When I attend a lecture program at one of our Christian colleges and listen to a wide variety of lectures and messages of various intensity and subject matter, I am more impressed than ever with the need for balance, perspective and Christian maturity in our thinking, living and teaching. We are aware that sometimes those who write or speak about the need for a “middle of the road” approach are understood, or misunderstood, to mean that we should have a broad ecumenical spirit that really stands for nothing and falls for everything. Then those critics who claim to be “set for the defense of the gospel” may leave the impression that “the gospel” is whatever concept they have gained about any truth they think the Bible reveals. We have heard, and probably conducted “gospel meetings” that were actually just sermons or lectures on Bible subjects. The longer I live, the more convinced I am that a large number of problems in the church from the first century to this one are related to, if not caused by, a lack of BALANCE in attitude and teaching. The balance of which we speak does not demand in any way the compromising in any degree the truths of God, or even anything we THINK to be the truth, but it does demand that we have the attitude expressed by Paul in Romans 14:1-5 and Romans 15:1. Let us illustrate this balance in terms of historical events and doctrines as well as in the …

There is a difference between random fear and righteous, godly fear. Random crimes cause whole communities to live in a justifiable paranoia. Terrorists, by definition, leave some of that effect upon a country. Those affected painfully note the absence of even distorted reason behind acts of violence. The slain and injured committed no particular crime, offended no particular crime boss and warranted no such treatment. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time was their tragic misfortune. The living about them mourn — and worry. Who might be next? The behavior of individuals doesn’t matter. Living righteously will not ensure exemption from the sniper’s bullet or the terrorist’s hate. This is random fear. The Christian has the opportunity to overcome random fear with the victory of faith. Jittery though he might be, the Christian knows of bliss beyond temporal sufferings in this life. He knows of justice beyond a world of injustices. But, the Christian still fears. Yes, 1 John 4:18 taunts “perfect love casts out fear,” but Philippians 2:12 reminds the saved to work out their salvation “with fear and trembling.” There is a fear of God that is justified; but it is so much better than random fear. And it is so for that very reason — it is just. Violent men who try to play God by instilling fear in a locale’s citizenry do so arbitrarily, without any sense of fair play. God, however, is a righteous judge (1 Timothy 4:8). He is quite different in …

It is said that money meant little to Albert Einstein. When he joined the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study, the salary he requested was so low that officials had to double it to preserve the Institute’s standards. It is reported he once used a $1500.00 check from the Rockefeller Foundation as a bookmark, then lost the book. The Foundation’s records were out of kilter for months. When they finally sent a duplicate check, Einstein wrote back, “What’s this for?” Someone has written: “Dug from the mountain side, and washed in the glen. Servant am I, or master of men. Steal me, I curse you. Earn me, I bless you. Grasp me, and hoard me, a friend shall possess you. Lie for me. Die for me. Covet me. Take me. Angel and devil, I am what you make me.” The Bible doesn’t say that money is evil, but it does say that the “love of money” is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10). The more prosperous we are, the greater the temptation. The apostle Paul warned: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:10). He further advised Timothy: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). Jesus had much to say about the …

Question: “Why should we study 1 Corinthians 12-14 today? Since miraculous spiritual gifts are no longer available (1 Corinthians 13:10; Ephesians 4:11-13), how are these chapters applicable to the church in the 21st century?” Answer: There are a number of reasons why we need to investigate these inspired chapters. For example: To help us distinguish between the temporary and permanent. Many of our Pentecostal friends insist that miraculous gifts continue to be exercised today. While sincere in their convictions, they fail to recognize that the special “corroborating” measures (Hebrews 2:3-4) of the Spirit were intended to sustain the church only until such time as the written New Testament was completed. These gifts were never meant to be employed as an on-going or age-lasting means of producing faith.1 To help reinforce the fact that miraculous gifts were actually present in the first-century. It is not uncommon to find those who deny the reality of the Holy Spirit’s work and power in Scripture. In his book, Deceptions and Myths of the Bible, Lloyd Graham states: “It takes a lot of ignorance to believe this literally, yet, literally, millions do. And then we wonder what’s wrong with our world. What better world would you expect of such ignorance?” The Humanist Manifesto II [Buffalo: Prometheus Books, 1973, p. 16] claims to “find insufficient evidence for belief in the existence of the supernatural.” Thomas Jefferson, one-time president of the United States, scissored from his Bible all references to the miraculous. David Hume, the nineteenth-century English skeptic, categorically denied …

All that is involved in the Lord’s simple promise, “I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18), is beyond human comprehension. From everlasting to everlasting is its scope. Fascinating and gripping is a study of the universe’s greatest institution. In a realm alone it stands by itself, unique, solitary, a sui generius, a monogenes, the only one of its kind. I. NOT UNIQUE IN LANGUAGE The word on Jesus’ lips in his promise to erect his church, ekklesia (a “called-out group”), was not unique, and by itself, it has no religious or sacred meaning. To the Greeks a group of people “called out” for a town meeting or to see an Olympic race would be named an ekklesia. Luke employed the word in describing an angry mob seeking to kill Paul (Acts 19:32, 41, where it is translated not “church” but “assembly”). Also, just as an unlawful assembly could be styled an ekklesia, so a lawful assembly the Ephesian town clerk designated as an ekklesia (Acts 19:39). Furthermore, a large group of Israelites (called out of Egypt by Moses into a wilderness) Stephen described as an ekklesia (Acts 7:38, mistranslated “church” in the KJV and the ASV). To us the word ekklesia becomes exceedingly important because Jesus used it to refer to those people whom he would call out of the world to live only for him (Matthew 11:26-28; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15). They would be sinners called by the Gospel to a new life of righteousness (Romans 6:1-17; 2 Thessalonians 2:14). …

I know personally of an unfortunate incident wherein some family members were mistakenly informed that a loved one had been found dead in her home. A daughter was nearly in shock by the time she reached the house and ran in crying, “Mother, mother” and she was truly surprised to see her mother walking into the room to meet her. Confused about the emotional upheaval of her daughter, the mother in turn came to an unwarranted conclusion that someone else in the family had died. Eventually, the whole matter was solved. There were tears of sadness and joy. Tears of sadness in that it could have been true that the mother had died and tears of joy that the mother was alive. I thought seriously concerning this bizarre incident and considered some important lessons that should be learned from this experience. 1. We must understand that life is very frail, brief and uncertain. Death can come so swiftly and when least expected (Hebrews 9:27; James 4:13-14). 2. While we live on this side of eternity, we should all prepare ourselves to meet the Lord in the judgment (Hebrews 3:7, 15; Romans 14:12). 3. When the ‘grim reaper’ comes to call on us, it will then be too late to prepare for eternity (Hebrews 9:27). 4. At death, our eternal destiny is forever determined (Luke 19:26). We will be judged individually according to our abilities and opportunities by the Word of God (2 Corinthians 5:10; John 12:48). 5. Sin will be not be overlooked …

First Kings 20:1-30 tells a story of Ben-Hadad who attempted to take Samaria, the capital city of the northern kingdom of Israel. He sent messengers to Ahab, the king of Israel, and demanded silver, gold, his loveliest wives and the king’s children. Ahab, so afraid of this Syrian king, willingly offered to submit to this cruel request. Ben-Hadad, who wanted to anger Israel into war, sent the messengers back saying that his servants would come the next day and take all from Israel that he liked. Ahab consulted his elders about this cruelty. The elders told him not to honor Ben-Hadad’s requests and this certainly meant war. Ben-Hadad then boasted that nothing would be left of Samaria except handfuls of dust. Ahab’s reply stated, “Let not the one who puts on his armor boast like the one who takes it off.” Through the providence of God, who was disrespected and displeased by Ben-Hadad’s boast, the innumerable army of Syria was defeated by the small army of Israel and Ben-Hadad was captured. This story illustrates the importance of the tongue in pleasing God. Although the northern kingdom of Israel repeatedly sinned against God, he was still their God. No one would destroy God’s people until he decided they were to be destroyed. Ben-Hadad’s boastful comment revealed a pride and arrogance that angered God. If Ben-Hadad had never said those words, if he had controlled his tongue, maybe God would have used him to punish the sins of Israel. Unfortunately for Syria, …

If there is a greater experience upon this earth than fatherhood, it must be that of motherhood. When God created man and woman, he created them so that, like the plants and animals of the earth, they could reproduce themselves. God commanded Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth.” When God gave that command, he brought this thing that we call motherhood into existence, and Eve experienced it at the time she gave birth to her firstborn son, Cain. I don’t know what kind of a mother Eve was, but she brought the man into the world from whom the very Son of God would descend. Therefore, mothers should be honored! Mothers should also be honored because, like Eve the mother of us all, they gave us the life that we have upon this earth. It is true that fathers begot us, but it is the mother who carried us in her womb, and then gave birth to us, making it possible for us to have life upon this earth. That means that we are blood of their blood, flesh of their flesh and bone of their bone! The mother to child relationship is the closest one on earth. It was through what the Bible calls “the travail” of their bodies that they brought us here to live peaceable and loving lives. After we have been conceived and born into this world, the work and responsibility of a mother does not end. We should honor …

(Therefore Stand, Vol. 18, No. 7, July 18, 2002, 54, 56.) Few enjoy being criticized, whether constructively or otherwise. The sting of rebuke is seldom pleasant (Hebrews 12:11). However, the wisdom literature of Scripture would point out to the discerning student the value of correction. Solomon wrote, “It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:5). The wise man would also tell us, “Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed” (Proverbs 27:5). And in the New Testament we learn that rebuke along with reproof and exhortation is a vital ingredient in the exercise of preaching the word (2 Timothy 4:2; cf. Titus 1:13; 2:15). The question is, “How should we respond if someone rebukes us, or in other words, seeks to correct us?” Again, feeling the rod of correction is not often enjoyable. A real propensity exists for the one being rebuked to lash out at his critic. “How dare you say that to me…” or “What about you…” may be some of the things said by someone feeling the pain of discipline. But how should we respond when criticized constructively or in some other fashion? Consider, when on the receiving end of rebuke, the need to: Listen objectively to what is being said (James 1:19). Ask yourself: “Is what my critic is saying true?” If it is true, then learn from it and let the person who helped you know how much you love them for helping you. …

Some people work at what they do out of necessity, some out of joy and some because they can’t do anything else. Preaching involves all three of these motives. Some preach out of necessity. By that I mean the kind of necessity the apostle Paul felt when he said, “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16). Some preach out of the pure joy of doing so. Only a joyful preacher could be a worthy vessel of “glad tidings of good things” (Romans 10:15). Some preach because they cannot do anything else. I don’t mean that they lack the ability to learn to do something else. There are always possibilities at Wal-Mart. I mean that they, like Jeremiah of old, do not have the heart to do anything else (Jeremiah 20:7-9). When I was a preacher student at Freed-Hardeman College (now a university) twenty-five years ago, Tom Holland gave us that timeless advice, “Boys, if you can do anything else at all, don’t preach.” The real joy of preaching comes when you know that in preaching the Gospel you make a difference in someone’s life. It’s nice when people compliment your sermons, but the joy doesn’t lie there. It’s flattering when somebody says that you are his or her “favorite preacher” (every preacher is somebody’s favorite preacher). The joy doesn’t lie there. The joy comes when …

As the children of Israel marched through the Wilderness of Sin on their way to Mount Sinai, Amalek brought an army against them. Moses sent Joshua to choose some men to fight against them, but Moses himself went with Aaron and Hur to the top of a nearby hill. So, when Moses held the rod of God up by his hands, the Israelites prevailed, but when he lowered the rod, the Amalekites began winning. “But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun” (Exodus 17:12). If Christians, God’s people today (2 Corinthians 6:17-18), are to be strong and victorious in spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-17), we must recognize that we must each be willing to participate and fulfill our respective roles. The Israelites needed the strong leadership of Moses. They needed men such as Joshua who were preparing for leadership. They needed people who were willing to engage the enemy and fight for the cause. They needed those who supported the hands of Moses. And, most of all, they needed the LORD. Today, we need strong leadership. We need men preparing themselves for leadership. We need all people to participate and be active members of the Lord’s army. We need people who will support the hands of the …