How can you say it and then deny it?

The brethren at Corinth were told something by Paul that is a bit hard to follow. Paul told them this: “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while,” (II Cor. 7:8). So did Paul regret sending the letter or not?

The answer is simple that Paul both regretted and did not regret sending the letter. Paul wrote to correct something in the lives of the brethren. They needed to repent, which meant that they were going to be told that they were doing something wrong. Paul knew that in order from them to repent, godly sorrow was needed (2 Cor. 7:10).

The lesson is very important for us to see. People have become very “politically correct” in all aspects of their lives, including spiritual matters.  Many religious teachers are doing all they can to try and make people feel good while still trying to teach the need for repentance.  You cannot do it! The gospel of Christ is full of hard lessons – at some point we must address these things directly in order to enable genuine faith. Paul’s ultimate goal was not to get the Corinthian brethren to feel bad – it was to get them to repent and be pleasing to the Lord. The same is true today. We are not happy someone weeps over a sin they committed, but we are thankful at the same time because that sorrow is necessary to inspire repentance.

We, like the apostle, want people to repent and be converted (Acts 3:19). We may regret that they will feel bad for their sins because we do not want to see someone full of sorrow. Teachers should not be so hardened as to enjoy the inner pain people can feel when they are convicted by truth.  On the other hand, we should have no regret for teaching the truth, especially if people repent. We should find solace in seeing their sorrow turn to joy by making things right.

May we all see the need to regret and at the same time not regret. Perhaps some people regret not having regrets – think about it.

                                                                                         Chuck                                                                                    

There needs to be less love 

This might seem like an odd thing to say, but there would be more love in the world today if there was less love. First of all, there is no question we need more love. Love covers a multitude of sins (I Pet. 4:8). Christians are even told that if we do not have love, we are nothing (I Cor. 13:1-3). Let us also not forget that we told that we must love because God loves us and He is love (I John 4:8, 19).

Knowing the importance of love, why did I say there would be more love if there was less love? The answer is found in what we love. In other words, if we love certain things less, it will, in turn, help us love other things more. So what things should we seek to love less?

We need to love “self” less

It is interesting to note that when we love “self” less, we become selfless. This is exactly what Christians need to become. Conversely, if we love ourselves more, it becomes harder to be clothed with humility. Our Lord made it perfectly clear that the haughty and arrogant (those who want to be first) shall be last. And those who are last (the humble) shall be first (Mark 9:31-37). Recall the old saying that there is no “I” in team. In God’s family, Christians do all they can to avoid thinking of themselves more highly than they ought (Rom. 12:3). Ultimately, their love of self can cause them to love others less.

We need to love pleasure less

When Paul told Timothy that perilous times will come, he mentioned both those who will love themselves and also those who will become lovers of pleasure rather than God (II Tim. 3:1-4). Let’s

face it – if we did not love pleasure, then there would be no such thing as having fun. The problem comes when we live for fun at the expense of everything else. If daily living becomes a burden that we “endure” until we can go and have fun again, something is wrong. People who live this way will struggle to study their Bibles, participate in worship, etc. Thus our God is loved less and less. The opposite is also true – when we love pleasure less, there is more love for God.

We need to love our present faith less

This point might also seem odd.  After all, we cannot please our God without faith (Heb. 11:6). Nor would our works be any good without being coupled with faith (James 2:26). Here is the issue though - it is very easy to love our current level of faith and never increase it. Our faith will not grow if we are satisfied and comfortable where we are. Such people will become lukewarm (Rev. 3:16). Christians who love their current level of faith less will seek to increase it (II Thess. 1:3) by getting out of their comfort zone and developing their abilities.

We need to love our praises less

There is nothing wrong with being complimented for things that we do. Jesus and His apostles often spoke favorably of certain individuals when they did good things (John 12:7-8; Phil. 1:3-5). The problems arise when we begin to crave the praise of men though (John 12:42-43). If we will love this less, then we can love the praise of God more. Knowing that our Father is pleased with us should bring us more joy than anything else in this world.

We need to love our possessions less

There may be exceptions, but most people buy what they like. The Lord does not want us to hate everything we own. Still, we must be wary of loving our stuff so much that it becomes our main focus.  Loving our possessions less will help us to love the future dwelling-place of our souls more (Matt. 16:26). Let’s do our best to love less in order to love more!

                                                                                         Chuck

Do you trust what was written?

      There is no question that the Bible is rejected by the majority of this word. Even religious people are questioning the inspiration of the scriptures. In many circles, what is written does not have the final say. Reason being, there are numerous people who have said that God has spoken to them personally, separate from the Bible. I have been told this, personally, many times. 

The scriptures are either inspired, or they are not (II Tim. 3:16). You simply can’t have the word of God that was written down, support the idea that God speaks to man directly today. Why not? Because the Lord told us He wouldn’t (Heb. 1:1-2). So did God lie when He gave us His inspired word? If He did, then how can you trust what He tells someone directly today? Think about it.

It is strange to me when people say that God spoke directly to them, that they experienced something that Christ’s own apostles didn’t experience. God did not speak directly to the apostles. It was Jesus who promised the Holy Spirit to come upon them to guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:13; Acts 2:1-4). After all, this was going to be a message that was for all people. So why would God talk directly to someone today?

Here are two questions that I ask people who say God spoke to them. First: Did God say something different than what you read in the Bible? If their message contradicts anything that He already said, then it will make God a liar – and it is impossible for God to lie (Titus 1:2). Second: Did God say something that He already revealed in His written message – the Bible? If they say yes, I think to myself, why did God have it recorded if He is just going ahead and talking to people personally? Not only that, if he doesn’t speak to everyone, is He playing favorites? He already revealed He is not a respecter of persons (Acts 10:34).

I don’t claim to know what people think they heard. I am not calling them a liar. I believe they believe it was God. But for me to believe it was God I would have to reject His written word, which we should never do!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Chuck                                  

It doesn’t make you a false teacher 

 The apostle Paul, like the other apostles, found himself being falsely accused. It can be very frustrating for anyone who has people attack their character with accusations that are not true. On top of that, what makes it worse is when people believe it. The reason these evil doers have success, is because they poison the minds of folks (Acts 14:2). Those who teach God’s word, are not guilty simply because they… 

…have confidence in what they say

Just because someone speaks with conviction, it doesn’t automatically mean they are arrogant and wrong in what they say. Having said that, we must, at the same time interject that being confident in what you believe doesn’t mean you are automatically right (Acts 18:24-26). But back to our first point. There are those who react negatively to someone who speaks with certainty. This does not make a person false teacher. As a matter of fact, one ought to be a little apprehensive to believe someone who is unsure (II Tim. 4:2-5).

…expose those in opposition

It seems politically correct for individuals to stand for something, without standing against. Such should not be the case religiously. How can you stand for truth without standing against error? I know it makes people mad when someone tells them they are wrong, but it doesn’t make someone a false teacher simply because they point the finger (Psa. 119:104; I Jn. 4:1).

…don’t create a grey area

Faithful teachers get themselves in all kinds of hot water when they speak in absolutes. It’s easy to accuse someone by labeling them to others by uttering, “It’s their way or the highway!”  In truth, it is to be the Lord’s way, regardless. The gospel doesn’t leave any wiggle room for those who want to tweak it a little (Gal. 1:6-9; II Jn. 9). When you say that there is but one way, you will find yourself in hot water pretty quick.  The fact is, it doesn’t make you a false teacher when you are uncompromising.

…changed their beliefs

This was the very tactic they used on Paul. They wondered how this person who once persecuted those who followed Christ, now preached Christ (Acts 9:21,23). Just because someone changed what he once believed, doesn’t mean they are a false teacher. It wouldn’t make sense to for someone who realized they were wrong, to change and not share the reasons why. It seems proper to tell others why you changed.

…accepted money for preaching

Knowing that there are plenty of false teachers that are making mega amounts of money for their work, understandably, people are turned off of religion because of that. However, for someone who preaches the gospel and accepts a living wage, it doesn’t mean they are automatically a false teacher. Godly men can accept a wage, just as they did in New Testament times (II Cor. 11:8; I Tim. 5:18). Those who are in it for the money, do so for all the wrong reasons.

…are accused by other teachers

One is not qualified to say someone else is wrong, just because they claim to be someone special. The religious leaders in Christ’s time swayed the people simply because they were “teachers” (Matt. 27:15-26).  Since when is it acceptable for false teachers to accuse, but not be accused? The truth is, there are good reasons to find fault, but these six facts don’t prove anything automatically.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Chuck

Signs your preacher does not believe in Biblical baptism

      How many of you would go to a racist to get a proper understanding of equality? Would you go to a vegetarian to learn the benefits of eating meat? In both cases, you would expect to get a slanted answer. I asked those questions as preparation for this one – why would you go to a denominational teacher for baptism? He may be willing to baptize you. He may even want to baptize you!. However, the baptism is probably not being done for Biblical reasons.

The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16) and that is the final step in putting off the old man of sin and putting on Christ (Rom. 6:3-7). Knowing these things, here are several signs that a preacher does not believe baptism has anything to do with salvation:

1. Sets up a future date and thinks there is no urgency – unlike what the Bible teaches (Acts 8:36-38).

2. Is convinced you are already a Christian before you are baptized – unlike what the Bible teaches (Acts 2:38).

3. Wants it to be some kind of ceremony where others have to be present or participate – unlike what the Bible teaches (Acts 16:33).

4. Promotes the belief that works having nothing to do with salvation – unlike what the Bible teaches (James 2:24).

5. Stresses the importance of being baptized as “an outward sign of an inward grace” – unlike what the Bible teaches (I Pet. 3:21).

6. Teaches that people are baptized into the kingdom/the church – unlike what the Bible teaches (Gal. 3:27).

                                                                                      Chuck