Focused in the Wrong Direction

The church is too focused on itself. Where our treasure is there will be our heart. Our heart is definitely on ourselves. When you listen to the public prayers they are all about us. One Sunday when I was working at Dollywood we had a lot of people with mental and/or physical problems and it occurred to me at that very time there were a group of Christians thanking God that they are not like these people. If God blesses Christians then he curse the ADAs at Dollywood. What do Christians think God is going to provide health, provide safety, etc for them when he doesn't even help the innocent helpless hapless creatures such as in this story. . .

http://www.themountainpress.com/view/full_story/14797675/article-EDITORIAL--Cruel-and-unusual?instance=main_article

Preachers tell us Jesus is with us, we are never alone. Personally I do not find comfort in having a "friend" who can help me but will not. The church should be more outward focused and less inward focused.

Simple When You Think About it - Addendum

If you told your children to do something and gave them specific instructions as to how to do it would you accept results not even close to what you had instructed?
 
God told Timothy to appoint elders in every city. We changed that to elders in every congregation. We changed that again to if you do not find anyone interested let the hirling lead but do not call him leader. When the men of the congregation refused to submit to authority we changed it again to let the men run the congregation. How close is our way to the bible way?

Simple When You Think About It

On the subject of "What is a Christian?" in the July Gospel Advocate the answer is simple. A Christian is a disciple of Jesus. A Christian is a follower of Jesus. Kind of simple when you think about it.

 

Same article the fellow defines when a group is and is not the Lord's church. Again the answer is simple. The called out are the group that did what the folks on Pentecost did. 

 

The fellow writes to be considered the Lord's church the group must be scripturally organized. Since GSMCOC has been in existence for almost twenty years and is not currently, has no plans to be, and has no desire to be scripturally organized does that mean the group is not the Lord's church? 

Could the problem be our leaders do not avail themselves of a copy of the "inerrant" Word of God. Simple when you think about it.

 

Providence of God?

Providence, is God's activity in the world. A distinction is usually made between "general providence", which refers to God's continuous upholding the existence and natural order of the universe, and "special providence", which refers to God's extraordinary intervention in the life of people. The latter possibly be the result of prayer.

While I do not ascribe to the term "providence of God" I cannot prove it does not exist. One cannot prove a negative. One can prove an existance or occurance one cannot prove the lack of existance or occurance.

It was long thought all swans were white, an unassailable belief and confirmed by empirical evidenced. The first sighting of a black swan illustrated the limitation of learning from observations or experience. Though to that point in history only white swans had been observed. The sighting of the first black swan proved assuredly that all swans were not white.

I cannot say assuredly God does not answer prayer. What I can say is I have never experienced nor observed answered prayer. What I can say is after over half a century I have never observed God healing anyone but Christians continue to pray for such an event. How can they pray expecting which according to James is the only acceptable manner of prayer.

 

 

Drawn to the Church

Is one a Christian if they do not offer unconditional love as Jesus offered? Is one a follower of Jesus if they do not do what Jesus did? If one is not following Jesus one is NOT a Christian. Tax collectors and prostitutes were drawn to Jesus because of the unconditional love and acceptance he gave. Tax collectors and prostitutes are not similarly drawn to the church because they do not find unconditional love and acceptance. They experience judgment.

Do As Jesus Did

Followers of Christ were called Christians. Do our lives demonstrate we are followers of Christ? Christian is not something one becomes separate from following Jesus. Does the world know we are followers of Jesus? When you look at others do we know if they are followers of Jesus. . .or not?

The story in John of the woman caught in adultery tells us that it is one thing for a sinless person to say "sin no more" and quite another for people like us---with logs in our eyes to say it.The story should also remind us her accusers were in no position to judge her; that they were as much sinners as she. Jesus did not condemn her. Jesus told her to abstain from sinful behavior in the future. To judge another one must be without sin and if one is without sin one won't judge.

Followers of Jesus are to love not condemn. Followers of Jesus are to do things as Jesus would do them.

Providence of God

The "providence of God" refers to God's activity in the world and consists of "general providence" God's continuous upholding the natural order of the universe, and "special providence" God directing every detail of his creation.

Are the results of natural law "providence of God."  Are the consequences we experience because of our actions "providence of God."  Is everything preordained?  

Gospel Advocate, July 2011, The Revised NIV: A Trojan Horse of Error, Gregory Alan Tidwell

Editor, Gospel Advocate:
 
For years I have asked folks which version they are referring to when they claim the Bible says we have the complete Word of God.
 
Our preacher tells a story something like this: Marshall Keeble, when asked what the Greek says asked the people how many understood Greek. When no one said they did MK said it would do no good for him to tell them what the Greek said. Apparently he did not have to deal with a multiplicity of versions as we do today. Our preacher regularly tells us what the Greek and Hebrew say and most of us do not know either.
 
Apparently we need to be fluent in Greek and Hebrew to be able to discern which version we should use. The translators claim to know what the Greek and Hebrew say, our preachers claim they know. I wonder who knows. Not being fluent in Greek and Hebrew how can we be sure we have the "complete" Word of God?
 

Editing Sermons

We edit what the preacher says while newer Christians do not have that capability. The other night the preacher talked about how God is with us; we are not alone. What does that mean? Are we supposed to be comforted by that thought. Did it comfort Stephen when he died? Does it comfort victims of accidents and crime? Does it comfort animals victims of abuse and torture? Does it help those Christians victims of genocide and or starvation? Preachers say things that sound nice but do not mean anything but confuse.

The Majority Does Not Determine What is Right

When asked: "Do you think the social discrimination made against the Negro race in the South is justifiable by the Scriptures?" David Lipscomb wrote: "The Bible never proposes to disrupt and change social and political relations suddenly."

Lipscomb believed, while the Bible taught that black and white Christians were one, early Christians accepted social and political situations as they were. Not being revolutionaries then, Christians must not disrupt contemporary social conditions. From the perspective of the whites this may seem a reasonable approach but what about from the perspective of the blacks.

Earl West wrote: "In summary, while race relations deteriorated nationally between 1900 and 1918, the churches of Christ gave the question no small amount of thought, but always with the assumption of white superiority and the separation of the races."

The majority never has been, is not, and will never be the measure of what is right.

Them or Us?

In the first century do you suppose individuals immersed on Pentecost avoided assembling with others immersed or do you guess they met with the others as often as possible? Do you suppose when they entered the area in which they were meeting they sat as far away from each other as possible or do you guess they may have tried to be as close as possible? Unless influenced by outside pressures do you suppose the left as soon as they could or do you suppose they lingered as long as possible?

So. . . do you suppose those early Christians met as often as possible, sat as close to each other as reasonable and stayed as long as they could or were like we are? Attend as little as possible, stayed as far away from each other as the room allowed and left as soon as the final "amen?"

Hebrews 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Elders? Why Not?

Many congregations of the church of Christ claim to follow the bible in all they do with at least the exception of congregational governance. Paul told Timothy to appoint elders but today congregations are comfortable not having elders. If elders were important in the 1st century why aren't they today? It seems Christians do not like surrendering authority to others.

Classes and Sermons?

One of the reasons classes and preaching today are not beneficial is due to each of us being comfortable with our beliefs and do not change so classes and sermons fall on deaf-ears. We make a big deal out of the Restoration Movement but generally discount as out-of-step with reality a lot of what they said. For example:

David Lipscomb wrote: "When I hear of a church setting out to build a fine building, I give that church up. Its usefulness as a church of Christ is at an end." He was also against paying preachers: "Concerning preacher salaries: "The preacher will cater to his supporters.

Apparently we support the Restoration Movement. . . to a point.

Looking Elsewhere

 

Have you noticed how many people shake hands and never look at the other individual? Christians assemble on Sundays, shake hands and many do not look at you. Can you imagine that being true in the 1st century, meeting in secret? Church is a habit and the church Jesus established is failing fast.

Habit Prayers

Many. called Christian, "offer a prayer for the 'meal'." 

 

Have you ever noticed how many public prayers for "the meal" fail to mention the 'meal?'

 

Now most of those folks would not think of eating without a prayer, any prayer it makes no difference. Content is irrelevant. Prayer for food is unnecessary and gives God credit for something he had nothing to do with. If we did not have the money there would be no food. Ask the hungry people in the world. Prayer is a habit. Paul says the Holy Spirit helps but I imagine he figures habit prayers aren't worth his time.

Humility Enables Us to See Ourselves

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and one a tax collector.

 

The Pharisee stood and was praying to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.'

 

But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!'

 

I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

 

 

 

Avoiding Suffering is Not Possible for Christians

Following Jesus exposes the individual to suffering:

 

1 Peter 2:20-21

    For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 

 

1 Peter 3:14-18

    But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

    For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 

 

 

Accepting this as fact is the cost of being a disciple:

 

Luke 14:27-33

    Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

 

When followers of Christ suffer they are participating in the suffering and death of Jesus:

 

2 Corinthians 1:5

    For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 

 

2 Corinthians 4:10

    always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 

 

Philip. 1:20

    as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 

 

Col. 1:24

    Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 

 

1 Peter 4:12-16

    Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. 

 

Carrying "the" cross is the price of social nonconformity. Suffering is the badge of discipleship. Suffering is the price of advancing God's rule.

 

Christians praying to avoid suffering are asking God to do something he will not do.

   

 

 

   

 

   

 

 

Focus On the Spiritual not the Physical.

John wrote: Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world." 

 

Matthew wrote that Jesus said: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

 

Our focus has to be on the spiritual, not physical.

 

What part of this do we not understand?

 

 

 

 

 

Rummage Sales vs Personal Contributions

Does the bible support churches' running businesses and using the profits from those businesses to provide funds for the church?

People Believe What They WANT to Believe

People believe what they want to believe. What is obvious to one is not to another. Many beliefs especially those of a religious nature are irrational, illogical and self deceiving. Concerning God, people have naive, ignorant and unrealistic expectations.

Most pray hoping or wishing not expecting. On the subject of prayer James wrote: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."   For many years I have suggested that we should think specifically what we are asking God to do and then see if we have bible support for such a request. Can we expect?

 

Most public prayers thank God for food and ask Him for health and safety. Does God provide our food? Without the money to buy the food would you have any food? If you do not take care of your body would you be healthy? If you behave recklessly or carelessly do you expect safety? The answer to all is a resounding "NO!" God will not provide food or health or safety. They are up to us. For one to believe otherwise requires the acceptance that God curses the sick and mentally or physically disabled. That God curses the hungry and he curses victims of crimes and accidents. There is no biblical support for such beliefs.

 

When bad things happen or when good things happen God has nothing to do with either. Jesus said "… he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." 

 

To be continued.