The Hope of the Local Church...the hope of America

1Ti 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1Ti 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Lawlessness and moral depravity are the contrary (or enemy) of sound doctrine (truth). Those who have chosen to be immoral or sympathize with others who have will always compromise the truth to attempt to justify the sin.

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Those who choose to listen to the ear-tickling charlatans cannot endure truth and will constantly run to what pleases them and not what corrects them.

Tit 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Truth is the only way to reach the spiritually dull-minded. A faithful witness who is relentless in standing for truth will be the only hope for those in darkness or without discernment. (An interesting observation is that this crowd believes because there are more of them than those who hold fast to the truth, they are right and sound doctrine is wrong, or uncompassionate, or legalistic).

Tit 2:1
But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

The word “become” in the text here suggests a putting forth or complimenting of sound doctrine.

This is the hope of the local church. This is the hope of America.

Lunch With The Governor

Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: Rom 13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Yesterday afternoon, August 19, 2008, I along with my wife and daughter-in-law, had the privilege of sharing lunch with the governor of Indiana, the honorable Mitch Daniels. This was not my first encounter with our governor, but it certainly was one of a different kind. “Religious leaders” from all over our state were invited to attend the luncheon. I went mostly out of a desire to speak to someone about the awful way our church has been treated by local county officials concerning our building program. I did make contact with a man on the governor’s staff who expressed a great desire to get involved and at least give us a less one-sided hearing. However, I came away with much more.

I have often heard it said that religion and politics make strange bedfellows. And I agree. Politics makes no room for God for it seeks to rule for its own glory. God will not share His glory with anyone or any institution. Contrariwise, government must be tempered with a strong faith in God in order to function as it was designed and as it should. Truly our founding fathers realized this and had a great desire for God’s blessings upon America.

Yesterday I listened as Governor Daniels expressed his personal faith. He is Presbyterian by denomination and I cannot say if he is trusting in his works, his church, or in the Lord Jesus Christ. But he did make mention several times of being a fallen sinner (his words) in need of forgiveness. I saw his frustration as he explained that politics would not allow him to inject his personal faith into his job as a public servant. I understand that and appreciate it because I do not want to be told that I must be a Presbyterian. However, he did get something very right in his speech. He explained that while he could not run a Presbyterian administration it was his job to protect religious freedom in our state. I wish more of our elected officials held the same sense of responsibility.

I am a Baptist! I am a King James Bible believing Baptist. I believe that the Word of God is the pure, undefiled, preserved revelation of God for us to follow and practice in all matters of faith and living. I wish Governor Daniels held the same beliefs, but on those matters we differ. I am glad, however, that he is willing to stand for my rights as a citizen to practice my faith and it is his responsibility to see nothing hinders the citizens of this state from doing just that.

Thanks for lunch, Governor. And thanks for your stand on religious freedom.

FORTY-ONE

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” (2Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)

In over forty years of ministry you can see a lot. On Sunday, August 10, I celebrated forty-one years of Gospel ministry. The kid preacher who started on the streets of Cincinnati, Ohio, playing guitar to gather a crowd and preaching to anyone who would stay long enough to listen, has gone through many valleys and across many mountain tops in his time. My endeavor over the last four decades has been to fulfill the last phrase of the above text, “make full proof of thy ministry.” What a joy it has been to see souls saved, young people surrender their lives to the Lord for ministry, help missionaries get to the field and help them on the field, and pastoring a people who love God.

The future presents new challenges as we go on to serve our God. How exciting it is to anticipate the Lord’s work reaching out to even more souls through new avenues of evangelism, but still by His chosen vehicle, the Local Church. Time to quit? We will have none of that! This is like our ministry is starting all over again. We didn’t quit when others turned away. We didn’t quit when Satan hindered. We didn’t quit when we stumbled along the way (just get up and go some more). We didn’t quit when family and friends forsook us. God has never left us and we have no reason to doubt Him now. Praise God, I think I’ll go a little further.

BLIND OR BLESSED?

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) …” (Revelation 2:9a) written to the church at Smyrna.

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” (Revelation 3:17) written to the church of the Laodiceans.

The Smyrnian church was blessed through their works, tribulation and poverty, but they did not realize it. The Laodicean church had possessions aplenty, but without the blessings of God. It is just as blind to think oneself without the blessing of God as it is to believe that material things indicate the presence of God. Beautiful cathedrals do not a church make. Neither is one forsaken because he lacks physical substance.

The key indicator in the matter is “me.” “Woe is me” excludes God as much as “look at me.” For the child of God who is walking with Him, there is no time without blessing. In fact we are not qualified to determine what is a “bad day” and what is not. God never has a bad day. Likewise, we not are able to proclaim “God has blessed” because of finances or possessions to promotions. Our heart must always sing “to God be the glory.”

Faithful obedience to the Word of God and consistent service for our Lord will bring God’s blessing as long as “me” stays out of it.

SEVEN WONDERFUL FACTS ABOUT THE TRUTH

“But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2Corinthians 1:18-22)

I have a dear preacher/pastor friend here in town who reminds me continually that the greatest challenge for men in the 21st century is to know and believe the truth. Each week on Sunday and Wednesday I stand behind the sacred desk of God and attempt to proclaim the truth to my people and those visiting our services. When I am called upon to preach in school chapels, youth camps, preacher fellowships, etc., I endeavor to bring forth the truth for the hearer’s consideration. Nothing substitutes for the truth. Lies must be perpetuated by lies. Truth stands when lies fail. Truth liberates and lies imprison.

Here are seven facts about the truth:

1. Truth and right are never affected by numbers. Remember it was the crowd that died in the flood. It was the majority that was destroyed in Sodom. It was the multitude that cried, “Crucify him, crucify him!”

2. Truth and right are never affected by unbelief. “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2Timothy 4:3-4) Just because one does not believe the truth does not change the truth. It just means they have chosen to believe fables.

3. Truth and right are never affected by neglect and neglect does not release one from the responsibility to the truth.

4. Truth and right are never affected by disobedience. Just because God’s people choose to disobey Him does not nullify the truth.

5. Truth and right are never affected by comfort or convenience. When in history did it ever become comfortable to do the right thing or stand by the truth when society rejected truth?

6. Truth and right are never affected by price. Man can be bought, but God cannot.

7. Truth and right are never affected by time. We do live in different times. But the truth never changes. If sin was sin one hundred years ago, it is still sin today.

“Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?” (Galatians 4:16)