Look for the signs 

 The apostle Paul warned the brethren at Galatia by uttering these words, “But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!” (Gal. 5:15). When you understand the context of this passage, we can see the reason why he had so much concern.

Apparently, in Galatia there was someone going about teaching false ideas. In the latter part of verse 10 it states, “…but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.” What made this such a serious problem was the fact that is was hurting the church. In order for the situation to head towards rectification, Paul went on to tell them, “I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off.” (vr. 12).

The words spoken by Paul may seem harsh but they needed to be said. Brethren ought to see the danger when someone is propagating error. How can we know when this is happening with us today? The answer is we need to look for the signs. Here is a short list of things to look for.

When the person involved is not interested in talking about it openly

Whoever the guilty party was that the apostle spoke of, that was troubling the brethren there, he did not know who it was. The point is, if those who were involved in spreading their false ideas were interested in the truth, why promote it quietly behind closed doors?  

Such people are described in II Timothy 3:6, “For this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.”  If one is in the right, they shouldn’t fear open discussion.

When division is no big deal to them

Again, whoever was responsible for the false teaching, they didn’t care about the impact if would have. This is why the writer had to make it clear that such behavior would lead to total destruction (vr. 15). It’s sad when individuals engage in things that do nothing more than destroy unity within the church (I Coir. 1:10).

When the person would rather stay and create more problems than leave and be with others who accept their false ideas

Remember what we noted earlier in verse 12. Paul wished that those trouble-makers would cut themselves off. Let us not conclude that Paul didn’t care for their soul. It’s just that the apostle knew that. “A little leaven leavens the whole lump.” (vr. 9).

When the individual causing the problems can’t get off the topic

In the text, the problem had to do with circumcision (vr. 3). Paul did tell the saints that he had confidence in them in the Lord (vr. 10). It was the evil doers he feared. The fact that they kept pressing the issue meant they were not learning. Such people are not interested in learning, just promoting.

When those promoting error do so to make themselves feel better

Here is one of the main issues Paul brought to light in chapter 4 verse 17, “They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them.” This was the concern. It was their selfish ambition that was behind it. They were not concerned for the spiritual well being of the brethren. Let’s keep our eyes open for the signs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Chuck 

The penalty is not a sin

      I recall in times past that a person taking our Bible course sent in a question. She was concerned over people who murdered and are now on death row. She wanted to know that since murder is a sin, why would anyone be in favor of the death penalty, since that is murder too?

What she needed to understand, as we all need to, is that there is a big difference in the eyes of God between murdering someone and justice being carried out. In Genesis 20:13, God said, “Thou shalt not murder.” In the next chapter God said, “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death” (21;12).

One might conclude that in both cases two people die and there is no difference. There is a difference. One is murder, the other is the penalty for murder. The latter is not sin because sin is transgression of law, and to administer the penalty for sin is not transgression, it’s obedience (I Jn. 3:4).

The question is, has this fact changed now that we are under the gospel and the old laws have been done away with (Col. 2:14)? Man is still told not to murder (Rom. 1:29). If someone does murder, are we allowed to kill them? The scriptures do not authorize someone to take the law into their own hands. The laws of the land are for us (Rom. 13:3-4), and we must be subject to them (vr. 5).

What should our disposition be if there was a death penalty? Would such be against God? The apostle Paul didn’t think so. He stated that if he did anything worthy of death he would not refuse it (Acts 25:11). If Paul wouldn’t object if he was the one facing the sentence, it is right to think he would object if it was anyone else? Of course not.

May we see the difference between murdering someone and one facing the penalty for murder. What our God wants from man is obedience. The penalty for a crime is not a crime!

                                                                                                                                                                                               Chuck

Give God the glory for what? 

 In Acts 12, we read the story concerning Herod the king who had James, the brother of John killed, and who also had Peter arrested (vs. 1-3). As the chapter came to a close, we are informed about Herod’s dislike for the people of Tyre and Sidon (vs. 20). However, those people were longing for peace with Herod because his country supplied them with food.

Therefore, the king arrayed himself in royal apparel, sitting on his throne gave an oration to the people (vs. 21). After he spoke the people shouted out to Herod, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”(vs. 22). Now, because he did not give the glory to God, he was struck by an angel of the Lord and was eaten by worms and died (vs. 23). 

The obvious question arises, with Herod being such an evil king, who not only had Peter arrested, but had James killed, what could he have given glory to God for? I mean, was he to thank God for using his power to hurt His children? Of course not. What kind of glory would God expect this man to give to Him? The answer is, it is easy to give God the glory if he was willing to admit some things.

No matter what he says, he is just a man

The people were crying out that his words were not of a man. Yes they were. Even children of God are warned about thinking of themselves more highly than they ought (Rom. 12:3). People in position of power, shouldn’t forget there is a supreme power. Kings were created by the Creator (Gen. 1:26).

Even as a king, that has food, he didn’t create it

Not only was this man’s words, were not divine, his ability to prove food for them came as a result of that which God provided. Whether it be the seed, the soil and the rain – none of which any king can make. The only way to describe someone like Herod, is to call him a fool. Why? Only a fool says in his heart there is no God (Psa. 14:1). Or in this case, accept the he is a god.

As a ruler, even he could not stop God

When Herod had Peter arrested, he was determined to bring him before the people after the Passover (Acts 12:4). To be assured of this, the king delivered Peter to four squads of soldiers to keep him. We are told the apostle was bound with two chains between two soldiers, and there were guards before the door of the prison (vs. 6). Not only that, we learn when Peter was freed by an angel of the Lord, they still had to get past the first and second guard posts (vr. 10).  Even though the king had the guards killed (vs. 19), certainly he ought to have feared the God that was able to set Peter free.

Having wealth doesn’t guarantee good health

Not only should he have been thankful for creation, but to bring it closer to home – his life. Rain falls on the just and unjust (Matt. 5:45). Evil people can have good health, and they have God to thank for it. No, God wasn’t giving Herod a special blessing of good health (until the end) because he was good. Good things happen to bad people and good people. But the fact is, God needs to be thanked – even though the wicked don’t. God deserves the glory.

This man was eaten by worms and died because pride got the best of him. This is a transgression that will keep many people out of heaven (I Jn. 2:16).  Let us learn the lessons from Herod and give God the glory for all things.

                                                                                                                                                                                                        Chuck

No one preaches on it!

      Over the years I have heard people make general statements about what preachers don’t preach. I love it when they say it to me and I turn around and say, “I preach on that!” Only to hear, “Well, you are rare.” I do not believe that statement either. After all, how does one know what is preached in all the pulpits across the land? Anyway, one such general statement was made recently that no one preaches on the sin of gluttony. Well, I have spoken on this from time to time, as others have, and I shall do so with this article.

Is there such thing as the sin of gluttony? Even though it is not specifically mentioned, it is mentioned. Just as smoking and doing drugs is not mentioned specifically, they, too, are mentioned. In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists a number of transgression, that those who practice such will not inherit the kingdom of God. In verse 21, the apostle said, “and the such like…” This would include all other sins that relate to the works of the flesh.

When you read the list of wicked acts people are guilty of committing, you will notice that many of them have to do with uncontrolled desires. This is the reason that the text followed up the fruit of the Spirit that should exist in God’s children, and one of which was self-control (vr. 23). 

Some might think that a person who is addicted to heroin doesn’t need it to live, so how can one, who needs food to live, ever be considered addicted to food? The answer has to do with self-control. There are times people eat because they are depressed, feel lonely, or reasons other than they are hungry. Christians, must be able to walk away and be able to resist. Those who can’t are transgressing (I Cor. 9:27).

I have asked myself on many occasions,: Am I eating because I have not eaten in a while and I need my strength, or have I just eaten and can’t resist the temptation to keep eating, losing my self-control? Remember, even the crack addict eventually stops for a brief time, until the desire comes again. Let us beware of the danger.

                                                                                                                                                                                                         Chuck

How do you restore them? 

 The scriptures make it perfectly clear that there is a danger facing every child of God, and that is falling away (Heb. 3:12; 4:1; I Cor. 10:12 etc.). Knowing that there are Christians that turn their back on the Lord, we need to understand what the role of the faithful are when that happens. Since we know that those who fall away have a duty to return, let’s focus our attention on the responsibilities placed upon the faithful towards those who have departed.

We read in James 5:19-20, these words, “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” This text gives us plenty of insight as to the duties the faithful have towards the unfaithful.

The first thing that we glean from these inspired words is that Christians can know when another Christians turns his back on the Lord. I am not saying God’s people can read the thoughts of others. It’s just that this text implies that children of God can help their brothers and sisters in Christ because they can know when one has wanders away from the truth. How? Because the faithful know what the truth is. Therefore, when another does not abide in those truth, they are found out.

So what does one do when they see a member of the body of Christ not abiding in that truth? The worst thing we can do is ignore it. When the church at Corinth did that, they were rebuked (I Cor. 5:1-7).   To think, “It is none of my business” is not proper thinking. It is our business to be concerned for the spiritual welfare of our Christian family, and of course their physical needs too. Not only that, we have the ability to know when a member of the body of Christ is transgressing. If that were not true, then how could one fulfill their duty in helping to restore the fallen?

Getting back to how we help the fallen, Paul gives us some incite as to how we can help them, and he said be spiritual (Gal. 6:1). In other words, the ungodly can be helped by godly people. This is why Jesus said that one must remove the beam out of their own eye before they remove a speck from their brother’s eye (Matt. 7:1-4). It isn’t wrong to identify and try to help the fallen. The problem comes when one is playing the hypocrite while trying to do so.

Looking at the text in James 5 again, we need to see that we are told that those who have wandered away need to be told to turn back, else they will remain lost in their sins. That may sound harsh, but you cannot sugar coat the lost state of someone. They need to know what they have done was wrong and what they need to do to fix it. There are many examples of brethren doing this. Paul did it to Peter (Gal. 2:11-14); Peter did it to Simon (Acts 8:20-23); and Paul did it to the church at Corinth (I Cor. 5:1-7), etc.

No matter what a brother or sister has done, the goal is to bring them back. There need not be hatred towards them. Even when efforts to restore them are rejected and they are withdrawn from, they still need to be admonished as a brother and not as an enemy (II Thes. 3:15).  Of course, the step of delivering one to Satan, the withdrawing, happens after the wayward member refuses to meet and talk so as to get help. When that happens a church has no alternative other than to mark them (Matt. 18:15-17; Rom. 16:17-18).

The motivation to help a fallen member is easy to see. We don’t want to see anyone lost. Our desire is to help them get to heaven is our goal. It is out a love that we look out for one another. But the sad truth is, it isn’t always appreciated, but we must do the will of our Father.  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Chuck