, who was a Christian, put his arm around her and said, “We are all going. We are all going. God’s will be done, not ours.”

The story I have in mind takes place on a cold evening in the late fall of the year. McKinley was scheduled to deliver a campaign address in a neighboring town and had hired a hansom cab to take him there. This type of cab was a two-wheeled, partially enclosed carriage that was pulled by one horse. The enclosed section was located at the front of the carriage and featured a seat that was big enough to accommodate two people. The carriage was piloted by a driver who sat on an elevated seat that was stationed on an open platform at the rear of the carriage. The passenger could speak to the driver by way of a door at the top of the enclosed section.

McKinley was riding along inside the cab, going over his written speech, when suddenly he heard a rasping cough coming from the driver’s seat behind him. It was a cough that McKinley recognized as being one of the distinctive features of a certain reporter who was one of his most vocal critics. The reporter suffered from tuberculosis. Evidently, the reporter had paid the cab driver to let him sit beside the driver in the elevated seat at the rear of the carriage.

While there was nothing illegal about what the reporter was doing, it was at best audacious and at worst unethical because he was obviously making his way to McKinley’s speech for the purpose of hearing it and writing a critical assessment of it for a newspaper article. This placed McKinley in an awkward predicament. Should he leave the tubercular reporter up there in the cold or should he allow the man to join him inside the somewhat cramped quarters of the coach?

McKinley didn’t have to think long before making his decision. He reached up and pulled back the door to get the driver’s attention, told the driver to stop the cab, and then stepped down out of the carriage in order to see both the driver and the reporter. Then, in an authoritative tone, he said to the reporter, “Get down off the seat!” This threw a real scare into the reporter as he figured that he was about to be left alongside the road as the carriage rolled on toward its destination. Once the reporter had climbed down, though, McKinley told him, “You shouldn’t be riding outside on such a cold night. Get inside the cab with me.”

McKinley’s act of kindness brought genuine shame upon the reporter, and he said to McKinley, “Mr. McKinley,  you don’t understand. I am going to the next town to tear your speech to pieces.” But that didn’t matter to McKinley. He answered by offering the reporter his overcoat and saying, “Here, put my overcoat on and get warm so you can do a good job.”

As we live the Christian life, there will be times when the Lord will burden us to speak a strong word of rebuke to someone who has it coming. For example, John the Baptist rebuked Herod Antipas for Herod’s marriage to Herodias, who was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip (Matthew 14:1-4). Jesus, in the final days of His ministry, absolutely unloaded on the Scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-39). Stephen rebuked the Jewish Sanhedrin Council enough to cause them to stone him (Acts 7:1-60). Paul even once rebuked Peter to his face (Galatians 2:11-21). What we must understand, though, is that such times are the exception in the Christian life, not the rule. The rule is to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, pray for those who persecute us, and turn the other cheek to those who strike us on one cheek (Matthew 5:38-48).

Is such behavior easy to carry out? I think you know the answer to that. If we have any grit to us at all, we’d rather live out the Old Testament standard, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21). But as someone has said, that approach only results in a lot of eyeless, toothless people. So, whether it’s the political realm or any other type of realm, the Christian is called to embody a different standard. That’s the standard that William McKinley employed that cold night so long ago, and it’s one to which God is still calling His people to today.

Posted in Anger, Character, Discipleship, Doing Good, Forgiveness, God's Work, Government, Love, Ministry, Persecution, Politics, Revenge, Service, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Word to the Lonely

Posted on May 28, 2020 by russellmckinney

Every day we hear the latest reports about the Covid-19 Coronavirus. Such and such number of people are sick with the virus. Such and such number of people have died from it. Such and such number of people have recovered from it. One state has entered into Phase 2 of reopening. Another state is still in Phase 1. This politician said this. That politician said that.

One item that never makes the news, though, is the number of people whose loneliness has been taken to a much worse level by the virus. People who were already lonely have had their shopping, dining, and church attendance either limited or outright eliminated by the social distancing demanded by the virus. This has been especially true in regards to the elderly, who by all accounts are the most vulnerable to the virus.

Did you know that the first thing that wasn’t “good” about God’s creation was the fact that Adam was alone (Genesis 2:18)? That right there is clear evidence that God understands how serious this problem can be. As we know, God solved Adam’s loneliness by creating Eve to be his wife. We might classify this solution under the heading of Psalm 68:5-6, which says of God:

Father to the fatherless, defender of widows — this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. (N.L.T.)

While God placing the lonely in families is certainly a beautiful, heart-warming thought, some of the loneliest people in the world actually have families. I’m referring to those folks who are suffering from “empty-nest” syndrome. Maybe the spouse has died. Maybe the children have all moved away or, even if they do live in close proximity, rarely visit. Maybe the grandchildren never come around.

Where do these “empty-nesters” find their relief from loneliness? At the risk of sounding simplistic or trite, the Bible says they should find it in God Himself. Moses promised the Israelites that God would not leave them nor forsake them (Deuteronomy 31:6). Jesus promised His followers that He would be with them always (Matthew 28:20). David said that God would be with him even as he walked through the valley of the shadow of death (Psalm 23:4). He also said that God would take care of him when his father and his mother — and could we add in every other type of family member? — forsook him (Psalm 27:10).

Right now, if you find yourself in the pit of loneliness, please don’t hesitate to pour out your heart to God and tell Him how lonely you are. Tell Him how abandoned and isolated you feel. Tell Him that you need Him to either personally fill the gaping hole of your loneliness or at least send someone into your life by whom He will fill it. I assure you there is nothing wrong with admitting that you are lonely and asking God to solve the problem. Even the great David once said, “Lord, all my desire is before You, and my sighing is not hidden from You” (Psalm 38:9, N.K.J.V.). You see, God already knows all about your loneliness and has a plan to meet that need in your life. That’s why you should cast your burden upon Him (Psalm 55:22), and be on expectant lookout for His solution.

Posted in Comfort, Current Events, Depression, Desires, Elderly, Encouragement, Family, Friendship, God's Love, God's Omnipresence, God's Provision, Loneliness, Needs, Suicide | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting Things Done For Christ

Posted on May 25, 2020 by russellmckinney

One morning a man sat on his porch and watched as a landscaping company’s truck pulled into his neighbor’s driveway and parked. Two workers got out of the truck and both grabbed shovels from the truck bed. The man on the porch then stared in wide-eyed wonder as one worker systematically dug three holes in the neighbor’s yard and the other worker came right along behind and filled in those holes. Once the job was completed, both workers threw their shovels into the truck bed, climbed into the truck, and started backing out of the driveway.

By now the man on the porch could no longer contain his curiosity. He raced off his porch, intercepted the truck in the street, and asked the worker sitting on the passenger’s side to roll down the window. The worker obliged, and the man asked him, “Would you mind telling me why one of you just dug three holes and the other one filled up those holes?” The worker said, “Our boss told us to plant three trees in that yard, but the fellow who was supposed to bring the trees and put them in the holes didn’t show up for work today.”

I have to say that this illustration hits a little too close to home when it comes to church work. If the stated goals of Christ’s Great Commission are evangelism, discipleship-making, and baptizing (Matthew 28:19-20) we oftentimes do everything but actually plant those three trees. This is how we become “keepers of our aquariums” rather than “fishers of men.”

Even in our personal lives it’s good to do self-assessments every now to identify unproductive activities. Speaking for myself, I’ll admit that too much of how I spend my days and nights doesn’t get any trees planted. Sometimes I don’t even get any holes dug. At my worst times, I don’t even show up for work.

Does God make allowances for times of rest and leisure in our lives? Absolutely. Is a week spent on vacation, a Saturday spent shopping, or an afternoon spent fishing automatically time spent out of God’s will? Nope. But do most of us have useless fat that could be trimmed from our daily routines? Yep. Actually, when you think about it, it’s a tall order not only to do the Lord’s work but also to do it in an efficient manner. It requires never wasting an opportunity to strike a blow for Christ. It requires focusing more upon His kingdom than your kingdom. It requires using the entirety of your life’s resume in service to Him.

Right now, Christian, take a moment to ask the Lord to show you any activities that He would have you eliminate for Him. While you’re at it, also ask Him to point out any areas wherein you are actually working for Him but aren’t doing it efficiently. Digging holes and filling up holes are both necessary jobs, but if no trees are getting planted you obviously need to work smarter rather than harder. Remember that you only get 24 hours per day. Be sure to use each hour and each day wisely. This is one of the marks of true discipleship.

Posted in Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Stewardship, Talents, Witnessing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment